What Airport Is Closest To Disney World?

Disney World, Orlando, is one of the most magical vacation destinations in the world. If you are a fan of Disney, you are going to love spending your time here. There are many fun activities in Orlando to get involved with, especially for families.

But it’s also important to organize your vacation. This will include thinking about which airport is most convenient for this destination. Otherwise, you can have to do even more traveling to get to Disney World.

This guide will help you to plan your vacation so that you can have the perfect trip to Disney World!

Also, read our articles about What To Expect When Flying For The First Time, or learn more about How To Pack Liquids For Air Travel and How To Get Cheap Plane Tickets.

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Which Airport is Closest to Disney World?

What Airport Is Closest To Disney World?

Disney World is located in Lake Buena Vista, southwest of Orlando. The closest airport to your destination is Orlando International Airport (MCO). But the truth is that there are a few different airports in Orlando, which are all good options for getting to Disney World.

Here’s everything you need to know about these airports, including how long it will take to get to Disney World:

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

First opened in 1940, Orlando International Airport is the largest airport in the state of Florida. In fact, it’s one of the busiest airports in the United States, with millions of passengers every year using it. It’s located in the southeast part of Orlando.

To get to Disney World from this airport will take approximately 20 to 35 minutes when traveling by car. So if you have hired a taxi, it shouldn’t take too long to get there. Alternatively, you can rent a car while visiting Orlando. Of course, the length of your journey will be subject to traffic and the route you take.

There’s also a shuttle service that is an affordable way of traveling from Orlando International Airport to Disney World. Known as the Sunshine Flyer, this is a shuttle service inspired by the 1920s.

This charming motorcoach has been charmingly decorated to reflect the era. If you want to book your journey on the Sunshine Flyer, simply use this link.

This motorcoach is designed to take less than 65 minutes to get to Disney World while also providing an enjoyable experience.

If you want to cycle to Disney World, it will take over an hour. Although this is a healthy mode of traveling, it’s far from the quickest and most effective method of getting from this airport to Disney World, Orlando.

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)

Another convenient airport close to Disney World is the Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). It’s further away from Disney World than Orlando International Airport, but it is certainly a good alternative.

This airport is international, though it is primarily used for domestic travel. So it can be a good choice if you are traveling domestically to Disney World.

Getting from the Orlando Sanford International Airport should take between 40 and 55 minutes if you travel by car. This will be the case whether you travel by hire car, taxi, or Uber.

This is around double the time it takes to drive from Orlando International Airport to Disney World. You can also use a private shuttle service, as Disney World is a popular destination for this airport.

Cycling there will take more than 3 hours, so we certainly do not recommend getting to Disney World by cycling the entire time.

Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB)

Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB)

The Melbourne Orlando International Airport is not actually located in Orlando. Instead, it’s about 50 miles away from this city. Yet, the airport is still in Florida, namely in the city of Melbourne.

As you can imagine, this means it’s even further away from Disney World than the previous two options. Therefore, we only advise flying to Melbourne Orlando International Airport if the other two options are unavailable.

Getting from Melbourne Orlando International Airport to Disney World will take between 1 ¼ hours and 1 ½ hours. While this is still not too long, this journey is far from desirable after a long flight.

Thus, we advise using either the Orlando International Airport or the Orlando Sanford International Airport for your convenience.

Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Our final pick is Tampa International Airport. As the name suggests, this airport is located in the Tampa district of Hillsborough County, Florida. Tampa is best known for its stunning bay area.

It will take you over an hour to get from Tampa International Airport if your final destination is Disney World. A car journey there will take between 1 ¼ hours and 1 ¾ hours, depending on traffic. Using public transport will likely take even longer.

So if you intend to fly to Tampa International Airport for your Disney World vacation, prepare for a long trip.

Airplane Activities for Kids

Check out our Printable Airplane Activities for Kids with a Travel Planner for Flying. This Airplane Activity Bundle will entertain your children while you travel, especially while flying and in the airport. The Travel Planner will help you and your family prepare for the trip.

airplane activities for kids

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Sunshine Flyer Free?

No, the Sunshine Flyer is not free. If you want to travel from the Orlando International Airport to Disney World, you must pay for your ticket. This is unless you are lucky enough to secure a booking deal.

It costs more for adults to travel than children. Children less than two years old can travel for free by traveling on the lap of an adult. Despite this, the Sunshine Flyer remains a convenient and affordable way to get to Disney World.

Is It Cheaper To Fly To Tampa Than Orlando?

It can be cheaper to fly to Tampa than Orlando. So if you want to save money on your plane ticket, you could fly to Tampa and then travel to Disney World (see also, ‘How to Get Cheap Plane Tickets‘).

Yet, the price of tickets is incredibly subjective, so you could get a better deal by flying to an airport in Orlando. Not to mention, there are additional stresses when getting from Tampa to Disney World, such as a longer drive time.

Final Thoughts

Though Disney World is an amazing vacation destination, it can be a little stressful planning this holiday. But luckily, it should be simple to book your flight.

Your best bet is to fly to the Orlando International Airport, though there are plenty of other airports in Orlando for you to consider!

If you want to make the most of your vacation to Disney World and ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible, why not use one of these phenomenal Disney planning guides?

For more about family travel, check out these posts:
How to Get Cheap Plane Tickets
How To Pack Liquids For Air Travel
Which Disney World Park Is Best?
Disney World Itinerary Planning: What You Need to Know
Tips and Tricks for Disney World
Walt Disney World Vacation Planner
Games To Play In Line At Disney
How Many Days For Disney World?
Disney Genie Plus Review
Which Is Better, Disney World Or Disneyland?
15 Best Family Activities In Orlando To Do On Your Travels

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The BE Family Travel Team writes articles to help parents travel with children.