Florida To Begin Air Taxi Testing In 2026: Could This Be A Future Way To Get To Disney World?

Florida plans to begin testing electric air taxis by the end of 2026, moving the technology another step closer to potential passenger use around Central Florida. The interesting part for anyone visiting from the UK is what could come later, as Orlando International Airport is already preparing eVTOL infrastructure. While research has examined possible air-taxi journeys towards the area containing Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, none of those theme-park routes is operating or confirmed for commercial service yet, but this is definitely something to keep an eye on as it develops.

Florida Moves Closer To Air Taxis

Florida’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is progressing, with the state of Florida becoming a leading visionary in advanced transportation. The news is great for UK visitors, who may well find themselves with more transport options in the next few years as progress keeps on at a pace:

Disney World is not involved in the testing of air taxis, which go beyond being just a tourist or local transport option, and will also provide advances in medical and cargo transportations.

What’s Florida announced about air taxis coming to the area?

Florida says electric air-taxi aircraft will begin testing at the SunTrax facility in Central Florida by the end of 2026. SunTrax is a 775-acre transportation research facility in Auburndale, Polk County, alongside the Interstate 4 corridor between the Orlando and Tampa areas. Originally developed for autonomous and connected vehicle testing, the site has now expanded into aviation through SunTrax AirGround.

Speaking about the continued expansion of infrastructure to support the AAM, Governor Ron DeSantis said:

Florida says the facility includes the country's first dedicated Advanced Air Mobility aerial test track and will provide a controlled environment for testing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, usually shortened to eVTOL and often described as air taxis.

The first test flights are expected before the end of this year, as confirmed by Governor Ron DeSantis:

Testing does not mean that public flights will be available, but it is moving closer to being a possibility.

Could air taxis eventually connect Orlando Airport and Disney World?

Potentially, but no passenger air-taxi route between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World has been confirmed. But UK visitors shouldn’t write-off the possibility.

Orlando International Airport is actively developing the infrastructure needed for future Advanced Air Mobility. In July 2026, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority approved development of a small eVTOL vertistop at Surface Lot Atlantis near MCO's Train Station. The facility is intended initially for demonstrations and remains subject to FAA approval and Florida Department of Transportation support.

MCO says the site will help validate the location for possible future commercial eVTOL operations, as part of a longer-term ambition to develop a full airport vertiport by 2030. While this is clearly not the purpose of the site now, the infrastructure is there for future further development.

Is Disney World getting an air-taxi station?

Disney has not announced an air-taxi vertiport, eVTOL service or partnership at Walt Disney World as part of Florida's current plans. Disney's current transportation network continues to revolve around established options such as buses, monorails and water transport within Walt Disney World.

I am not suggesting you’ll soon be stepping off a flight from Heathrow and leaving MCO to board a vertical lift-off air taxi to get to your Disney Hotel any time soon, but Florida is advancing transport technology at a pace. It is a possible vision of how Orlando transport could serve tourists in the not too distant future.

What are eVTOL air taxis?

eVTOLs are small electric aircraft designed to take off and land vertically, allowing them to operate from compact facilities rather than requiring a conventional airport runway. Florida uses the broader term Advanced Air Mobility, or AAM, because passenger air taxis are only one potential use. The technology could also be used for cargo, medical transport and emergency response.

Orlando International Airport says future AAM aircraft could support both intercity and local travel, with passengers moving through vertiports and other small landing facilities.

This involves building and approving the entire system around the aircraft, including landing locations, flight procedures, air-traffic integration, safety rules and passenger operations.

When could passengers use air taxis in Orlando?

There is no confirmed date for tourists to begin booking commercial air-taxi journeys between Orlando International Airport and the theme parks. Florida wants to move towards commercial Advanced Air Mobility, but the current announcements concern testing and infrastructure rather than a public launch date.

Orlando Airport's immediate vertistop project is designed for aircraft demonstrations. Although longer-term plans envisage an on-airport AAM vertiport by 2030, but that is an infrastructure objective, not a tourist flight route for 2030.

Florida is also participating in the FAA's eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program, to help get the operational and safety framework working to bring these aircraft into the US aviation system.

Why could air taxis matter for UK Disney World holidays?

The potential appeal of this project for UK holidaymakers is a faster alternative for transfers to Walt Disney World, that will skip sitting in unpredictable Central Florida traffic after a long-haul flight. Advanced Air Mobility could eventually add another option to that journey if passenger services, appropriate landing sites, and theme-park connections are approved.

Until then, the significance of the SunTrax announcement is that Florida is moving another part of the technology from planning towards real-world testing.

Magic in a Minute

Florida plans to begin eVTOL air-taxi testing at SunTrax by the end of 2026 and Orlando International Airport has separately approved development of an eVTOL demonstration vertistop. The development of this infrastructure could change how some UK visitors travel around Orlando in the future. But until then, air taxis remain a credible future Orlando transport project rather than a new Disney World airport-transfer option.