To Uber or Not To Uber…That is the Question

People always ask me what is the best way to get from the airport to Disney. Well, that’s a loaded question as the “best” way to get there depends on many things; including your budget, how fast you want to get there, if you have kids traveling with you, or if you want to make any extra stops along the way. Below, I’m going to outline several different ways you can get from the airport to your Disney Resort.

Ride Share: (Uber/Lyft) This option is my personal preference. I like getting off the plane, picking up my luggage (if I checked any), and hopping in my own personal ride to my destination. If you fly into terminals A or B, the rideshare pickup is located on the second level just outside the luggage carousels, so it is super easy and convenient, especially if you need to stop and pick up any checked bags. In Terminal C, it is located on level 6. There is usually very little wait for your ride… just open up the app and you can have a car waiting for you within minutes. Some of the other pros are the time it takes to get to your hotel, (the drive is usually around a 30-minute trip, unless there is major traffic), and having a private ride for you and your party. You can also set up an extra stop if you want to run into the grocery or liquor store to grab essentials for your trip. I have never used this option, as I usually use a delivery service such as Instacart, but I’ll save those details for another post in the future. One of the cons is the price can vary greatly during peak times, for example, I have paid as much as $60 to return to the airport…but that has not been the norm for me. Another is the need for car seats if you have young kids, as those rides are not as readily available and may cost more. But all in all, I have decided that the convenience combined with the typical cost, which normally averages around $35-$45 is why I prefer this route to and from the airport.

Shuttle Busses: This is another great option to get to your resort if you don’t want to use a ride share. Recently Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyers merged to become Mears Connect driven by Sunshine. This option features 24/7 service to and from your Disney resort, and services both the main terminal and terminal C. The pickup locations are Terminal B and C Level 1, Ground Transportation. When this post was written, the cost was $16 for adults and $13 for children, (plus fees – one way). So while this option may cost more than a rideshare if you have more than a couple of riders, it may be the best choice for many families. For example, if you have a large family that would require more than one Uber/Lyft, have small children who require car seats, or travel with a lot of luggage, then this may be the best option for you. Another plus of using this service is being able to reserve it way in advance, and not have to worry about your transportation to and from the airport on travel days. One of the negatives of using the shuttle bus is it makes multiple stops, so if your resort is not the first stop, it may take longer to arrive at your destination, but if you know that in advance and plan your day accordingly then it’s not that big of a deal to most. As a side note, this is the option my family always used when our kids were little. At that time, Disney and Mears partnered to run a free service called Disney’s Magical Express. It was a great way to get to and from our resort with very little worry, but now our kids are grown and it’s usually just the two of us traveling, we prefer the rideshare option. For more information on Mears Connect, you can visit their website at https://www.mearsconnect.com/

Taxis: While I have never used this option, this is another way you can get to your destination when leaving Orlando International. While a taxi will be more costly than either of the two listed above, you don’t necessarily have to plan for this in advance or open up an app to call one. Just go to Level 1, Ground Transportation on both the A and B sides of the Terminal, where you can find taxis readily available 24/7. Now one thing to keep in mind is if you are traveling with children who need car seats, and you don’t have your own, it may be a good idea to call the cab company in advance to ask for one.

Rental Cars: This is possibly the most expensive option, especially if you are keeping the car for the length of your trip. But, if you like to have your own vehicle while on vacation, or are planning on taking some day trips to other locations, then it may be a good option for you as it allows you to have the most freedom. Orlando International has tons of car rental options available, including many on-site rental companies so you won’t have to leave the airport to pick it up. Also, keep in mind if you are traveling with children who need car seats unless you have brought them with you, that they may incur an additional charge. If you do decide to go this route, you can find out more about your options and the pickup locations here.

Hopefully, this article gives you an insight into some of the options available for you to travel between the airport and Disney World. While there is no right or wrong way to travel to and from your Disney Resort, I feel it is a great idea to choose whichever of these options works best for you and your family.