Let’s face it — driving to Disney World can be expensive!
Cars heading into the Magic Kingdom parking lot
Gas prices are very high right now in the United States, including around Disney World. Driving can also take a long time depending on where you’re coming from, cutting into time that you could be spending exploring the parks or relaxing at your hotel. But, when it comes to traveling to Disney World right now, driving could actually be your best option. So, let’s talk about why you still might want to drive to Disney World.
Gas Tax Suspension
We know that gas prices are high right now, but there might be a little relief on the way. President Joe Biden recently asked Congress to suspend federal gasoline and diesel taxes for three months, according to CNBC. He is also asking states to suspend their own gas taxes or provide similar relief.
Speedway Gas Station Outside of Magic Kingdom
There is currently a 18.4 cents-a-gallon federal tax on gas and a 24.4 cents-a-gallon federal tax on diesel. If these taxes are suspended, people could save about 3.6% on gas when prices average around $5 a gallon. This may not seem like a lot, but it could definitely add up.
The Speedway Gas Station in Disney World
However, this might not necessarily fix gas prices in the long run, and ultimately gas prices that are set by global markets, gas companies, and consumer demand. But, President Biden has also called on energy companies to accept lower profit margins to increase oil production and refining capacity for gasoline. Energy companies are also meeting soon to discuss ways to increase their supply.
Disney Springs Speedway
So, while gas prices might not be ideal at the moment, there could be a little bit of a drop in prices in the future if the tax suspension is approved. This could really help your gas bill if you’re driving to Disney World!
Click here to check out what gas prices are looking like around Disney World
Airline Issues
If you don’t drive to Disney World, the other option is to fly. We totally understand flying if you live somewhere very far away, like in California or Canada. But, if you are within a reasonable road tripping distance, it can be a tough call between driving and flying.
Ready to Fly?
While gas prices are high right now, flights are also very expensive! You can probably save a lot of money driving one car down to Florida instead of paying hundreds of dollars EACH to fly there with your family. Sure, that price at the gas tank might make you wince, but hundreds of dollars on gas for a road trip might be better than thousands of dollars on flights!
Orlando International Airport
You also have to take into consideration what the airline industry is going through right now. There are significant staffing shortages, meaning there are less routes available, delays, cancellations, and more. You could take a connecting flight to Disney World, only to find out once you arrive at your connecting airport that your flight has been canceled. Then, you have to deal with getting rebooked and possibly messing up your schedule for your vacation.
©Travel and Leisure
There have been a LOT of flights canceled in recent months, which can make it a risky and expensive option. If you’re driving, you might run into traffic, but at least you know you’re completely in charge of getting where you want to go. Of course, you have to factor in food on the way and the fact that the car could break down or have a flat. So those are things to factor in as well.
Here’s what to do if your flight to Disney World gets canceled
No Magical Express
Disney’s Magical Express was discontinued at the start of 2022, meaning there is no longer a free transportation option between Orlando International Airport and Disney World. Now, you have to either get a rental car, use one of the paid replacements for the service, or take a rideshare like an Uber.
Magical Express has been discontinued
There are two options available that are very similar to Magical Express, but they cost money. Mears Connect is the first, costing $16 per adult, $13.50 per child one way, and $32 per adult, $27 per child round-trip using their Standard service. They also have an Express service, which is only offered round-trip at $250 for 4 people and an additional $55 for each extra person.
Mears Connect Bus
The other option is the Sunshine Flyer, which is $17 per adult and $12.50 per child for a one-way trip, and $34 per adult and $25 per child for round-trip service. Kids under the age of 2 ride free. These are the standard prices, but sometime the Sunshine Flyer has special deals and offers, like right now, children can ride for free and adults are only $16 if you book by July 31st.
Sunshine Flyer
Whichever way you decide to get to and from the airport and Disney World, it’s going to cost you. So, driving yourself could save you some money in that regard. But, remember that if you bring your own car you have to pay for parking at Disney World hotels, so the cost could be about the same either way, depending on how many people are in your party and how many nights you’re at Disney World.
Click here to see what you need to know about renting a car in Orlando in 2022
Freedom of Having Your Own Car
Having your own car with you at Disney World also gives you a certain amount of freedom. You can be completely on your own schedule, not having to wait for Disney transportation or a rideshare service to get where you want to go.
Do you prefer to drive to Disney World or take another mode of transportation?
You also have the ability to go park at the actual theme park, which allows you to arrive and leave whenever you want, and it can also help you park hop faster. Keep in mind that if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you can park at the theme parks for free.
Animal Kingdom entrance
If you have your own car with you, you can also go out and explore beyond Disney World much easier. You can pop over to the other theme parks in the area, head to the beach for the day, and more. It will also allow you to go to the grocery store, pharmacy, or wherever else you might need to go while you’re on vacation. Sure, you could take an Uber to do these things, but it’s probably much easier just to hop in your car to run to the grocery store.
Click here to see the BIG reasons people aren’t traveling this summer
So, driving to Disney World right now might not be a terrible idea after all! But, that’s not to say that it won’t still cost you a big chunk of change. Gas prices ARE high across the country, so you would need to factor the cost of driving into your budget depending on what kind of car you have, how much gas costs around where you live and around Disney World, and how far you’re driving. But, when the alternative is pricy plane tickets, it might not be such a bad call (unless you can score some really great flight deals!).
Speedway
Also keep in mind that you do have to pay for overnight parking at Disney World hotels. It’s $15 per night at Value resorts, $20 per night at Moderate resorts, and $25 per night at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts. Those costs can add up too, but remember that you do get free parking at the theme parks if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel.
Port Orleans — French Quarter Parking
Ultimately, you should probably price out your two options and weigh out what is best for you family. You may like the luxury of not having to drive to Disney World and you may have a large number of flight points racked up! Or you may love taking long road trips with the fam and find that it’s much cheaper for you to drive than fly. We track flight prices monthly and have been keeping a close eye on gas prices in the Orlando area, so we can make sure that you know all of your options and what prices are looking like. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest and most up to date information!
Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World tips and info on planning your next vacation.
Click here to see how much it costs a family of 4 to do Disney World in 2022
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I always drive my own car to Disney as I love the convenience of leaving the parks when I want, not having to wait for another bus, etc., and I get to my reservations on time. I also am a nervous flyer. But I’m still very angry about being charged for parking at the resorts when it used to be free. Prices for people who did not bring a vehicle did not go down because they now charge us to park. It used to be a great perk of Disney and I’d stop and spend the night at a new (to me) Disney hotel instead of stopping at other hotels/motels on my route to and from Ft. Lauderdale and just enjoy the resort for the night. So much about Disney is now so disappointing; it’s hard to believe it’s the same company.
We will be driving to WDW in August and we are from Canada 🤣 . Actually, our drive is 18 hrs (which is long of course) but I wouldn’t lump Canada with California as a whole 😉 It’s a huge country, and it’s not really different for us to drive to Disney than it is for New Yorkers for example. We usually fly, we did in December and April and had no issues but I agree, this summer driving might be a better option for many! We are also doing a Disney wish cruise and it just makes sense to have it our own transportation to the port.
Since we have discovered the convivence of flying, that is our preferred mode of travel to Disney. We can get a direct flight to and from. For the two of us it will be cheaper to fly than drive. No gas, no stress before or after a long drive. However, we will miss The Magical Express. We will have to pay Mears $64.00 for the round trip but will not have to pay the $13.00 hotel parking fee for a car. We do not leave property, and with planning can make all special dinning arrangements and park transportation.
May of this year I decided to drive from South Jersey to WDW. This would normally be a 17 hour drive. I split the trip into overnight stops. The first leg was 8 hours to Charlotte , NC to visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame. I stayed two nights in Charlotte then drove 8 hours for a two night stay with relatives about an hour north of WDW. The morning of my check-in at OKW I arrived around 9AM and boarded a bus for the parks. Since my stay was DVC points I did not pay for parking. I took my Disney Rewards dollars that would have been used for airfare and got a Disney Redemption Card for my expenses while in WDW. First time ever checking out of a WDW with a zero hotel bill! I would like to think of a stop off for the drive back next time but would definitely do this again.
Having both driven and flown from Massachusetts, the weather is a big consideration. We liked the cost savings of driving, but trying to outrun huge storms and having some close calls has forced us to realize we have to fly during those seasons. Also, NASCAR on the east coast means no hotel rooms are available along the way unless you know where you’ll want to pre-book.
I gave up flying to WDW once my son was born, in fact, all flying except one mandatory work trip. We drive from Virginia, breaking up the trip overnight in Santee, SC (lots of hotels and places to eat). So nice to not have to get to an airport at a certain time, only to remember something essential while you are spending two hours waiting for your flight (once forgot my husband’s wallet, drove 45 minutes home for it, easy with no fixed schedule). Having our car is so freeing, and lets us make our own schedule, go off site to shop or for a meal, and to visit the beach for an afternoon. Not happy about paying to park at the resorts, but folks should recognize that Disney is late to this game, as Universal has charged to park at hotels for years, as have the Swan and Dolphin. As I am now the sole driver and getting older, we are treating ourselves to the Autotrain on the way back, something we enjoyed last year.