Last Updated on August 14, 2023 by Elizabeth

Bad news, Disney fans. One of the best free perks of staying at a Disney World Resort hotel has been retired, and it now makes a lot of sense to consider a Disney World rental car.

Last year, Disney stopped offering its complimentary Magic Express transportation between Orlando International Airport and all the official Disney World properties.

For guests staying at an official Disney World Resort property, there are a few transportation options — none of them free. With the death of the Magical Express, it is important to price out transportation costs when budgeting for your Disney vacation.

How Much Does the Disney World Airport Shuttle Cost?

In the wake of the Magical Express termination, a few bus shuttle options have emerged.

Ask AutoSlash for a Quote on a Cheap Car Rental

Mears Connect provides essentially the same service that Disney’s Magical Express did, minus the Disney theming. The shuttle operates between the airport and all the Disney owned-and operated-hotels as well as the Disney Springs area hotels, the Four Seasons, the Gaylord Palms, Bonnet Creek, Shades of Green, and several other area hotels.

  • Mears’ standard service makes a limited number of stops on the way to your resort. Mears promises to get Disney World guests on their way within 20 minutes of checking into the Mears Connect reception area at Orlando Airport. The one-way price is $15 per adult and $12 per child; roundtrip costs $31.50 per adult and $21.20 per child. So for a family of four with two kids, you’re looking at $105.40 round trip.
  • Mears’ express service takes guests directly to their resort with shorter wait times. But it’s also significantly pricier at $250 roundtrip for up to four passengers. Additional passengers are $55 each.

The Sunshine Flyer also runs between Orlando airport and the Disney World hotels. The buses are painted to resemble old-fashioned train locomotives. Like the Mears Connect standard service, the Sunshine Flyer will make multiple stops but promises that the last drop is made in 65 minutes or less.

  • The price is $15 per adult and $12 per child for one-way service. So a family of four will pay $108 for roundtrip service.

How Much Does a Taxi Between the Airport and Disney World Cost?

Remember, Disney World is a big place — roughly the same size as San Francisco or twice the size of Manhattan. A taxi between Orlando airport and Disney World can cost between $55-$70 each way, depending at which Disney World resort you are staying. That’s $110 to $140 roundtrip for cab fare.

Using Uber or Lyft can be cheaper. UberX can be as cheap as $40 each way from the airport to Disney World properties. Figure on paying $10 more each way for UberXL, and Uber Black with a reserved car seat can run as much as $120 each way.

How Much Does Disney World Rental Car Cost?

Need a car rental at Orlando International Airport? Having a rental car frees you up to explore more of the Orlando area. Ten major rental car companies have offices inside the passenger terminal.

Let AutoSlash Track Your Car Rental for Price Drops

The best way to always get the best rate is to ask AutoSlash for a quote as soon as you book your Disney vacation. We’ll scour the internet to find the best publicly available discounts out there, and we’ll automatically factor in your memberships to organizations like AAA or Costco to make sure we don’t leave anything on the table. This service is always absolutely free.

Next, ask AutoSlash to track your reservation. We’ll let you know if there’s a price drop before you pick up your rental car, so you can cancel and rebook at the lower rate to save even more. Customers who track their car rental reservations with AutoSlash save an additional 30%, on average.

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