Disney and the theme parks
Closest Airport to Disney World: Miles, Drive Times and Ride Prices From Each Airport
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Short answer
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the closest airport to Disney World: about 18 to 25 miles from the resorts, a 25 to 45 minute drive depending on your resort and traffic. Orlando Sanford (SFB) is next, about 43 miles and an hour away. Our private rides from MCO start at $99 per vehicle, and a 14-passenger van is $179.
- Closest: Orlando International Airport (MCO), 18 to 25 miles, about 25 to 45 minutes.
- Second closest: Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), about 43 miles, 55 to 60 minutes.
- Farther away: Daytona Beach (DAB) about 70 miles, Tampa (TPA) about 73 miles, Melbourne (MLB) about 75 miles, each a drive of 1 hour 10 minutes or more.
- On Disney property: no working airport.
What airport is closest to Disney World?
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the airport closest to Disney World. Magic Guides puts it 17 to 20 miles from Disney World, a 20 to 25 minute drive, and Rome2rio's driving estimate is about 24 road miles and 32 minutes. Your exact distance depends on which Disney hotel you booked, and rush-hour traffic can add time.
MCO is also a major hub. It handled 57.7 million passengers in 2025, the 7th-highest total in North America (ACI-NA), and is served by 37 major airlines (Visit Space Coast). Three things make MCO the default for a Walt Disney World trip:
- The shortest ride. About 20 to 25 minutes in light traffic, according to a planDisney panelist on Disney's own site.
- The most flights. Nonstop service to more than 150 cities.
- The most ways to reach your resort. Private SUVs and vans, the Mears Connect shared shuttle, rideshare, taxis, Disney's Minnie Van (Deluxe guests only) and rental cars all serve MCO.
Closest airport to Disney World vs the next closest: side by side
For most families, the question comes down to two choices: MCO and Orlando Sanford (SFB). Here is how they compare on distance, flights and the cost of the ride to your resort.
| Question | Orlando International (MCO) | Orlando Sanford (SFB) |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to Walt Disney World | About 18 to 25 miles | About 43 miles |
| Drive time, no stops | About 25 to 45 minutes | About 55 to 60 minutes (SFB's figures) |
| Airlines | 37 major airlines | Allegiant; Arajet and BermudAir (service begins October 2026); Sun Country seasonal or charter |
| Mears Connect shared shuttle | Yes: $17.60 per adult plus a 6% fuel surcharge | No |
| Rideshare, per car | UberX $35 to $70; UberXL $55 to $100+ (estimate) | Often under $70 for a standard car (Resort Rat); XL and surge cost more |
| Taxi | $52 to $68 to the Disney Resorts Area (MCO's posted estimate) | Over $100, metered (Resort Rat) |
| JOB private minivan or SUV, up to 6 | From $99 | From $159 |
| JOB 14-passenger Ford Transit | $179, or $12.79 each when full | $249, or $17.79 each when full |
JOB prices are one way, per vehicle, with tolls and airport fees included. Gratuity is optional.
How far is MCO (the Orlando airport) from Disney World?
Orlando International Airport is about 18 to 25 miles from Walt Disney World, about a 25 to 45 minute drive depending on your resort and traffic. A shared shuttle that stops at several resorts takes 30 to 60 minutes, according to Mears Connect.
Plan the whole arrival, not just the drive. MCO suggests allowing about 20 minutes from landing to the curb, or 40 minutes if you checked bags. With checked bags and no stops, that puts you at your Disney resort about 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes after landing.
MCO's own taxi estimates show the spread: $47 to $55 to Lake Buena Vista against $52 to $68 to the Disney Resorts Area. For a resort-by-resort table, see our Orlando Airport to Disney World private transportation page.
How far is Sanford airport (SFB) from Disney World?
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is about 43 miles from Walt Disney World, roughly twice as far as MCO. SFB's own website lists the drive at 55 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the park.
| Disney destination | Drive from SFB (SFB's figures) |
|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | 55 minutes |
| ESPN Wide World of Sports | 55 minutes |
| EPCOT | 1 hour |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | 1 hour |
| Disney Springs | 1 hour |
Most of SFB's routes are Allegiant flights, many from smaller cities such as Allentown, PA, Asheville, NC and Cedar Rapids, IA. For some families, that makes SFB the only nonstop option.
The catch is the ride. Mears Connect does not serve SFB, so you need a rideshare, taxi, rental car or private ride. Pre-arranged rides use SFB's pickup zone directly across the street from Baggage Claim areas 1 to 3. Landing at Sanford? Book a Sanford Airport to Disney World ride.
What it costs to get to Disney from each airport, by group size
A rideshare charges per car and a shuttle charges per seat. We charge one flat price per vehicle, so a fuller vehicle splits the price more ways.
| Your group | JOB vehicle | MCO to Disney | Per person, MCO | SFB to Disney | Per person, SFB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 people | Minivan | $99 | $24.75 | $159 | $39.75 |
| 6 people | Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Suburban SUV | $109 | $18.17 | $169 | $28.17 |
| 10 people | Ford Transit 12-passenger van | $159 | $15.90 | $229 | $22.90 |
| 12 people | Ford Transit 12-passenger van | $159 | $13.25 | $229 | $19.08 |
| 14 people | Ford Transit 14-passenger van | $179 | $12.79 | $249 | $17.79 |
How that compares with the other options:
- Mears Connect (MCO only): $17.60 per adult plus a 6% fuel surcharge, about $18.66 per adult one way, or about $187 for 10 adults. Our Mears Connect guide covers how it works.
- Disney's Minnie Van: fits up to 6 and offers airport rides only to Deluxe, Deluxe Villa and Club Level guests. It was $199 plus tax per trip in 2025, and 2026 reports put it at about $249 including a $20 gratuity. A group of 7 or more needs two. See Minnie Van vs a group van.
- Rideshare: a group of 10 needs two UberXLs, which means two cars, two pickups and two fares.
Which JOB vehicle fits your group?
| Vehicle | Passengers | Suitcases |
|---|---|---|
| Minivan | Up to 6 | Ask us |
| Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Suburban SUV | Up to 6 | Ask us |
| Ford Transit 12-passenger van | Up to 12 | Ask us |
| Ford Transit 14-passenger van | Up to 14 | Ask us |
Traveling with more than 6? Read how to get from MCO to Disney World with a group, or book our private group shuttle for 12 or 14 people. Every route is on our full rate list.
Is it cheaper to fly into Sanford or Orlando for Disney?
Only if the airfare savings beat the extra ground cost and the extra time. With JOB, a round trip from SFB costs $120 more than from MCO in an SUV and $140 more in a 14-passenger van. Use this table to check your fares: if each round-trip ticket into SFB is cheaper than MCO by more than the last column, Sanford saves money.
| Your group | JOB vehicle | Extra round-trip ride cost from SFB | Sanford wins if each ticket saves more than |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 people | Minivan | $120 | $30 |
| 6 people | SUV | $120 | $20 |
| 12 people | 12-passenger van | $140 | $11.67 |
| 14 people | 14-passenger van | $140 | $10 |
Time matters too. SFB adds roughly 10 to 35 minutes each way compared with MCO, which is a long stretch with tired kids after a flight.
Big groups feel the difference least. Split 14 ways, the extra ride cost from Sanford is small, so even a modest fare saving can tip the math toward SFB. Small families feel it most, because the same extra cost is split only 3 or 4 ways.
Is there an airport at Disney World?
No. Walt Disney World opened in 1971 with a small STOLport airstrip, but passenger service ended decades ago. The old runway sits off World Drive, just east of the Magic Kingdom parking lots, and is now used mainly to park storage containers.
Two small nearby airports are not options for most visitors either. Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) has no regularly scheduled passenger flights. Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) is the usual choice for private jets, not for airline travelers. Once you reach your resort, our guide to getting around Disney World without a car explains how to move between your resort and the parks.
Other airports near Disney World: Tampa, Daytona Beach and Melbourne
These airports can work if fares are much lower, but each is roughly three to four times as far as MCO.
| Airport | Distance to Walt Disney World | Drive time, light traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Daytona Beach International (DAB) | About 70 miles | About 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Tampa International (TPA) | About 73 miles | About 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Melbourne Orlando International (MLB) | About 75 miles | About 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Miami International (MIA) | About 230 miles | About 3 hours 25 minutes |
Distances and times are from Magic Guides. Rush-hour traffic on I-4 can add more.
Pairing Disney with a cruise? See which airport works best for Port Canaveral.
How your JOB driver meets you
We are a family-run Orlando company, and riders know Pedro and his family by name. Here is what your ride includes:
- Meet and greet at MCO: your driver meets you inside the terminal with a name sign, so there is no searching the curb for your ride. Terminal C has its own Meet and Greet Area on Level 6, and our MCO Terminal C pickup guide walks you through it.
- Car seats and boosters on request, following NHTSA guidance. See our car service with car seats.
- A grocery stop on the way to your resort, on request.
- Spanish-speaking drivers on request.
- $1,000,000 liability insurance, well above Florida's $125,000/$250,000/$50,000 minimum for for-hire vehicles (Fla. Stat. 324.032).
- Every vehicle inspected and well maintained.
We have just returned and used Pedro and his family, excellent service and so nice. Will definitely use him again and continue to recommend.
Every airport route is on our MCO airport transportation and Orlando Sanford airport transportation pages.
Book your Disney airport ride: one flat price per vehicle from MCO, from $99.