Orlando International Airport

The Orlando International Airport (MCO) serves more than 95,000 travelers every day and more than 35 million every year. That's a massive amount of traffic. During peak travel season, the airport can get pretty congested, and it can be a hassle to find affordable transportation from the airport to your hotel. Here's what you need to know about ground transportation at MCO:

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Your Options

If you don't have a nice local relative who will pick you up from the Orlando airport, your options include a hotel shuttle, local bus, taxi or rental car.

Airport hotel shuttles: If you're staying at a hotel close to the airport, you may be able to take a free airport shuttle. Disney World used to offer complimentary transportation for its resort guests via Disney's Magical Express buses, but that service was discontinued at the end of 2021.

Local bus: The Lynx Bus, Orlando's local bus system, makes airport pickups and drop-offs about every 30 minutes; and about every hour on Sundays and holidays. The buses run select routes including MCO to downtown Orlando, International Drive and the Florida Mall/SeaWorld area. The cost is $2 per passenger, per ride. The Lynx buses do not go to Port Canaveral or anywhere near Walt Disney World – and don't expect anyone to help you with your luggage.

Uber/Lift: It's not too hard to find the designated pickup areas -- look for the signs marked "Ride App Pickup" and make sure you're at the right terminal where your driver is trying to meet you. It's a bit of a walk, but not too bad. However, people forget that these shared-ride services charge surge pricing whenever there is high demand. With a reported 65 Million visitors to Orlando annually, that equates to an average of over 178,000 people arriving in Orlando every single day! And if you've ever been in the Orlando airport, then you know what I'm talking about! Base rates for these services can sometimes look appealing, but good luck with that. Plus there's the extra wait time while you're hoping for a driver to become available.

Taxi: MCO has two taxi queues, one each in Terminals A and B on the Ground Transportation level. All airport taxicabs are required to charge fares based on the taximeter reading. Flat rates aren't authorized, so you shouldn't trust a driver charging a flat rate. The taxi line at the Orlando airport catches tons of tired, unprepared visitors who haven't otherwise planned for transportation, so the line often gets long. Only registered Orlando taxis are allowed to get in the taxi queue at the airport, but there still have been reports of fraudulent taxi companies picking up passengers and ripping them off.

Rental car: The cost of renting a car for four or five days can be anywhere from $500 to more than $800. You'll also be responsible for tolls, rental insurance and fuel – and unless your hotel offers free parking, you'll also have to pay a daily rate to keep your car there overnight, then drive it to the theme park, pay another high fee for parking, and compete with thousands of other visitors for a good spot.

Booking Your Own Transportation

After a long day of travel, chances are you don't want to rely on a taxi or bus – and you definitely won't feel like waiting around. It's best to book and confirm your own transportation before you even arrive. Arranging for a shared-ride shuttle, private car service or private limo service is the best way to guarantee that you won't get stuck waiting in long lines with other travelers.

With a shared-ride shuttle, however, you do have to wait on other passengers to arrive, claim their baggage, load in and get settled before the shuttle can depart. A shared-ride shuttle also means that you'll have to stop at hotels along the way so passengers can get off – unless you're lucky enough to get dropped off first. A private town car, luxury sedan or limo will pick you up and take you directly to your destination.

How do you get from Orlando airport to Disney World?

There is no free option. Disney’s Magical Express, the complimentary motor coach for Disney resort guests, was discontinued at the end of 2021, and the Lynx city bus does not run anywhere near Walt Disney World. That leaves a shared-ride shuttle, a private car or limo booked in advance, a ride app at surge pricing, a metered taxi, or a rental car. The drive is roughly 30 to 45 minutes from MCO.

Is there a free shuttle from Orlando International Airport to hotels?

Only if you are staying at a hotel close to the airport, some of which run their own complimentary shuttles to the terminal. Hotels in the theme-park areas – Lake Buena Vista, International Drive, Kissimmee – do not offer free transport to or from MCO, even when they run a free shuttle to the parks themselves.

Does the Lynx bus go to Disney World or Port Canaveral?

No to both. The Lynx bus costs $2 per passenger per ride and picks up at MCO about every 30 minutes, or about hourly on Sundays and holidays, running to downtown Orlando, International Drive and the Florida Mall/SeaWorld area. It does not serve Walt Disney World or Port Canaveral, and nobody helps with luggage.

Where are the taxi and ride app pickups at MCO?

Taxis queue on the Ground Transportation level, with one rank in each of Terminals A and B. Ride app pickups are signposted “Ride App Pickup” and sit a short walk from the terminal – check you are at the terminal your driver is heading to. Every airport taxi must charge by the meter; flat rates are not authorised, so treat a driver quoting one as a warning sign.

Is MCO the only airport in Orlando?

No, the greater Orlando area also has the Orlando Executive Airport and the Orlando Sanford International Airport. The Orlando Sanford International Airport is much smaller and serves less than 2 million domestic and international passengers per year. The Orlando Executive Airport caters to business travelers and offers quick service with minimal ground to air transition time. Melbourne Orlando International Airport has also become an important arrival hub for the area, beginning in March 2022 when TUI Airways switched all their flights from the UK over to this airport. This airport is way out on the coast, south of Cocoa Beach -- more convenient for Port Canaveral departures, but many people will also choose this arrival destination for their Orlando area and Disney hub. American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and AllegiantAir also have flights to and from this airport.

How far away is the airport from downtown Orlando?

The Orlando International Airport is about 12 miles from the downtown area. It's a highway route that includes tollbooths and typically takes about 20 minutes to get downtown with traffic.

Your Transportation Solution

Booking with Orlando Shuttle Service will guarantee that you'll have a comfortable ride waiting to take you to your hotel after a long day of travel. Use our online form to quickly generate a list of quotes so you can compare prices. To learn more about what we offer, visit the Our Solution page.