Disney’s Magical Express Nears its End

Disney’s Magical Express is a long-running transportation service that many Guests have associated with the start and the end of their Disney vacations in the past, since the service takes them to the Disney Parks. The Magical Express shuttled Guests from Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World Resorts with plenty of Disney magic along the way in premium motorcoaches–but now that the Magical Express service is closing down on January 1 2022, there are two different transportation services taking its place to get Guests from the Orlando airport to the Disney Resort.

Disney’s Magical Express

The first transportation service to take up the Magical Express’s mantle is Mears Connect. The Mears Transportation Group was actually involved with Disney’s Magical Express service, so it’s not too far a leap for the transportation service to step into the Disney shuttle service’s shoes– and since Mears did already have its own shuttle services, the shift is particularly sensible! The Mears transportation service fees are $16 (per adult) and $13.50 (per child) for a one-way trip or $32 (per adult) and $27 (per child) for a round trip. If you’re a Guest who wants an express car service, the cost will be $250 for a round trip with a maximum of 4 passengers, and there will be an additional $55 for any passengers over that maximum.

Although some Disney Guests are still mourning the loss of Disney’s Magical Express, the Mears Transportation Group was happy to post about its new undertaking on Instagram with the following post: “Mears Connect is ready to welcome our Guests to Orlando! Signage is up at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Mears Connect will be located in the same location as Disney’s Magical Express was located, level 1, ground transportation level, of Terminal B. We so look forward to welcoming our first Guests and all of our Guests!”. The two photos below were shared alongside the caption.

Image: @mears_transportation_group

Image: @mears_transportation_group

There is also a second transportation service aside from the Mears Transportation Group that is serving as a Magical Express replacement; this is the Sunshine Flyer service by Transportation Management Services, which will have a fee of $17 (per adult) and $12.50 (per child) for one-way service. Disney Guests can also purchase round-trip tickets for $34 (per adult) or $25 (per child).

The Sunshine Flyer service does have one advantage over Mears Connect, because its coaches are designed to follow an old train car theme (which seems closer to the Disney magic than a standard coach does). Although the Sunshine Flyer service isn’t starting for Disney until February, it will also feature a charitable donation as part of its big Disney debut. This charitable initiative, which entails that 50 percent of the Sunshine Flyer’s profits from the first 50 days of service will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, is partly in honor of Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary and “The World’s Most Magical Celebration”.

Credit: The Sunshine Flyer

Even though one transportation service being replaced with two transportation options might sound like a positive event, some Disney Guests will most likely lean towards using Lyft or Uber instead.