Let’s keep this as easy as possible, because there are a few options to get you from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) to the various resorts within the Orlando area. Our goal is to provide you with the options and then you’re able to decide based on a number of factors, including cost, ease of booking and convenience.
Here are the Transportation Options from Orlando International Airport
We’ll break this down into two sections
- Staying at a Disney Resort
- Staying Off-Property
STAYING AT A DISNEY RESORT?
Mears Connect (Formerly Disney’s Magical Express)
The new Mears Connect is a service that we haven’t tried first hand yet, but it’s the replacement for the FREE Disney service with a catch – it’s not free!
Cost: $$$
Ease of Booking: We’ve had a number of friends try the service, with a mix of results. The booking is typical ‘Mears’ booking, which means that it’s bound to have a level of frustration involved.
Convenience: The big convenience factor for Mears Connect is that it can drop you off directly at your resort. You know what else can drop you off at your resort?
An UBER / LYFT.
NOT STAYING AT A DISNEY RESORT?
UBER
Cost: Per carYou’ll have to do the math on this one, but depending on how many people you’re travelling with, it’ll probably be cheaper than paying individually for a shuttle.
Ease of Booking: Everything is done on the Uber app, which is incredibly simple and straightforward. They also have a customer service line in case you need assistance.
Convenience: Uber is as convenient as it gets, as it’s a single car driving you and your party to your hotel. Not having to worry about dropping other guests off at their hotels first, this is probably the easiest way to get to Walt Disney World.
Uber from Orlando International Airport Link
MEARS SHUTTLE
Cost: Paid per person, with Adult and Child pricing
Ease of Booking: This is by far their downfall, as we’ve never had a good experience with their booking process. Ever. Lots of phone calls, very outdated website and little or no support when you actually need it.
Convenience: Mears positions themselves as an alternative, however the cons far outweigh the pros. They don’t separate customers into common-sense routes and the drivers aren’t as efficient, unless they are asking for tips, which they are great at. Budget 60-90 minutes to get from the airport to your resort, where the driving time is only 20-30 minutes.
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TAXIS
Cost: $55-65 one way (plus gratuity) and an extra $10 for hotels in the Magic Kingdom Area.
Ease of Booking: You get your luggage and meet the sea of taxi drivers waiting to drive you to your resort.
Convenience: Yes, it’s convenient, however the taxi industry within the Orlando area is very similar to any other big city. The cars aren’t clean, the drivers are very pushy and sometimes downright rude and there are a lot of scams that are reported from taxi drivers who are preying on tourists to milk extra money out of them because they don’t know better.
Honestly, I’ve always suggested, and will continue to, use anything besides a taxi
RENTAL CARS
Another option as you can add a rental car to your initial reservation and then pick it up and drop it off at MCO. Hertz, National, Alamo, Dollar, Budget and L&M are all available at the airport.
There are a few options for you to consider, but when you look at it…the experience that you can get from UBER / LYFT is consistent and will allow you the piece of mind to know that you’re going to get where you need to go without having to learn a new system.
The old Magical Express was a great option, but when Disney ended the contract and turned into a ‘fee-based system’ – the value proposition has changed and made the consumer decide on the outcome with little upside to staying with a previously unreliable service.
