How To Get From Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, isn’t right near Orlando International Airport (MCO), so when you get off your flight, you need to plan how you’re going to get there.

There are several options to choose from, but how efficient each way is depends on how many people you’re traveling with and any kids you have in tow (when you really want to get to the hotel ASAP).

We’ll assume that you’re staying on-property at one of Disney’s owned hotels or resorts, though the same premise will likely apply to nearby off-property chain hotels, too.

Cost Estimates

Mears Connect

Disney did away with its famous Magical Express several years ago, which was probably the best way to get to its resorts, mostly because it was free! To give you a bit of background, Disney would contract buses to take guests to resorts. You’d book a reservation with your hotel, line up in a queuing area as you got your bags from baggage claim, and then be placed onto a departing bus leaving for the resorts every few minutes.

When this service closed, Mears Connect took it over, operating on essentially the same principle without any of the Disney branding.

Purchase a ticket online or on arrival, and you’ll be placed into a line depending on the resort you’re headed to. When a bus arrives, you store your bags underneath and are then driven to your resort area. Remember that Mears groups resorts, so there may be multiple stops, but the ride is relatively efficient, and you shouldn’t have to wait too long.

A Mears Connect ticket runs you $13 one-way if you’re a child or $16 one-way if you’re an adult. Children under 2 are free.

Rental Car

Many families rent a car for their vacation, especially if they plan on making runs to the grocery store or other attractions nearby. Orlando is known for cheaper rental cars, and you can often find cars for as low as $30 a day.

While this fee will undoubtedly add up depending on how long your trip is, there is certainly a convenience factor. The rental car companies are directly across from the terminal building, and it’s only about a 5-minute walk from baggage claim, meaning you can pick up a car and be on your way fairly quickly.

There are several toll roads leading from Orlando International Airport to Disney, so unless you wish to take back roads that will take much longer, plan on accruing tolls during your rental.

It’s worth noting that most Disney hotels and resorts have free parking for guests, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any additional charges once you arrive.

Taxi

Taxis can be found outside of baggage claim in a marked area at Curbside #9. A taxi to Disney isn’t cheap — while the ride only takes about 25 minutes, the cost is usually $55 to $70. The route from the airport to Disney is also very prone to traffic, which could cause this price to go up.

Ride-Share

Ride-share pickups are outside of baggage claim at Curbside #1 and #14 and cost approximately $40 for the one-way trip to Disney — a much more reasonable price than a taxi. If you have a big enough party and can split the ride with everyone, it can be a very economical way to travel, even cheaper than the Mears Connect bus.

Hired Car

If you’re willing to splurge, a hired car can be a good way to get to Disney. Depending on the size of the vehicle, this option would run you about $75 to $150. Of course, if you have more people, this could be a good method of travel, since a driver will be waiting for you after your flight and can assist with luggage.

Lynx

If you don’t mind a long journey time, there’s a public transit option for you. Lynx is the public transit bus system in Orlando, and the company runs a Link 311 bus from Orlando Airport to Disney Springs. The bus departs from Terminal A at spot 38 and costs $2 for the approximately 1-hour trip to Disney Springs.

There are downsides, however:

• The bus isn’t equipped with luggage storage, so if you’re traveling with bulky bags, it will be an inconvenient way of travel.
• The bus only goes to Disney Springs, which is inconvenient if you’re trying to go directly to a resort. If you have no plans to check in at a resort and are only there to shop, it is a great option, though most people will likely have luggage and be trying to get to a specific Disney hotel. That said, all Disney resorts have buses to and from Disney Springs, so you could technically “transfer” at Disney Springs and then get on a bus to a specific Disney hotel — though those buses are also not equipped to handle bags, either.

Final Thoughts

Disney World is one of the top spots to go to once passengers land at Orlando’s airport, so it’s no surprise there are multiple options. You need to decide what works best for you and your family, but there are several methods, ranging from cheap to more expensive. A Mears Connect bus ticket is one of the cheapest ways to get to your resort, with a ride-share vehicle being the next best, especially when traveling with multiple people.