Should You Rent a Car at Disney World? What Families Should Know

Wondering if you should rent a car for Disney World? Figuring it out isn’t as simple as it sounds. Between airport transfers, car seats, stroller logistics, and getting from park to park, the “easy” choice depends on a lot: your kids’ ages, your budget, your resort, and how much energy you have left at the end of a long park day.

Over the years, I’ve done it all: rented a car, relied completely on Disney World transportation, and mixed the two depending on the trip. In this post, I’ll break down what’s actually worth it, what hidden costs to watch for, and how to get to Disney from the Orlando airport, whether that means taking the bus to Disney World, booking a private transfer, using rideshare, or renting a car.

If you’re weighing the pros and cons of renting a car at Disney World, this guide will help you sort out what makes the most sense for your family.

Note: This post assumes you’re staying at a Disney resort. If you’re staying off-property, there’s a different set of factors to weigh, and those are not included here.

How to Get to Disney World From Orlando Airport

When you arrive at Orlando International Airport (MCO), you’ll have a few main ways to get to Disney World:

1. Rent a Car

All major car rental companies (and private rentals like Turo) are available at MCO. Renting a car can be a great option if you want flexibility, especially if you’re planning to explore other parts of Orlando outside the parks.

But for many families, the cost adds up quickly. Rental prices can range widely, and if you don’t travel with car seats, there’s another big cost to consider: car seat rentals. For my family, renting two car seats would add a lot to the daily total. By the time you add everything up, renting a car at Disney World can easily become one of the more expensive options.

If renting a car sounds like the right move for your family, you can use the tool below to compare prices across major rental companies, search for rental cars at your destination, and check availability, including car seat options when offered.

2. Mears Shuttle Bus

If you used Disney’s Magical Express back in the day, this is essentially its replacement, just without the “free” part. Mears Connect runs large shuttle buses that take multiple families from the airport to their Disney resorts.

At the time of writing, prices are around $16 each way for adults (10+), $13 for kids (3–9), and free for kids under 3. On paper, it’s the most budget-friendly option, but if you have a larger family, the total can add up quickly. A round trip for two adults and two kids is already over $100, which starts to close the gap on what you’d pay for a private transfer.

It can still be a great value for smaller travel groups, but it’s something to keep in mind. The trade-off is time: you’ll need to wait for the bus to fill up, and it makes multiple stops at different resorts along the way.

Still, if I wanted the cheapest route from MCO to Disney World with my kids, this would be the option I’d look at first. You don’t need car seats on this bus, which is a big plus.

3. Private Transfer

This is the type of transfer I usually book for our Disney trips. We’ve used Mears and Away We Go Transportation, though there are plenty of companies offering this service. Prices vary by company and destination, but in my experience, it runs about $250 round trip from the airport to Disney.

That might sound steep at first, but when you factor in the cost of a rental car, car seat rentals, parking logistics, and convenience, it can make sense, especially for families with young kids. These private transfers come with car seats already installed and ready to go. On one of our trips, we had four car seats waiting in a private van we shared with my sister’s family. On the same trip, we traveled with eight of us total in a Sprinter van, and the cost ended up being roughly the same as what we would’ve paid for the Mears shuttle once we added everyone up. So for larger groups, private transfers can actually be the better value.

Some companies even let you add extras. When I booked through Away We Go Transportation, I added a case of bottled water and a Zoe Twin+ stroller rental for my sister’s kids, and both were ready when we landed. You can also request grocery or convenience stops along the way, which is such a help after a long travel day.

Once You’re There: Disney Transportation vs. Having a Car

So you’ve made it to your resort. Now what? Should you keep the rental car, or rely on Disney World transportation to get around?

Disney’s transportation system is one of the best parts of staying on property. Between buses, boats, the monorail, and the Skyliner, you can get almost anywhere in Disney World without ever driving.

It’s free, generally reliable, and part of the whole “Disney bubble” experience.

Pros of Disney Transportation:

• Completely free (included with your resort stay)
• Drops you off closest to park entrances
• A big hit with transportation-loving kids (like mine!)
• Keeps you immersed in the Disney magic from start to finish

Cons of Disney Transportation:

• Can get crowded at peak times (like park open and close)
• Occasionally delayed by weather or maintenance
• Harder to go between resorts (often requires a transfer at a park)
• Not ideal if you want to explore anything off-property

Renting or Bringing Your Own Car

Having your own car at Disney means more flexibility, but there are a few trade-offs.

Pros of Having a Car:

• Free parking at Disney resorts and theme parks for on-property guests
• Freedom to go anywhere on or off property anytime
• Convenience of being on your own schedule

Cons of Having a Car:

• Parking can be really far from entrances—and at Magic Kingdom, you’ll park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and take the monorail or ferry to the park
• Large lots often require taking a tram to the entrance (tricky with strollers)
• Traffic can back up during peak times (especially after fireworks)

Decided a rental car is the best call for your family? Use this tool to check real-time prices, car types, and availability at your preferred pickup location.

What I Personally Do—And Why

I grew up using Disney transportation, and to me, it’s part of the experience. I love hopping on a bus or boat and letting someone else handle the logistics while I soak in the atmosphere.

But when I’m the only adult with two young kids, there’s another layer to think about. We travel with a double stroller, and each type of transportation has different rules for folding and carrying it. Sometimes, folding it while juggling two little ones feels like more hassle than it’s worth.

Having a car with car seats would eliminate that—but not always in a practical way. For example, at Magic Kingdom, even if you drive, you still have to park far away and take the tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center, meaning the stroller has to be folded anyway.

In my experience, the sweet spot is staying at a resort with easy park access, like the EPCOT resort area or the monorail line, so you can reach at least one or two parks by walking or monorail.

If my kids were older, I’d go right back to using Disney transportation exclusively. For now, we mix and match depending on the trip.

Should You Rent a Car at Disney World?

So, should you rent a car at Disney World? It really depends on your family’s preferences, budget, resort, and comfort level.

If you want flexibility, plan to go off-property, or prefer being on your own schedule, a rental car might be worth it. If you’d rather stay in the Disney bubble, avoid parking lots, and let someone else do the driving, Disney transportation can make the trip feel easier.

For my family, the deciding factor usually comes down to the stroller. If I can get where we need to go without folding it, I’m much more likely to choose Disney transportation. If we’re staying somewhere that requires a lot of bus rides or we need to go off-property, then a car or private transfer may start to make more sense.

Whichever way you go, plan ahead, know your options, and you’ll make the most of your Disney trip, car or no car.

Have questions about this post or want help thinking through the logistics for your own trip? Join my free Facebook community for parents planning family travel. You can ask questions, share what you’re working through, and get real-life advice from other parents who understand how many little details go into traveling with kids.