There are a number of transportation choices between Orlando Worldwide Airport and Walt Disney World, together with shuttle buses, Uber and Lyft, personal automotive providers, and extra. This information covers MCO to WDW floor transportation, pricing, comparisons, and extra. Plus, updates on provide/demand and value will increase. (Up to date September 28, 2024.)
In case you missed it, Walt Disney World ended the Magical Specific airport shuttle service. Rather than that free bus service between MCO and resort inns, two paid bus providers initially crammed the void. One is Mears Join, which was the operator of Disney’s Magical Specific (DME) and now makes use of the identical buses and drivers. The opposite is Sunshine Flyer, a brand new service with a enjoyable railroad theme. (Extra on these “two” providers in our newest replace beneath.)
The elimination of Disney’s Magical Specific was huge and stunning Walt Disney World information, and continues to anger followers. It even took the #1 spot in our Record of Largest Visitor Complaints About Walt Disney World, forward of Genie+ and different cutbacks. Fortuitously, there are many viable options, together with a number of which are superior to DME, and we’re right here to provide you a rundown of the options for airport transportation. First, let’s begin with an replace…
The newest growth is that Mears Join and Sunshine Flyer “joined forces” to type Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine a couple of yr in the past. This merger has professionals and cons for customers. Competitors is at all times good for retaining costs and repair aggressive. On this case, there arguably wasn’t a marketplace for two competing shuttle providers between MCO and WDW. The 2 had been stretched skinny, and had points with each provide and demand at instances.
We’ve used each Mears Join and Sunshine Flyer (individually), and have used the mixed Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine over a half-dozen instances because it launched. Try our Evaluate of Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine: Is Walt Disney World’s Airport Shuttle Nonetheless Good?
Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine is usually be extra of the identical–a cheap and dependable option to get between the airport and resorts at Walt Disney World. Our experiences have been pretty uneventful. That’s not precisely a ringing endorsement, however they’ve been strong for airport shuttle buses. Now we have no complaints. Mainly Disney’s Magical Specific. Minus the “Disney” half…and the “Magical” half. Okay, and the “Specific” half, too. (In equity, DME was by no means truly “Specific,” both.)
If something, my largest worry is that even the mixed Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine nonetheless just isn’t viable. That airport shuttle buses are a relic of the previous, displaced by rideshares, rental automobiles, and personal transfers. More often than not, my shuttle buses have been lower than half full previously year-plus, and I simply query how Mears Join can keep in enterprise with decrease numbers throughout all however the peak seasons.
That is doubly true as demand for Walt Disney World continues to lower. I worry all it might take is a recession or financial slowdown to wipe out Mears Join. Hopefully I’m improper–or that Disney steps in (once more) and restores Magical Specific by way of Mears.
Along with the airport shuttle, we’ve used Uber and Lyft rather a lot for attending to and from MCO. This has been simple and environment friendly, and we’ve by no means had any points in any way with availability or wait instances on the airport or on-property at Walt Disney World. That hasn’t at all times been the story at Flamingo Crossings–the place wait instances are normally longer–but it surely’s additionally out in the midst of nowhere. (It’s an odd dynamic–center of nowhere, and but, tons of individuals stay in that booming space.)
Pricing with Uber and Lyft is in all places, however the vary is certainly above what we expertise in 2019. We’re primarily touring between the Orange Counties (Florida and Southern California), which tends to place our MCO arrivals late at night time. For no matter cause, MCO is commonly slammed late at night time, which ends up in surge pricing. We’ve paid as a lot as $70 for a experience to Walt Disney World by way of rideshare. That’s not at the same time as unhealthy because it will get–we’ve heard of some folks paying $100.
We normally depart Walt Disney World early within the morning or in the midst of weekdays, and rideshare costs are nearly at all times considerably decrease. Within the final two months, our vary has been $25 to $35 earlier than tip for these journeys. Fortunately, prices appear to be stabilizing and pricing beneath $50 is now way more frequent than the $70+ spikes. On that word, a few solutions.
First, pull up each Uber and Lyft and examine costs. The overwhelming majority of the time, we’ve discovered cheaper (typically considerably so) rides by way of Lyft–however not at all times. Second, go for the “Wait & Save” choice if you happen to’re not tight on time. We did this as soon as, obtained a right away pick-up time, and have carried out it ever since. Should you’re touring at an off-peak time, that is normally simple financial savings and minimal inconvenience.
With that replace out of the best way, let’s flip to our regular Orlando Worldwide Airport transportation information…
MCO-WDW Shuttle Service
Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine – As famous above, Mears Join and Sunshine Flyer have now merged. Extra precisely, it looks like Sunshine Flyer was absorbed by Mears, the dominant participant in Central Florida transportation and the shuttle service by the corporate that operated Disney’s Magical Specific.
This makes Mears Join the “true” religious successor to Disney’s Magical Specific. It actually makes use of the very same drivers and buses, simply minus the Disney-branded wraps. Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine provides transportation in excessive occupancy autos, together with buses and vans. The corporate advertises this because the “similar dependable, secure service company have been utilizing for many years to Disney space inns” with scheduled service, baggage dealing with, handy airport terminal staging, and return journeys from resorts to the airport.
Mears Join has two choices: Normal and Specific. Normal is a shared car on Mears Join (bus or van) that’s economical. Normal makes a restricted variety of stops and may have you in your option to your resort inside 20 minutes of your check-in to the Mears Join reception space. The Specific degree provides direct service with restricted to no wait time.
Pricing may fluctuate relying on date and lodge, however the present fee on the usual service is $16 for adults and $13 for kids for a one-way journey to the airport, $17.60 for adults and $14.30 for teenagers from the airport, and $33.60 for adults and $27.30 for kids for spherical journeys (the distinction in pricing to/from the airport is because of an extra charge). Specific is at present priced at $250 per spherical journey for as much as 4 passengers, plus $55 for every extra particular person.
Mears is a transportation firm with coach buses and taxis that loved a digital monopoly on Orlando for many years. Traditionally, we’ve not been followers of Mears. We had a number of unfavourable experiences with them within the pre-rideshare days–sufficient to reach on the conclusion that it was a poorly-managed firm doing the naked minimal and never caring about customer support given their aforementioned monopoly.
To the extent that Disney’s Magical Specific provided good service, our suspicion is that it was as a consequence of contractual necessities with, and oversight from, Walt Disney World. With out the Disney monitoring and mandating service high quality, bus frequency, dispatch instances, and so on., we worry the “religious successor” could possibly be worse. In our experiences with Mears Join up to now, this has not been an issue–however we’ll proceed to make use of the shuttle service and supply periodic updates.
Different Airport Transportation
Luxurious Automotive, Limo & Non-public Van Service – Actually, we’ve by no means used personal van service for touring between MCO and Walt Disney World. There are solely two of us, so it has by no means made sense. It additionally felt of little worth from a analysis perspective, since Disney’s Magical Specific, rideshare, or rental automotive served the wants of 98% of readers.
Clearly, the top of Disney’s Magical Specific adjustments the equation. Now, many households of 4-6 can be discover personal automotive service to be a superior and extra economical choice than the aforementioned shuttles. Furthermore, relying upon how issues play out with rental automotive and rideshare costs and waits, personal car service is perhaps higher than these, as nicely.
I’ll degree with you once more: researching personal automotive service in placing collectively this text has been overwhelming. There are quite a lot of advertorials and it’s nearly unimaginable to inform what’s goal recommendation. Fortuitously, we’ve gotten quite a lot of suggestions from readers within the months since DME’s demise was introduced, and I’ve cobbled that collectively right here. (On that word, please provide extra suggestions–I’ll proceed to switch this together with your prime picks!)
Quicksilver Excursions – Far and away the “most advisable” choice, we’ve heard nothing however good issues about Quicksilver from our readers. Many reward the pricing, noting that it labored out to be cheaper for them than Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine. (Simply take into account that costs will seemingly go up with demand, which is able to assuredly enhance with the top of DME. So e-book sooner slightly than later!)
Orlando Transportation by Mike – Readers have advisable this service (together with within the feedback to this publish!) and on-line opinions elsewhere are likewise overwhelmingly optimistic. Mike’s transportation firm will get excessive marks on communication, courtesy, and cleanliness.
Comfortable Limo – Primarily based on our analysis, this is likely one of the most well-established and largest luxurious car providers in Orlando. It’s undoubtedly not the most affordable, however seems to supply good customer support, with fewer points than many options. From our perspective, there’s one thing to be stated for a bigger scale operation with years of expertise–particularly as all of those transportation choices alter to a post-DME surroundings.
Tiffany City Automotive – Readers who’ve used Tiffany have unanimously praised their service and advisable this luxurious limo. Nevertheless, we’d provide the caveat that on-line opinions are extra combined, with some pink flags from company with disabilities.
Once more, we can’t vouch for any of those providers as we haven’t used them. Typically talking, we’d advocate checking insurance policies on baggage dealing with (included or do drivers help?), automotive seats (included or do they price further?), airport meet & greet coverage (does the driving force greet you with an indication within the pickup space of MCO?), grocery stops (whether or not they’re included, discretionary, and period), and whether or not gratuities are included or advisable on prime of the bottom value.
Public Bus – Orlando Worldwide Airport has bus stops which are serviced by LYNX native buses. This public transportation is accessible not solely to Walt Disney World, but additionally Common Orlando, SeaWorld, Worldwide Drive, Downtown Orlando, and a spread of different locations in Central Florida.
We haven’t used the LYNX buses in Central Florida, however usually are not averse to public transportation. Judging by Google Maps and LYNX’s route map, this looks like a a lot better choice if you happen to’re staying close to downtown or I-Drive, which supply extra direct routes. (Actually, something to the east of Walt Disney World is healthier for bus service.) With that stated, transit instances appear comparatively affordable (~90 minutes from MCO to Disney Springs) however simply bear in mind that you simply’ll seemingly have a number of transfers to get to your resort. In all probability not ideally suited with youngsters in tow, however that’s the character of public transportation.
Taxi – Obtainable on a walk-up foundation on the Arrivals Stage (Stage 2) on each side of Orlando Worldwide Airport. Taxis could carry as much as 9 passengers, and cost the identical fee whatever the variety of passengers. All taxicabs selecting up on the MCO are regulated by Orlando’s Automobile-for-Rent Ordinance, which requires fares to be decided by a taximeter. This implies there are not any flat charges–you’re paying by distance, which usually quantities to $60 to $70 every method relying upon the situation of your lodge.
That is one other instance of the place the Mears monopoly comes into play, however there are a handful of options to Mears at MCO. Given the wealth of options, I might not take a taxi from the airport until actually determined. There’s a good likelihood desperation will creep in for some guests if issues play out with rental automotive and rideshare providers, although…
Rental Automobiles – This one is fairly self-explanatory, so we’re not going to fixate on the ‘fundamentals’ of it an excessive amount of. Now we have a whole publish titled Suggestions for Renting a Automotive at Walt Disney World that covers the ins and outs of renting a automotive, together with money-saving suggestions. Should you don’t like ready in any respect, wish to be in management, and don’t thoughts driving whereas on trip, renting a automotive might be for you. That is doubly true if you happen to ever wish to go away Walt Disney World property.
Once we lease a automotive anyplace, we sometimes use both AutoSlash or Hotwire for automotive leases and e-book one among their “blind” Scorching Charges. Renting a automotive can scale back waits and commute instances, however we’ve discovered that typically not renting works higher for us. Contemplate your circumstances, how a lot you wish to drive whereas on trip, whether or not you’ll be staying off-site or on-site at Walt Disney World, and the way regularly you’ll wish to enterprise past the bubble.
With out query, there can be robust demand for rental automobiles at MCO throughout peak journey dates. The unknowns are to what diploma, whether or not it’ll exceed provide of accessible rental automobiles (and the way usually), end in extra overbookings, and the long-term impression on pricing. Should you plan on reserving a rental automotive, it’s clever to lock-in charges as early as doable.
Rideshare – Related deal right here as with the rental automotive part. Now that they’re fairly well-established in most cities, we assume most individuals are acquainted with Uber and Lyft–even if you happen to’ve by no means used them. If not, you’ll be able to learn a few of our recommendation for utilizing Uber and different ride-sharing providers within the publish Uber & Lyft at Walt Disney World Suggestions.
Basically, we’re enormous followers of Uber and Lyft, utilizing rideshare providers every time doable slightly than renting a automotive. We’ve nearly solely switched from renting automobiles to Uber/Lyft when visiting Walt Disney World. For us, it simply makes extra sense, is extra handy, and cost-effective.
Utilizing rideshare in tandem with Disney transportation works out very well for us. As with renting a automotive, you’ll additionally wish to take into account your circumstances to find out whether or not counting on rideshare is best for you.
In the end, the top of Disney’s Magical Specific has been disappointing to many Walt Disney World guests, however the excellent news is that nice options exist. Equally as necessary, there largely are now not points with provide and demand imbalances or common roadway congestion between Orlando Worldwide Airport and Walt Disney World.
Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine is absorbing most displaced DME riders, with rideshare and rental automobiles selecting up the remainder of the slack. The unhealthy information is that each one of those choices price cash. Despite the fact that the final couple years have been a curler coaster of provide and demand imbalances, this consequence isn’t all that stunning. In any case, Disney’s Magical Specific didn’t exist till the 2000s–earlier than the times of Uber and Lyft–and other people managed to get to and from the airport simply nice, and with out situation.
With that stated, Walt Disney World attendance is up considerably since then (Magic Kingdom alone has elevated by ~6 million company). Lots has modified since Disney’s Magical Specific debuted and Disney attendance nonetheless hasn’t recovered to 2019 ranges, so there may nonetheless be disruptions throughout peak journey dates. Simply one thing of which you would possibly wish to be conscious if visiting Walt Disney World throughout a very busy journey time–it doesn’t damage to hedge your bets and get one thing booked sooner slightly than later.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part that you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the varied floor transportation choices between Orlando Worldwide Airport and Walt Disney World? Will you go for Mears Join Pushed by Sunshine, Uber, Lyft, or renting a automotive? Ideas on pricing, effectivity, or the rest concerning airport transportation? What do you consider Walt Disney World ending Disney’s Magical Specific? Different ideas on this? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
