The common customer to Walt Disney World will spend 27.8% of their waking hours on or in line for some type of transportation. I simply made that quantity up, nevertheless it definitely feels true if you happen to’ve felt the frustration of ready for a Magic Kingdom bus whereas 5 handed for EPCOT, or been late to an ADR as a result of transit took manner longer than anticipated.
This Walt Disney World transportation replace affords information and on-the-ground reporting concerning the good, unhealthy, and ugly of my latest spring break experiences touring between resorts and parks, plus Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World space. It covers the monorail, buses, boats, and Skyliner gondolas, with perception about points throughout one of many peak weeks of the 12 months. With extra such busy occasions on the horizon, that is related to these visiting for Easter, summer time, and past.
Let’s begin with Orlando International Airport stats to date for 2023, as reported by the airport itself. Orlando International Airport (MCO) noticed an 86% improve in worldwide site visitors, and home site visitors climbed by almost 27% in January. Orlando International Airport’s spectacular development charges continued in February, with a 16.6% improve in home site visitors and an 80.1% improve in worldwide site visitors for an total improve of 21.4%.
Spring Break 2023 at Orlando International is only some weeks previous and already six passenger site visitors data have been damaged. On March 11, MCO recorded 95,282 departures, breaking the previous single day report of 90,808 set in March 2019. The following Saturday, March 18, was the second busiest in airport historical past with 93,801 departures, whereas Sunday was the third busiest with 93,662.
I’m no aviation knowledgeable, however I might’ve anticipated March 10/11 and March 18/19 to be the busiest days. Not solely is there the conventional vacationer site visitors for these dates, but in addition locals leaving city attributable to native spring breaks. Following that, it looks as if the weekend earlier than and of Easter (so April 1, 2, 8, 9) could be subsequent busiest.
Note that MCO has solely launched information via final week, and among the new data might fall. Orlando International Airport initially projected this previous weekend to be the busiest of the Spring Break 2023 season, which runs from March 4 till April 18, 2023 for MCO.
During the primary two weeks of Spring Break 2023, an estimated 2.7 million passengers traveled via MCO. That’s a staggering quantity, and one which exceeded inner projections by 159,000 passengers in line with MCO. When all is claimed and carried out, 9 of the highest 10 busiest days in MCO historical past will possible have occurred in March or April 2023.
This is partially attributable to the aforementioned resumption of and rise in worldwide site visitors. It’s additionally virtually definitely a matter of capability constraints, or discount thereof. Terminal C is now working, so the day by day ceiling in departures is increased than it was on those self same days in 2019 when most of the prior data had been set. Not to decrease the data, however they most likely weren’t potential in prior years even when demand was there.
In taking a look at nationwide TSA checkpoint numbers, it’s an identical–albeit much less pronounced–story across the United States throughout Spring Break 2023. Pent-up demand has been the story of the final two years, however 2023 is the 12 months that journey is lastly again on observe and surpassing 2019 quantity.
TSA reviews that January was the primary month of 2023 when quantity exceeded 2019, and that quantity has solely grown since. Thus far, the robust majority of days in March 2023 have seen customer volumes which might be increased than March 2019. According to TSA, vacationers can anticipate elevated airport screening occasions via April 21, 2023. All of that is nice information for the journey comeback, though maybe not a lot for airways and airports which might be nonetheless short-staffed.
On a associated observe, Southwest simply launched its Action Plan for Travel Disruptions following its New Year’s meltdown. I’m glad to see they’re lastly taking steps to treatment previous issues, however I’ll imagine it after I see it. This wasn’t the primary or second time Southwest had such points–simply the primary time it occurred throughout peak vacation journey with by far the worst outcomes, and tons of nationwide media consideration.
I flew via Orlando International Airport on two of the busiest days this 12 months (and ever), and holy cow was it evident that the airport was doing gangbuster numbers. The scene in nearly each regard–floor site visitors, parking, TSA traces, terminal crowds, Starbucks traces–was worse than I’d ever seen and rivaled the busiest airports within the nation.
Without a doubt, this was the “ugly” of transportation on my journey to Walt Disney World for Spring Break. The airport was completely overwhelming, full of folks to the purpose that it was troublesome to maneuver or discover a place to sit down. If I had been an inexperienced traveler, this would possibly’ve began the journey off on the mistaken foot or ended it on a bitter observe.
We did LAX final Thanksgiving Eve, and MCO at Spring Break put that to disgrace! This sort of chaos and crowding is exactly why we advocate Disneyland first-timers keep away from LAX and as an alternative use SNA. Speaking of which, MCO was additionally fairly the distinction to John Wayne, the airport on the opposite finish of the journey, which took me underneath 5 minutes from curb to gate. The phrase that greatest describes SNA is “sleepy,” and going from that to MCO was fairly the wakeup name.
In phrases of actionable recommendation, the very first thing is to journey throughout the center of the week. This most likely isn’t useful or practical for many of you who’re constrained by faculty schedules, however each MCO and TSA present considerably decrease quantity on Mondays via Wednesdays. Of course, if in case you have the liberty to journey on random weekdays, you would possibly as effectively go throughout a time when faculty breaks are not occurring and total quantity is way decrease each single day.
Second, floor transportation from Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World (or wherever) upfront. Normally, we’re about 50/50 on utilizing Lyft/Uber or the shuttle providers from the airport, relying upon the season, time of arrival, and whether or not it’s each of us or simply me. Thankfully, I anticipated excessive quantity and demand, and made reservations with Mears Connect quite than counting on Uber or Lyft upon arrival. Here had been the costs for Lyft from MCO to All Star Sports:
Beyond astronomical demand, this was most likely pushed by the gridlocked site visitors into and out of MCO. That’s been one other frequent prevalence throughout spring break and different peak seasons for journey, as has restricted parking (see this web page for standing updates).
To that time, it’s best to plan accordingly and provides your self a buffer if leaving on a busy journey day and time. Everything will take longer: driving to the airport, returning rental vehicles, dropping off checked luggage, getting via safety, and so forth. TSA goals to maintain wait occasions underneath half-hour, however that quantity might be increased occasionally. As can simply attending to and thru the airport.
To be certain, you don’t want to depart Walt Disney World 4 hours upfront, however you additionally shouldn’t anticipate to depart 90 minutes earlier than your flight and nonetheless breeze via the method. We’ve discovered that the whole lot takes about an hour longer throughout peak season than it might throughout the low season.
As for my expertise with Mears Connect, it was attention-grabbing leaving the airport. There had been big crowds and lengthy traces ready on shuttles to depart…and never a single bus in sight. Reps reported that the buses had been caught in site visitors and could be arriving very quickly. For some purpose, my line and one different brief one had been pulled apart and placed on the van pictured above and departed virtually instantly.
While we had been pulling away, bus after bus arrived (it needed to have been a couple of half dozen, however I didn’t rely). Throughout my keep at Walt Disney World, I routinely noticed each Sunshine Flyer and Mears Connect buses. My shuttle again to the airport was solely about 25% full and was completely uneventful–environment friendly and quick.
All in all my private expertise with Mears Connect was very constructive, however I’m guessing many others arriving into MCO across the similar time as me may need very totally different and far worse tales to inform. But that’s about par for the course with airport shuttle buses: some okay-to-good experiences, and a few horror tales.
For extra perception and data about floor transportation, see our posts about Mears Connect and the Sunshine Flyer. For a broad overview of options, see our Airport Transportation Guide to Walt Disney World.
As for the on-the-ground Spring 2023 Walt Disney World transportation replace, it’s additionally largely good. However, I ought to preface this (as all the time) by conceding that inconsistency can also be the secret with floor transportation. You may go to throughout the slowest week of the 12 months in September and have a horrible time. You may go the week between Christmas and New Year’s and have an awesome one.
Two events staying on the similar resort for a similar dates may have dramatically totally different perceptions just by advantage of luck. That has all the time been the case and possibly all the time will likely be. It’s all the time potential to have a unfavourable expertise that dramatically differs from what’s coated right here. Extremes are frequent with Walt Disney World’s transportation community, and now not even section us.
Walt Disney World transportation is rather a lot like Disney IT: we’ve had the complete vary of negatives through the years, some downright unbelievable. As a consequence, I by no means doubt any story I hear. Even if it comes at a time when my private experiences skew constructive, I do know firsthand that the unbelievably unhealthy is feasible!
Let’s begin on a constructive observe: buses. Yep, buses. Walt Disney World remains to be contracting with third events to supply reduction to its bus driver scarcity, albeit to what looks as if a much more restricted extent. (Entirely anecdotal, however I’ve seen far fewer third social gathering buses and lots of extra Disney-wrapped ones.)
Between this and the Skyliner relieving pressure from the bus system, previous transportation woes have been relieved in an enormous manner. This is one thing I’ve talked about in a number of consecutive transportation updates, nevertheless it’s value reiterating. First, as a result of it nonetheless holds true. Second, as a result of bus service has been a historic downside level relationship again over a decade, so it being an ongoing vivid spot remains to be newsworthy.
In normal and virtually throughout the board, our bus rides have been very, very constructive within the final 12 months or so (minus Coronado Springs, however I didn’t step foot there this time, so I can’t communicate to that). For the entire issues Walt Disney World is at present doing mistaken, bus transportation just isn’t one in every of them.
We’ve used buses on the break of day for Early Entry, throughout the center of the day, for night arrivals to the parks, and late on the finish of the evening. With only some exceptions, we’ve had resounding success with the buses at Walt Disney World within the final year-plus.
This time, my common wait time for a bus to reach was round 10 minutes. This was fairly constant, with no main outliers–I don’t recall ready over quarter-hour in any respect. There had been many occasions when buses had been standing room-only, and I seldom had a seat when heading to the parks within the morning.
There was one time after I left EPCOT too early on the finish of the evening and needed to watch for a second bus after one crammed in entrance of me, however that arrived instantly. Interestingly, this was additionally the one time I encountered shared bus service for the All Stars; I assume it was carried out for the sake of effectivity. (All Star Sports was the primary cease, so this didn’t trouble me.)
With all of that stated, we’ve additionally ‘optimized’ our visits to attenuate transportation complications. Our customary method is heading to the parks very early within the morning with the objective of arriving a minimum of half-hour earlier than the beginning of Early Entry, and leaving the parks a minimum of half-hour after park closing. Obviously, a traditional vacationer–particularly a household with young children–won’t be able to burn the candle at each ends.
But neither will we, a minimum of not each single day. We usually take noon breaks and naps, returning to the resort between 11 am (usually having a whole bus to ourselves) and heading again out to the parks round 2 pm. I did exactly this on many days of this specific journey, and it was all the time easy crusing.
In any case, it’s best to attempt to keep away from leaving your resort inside an hour of official park opening. Similarly, don’t go away the parks instantly after nighttime spectaculars or park closing. Lines are longer, buses are packed, and it’s simply typically much less nice. You would possibly as effectively wait out the crowds from inside the parks at closing, which is a extra pleasant expertise. You’ll usually find yourself again at your resort across the similar time as those that race for the exits after the fireworks.
No points to report in any way with watercraft, monorails, or Skyliner gondolas.
I actually solely used these transportation choices when park or resort hopping (which was surprisingly usually), however all labored as effectively and with the anticipated frequency. I hesitate to say something constructive concerning the monorail for worry of jinxing myself, nevertheless it’s been a very long time since I’ve handled any notable stoppages. We’re speaking pre-closure, actually.
The greatest downtime points with the Skyliner normally happen throughout storm season, which remains to be just a few months away. There had been thus no points to report with that, and I normally had a gondola all to myself when bouncing between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (or the linked resorts); I respect that the Cast Members make a concerted effort to do that throughout slower occasions of the day.
With that stated, if you’re visiting this summer time or fall, develop into acquainted with the radar in your favourite climate app, and plan accordingly with regard to transportation. Getting stranded proper because the gondolas go down might be irritating; Walt Disney World doesn’t have a streamlined manner of notifying resort company when the Skyliner is down and deploying different transportation after ~ 3 years. The backup buses might be frustratingly inefficient.
Ultimately, a really constructive report on floor transportation inside Walt Disney World given the spring break crowds and presumably excessive occupancy ranges on the resorts. Spring break is among the greatest ‘stress tests’ on a wide range of elements of the vacationer expertise at Walt Disney World, and the bus service handed with flying colours. Same goes with the monorail, boats, and Skyliner–though that’s not almost as shocking.
The larger points had been with Orlando International Airport, and even these weren’t essentially unhealthy. Just reflective of the fact of flying via one of many busiest airports within the United States–and one which primarily providers leisure vacationers–throughout peak season and at a time when demand has greater than absolutely rebounded however staffing has not. All in all, no main complaints from this spring break week–however hopefully this report supplied you with some perception and recommendation so you’ll be able to keep away from pitfalls if you happen to’re visiting throughout a busy time of 12 months at Walt Disney World!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about lodges on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for the whole lot you’ll want to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you used transportation at Walt Disney World not too long ago? What has been the great, unhealthy, or ugly for you? Traveled via MCO in any respect in 2023? What about with Uber, Lyft, rental vehicles, Sunshine Flyer or Mears Connect? Have you used Walt Disney World buses between the parks and resorts the final a number of months? Any experiences of your personal to share with regard to Walt Disney World transportation? (If so, please share your dates, resort, and typical journey occasions.) Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Other ideas or considerations? Any questions we may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!