Best Airport To Use For a Disney World Trip

Disney4me · December 10, 2022

Congratulations, you’re going to Disney World!

Cinderella Castle

But, now you have to figure out how to get there. You’ve decided that flying is your best option, but the choices don’t stop there. Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida, and there are two major airport options you can choose from — but which one is the best? We’re breaking it down so you know which option is best for you!

There are two commercial airports located in Orlando, Florida. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the larger one, and Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is a smaller airport. We’ll call them Orlando or MCO, and Sanford or SFB in this article to avoid confusion! Both have pros and cons, and one might be better for your next Disney World trip, so let’s go over everything you need to know.

Availability of Flights

Orlando International Airport is one of the largest in the United States, so it makes sense that there would be a wide variety of flight options and more availability than a smaller airport like Sanford. On average, the Orlando Airport sees 850 flights per day. Not only that, but MCO serves 135 destinations both domestically and internationally.

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Orlando International Airport

By comparison, Sanford on average sees around 395 flights per day and doesn’t service quite as many cities, so you won’t find the same amount of options at this airport as MCO. For flight availability, Orlando International takes the cake.

Availability of Airlines

Both MCO and SFB fly to international destinations, so in addition to domestic airlines each airport also features arrivals and departures from across the globe as well. But, like we mentioned previously, MCO is the larger option and because of that has more airline availability as well. At time of writing, MCO services 44 airlines.

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Orlando Sanford International Airport via AllEars.net

Meanwhile, there are far less airlines flying in and out of Sanford. Allegiant Air, Flair Airlines, and Swoop Air are the only three commercial options to choose from when flying in and out of this airport. So, if none of these three airlines flies to an airport near you, that pretty much eliminates SFB as an option.

Distance from Disney World

Disney World is HUGE, but let’s say you’re heading straight to Magic Kingdom from the airport once you land (lucky you!). From MCO, you’re looking at a 24-mile or 30 minute drive on average. Not too shabby to get to the Most Magical Place on Earth. But, you have to cut across Orlando and traverse some pretty busy roads that are often slammed with traffic, so your trip might not always be that quick.

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Orlando International Airport is closer to Disney World

Sanford, on the other hand, is located on the north side of Orlando and is about 50 miles from Magic Kingdom. Because of this, your trip to and from the airport will most likely take closer to an hour. You travel through most of Orlando on this route as well, so traffic might be an issue here as well. If we’re talking just distance, though, MCO is the clear winner.

Flight Costs

There’s no denying that flight costs might be the biggest factor you consider when planning your trip, and it can be a huge chunk of your overall vacation budget. Here’s where the tables turn — flying into Sanford is generally going to be cheaper than flying into Orlando. This is most likely due to the fact that the available airlines at Sanford are considered to be budget airlines, so their prices are typically lower.

Orlando Airport Terminal C

You can save as much as $150 on your flight into Sanford versus a flight into Orlando — and that means more money in your pocket to spend on the rest of your Disney World vacation.

Family Friendliness

Traveling with young kids can be a nightmare, and that’s probably never more apparent than when you’re running through the airport trying to haul luggage and kids along with you. Orlando Airport has three terminals, but around 100 different gates. The airport is HUGE and parts of it are relatively spread out, but there are some kid-friendly restaurants and a Disney Store.

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©Orlando International Airport | Disney Store

There are only two terminals at Sanford, and the airport isn’t as spread out as Orlando overall. They also offer special kids programming and the option for shorter security lines, plus some spots to grab a quick bite to eat. For it’s smaller size, Sanford might be easier to navigate with kiddos.

Overall Convenience

When it comes to convenience, one airport is the clear winner based on transportation options alone. When flying into MCO, you have not one but two shuttle options to take you to Disney World. Although the free Magical Express is gone, you can book a trip with Mears Connect or The Sunshine Flyer for pretty reasonable prices. In addition, you can rent a car or use a rideshare service as well.

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Mears Connect Bus

Transportation at SFB isn’t quite as convenient since it’s around an hour away. Renting a car is always an option, but then you have to factor in paying for parking at your Disney World hotel. Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer don’t operate out of this airport, although several private shuttle services do. They’re typically more expensive than the options at MCO. Rideshare services are an option here as well, but it can run around $60 each way depending on the time of day and service.

Rental cars

When it comes to which airport is the best, it all comes down to what option makes the most sense for you. Families with young kids might consider Sanford for the smaller size, but Orlando is closer to Disney World and offers convenient transportation options. If cost is a big factor for you, Sanford is going to be the cheaper option — if one of the three airlines flies to your nearest airport. No matter which option you choose, you can count on DFB to bring you all the tips you need to know to make your Disney World trip the best it can be.