Now that Disney World’s Magical Express service is gone, we’ve been thinking A LOT about the replacement service, Mears Connect.
Mears Connect Bus
And although Mears Connect isn’t the ONLY replacement, we asked our readers if you’ve had a chance to use the Mears service yet. And here’s what you told us about their experiences.
It Feels The Same
Many of our readers feel that the standard Mears Connect service is about the same as Magical Express, except that Mears Connect is a paid service (and Magical Express was free).
Mears Connect signs at Orlando Airport
One reader said, “Took a ME bus to DW on 12/25, plain white wrapper Mears bus back on 1/3 – it didn’t feel any different.” It makes sense that the buses seem so similar as Mears is actually the company that operated Magical Express for Disney World.
Old signage at Orlando Airport for Magical Express
According to another reader, the experience was LITERALLY exactly the same: “My son used it yesterday. He was very satisfied short wait the bus was a Magical Express bus with a new wrap. The driver even played the Magical Express video lol.” So for those of you who enjoyed the Magical Express videos, you don’t have to give those up!
Mears Connect at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
And one of our readers was one of the first to ride Mears Connect: “We took it on Jan 1, and our driver told us we were the first Mears Connect passengers on that bus. We thought It was pretty much the same as ME during the past year (get your own luggage). Waited about 15 min for a bus, and were the first of 4 stops on our route.” That sounds VERY close to the old Magical Express service.
Look for THIS sign at your hotel
Overall, most of our readers who have used the service feel it’s a good replacement. One reader said, “It was great. Arrived on a flight just before Midnight and didn’t have to wait for a Mears (15-20 minutes). Safe and pleasant bus driver.”
It’s Worse
Some of our readers, though, have taken the service and didn’t think it was as good as Magical Express. One reader said, “I took it yesterday (mid-day) to CBR. From getting in line to arriving at the hotel, it was about 90 minutes which just felt too long compared to my normal DME experience. They packed the bus full – ie every seat and some guests had to walk up and down the aisle looking for single seats. They showed a video which was just a bunch of commercials on a loop. I wasn’t expecting magic but I *was* expecting in seat chargers – and there were sadly none. There was a guy doing magic tricks for kids in line so that was nice.”
Airport Shuttle Signage
Another reader mentioned that the wait for the Mears Connect bus felt longer: “We used it last Saturday & it was ok. We never had a problem. It did take a little longer to get on the bus than ME.” We have to note that we saw far fewer comments from readers with negative experiences over positive ones.
Some Of Our Readers Used Mears Connect Express Service
There were a few of our readers that used the Mears Connect Express service, which offers direct service (at a higher cost) to your hotel and back to the airport, with a guaranteed first stop with a limited to no wait time. And those of you who booked the express service thought it worked out well for you and was worth the extra cost.
Inside Magical Express Bus
One reader said, “We did! Paid extra for the express service. Used it their first day and it was flawless. Hoping for the same experience on the way home.”
Wilderness Lodge Airport Shuttle Sign
According to another reader, “Took the express service on Monday the 3rd. Waited 5 minutes before being loaded into a van with just our party of 4. Then straight to SSR. I received an email the day before with a QR code boarding pass.”
So if you’re looking for some real-world examples of what the new Mears Connect service is like and how it compares to Magical Express, there you go! And we’ll be sure to check in when the second bus service, The Sunshine Flyer, begins its services on February 1st. So stay tuned!
Here Are The Important Facts About the New Mears Connect Magical Express Replacement Coming to Disney World
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What about luggage when taking the Mears Connect. Previously on Magic Express, luggage was taken care of and sent to your room as long as the yellow luggage tags were used.
It is very clear that Disney Park Management no longer values the park guest based on the discontinuance of the Disney Magical Express service. As a longtime DVC owner and Disney World regular guest over the last 30 years, the Magical Express Service, including how Disney handled guest luggage, this was a major benefit to park guests flying into Orlando International from all over the world. Especially those guests with families. Now that this service is gone, guests going to WDW must find another way to get to their Disney Resort.
The Magical Express Service by Disney was an exceptional benefit and one that Disney will regret in the coming years. Park guests will no longer be encouraged to stay in the Disney Bubble.
We used Uber for our visit last week for my wife and me. We had 2 suitcases and 2 carry ons. Cost in the lower cost travel was about 43 each time which included a tip. Was able to schedule the night before for departure with 5 am pick up. Went very well and travel time from MCO to SSR was 28 minutes and the return at 5 am was just over 20 minutes. Another option for transportation.
Tom
Come on Mears go that extra step and bring back a luggage component. You know how it’s done. Show The bean counters in Disney management that you know how to make the magic happen: even if we do have to pay for it now!
Since the Covid shutdown, I thought the Magic Express stopped “moving your luggage” to your room. I was under the impression you needed to bring the luggage to the bus if you wanted it to go with you after the shutdown. Maybe it went back to normal prior to 12/31/21?
Travis (and Bob), Disney never reinstated the luggage pick up after the 2020 reopening. We went in August 2020 and August 2021, and had to deal with our own luggage both times. Airline check in at the resort never came back either.
1. I’m co fused about the Difference between the Regular and Express service.
2. One of the experiences said THEY were responsible for retrieving their luggage at the air port just like with ME. But I thought ME handled all the luggage.
3. Fire Bobby Paycheck.
ME never went back to handling your luggage from or to the airport once COVID happened and the Mears service does not offer that as of now.
Come on, Brandon, do a little research.
1. Regular service is the same as the Magical Express bus. One bus packed with people going to several stops and resorts. Express is a small vehicle with a faster pickup time and drive to exactly where you need to be dropped off. But it is not private.
2. No service, past or present, touches your luggage or belongings.
Re Cruising Engineer.
1. I’ve never used the ME. No need.
2. Yes thry did used to handle the luggage.
3.The difference between the 2 services is not readily apparent. Just vague descriptions with no details unless you really dig down.
4. No need to get sparky. It was just a simple question as to what the difference was.
Just recently used Mears on my trip to disney for marathon weekend. They need to work some kinks out. We always picked up our own luggage, like to have it in had for when the room is ready, do not trust someone else getting them. We waited about 20 minutes to get on a bus, which was ok. RIde to resort perfect. Coming home was a different story. They pick you up 3 hours prior to your flight, however we like to go 4 hours before our flight incase lines are long and to have time to relax and eat. Never a problem with disney express. Had a hard time trying to change this through mears. Could not update on line, spent a long time on hold to talk to mears. When I got to a person , she told me that the bus would be making a stop at my resort at 7:25am and that we should just get that bus. Well bus never came. Called Mears to complain and they sent a Mears taxi for us. Driver was on his cell phone while driving, holding the phone!!! they need to make it easier to change your time and actually pick you up.
Mears connect is a joke. We’ve been eating in line almost an hour when other resorts have been picked up twice. Ours is still waiting. Not a good experience. Would not recommend it.
Using Mears to get from the Airport tobthe Resorts is fine. Good luck getting from the Resorts back to the airport. I was at the stop 10 minutes before their standard service was scheduled to pick me up. 20 minutes after my scheduled pickup time Ibwas still standing there. I was lucky that there was another Mears Connect bus that stopped and had enough room that I could ride with them. I do NOT recommend using them to get tobthe airport
Mears Connect forgot us at Saratoga Springs resort – Thankfully the Disney Cast member on duty managed to get another bus to pull in and pick us up for our return trip to the airport. I don’t really need that stress on the return trip home!
Horrible I used it 3/24 I was told lane 10 with Yacht Club and Broadwalk. I stay at the Broadwalk. They took the family in front at the Yacht club on the bus they put me in taxi with the most unfriendly lazy driver I could ask for. Never again.
We were very disappointed when DME was discontinued. We always viewed the bus ride from the airport as the beginning of our vacation. We worried and hoped that Gus would land a new job. He was great! Just one more take-away, I guess. I remember when we got free valet parking at the Boardwalk as DVC members. BW is still our favorite resort. We agree with many of the others that Chepek’s cost reduction has cut so deep that it has cut into the “magic.” He has encouraged us to explore other parts of America.
Would like to see others experiences. It’s been in service for 4 mos…have things improved, gotten worse? What about the other bus service, Sunshine express, how is this service?
I used Mears in January 2022. As a solo traveler it’s still one of the cheapest options (haven’t tried Sunshine Flyer yet). Due to the early morning timing of my flights, they used a passenger van instead of bus both ways (even though just standard fare). Kudos that they didn’t use a bus for so few passengers. I was only person from MCO to hotel, but van was full (3-4 parties) on return. One plus, maybe a fluke, they dropped us off at departures instead of bus area, which was nice. (Maybe some in the van paid for express service?) I will be using again in early May so will see if it is the same.
Neither ME nor Mears pick up luggage anymore, since COVID. They did still in Jan ‘20. Grab your luggage and head down to same location as ME…lowest level on the B side, all the way to right if coming down escalator. It’s a good workout/training for those coming in on A gates. Expect it to take a while to get there.
I used them last week. Would not recommend the express service. It’s a rip off and a joke. I think Lyft and Uber would be cheaper and more reliable. There website is very misleading. DO NOT USE THEM
We had a bad experience with Mears. We got from MCO to the resort with no issues, thankfully. The return trip was awful. Our reservation time was 7:10 AM. We were on the ramp at the hotel at exactly 7:10 am and the bus pulled out! When I called customer service they were of zero help. We ended up getting a taxi and passing the bus on the highway, We’ll never use Mears again.
We used Mears Connect in June this year. At first, it seemed great. We didn’t have to wait in any line; we got right onto our shuttle. The shuttle was a nice surprise since we didn’t pay for Express service. However, returning to the airport stressed me out quite a bit. 10 minutes after our pick up time and no pick up, I had to flag down another Mears shuttle to ask where our driver was. He called headquarters and was told to take us to the airport. I don’t like having to stress about getting to the airport when I’m exhausted and just want to go home. I’ll probably try it again anyway. As I recall, Universals shuttle service did the same thing to me in 2021. What is up with that?
We paid the extra money for Express in January. We were expecting a van just for our group of 5, but we were put on a bus both ways. Not really worth it in my opinion.
It’s the same service from 20 years ago. Disney changed it to Disney Express in 2005 and added the cost into your room price. It just seems free but wasn’t.
I used your blog and videos to make my wife and daughter’s first Disney World trip as magical as possible. Thank you for what you do!! Now, on to Mears Connect.
First, we reserved and paid for Mears Connect Express Service in May 2022. When we arrived at the airport, we were then put on a large bus. The driver said that our drop off would be last, I had to go up to the front while stopped at a red light and tell him that we paid for Express Service. He corrected course and dropped us off first. Minor inconvenience.
When we arrived, we got off the bus and my wife realized she left her red carry-on bag on the shuttle. We called about 1-2 minutes after we got off the bus, this first call took place at 12:43 PM. During this call, the person took my information, description of bag, etc. I was promised that I would receive a phone call once they notified the driver.
3:39 PM – I had not received a phone call, so I called Mears Connect again. This time I spoke with someone who said there was no record of me calling. I gave my information to this person, told them that it was extremely important for us to get the bag back today, they told me that they had a bag matching the description and someone would be calling me to make arrangements to get the bag to us. At this time, I was given the following Lost & Found number 472988.
5:22 PM – Still no contact was made by Mears Connect so I called and waited for 4 minutes and was disconnected,
5:42 PM – Called back, waited 13 minutes and was disconnected.
5:58 PM – Called once again, was transferred, and waited 32 minutes on hold before I gave up.
9:53 PM – Called and begged the lady that answered the phone to help me and not send me to a phone where no one would answer. During this 36 minute phone conversation I told her there was medication for my wife in the bag. She gave me information about the lost and found then finally called the airport bus terminal. They once again said they have a bag matching that description, she said they would bring it to the hotel in 1-2 hours.
11:36 PM – Second Mears bus came and went since I spoke with the person and my bag still hasn’t shown up. I got an Uber to the airport, asked the people working the desk, they told me they had no idea about any bag matching that description.
12:26 AM – I call back and speak to a lady that says she’s night supervisor. I believe her name was Yvonne or Yvette. She claimed that the bag was on a bus to Art of Animation. I asked her at least 3 times to confirm, because I was at the Mears Connect location and would pick it up, if need be. This lady now tells me that my claim number is 472987 this is the first time, after speaking with 4 people, that I’ve been told that my claim number is different than what I was told at fixer. She confirmed multiple times that dispatch supervisor said it was en route to Art of Animation.
12:48 AM – Mears Connect puts me on a bus to Art of Animation, to see if they have dropped it off.
1:44 AM – I finally make it back to Art of Animation to find that the bag had been delivered, as was promised at 12:39 PM the previous day.
This is beyond unacceptable for a service that bills itself as a premium coach service to and from Orlando International Airport and Disney World. Especially for one that costs $250 round trip.
What kind of shuttle company does not have the ability to radio their driver as they’re leaving the drop off area and tell them that someone left a bag? This whole ordeal would’ve been finished in 5 minutes if they had that capability, and were to do this. I’ve had better transportation services in third world countries.
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