Airport to Hotel / Resort
Orlando Airport to the Theme Park Resorts
Orlando International serves one of the busiest leisure destinations on earth, and resorts are spread across a wide area. The right transfer depends on which resort cluster you are heading for.
Route at a glance
- From
- Orlando International MCO
- To
- Disney, Universal and I Drive resorts
- Distance
- 10 to 25 miles
- Typical time
- 20 to 50 minutes
Comparing your options
Typical characteristics rather than live prices or timetables. Always check the operator on the day you travel.
| Option | Typical journey | Cost character | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ride hailing | 20 to 45 min | 35 to 70 USD | Small groups |
| Private transfer with car seats | 20 to 45 min | 80 to 140 USD | Families with children |
| Shared shuttle | 45 to 90 min | 20 to 30 USD per person | Budget travel |
| Rental car | 25 to 45 min | Daily rate plus parking | Multi park trips |
Understanding the terminals
MCO has two main terminal complexes, A and B in the north and the newer Terminal C to the south, connected by an automated people mover. Terminal C has its own ground transport level and its own rideshare zone. Knowing which terminal you arrive at avoids a long backtrack.
Where your resort sits
Walt Disney World properties are roughly 20 to 25 miles southwest of the airport, a 25 to 45 minute drive. Universal Orlando and International Drive hotels are closer, typically 15 to 20 minutes off peak. Lake Buena Vista sits between the two.
Complimentary airport bus service to Disney resorts ended some years ago, so most guests now use a paid transfer, a rideshare or a rental car.
Families and car seats
Florida law requires child restraints, and standard rideshare vehicles do not carry them. Booking a transfer company that supplies car seats, or reserving a seat equipped rideshare option in advance, removes a stressful moment at the curb after a long flight.
Cost planning
- Resort parking fees can make a rental car more expensive than it first appears.
- Afternoon thunderstorms in summer slow traffic on I-4 considerably.
- Shared shuttles serve several hotels per run, so ask how many stops precede yours.
- Return transfers should be booked with a buffer, as MCO security queues are frequently long.
Keep reading
Related guides
Harry Reid Airport to the Las Vegas Strip
The Strip begins less than two miles from the runway, which makes Las Vegas one of the easiest resort transfers anywhere. The complications are all at the resort end, not the airport end.
Cancun Airport to the Hotel Zone
The Hotel Zone runs along a narrow barrier island south and east of the airport. Transfers are straightforward once you know how to walk past the timeshare desks in the arrivals hall.
Phuket Airport to Patong Beach
Phuket airport sits at the northern end of the island while Patong is halfway down the west coast, making this a longer transfer than most arrivals expect.
Still deciding which option to take?
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