Walt Disney World is one of the top tourist destinations and is located in the state of Florida. But where is it located within Florida? And how far is it from a major airport or the beach?
Due to its central location in the state, Disney World is conveniently located to other tourist destinations such as Universal Studios, beaches and more. However, be prepared that traffic will make even short distance journeys take longer than you might expect.
Distance from Orlando
Specifically, Disney World is located in the heart of central Florida in the cities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, which are approximately 16 miles from the heart of Orlando. That 16 miles comes to an estimated 20-to-30 minute drive with no traffic, but there’s almost always a decent amount of traffic.
Distance from Orlando International Airport
Depending on the route, Orlando International Airport sits approximately 16-to-20 miles away. Again, the time to travel this distance varies largely on the volume of traffic.
With those distances in mind, it’s also worth noting that the Disney Magical Express, which takes resort guests between Disney World and Orlando International Airport, takes approximately a total of 45 minutes to take guests from the bus station to their resort destination.
While the Disney Magical Express is currently offered at no fee for resort guests, you’ll likely be able to make the trip much quicker by renting a vehicle or taking an Uber.
Distance to the nearest beach
Located in the heart of Florida, Disney World isn’t too close to any beaches. The nearest beaches are approximately a 70-minute to a 90-minute drive away, depending on traffic. The most common beach visited by guests from Disney World is Cocoa Beach, located south of Cape Canaveral on the Atlantic side of Florida.
Daytona beach is another option, but it is a bit further away than Cocoa Beach.
Distance to Universal Studios
If you want to visit Universal Studios during your Disney World vacation, you’ll need to either battle the traffic on I-4, or find an alternate route. The two destinations are located roughly nine miles from each other, but due to traffic you’ll find it will take you a decent amount of time to make the trip.
