Article last updated: November 14, 2017
If you plan to fly into Orlando International Airport, you'll have to figure out how to get from there to your resort. In this post, I compare many good options (from free to pricey) to help you decide what makes the most sense for your trip.
Let's take a look at some good options to get from the Orlando airport to Disney World...
(FYI: meet-and-greet service means the driver meets you at the baggage claim area and offers assistance with your bags. Prices listed below reflect the average cost to go from MCO to WDW-area resorts. As with many posts on this site, some links below provide a commission if booked through this site.)
In this article
Magical Express (Disney's own buses that go from the Orlando airport to Disney World)
This motorcoach option is available to guests staying at onsite Disney World resorts.
Price: Free
Other fees: None
Tipping: $1-2/bag if you take your own luggage onto the bus
Car seats: Not needed (if you bring your own, they'll stow it in the storage compartment during the ride)
Meet-and-greet service: Not available
Grocery stops: Not available, though you can get groceries other ways
Luggage handling: Can either put Magical Express luggage tags on your bags (mailed to you ahead of time) and allow them to transport it (bags will be delivered up to 3-4 hours later), or get your own from the baggage carousel and take them on the bus with you
Transport time: Up to 2-3 hours from the time you land to the time you get to your resort, depending on lines at the airport, when the bus leaves, and when you get dropped off (buses go to multiple resorts)
Other locations for pickup/dropoff: Magical Express only goes between MCO and WDW resorts
More info: get more details on how Magical Express works
Mears shuttle
A shared shuttle van that is a good option for offsite guests without their own cars.
Price: Usually around $20/person
Other fees: None
Tipping: 15-20% is typical
Car seats: Not provided, guests are encouraged to bring their own
Meet-and-greet service: Not available
Grocery stops: Not available, though you can get groceries other ways
Luggage handling: You'll handle your own bags
Transport time: Up to an hour, shuttles make multiple stops
Other locations for pickup/dropoff: Most local hotels, Sanford airport, Port Canaveral, theme parks
More info: Mears shuttle info
Taxi
No reservation required and easy to find at the airport.
Price: ~$70
Other fees: None
Tipping: 15-20% is typical
Car seats: Available by request
Meet-and-greet service: Not available
Grocery stops: As requested, but you'll pay as the driver waits
Luggage handling: You'll handle your own bags
Transport time: Direct, so transport time is as minimal as possible
Other locations for pickup/dropoff: Just about anywhere. If your pickup spot isn't an area where taxis line up, you can call or use the app to request pickup.
More info: http://www.mearstransportation.com/taxi-services/
Uber
Although the lower levels of Uber service didn't used to be allowed, all levels are now allowed to pick up.
Price: ~$33-60, depending on the type of service you choose
Other fees: None
Tipping: $1-2/bag if the driver helps you load and unload your bags
Car seats: Available with UberFAMILY
Meet-and-greet service: Not available
Grocery stops: As requested, but you'll pay as the driver waits (or you can have the car leave and request another Uber when you're finished shopping)
Luggage handling: You'll handle your own bags
Transport time: Direct, so transport time is as minimal as possible
Other locations for pickup/dropoff: Just about anywhere in Central Florida, including the coasts (though that would be expensive and there are probably better options for that)
More info: Learn more about how Uber works at Disney World
Rental car
The lowest level of Orlando International Airport has rental car desks, and there are even more companies just outside of the airport accessible by shuttle.
Price: Varies by trip length, often $150-200/week for standard size car
Other fees: Tolls, gas, $20/day parking at WDW for people who aren't Annual Passholders or staying onsite
Tipping: None
Car seats: Varies by company, but often $10/day to rent
Meet-and-greet service: Not available
Grocery stops: Obviously available if you'd like
Luggage handling: You'll handle your own bags
Transport time: Direct, so transport time is as minimal as possible
Other locations for pickup/dropoff: Obviously if you have your own car, you can go wherever you'd like. If you want to pickup or drop off a rental car in the middle of your trip, you can do so onsite at Disney World. See this chart for locations.
More info: See the full list of rental car companies and get more info from MouseSavers
Standard for many private car companies
There are many private car service companies available to go from the Orlando airport to Disney World. Here's what they typically charge and offer.
Price: ~$70+
Other fees: Some charge $10 for arrivals after 11 p.m., $10 for international arrivals, $3 fuel surcharge
Tipping: 20% is suggested
Car seats: Some free, some up to $7-10 per seat
Meet-and-greet service: Some companies charge for this service, others provide it for free
Grocery stops: Most include a 15-20 minute stop for free
Luggage handling: The ones that provide meet-and-greet service will usually assist you in getting your bags
Transport time: Direct, so transport time is as minimal as possible
Other locations for pickup/dropoff: most will pickup at resorts and theme parks as well, but many include lots of extra fees
Orlando Transportation by Mike
Though I've used car other service companies in Orlando before, the service has always been inconsistent. Orlando Transportation by Mike is a fantastic company that provides great service and gets great review from WDW Prep readers.
Price: $60-67 to WDW resorts
Other fees: None
Tipping: 20% is suggested
Car seats: Free
Meet-and-greet service: Free
Grocery stops: Available by request for an additional $20
Luggage handling: Assistance with your bags is included
Transport time: Direct, so transport time is as minimal as possible
Other locations for pickup/dropoff: Sanford Airport, Port Canaveral, resorts, theme parks (no hidden fees for pickups)
More info: Reservation request form
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Have any thoughts or comments on getting from the Orlando airport to Disney World? Feel free to share in the comments.
I really appreciate your information that shuttle pick ups are usually around $20 per person. My husband and I are going to Florida to enjoy a bit of summer weather before the cold kicks in up north, so it would probably be more cost effective this way. Maybe we can use the funds that we are saving toward more souvenirs.
If I book with Mike, what would my Pick Up Location be coming from a Canadian flight?
Hi Shannon, We are going to be booking with transportation by Mike, But can we still have disney take our bags to the hotel if we dont go on the ME? Or if we cancel the ME, do we have to also get our own bags? Thanks for all the info!
You can’t have them transport your bags from the airport to the resort, but you CAN have them transport them on the way home by using Resort Airline Check-In.
Thank you so much!!
Due to a late arrival at MCO, we did not want to ‘wait’ on a bus, then ‘wait’ on resort stops. We took your recommendation and used Orlando Transportation by Mike. IT WAS THE BEST!!! We used the service round trip and were impressed. Best prices, clean vehicles, pleasant drivers and we will use Mike’s company again.
we have just come back from Orlando and we used mike to collect us to and from the airport. He was very professional and the service was great defiantly recommend them.
Thanks for all the info, Shannon! Is there a way to use Mike to leave directly from a park? Not sure what we would do with our luggage in that case.
We’ve already made Magical Express reservations, do we need to cancel those if we decide to use Mike instead?
For the return trip, can we still check our luggage in for the ME & use Mike’s service?
Yes, you should cancel your Magical Express reservations if you book another method. Resort Airline Check-In is available to anybody on the return flight home (don’t have to be using Magical Express) as long as you are flying a participating airline. More info – https://wdwprepschool.com/how-resort-airline-check-in-at-disney-world-works/
We just got back from Disney. We used Orlando Transportation by Mike both ways. Mike was super professional and very responsive. He was waiting for us as we descended the elevator to baggage claim when we got there and again for us as we walked out of our hotel (even though the departure was on his birthday!) His vehicle was comfortable and very clean. His service was impeccable. I’d highly recommend him.
Can we use Mike to get to our hotel but use Magical Express on the way back to the airport?
Yep! You can do that.
Thanks Shannon!
We are flying to Orlando and staying on property at Disney. We are going to Sea World one day during out stay and would like to know the best way to get there. Since we are flying I will not have car seats and have a 4 and 7 year old.
Just a note that renting or “borrowing” a carseat from a rental car company or a taxi service is not recommended, as
A) you have no idea if they’re going to bring a carseat suitable for your child (eg. a “toddler” seat that’s forward-facing for your 1yo, or a seat with limits that your child has outgrown)
B) you have NO idea how they handle the seats (are they washed improperly? The straps have been soaked/bleached/etc? Have they been in a collision?)
C) You may be unfamiliar with the seat provided, and it may be hard to get a proper installation on a time crunch
D) often the seats are very old and/or expired (or could be recalled!), which is incredibly unsafe for a number of reasons.
We use Super Shuttle because I use a power wheelchair and they have the ability to pick us up. I used them the last time we were there and when we go next year, I will call them and schedule both pick up from the airport and when we leave the resort to take us back to the airport. I have used them at Disneyland San Diego and when I was in the military, and never had an issue. The prices are not that bad and you can request a non stop to the resort.
Hi Shannon,
We are starting our WDW trip with 3 days at Universal. So we can not use the ME to start our trip. Would you suggest Orlando Transportation by Mike then to get us to Universal?
Thanks!
Mike will run around $40 each way to go from WDW to Universal. Taxis will run about the same, and Ubers are about half that price (assuming there’s no surge pricing). Mike will provide car seats and personalized service which might make the most sense, depending on what you need.
We are planning same scenario as Amy- except starting our trip with 2 days Universal. I think she’s asking if you’d suggest Transportation by Mike from MCO to Universal. I think we will take Uber from Universal to WDW.
If she was asking about MCO to Universal, then I’d definitely suggest Mike for that.
Thank you! I was asking about getting from MCO to Universal so it sounds like Mike is the way to go.
Woah, I didn’t realize the Magical Express took so long! Thanks for this post. Looks like I’ll be revising our plans for next month ?
We’ve used ME 3 times and I don’t think it has ever been as much as 3 hours. Probably closer to 2. Each time was a bit different. The luggage took the longest. So if you need your luggage at a specific time, I would suggest you take it on the bus with you. Our plane left late one trip, which pushed everything back. We had a Boutique reservations and we did not have our daughter’s dress for the princess make-over by the time we had to leave for Disney Springs. I like the ease of the ME bus, personally.
I’ve been taking Magical Express for 11 years. Most of the time it takes around 2 hours, but I have had 1 or 2 trips that were closer to 3. It’s good to allow that much time so you don’t miss something important (like a dining reservation), but hopefully it’ll be less.