The typical 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 actually feels true in case you’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 approach longer than anticipated.
This Walt Disney World transportation replace presents information and on-the-ground reporting concerning the good, dangerous, and ugly of my current spring break experiences touring between resorts and parks, plus Orlando Worldwide 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 season, and past.
Let’s begin with Orlando Worldwide Airport stats so far for 2023, as reported by the airport itself. Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO) noticed an 86% enhance in worldwide site visitors, and home site visitors climbed by practically 27% in January. Orlando Worldwide Airport’s spectacular progress charges continued in February, with a 16.6% enhance in home site visitors and an 80.1% enhance in worldwide site visitors for an general enhance of 21.4%.
Spring Break 2023 at Orlando Worldwide is just a few weeks outdated and already six passenger site visitors data have been damaged. On March 11, MCO recorded 95,282 departures, breaking the outdated single day file of 90,808 set in March 2019. The next 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 professional, 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 as a consequence of 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.
Word that MCO has solely launched knowledge via final week, and among the new data might fall. Orlando Worldwide 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.
In the course of the first 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 keeping with MCO. When all is alleged and executed, 9 of the highest 10 busiest days in MCO historical past will seemingly have occurred in March or April 2023.
That is partially attributable to the aforementioned resumption of and rise in worldwide site visitors. It’s additionally nearly actually a matter of capability constraints, or discount thereof. Terminal C is now working, so the each day ceiling in departures is increased than it was on those self same days in 2019 when lots of the prior data have been set. To not diminish the data, however they in all probability weren’t potential in prior years even when demand was there.
In taking a look at nationwide TSA checkpoint numbers, it’s an analogous–albeit much less pronounced–story round the USA 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 monitor and surpassing 2019 quantity.
TSA experiences that January was the primary month of 2023 when quantity exceeded 2019, and that quantity has solely grown since. To this point, the robust majority of days in March 2023 have seen customer volumes which might be increased than March 2019. In accordance with 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 be aware, Southwest simply launched its Motion Plan for Journey Disruptions following its New Yr’s meltdown. I’m glad to see they’re lastly taking steps to treatment previous issues, however I’ll imagine it once 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 Worldwide 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.
Certainly, this was the “ugly” of transportation on my journey to Walt Disney World for Spring Break. The airport was completely overwhelming, filled with folks to the purpose that it was troublesome to maneuver or discover a place to sit down. If I have been an inexperienced traveler, this may’ve began the journey off on the improper foot or ended it on a bitter be aware.
We did LAX final Thanksgiving Eve, and MCO at Spring Break put that to disgrace! The sort of chaos and crowding is exactly why we suggest Disneyland first-timers keep away from LAX and as a substitute use SNA. Talking of which, MCO was additionally fairly the distinction to John Wayne, the airport on the opposite finish of the journey, which took me below 5 minutes from curb to gate. The phrase that finest describes SNA is “sleepy,” and going from that to MCO was fairly the wakeup name.
When it comes to actionable recommendation, the very first thing is to journey in the course of the center of the week. This in all probability 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. After all, if in case you have the liberty to journey on random weekdays, you may as properly go throughout a time when faculty breaks are not occurring and general quantity is far decrease each single day.
Second, floor transportation from Orlando Worldwide Airport to Walt Disney World (or wherever) upfront. Usually, we’re about 50/50 on utilizing Lyft/Uber or the shuttle companies from the airport, relying upon the season, time of arrival, and whether or not it’s each of us or simply me. Fortunately, I anticipated excessive quantity and demand, and made reservations with Mears Join moderately than counting on Uber or Lyft upon arrival. Right here have been the costs for Lyft from MCO to All Star Sports activities:
Past astronomical demand, this was in all probability pushed by the gridlocked site visitors into and out of MCO. That’s been one other frequent incidence throughout spring break and different peak seasons for journey, as has restricted parking (see this web page for standing updates).
To that time, you need to plan accordingly and provides your self a buffer if leaving on a busy journey day and time. All the pieces will take longer: driving to the airport, returning rental automobiles, dropping off checked baggage, getting via safety, and so forth. TSA goals to maintain wait occasions below half-hour, however that quantity might be increased on occasion. As can simply attending to and thru the airport.
To make 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 in the course of the low season.
As for my expertise with Mears Join, it was fascinating leaving the airport. There have been large crowds and lengthy traces ready on shuttles to depart…and never a single bus in sight. Reps reported that the buses have been caught in site visitors and could be arriving very quickly. For some purpose, my line and one different quick one have been pulled apart and placed on the van pictured above and departed nearly instantly.
Whereas we have been pulling away, bus after bus arrived (it needed to have been a couple of half dozen, however I didn’t depend). All through my keep at Walt Disney World, I routinely noticed each Sunshine Flyer and Mears Join 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 Join was very optimistic, however I’m guessing many others arriving into MCO across the identical time as me might need very completely different and far worse tales to inform. However 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 information about floor transportation, see our posts about Mears Join and the Sunshine Flyer. For a broad overview of options, see our Airport Transportation Information to Walt Disney World.
As for the on-the-ground Spring 2023 Walt Disney World transportation replace, it’s additionally largely good. Nevertheless, I ought to preface this (as at all times) by conceding that inconsistency can also be the secret with floor transportation. You can go to in the course of the slowest week of the 12 months in September and have a horrible time. You can go the week between Christmas and New Yr’s and have an incredible one.
Two events staying on the identical resort for a similar dates may have dramatically completely different perceptions just by advantage of luck. That has at all times been the case and doubtless at all times shall be. It’s at all times potential to have a unfavorable expertise that dramatically differs from what’s lined right here. Extremes are frequent with Walt Disney World’s transportation community, and not even section us.
Walt Disney World transportation is loads like Disney IT: we’ve had the complete vary of negatives over time, some downright unbelievable. Consequently, I by no means doubt any story I hear. Even when it comes at a time when my private experiences skew optimistic, I do know firsthand that the unbelievably dangerous is feasible!
Let’s begin on a optimistic be aware: 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. (Totally anecdotal, however I’ve seen far fewer third occasion buses and plenty 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 approach. That is one thing I’ve talked about in a number of consecutive transportation updates, nevertheless it’s price reiterating. First, as a result of it nonetheless holds true. Second, as a result of bus service has been a historic drawback level relationship again over a decade, so it being an ongoing vibrant spot remains to be newsworthy.
Usually and nearly throughout the board, our bus rides have been very, very optimistic 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 all the issues Walt Disney World is presently doing improper, bus transportation isn’t considered one of them.
We’ve used buses on the morning time for Early Entry, in the course of the center of the day, for night arrivals to the parks, and late on the finish of the night time. With just a few 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 have been many occasions when buses have been standing room-only, and I seldom had a seat when heading to the parks within the morning.
There was one time once I left EPCOT too early on the finish of the night time and needed to look forward to a second bus after one stuffed in entrance of me, however that arrived instantly. Curiously, this was additionally the one time I encountered shared bus service for the All Stars; I assume it was executed for the sake of effectivity. (All Star Sports activities 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 commonplace strategy is heading to the parks very early within the morning with the objective of arriving at the least half-hour earlier than the beginning of Early Entry, and leaving the parks at the least half-hour after park closing. Clearly, a standard vacationer–particularly a household with babies–won’t be able to burn the candle at each ends.
However neither can we, at the least not each single day. We frequently take noon breaks and naps, returning to the resort between 11 am (typically having a complete bus to ourselves) and heading again out to the parks round 2 pm. I did exactly this on many days of this explicit journey, and it was at all times easy crusing.
In any case, you need to attempt to keep away from leaving your resort inside an hour of official park opening. Equally, don’t depart the parks instantly after nighttime spectaculars or park closing. Strains are longer, buses are packed, and it’s simply typically much less nice. You may as properly wait out the crowds from inside the parks at closing, which is a extra gratifying expertise. You’ll typically find yourself again at your resort across the identical time as those that race for the exits after the fireworks.
No points to report in any respect with watercraft, monorails, or Skyliner gondolas.
I actually solely used these transportation choices when park or resort hopping (which was surprisingly typically), however all labored as effectively and with the anticipated frequency. I hesitate to say something optimistic 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 largest downtime points with the Skyliner normally happen throughout storm season, which remains to be a number of months away. There have 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 admire that the Solid Members make a concerted effort to do that throughout slower occasions of the day.
With that stated, in case you are visiting this summer season or fall, turn out to be aware of 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 approach of notifying resort visitors when the Skyliner is down and deploying different transportation after ~ 3 years. The backup buses might be frustratingly inefficient.
In the end, a really optimistic 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 largest ‘stress checks’ on quite a lot of elements of the vacationer expertise at Walt Disney World, and the bus service handed with flying colours. Identical goes with the monorail, boats, and Skyliner–though that’s not practically as stunning.
The larger points have been with Orlando Worldwide Airport, and even these weren’t essentially dangerous. Simply reflective of the fact of flying via one of many busiest airports in the USA–and one which primarily companies leisure vacationers–throughout peak season and at a time when demand has greater than totally 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 possibly can keep away from pitfalls in case you’re visiting throughout a busy time of 12 months at Walt Disney World!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it’s essential to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever used transportation at Walt Disney World just lately? What has been the nice, dangerous, or ugly for you? Traveled via MCO in any respect in 2023? What about with Uber, Lyft, rental automobiles, Sunshine Flyer or Mears Join? Have you ever 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 that’s the case, please share your dates, resort, and typical journey occasions.) Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or issues? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!