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Orlando airport to Disney and Universal: every way, timed and priced

Orlando's hotels are spread over a big map, and the airport sits on its east side, so the ride matters more here than in most cities. There is no train to the parks and no flat taxi fare, but there is a shared shuttle to the Disney hotels and Universal runs one of its own. Below is every realistic way from Orlando International, with the operators' own prices, and the way we would get to each of the ten hotels in our Orlando edit.

The short answer

By car our Universal hotels and The Ritz-Carlton at Grande Lakes are typically 21–28 minutes from Terminal A, The Alfond Inn 30 and our Disney hotels 34–39; from Terminal C add 3–10 minutes. A metered taxi to the Disney resorts runs about $52–68 by the airport's estimate, for up to nine people, while Mears Connect's shared shuttle to Disney-owned hotels is $17.60 an adult and takes 30–60 minutes. For a family with luggage, a late arrival or any hotel Mears does not serve, a pre-booked private transfer at a fixed price is the easy answer.

  • MCOOrlando International (MCO). The airport for the parks and for every flight from Britain and Europe: Terminal C for British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Aer Lingus, Terminals A and B for most US airlines.

Book a private transfer

Booked with

A driver meets you in arrivals with your name on a sign, at a fixed price agreed when you book. Booked and paid with Welcome Pickups through our partner Travelpayouts; we may earn a commission.

A Brightline train at the Orlando airport station beside Terminal C
A Brightline train at the Orlando airport station beside Terminal C

Every way in, timed and priced

Taxi, on the meter

MCO
Time
Typically 21–28 minutes to our Universal and Grande Lakes hotels, 30 to Winter Park and 34–39 to our Disney hotels from Terminal A; 3–10 minutes more from Terminal C
Price
Metered, no flat fares; the airport's estimates are $52–68 to the Disney resorts, $47–55 to Lake Buena Vista, $38–45 to International Drive and $45–55 to Winter Park, the same for up to nine people

Simple and good value for a group, since the fare is per car. At Terminals A and B the rank is on Level 1, the Ground Transportation kerb; at Terminal C on the Arrivals kerb, Level 6.

Pre-booked private transfer

MCO
Time
The same drive as the taxi, with the driver waiting in arrivals
Price
Fixed when you book; the widget on this page shows the live price

The calm choice after a long flight from Europe: the driver tracks the flight, meets you with your name, and the car can carry child seats, which matters on a drive of up to about 50 minutes.

Mears Connect shared shuttle

MCO
Time
Every 20–30 minutes; 30–60 minutes to the Disney hotels, depending on traffic and stops
Price
$17.60 an adult and $14.30 a child aged 3–9 to the resort, $33.60 and $27.30 return; under-3s free; plus a 6% fuel surcharge

The value way to Disney-owned hotels for one or two people, from Level 1 of Terminal B or Terminal C. It does not serve the Four Seasons, the Universal hotels, Grande Lakes or Winter Park.

Mears Connect Express

MCO
Time
Direct to your Disney-area hotel, no other stops
Price
$250 return for up to four, $55 for each extra person, plus the 6% fuel surcharge

A private round trip from the same counter, worth pricing against a taxi each way for a family of four.

Uber or Lyft

MCO
Time
As the taxi
Price
Shown in the app before you book; the airport publishes no fare

Pick-up is on the Arrivals kerb, Level 2, at Terminals A and B, and Level 6 at Terminal C. Compare the price with the airport's taxi estimate first.

Universal's SuperStar Shuttle

MCO
Time
Direct to the Universal Orlando hotels
Price
Priced by Universal when you add it to a Universal hotel booking

Booked through Universal, one way or return, from Level 1 Ground Transportation; for Cabana Bay, Portofino Bay and Helios Grand guests who would rather not queue for a cab.

LYNX city bus

MCO
Time
Every 30 minutes or better by day; Link 42 for International Drive, Link 11 for downtown, Link 311 express on I-4 to the Disney Springs Transfer Center
Price
$2 a ride, $4.50 all day; exact fare, no change given

For light travellers on a budget only, from Level 1 on the A side, spaces A38 to A41; with cases or children, the shuttle or a car is far simpler.

From the airport to our ten hotels

The taxi rules

Orlando's airport taxis run on the meter under the City of Orlando's vehicle-for-hire rules, and flat fares are not allowed. The airport publishes estimates instead: $52–68 to the Disney resorts, $47–55 to Lake Buena Vista, $38–45 to International Drive and downtown, and $45–55 to Winter Park and Maitland. A cab takes up to nine people and the rate does not change with the number.

At Terminal A the rank is on the Level 1 kerb between spaces A22 and A25, at Terminal B between B30 and B34, and at Terminal C on the Level 6 Arrivals kerb. Four companies serve the airport: Diamond Cab, Quick Cab, Town & Country and Mears Taxi.

Disney resorts, airport estimate
$52–68
Lake Buena Vista
$47–55
International Drive or downtown
$38–45
Winter Park and Maitland
$45–55
Passengers per taxi
Up to 9, same rate

Mears Connect in detail

Mears Connect is the shared shuttle to Disney-owned hotels. Check in at its counter on Level 1 of Terminal B, bus slots B91 to B97, or on Level 1 of Terminal C, and you are given a vehicle; they leave every 20 to 30 minutes and take 30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic and how many hotels come first. It runs around the clock. Strollers go in the luggage bay, and car seats are not needed on the coaches.

Three of our Disney hotels, the Grand Floridian, the Yacht Club and Pop Century, are on its list. It does not go to the Four Seasons, the Universal hotels, Grande Lakes or Winter Park.

Arriving late, with children and luggage

After a long-haul flight, passport control and the bags come before the drive. That is when a private transfer earns its price: the driver tracks the flight, waits in arrivals and takes you straight to one hotel, not five. Families can ask for child seats, and the fixed price means no surprises on the meter if the roads are slow.

Why the train is not the answer here

No. Brightline's station sits beside Terminal C, open 5am to 11pm, but its trains run only south-east to West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami. The SunRail commuter line has no station at the airport yet; LYNX buses connect. For the parks, it is a car, a shuttle or a bus.

Going back to the airport

Mears Connect's return to the airport is $16 an adult and $13 a child when bought as a round trip, booked ahead with Mears. Leave enough time: the airport wants you at the security checkpoint two hours before your flight, and if you have no TSA PreCheck or CLEAR you can book a free MCO Reserve slot up to seven days ahead. Tell the driver your terminal, C for British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Aer Lingus, because C is a separate building from A and B.

Questions people ask

Good questions about Orlando

How much is a taxi from Orlando airport to Disney World?

The airport's estimate is $52–68 to the Disney resorts, on the meter, for up to nine people. The drive is typically 34–39 minutes from Terminal A to our Disney hotels.

How much is a taxi from Orlando airport to Universal?

Taxis are metered, and the airport's estimate to International Drive, next to Universal, is $38–45. The drive is 22–28 minutes from Terminal A to our Universal hotels.

How much is Mears Connect from Orlando airport?

$17.60 an adult and $14.30 a child aged 3–9 to a Disney-owned hotel, $33.60 and $27.30 return, under-3s free, plus a 6% fuel surcharge.

Where do Uber and Lyft pick up at Orlando airport?

On the Arrivals kerb, Level 2, at Terminals A and B, at any hour, and on Level 6 at Terminal C.

Is there a bus from Orlando airport to Disney?

LYNX Link 311 runs express on I-4 from the airport to the Disney Springs Transfer Center for $2, every 30 minutes or better by day. It is a budget option for light travellers, not a door-to-door ride.

How long is the drive from Orlando airport to Disney World?

Typically 34–39 minutes from Terminal A to our Disney hotels, 3–10 minutes more from Terminal C. Mears Connect allows 30–60 minutes with stops.

Does the Four Seasons Orlando have an airport shuttle?

Mears Connect does not serve it, so the way in is by car: a taxi on the meter or a pre-booked private transfer, about 37 minutes from Terminal A.

Image credits: elisfkc2 (CC BY-SA 2.0)