Why, hello there, Sally! Welcome to planDisney!
I am happy to hear you are returning to
The Most Magical Place On Earth and have chosen to stay at one of my all-time favorite
Disney Resorts Collection hotels,
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort!
I have two core memories from my early visits to the Walt Disney World Resort that signaled the beginning of my vacation. The first was hopping on Disney’s Magical Express and enjoying a Disney movie on the ride to our hotel. The second was our first monorail ride, and hearing, “Please stand clear of the doors! Por favor manténganse alejado de las puretas.” Unfortunately, only one of those two remains, the complimentary Disney’s Magical Express, has since ceased operations, so let’s explore other ways to get you from the airport to your hotel!
The
Walt Disney World Help Center will guide you toward utilizing The Car Care Center, located near Magic Kingdom Park, the ride service Lyft, and other airport transportation options, even providing approximate rates you could expect. While renting a car would give flexibility to your visit, if you stay in a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, you can take advantage of the complimentary Walt Disney World Resort Transportation, including bus, water, monorail, and Disney Skyliner transportation. So, like I did, you may find that you will park your rental and probably forget where you parked by the time you need to use it to drive back to the airport.
Other companies offering services similar to what Disney’s Magical Express used to provide, such as Mears Destination Services, typically charge approximately $30-$35 per adult and $25-$30 per child for a round-trip ride to/from the airport to a Disney Resort Collection hotel (pricing subject to change). A quick search using your preferred internet search engine may bring up a couple of others for comparison’s sake.
Your other options would be using a car service like Uber, Lyft, or one of the many private companies listed under the Vehicles for Hire section of the Orlando International Airport Parking-Transportation site (
link at the bottom of Transportation FAQ). I have found multiple recommendations for these companies while perusing Instagram and have had great experiences!
Once you are on the property, I highly recommend using the
Minnie Van service, which is connected by Lyft. Minnie Van vehicles are Disney-themed, driven by Cast Members, can accommodate up to six guests, and can be requested through the Lyft app by tapping “Select Minnie Van.” Be careful, though. Once you and your family experience a Minnie Van, you may never want to travel any other way!
I hope this helps you with your Disney vacation planning, Sally! If you have any additional questions, please visit planDisney again. I hope you enjoy plenty of Island Time Margarita, Pineapple Mules, and Piña Coladas during your visit to the Caribbean Beach Resort at
Banana Cabana!
Cheers,
Brent