In case you missed it, a major Disney World perk is going away in 2022.
Magical Express
That’s right, Disney’s Magical Express airport transportation will be discontinued as of January 1st, 2022, and guests visiting Disney World will have to find other ways to get from Orlando International Airport to their Disney World hotel. We asked our readers (that’s YOU!) about what transportation option you plan to use, and here’s what you said!
We reached out to our readers on our Instagram (give us a follow if you want share your opinions in the future!) and asked, “Which service do you plan to use once Magical Express is gone in 2022?”
The Magical Express was a free service for guests staying in Disney World hotels, and it provided guests with transportation and luggage handling to and from Orlando International Airport. This was a huge perk for guests traveling to Disney World by air, and it will no longer be an option in 2022.
Magical Express Sign
After the Magical Express service is discontinued, guests can choose from typical transportation methods such as rideshare, taxis, rental cars, private car services or shuttles, or many other options, as well as two new options known as Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer.
Mears Connect Bus
We reached out to our readers to find out what travel options they plan on using for Orlando International Airport transportation and the results might surprise you! With over 3,000 readers responding, almost 2,000 of our responding readers said they’ll use rideshare services like Uber or Lyft! That’s a pretty big majority.
Here’s how our readers voted!
Of the readers voting between Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer, Mears Connect had a slight edge over The Sunshine Flyer with 52% of the votes, which could be due to Mears being the company that actually operated the Magical Express for many years. The Sunshine Flyer, on the other hand, is a newer service that has provided transportation for large events in the past.
©The Sunshine Flyer
When we priced out the differences between using a service such as Mears Connect versus Uber, we found that on the particular dates and times we searched that Uber could be a slightly cheaper alternative to Mears Connect. However, it’s important to note that rideshare pricing can vary depending on the day and what you need.
Rideshare Sign
Remember that if you want to use Mears Connect or The Sunshine Flyer, you will need to reserve your dates in advance of your visit, so rideshare could be a better option for more last-minute Disney World trips. Make sure you check out all the possible ways to get to Disney World while you weigh your options for your 2022 visit!
Keep reading DFB for more Disney World planning tips!
The BEST ways to get to Disney World when the Magical Express is gone!
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Tiffany TownCar! Our travel agent recommended them – it was cheaper round trip for our party of 7. Plus they include a stop at the grocery store at no additional cost!
I always used the Mears bus before Magical Express existed. I’ll use it again. There are only 2 of us so it’s the cheapest way to go.
On our last trip in October, the DME bus was switched out for a MEARS bus and driver. He was very abrupt and rude to guests. When we got to the airport, after turning off the bus and air conditioning, everyone on the bus was held inside while he unloaded the luggage. I will be using rideshare or Sunshine Flyer from now on.
My daughter and I used Uber in December to get to WDW to avoid all the hassles of multiple people needing to get to the resorts. Was cheaper for that ride but I would even pay a little extra for the ease of it all. Now we do take the shuttle back to the airport when it was free just because it was then a little less chaotic because we were scheduled at a time and not wait in a line based on when you get there. Not sure what we will do next December.
I’ll be trying Mears Connect on the 20th of this month. I’m using the Standard Roundtrip Service, although it only services 2 of the 3 Hilton Hotels at Disney Springs!
Thanks for the article Jess and the recommendation Michelle! We have a party of 7 coming in June and this kind of info is helpful. I’ll check them out. Let your travel agent know you’re doing a good job getting the word out!
I am waiting to see the reviews. If just the two of us and we use the bus system, then the Flyer is a less expensive choice. It will also depend on any additional service (baggage handling) that will be provided. When children are added, Mears might be better depending on the number of adults and children. Rideshare is also an option either way.
Wasn’t the whole point of having the Magical Express (from Disney Corporate), was to have/keep guests within the Disney ‘bubble’? So that they would be discouraged to go spend money at a non-Disney stores, or other non-Disney places? I guess Disney wants…less of my money?!? haha
We’ll see how Mears Connect does on their own without being under the control of Disney. Hopefully the competition will keep Mears on their toes. Quicksilver Tours is more expensive, but they will meet you at baggage claim, retrieve your luggage and take it to their town-car or van. They allow a 20-30 minute free stop for groceries and will drive you directly to your hotel. It’s convenient and a time saver. As in Genie+ and Lightening Lane, it all depends on what is important to you and what your vacation budget looks like.
I reached out to sunshine flyer for my trip in February but was disappointed to know that their “luggage help” was only helping put it on the bus and off the bus. Having twins under 2 and a toddler – I just want a service like magical express where I never have to deal with luggage on top of all my children!!!