Are you heading to Walt Disney World and need to figure out transportation? Learn how to travel to Walt Disney World from Orlando International Airport now that Disney’s Magical Express is no longer an option!
This post about how to travel to Walt Disney World from Orlando Airport was written by Disney travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
If you’re traveling to Walt Disney World and planning to use Disney’s Magical Express, you must find new Orlando airport transportation options to get there.
Don’t worry; we’ve got all the information you need about other Disney transportation options like Mears Connect, Uber, and airport shuttle services.
We know it can be difficult to travel with kids, but we want to ensure your trip is smooth and stress-free. That’s why we’ve gathered all this information for you so you can choose the best option for your family.
We want your vacation to be as magical as possible, so make sure to read this post before making any decisions about how to get from Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World.
Keep scrolling to learn how to travel to Walt Disney World from Orlando Airport.
Don’t have time to read many Walt Disney World blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Disney World with kids.
Want to Save Money at Disney World?
Check out Get Away Today for the cheapest Disney World packages, including hotel and park tickets. You can also get a park hopper ticket to move between theme parks easily.
Want to Rent a Car in Orlando?
One of the best places to rent a car in Orlando is RentCars because they usually have the cheapest rates and fantastic customer service. Check rates here.
Transportation from Orlando Airport to Disney World
Getting to Walt Disney World from Orland International Airport MCO isn’t as easy as it was just a few months ago.
Until this year, guests at Disney World resorts had the ease and security of Disney’s motorcoach service.
The Magical Express was a streamlined way to get guests from the plane to their rooms. With mobile check-in added to the mix, the potentially daunting process of getting to your room after a long day of travel was made even simpler.
Sadly, those days of Disney ground transportation were not meant to last forever. Guests had to lug their own bags onto the motorcoach for a year after Disney World reopened. Then suddenly, Disney announced that starting in 2022, the whole service would end.
Without Disney’s Magical Express, you must consider other Orlando airport transportation options to get to your resort hotel.
If this is news, you may feel outraged. You may also just be numb to all the ridiculousness by now as inexplicable decisions like this keep happening.
The whole purpose and impact of Disney’s Magical Express was to keep guests on the property longer. Without it and other perks Disney ended, there is nothing to keep guests from wandering to other less expensive resorts.
All that aside, when you’ve booked a Disney trip, it’s now more important than ever to know your Orlando airport transportation so you can know how to get to Disney World from the airport in 2022.
Read more: 8 Time-Saving Tips for Getting Through Airport Security with Children
How Disney World Bookings Have Changed
Booking a Walt Disney World trip is much different than it used to be. Some differences may throw you for a loop if you haven’t been to the resort in a few years.
If it’s your first time, not so much, although If you’ve done any blogger research or seen videos pre-2020, things will look different than expected.
For a quick summation of the difference in booking, there is no meaningful time window for dining reservations and no Fastpass+ reservations.
Although dining reservations once needed to be made 6 months before your arrival, this is no longer the case. Now, you can make dining reservations 60 days ahead of your trip.
Fastpasses– now called Lightning Lane— can only be selected on the day of your admission into a park. Park admission must be reserved through Park Pass prior to entry. A ticket alone will not guarantee you entry at any park on any day.
On top of this, You can get a MagicBand or MagicBand+, but you have to pay for it, although everything is done on your phone, so it is no longer necessary.
These are all massive changes to how a Disney World vacation used to be done, and it all starts with a major shift in how you handle the Orlando airport transportation to your hotel.
Since Disney removed its complimentary service, there are a few options. You can use Mears Connect, rideshare, or rent a car.
Read more: 12 No-Stress Tips for Flying with a Toddler
Mears Connect — The New WDW Motorcoach
If you don’t recognize Mears Transportation Group, it’s essentially Disney’s Magical Express. It’s the same company Disney used for their service and the exact same motorcoaches.
If you want your transportation to feel similar to vacations past, then this is the way to go.
It will cost extra this time, but there is no alternative that does what Magical Express did at the Orlando Airport. You can choose between Standard and Express and get pricing info here.
How to Book Transportation Services with Mears Connect
Booking your Orlando airport transportation with Mears Connect is easy. Simply choose which service you want. Standard will suffice, although express is a nice option if you are willing to spend a little more.
Once you take your pick, Mears prompts you to enter your resort drop-off and pick-up locations and your flight info for both arrival and departure to know which airport terminal to wait for you.
In addition to the dates and times of these flights, Mears also needs to know the number of adults and the number of children 3-9 years old.
Make sure you account for your bags and any wheelchairs in your party. Also, you can specify whether you want round-trip service or just one-way service.
Once you enter all your information, including your flight numbers, you will be taken to pricing and payment options. These are needed because you cannot book or price your trip without accurate flight details.
Alternatives to Mears for Orlando Airport Transportation
If you want to skip the motorcoach option altogether and favor a more direct route, you can always call an Uber, or rent a car.
Car rentals are relatively inexpensive in Florida, but you will want to consider parking fees and car seats if needed. Uber can also be a good route if you don’t plan to over-rely on the service during your stay.
The Pros and Cons of Uber for Orlando Airport Transportation
Uber can be pretty inexpensive at Disney World if you can quickly get from one end of the property to the other.
Disney World still has plenty of complimentary transportation options, but they can take a while to use, and you may want to do more with your time. Uber is an easy-to-use, prompt, reliable transportation that lets you decide where to go.
The cons of using Uber include shifts in pricing. Getting to your hotel from the airport can be a pretty costly trip. Also, if you use Uber, you will need to continue using it or rely on Disney’s public transportation throughout your stay.
The Pros and Cons of Renting a Car
Renting a car adds more convenience in some ways and less in others. When you drive, you must park the car, get to the park, and then return to your car if you can find it.
You must also pay for parking virtually everywhere you go, and you must fill up the tank before returning.
When you drive, you also have to put up with traffic in a place you are not familiar with. That can be frustrating and even cost you valuable time.
On the plus side, renting a car allows you to come and go as you please. You can visit other places like Disney Springs, Sea World, and Port Canaveral for a full Disney experience.
This is also an advantage because it’s more flexible when it comes to times, especially if it takes longer for you to get everything ready, from getting off the plane down to the baggage claim.
It may save you money on off-property shopping and dining if you are inclined.
Non-Disney Hotels with Airport Shuttle Service
Speaking of off-property, there are plenty of good hotels off and even on-property that are not owned by Disney. They may have their own shuttle service.
Some of these hotels are eye-opening in terms of the value you can get by staying at a hotel without the Disney branding.
Some on-property hotels that are much cheaper than Disney hotels include Waldorf Astoria, Hilton, the Walt Disney World Swan, and Walt Disney World Dolphin.
Orlando Airport FAQs
It’s about 17 miles away, and it takes less than 20 minutes to get there by car.
The nearest airport is Orlando International Airport MCO. Many people refer to it as the “Disney World airport” because it’s fairly close and where most Disney goers fly.
If you’re staying off-property, you’ll have to check with your individual hotel. On-property resorts no longer offer a complimentary airport car service or shuttle, so you’ll have to arrange your own transportation.
Disney’s Magical Express was a complimentary ground transportation service between Orlando International Airport MCO and Disney World Resort hotels, but the service ended on January 1, 2022. There are no other free shuttles, but there are several paid options.
The cost of a taxi or rideshare like Uber or Lyft typically ranges from $35 to $50 one-way, depending on traffic and the specific location within the theme park.
Yes, several car rental companies are located at Orlando International Airport. Renting a car can be convenient if you plan to explore areas outside the theme park during your trip.
While taxis and rideshares don’t require advance booking, booking shuttle services, car rentals, and any other transportation in advance is generally recommended to ensure availability and possibly secure better rates.
Orlando Airport Transportation Options Wrap-Up
So now you know how to travel to Disney World from Orlando Airport. You also have a few other options for getting there, including Mears Connect, Uber, hotel shuttle services, and renting a car.
If you’re looking for more information on the theme park or are curious about where else in Florida is worth visiting, be sure to check out our other blog posts below.