January 1st, 2022 marked the official end to Disney’s Magical Express meaning that guests now need to find their own transportation between the Orlando International Airport (MCO) and their Disney World Resort hotel.
We’ve been breaking down all of the alternative transportation options you have for your vacation, but, if you’re looking for something most similar to Disney’s Magical Express, then there are TWO new options — Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer. But, which one should you choose? And, are they really worth the cost? We want to know what YOU think!
Mears Connect
Mears (which is the company that operates the buses now) began offering their own transportation service between MCO and Disney World hotels — known as Mears Connect — on January 1st, 2022. Guests looking to use the shuttle service can choose from two different options that have varying costs, wait times, and stops associated with it.
The Standard Service is the most comparable to Disney’s Magical Express and is a shared-ride shuttle in which transportation is provided in charter-style buses or vans. The shuttle leaves the terminal within 20 minutes of your arrival and then makes a “limited number” of stops, dropping guests off at multiple hotels much like Disney’s Magical Express.
Currently, it costs $16/adult and $13.50/child for one-way service and $32/adult and $27/child for round trip service.
The other option is the Express Service, which is a direct service with little to no waiting once you arrive at MCO. The shuttle will take you directly to your resort foregoing stops at any other hotels, though you’ll want to keep in mind that it is not a private service (so other guests may ride with you).
This service is a bit pricier, costing one flat fee of $250 for a group of up to four people. An additional fee of $55 per person is assessed for groups over four.
With Mears Connect officially in operation now, we want to hear from YOU to help other Disney fans traveling to the parks! For example, AllEars reader, Roseann, recently shared her experience using Mears Connect with us writing:
“We just took Mears standard service to/from Disney and the service was excellent. Wait at airport was about 20 minutes and bus was making 4 resort stops (we were 2nd) and going back came right on time.
There is much more communication via text updates than Magical Express. Other than the loss of yet another resort guest benefit, I was pleased with the service.”
So, have you used Mears Connect recently? If you want to share your experiences, you can leave a review! All you need to do is create an AllEars profile, head to our Reviews main page, find Mears Connect, and then share ALL of your opinions!
Or, you can click below to leave your review of Mears Connect NOW!
Mears Connect
The Sunshine Flyer
The Sunshine Flyer is another new shuttle service available to guests being operated by the private company, Transportation Management Services (TMS). The shuttle transportation via charter buses will officially debut in February 2022 and is comparable to both Disney’s Magical Express and Mears Connect.
Once operating, The Sunshine Flyer will only offer a shared-ride shuttle service that will leave for Disney World within 20 minutes of your arrival and make multiple stops at Disney World hotels.
The Sunshine Flyer is priced similarly to Mears Connect with One Way Service costing $17 per adult and $12.50 per child and Round Trip Service costing $34 per adult and $25 per child.
We’re a few weeks away from the launch of the new service, and we’re hoping to hear from YOU once it does! After you use The Sunshine Flyer, come back here and leave a review! Again, all you’ll need to do is create an AllEars profile, head to our Reviews main page, find the Sunshine Flyer, and then share your experience.
Or, you can click below to leave your review of the Sunshine Flyer!
Sunshine Flyer
Plus, if you’re interested in learning more about these two new shuttle services, you can check out more of our posts below:
- Learn all the little details about Mears Connect here
- Learn more about The Sunshine Flyer here
- What’s The Difference Between Disney’s Magical Express Replacement Services? We broke it down here
- Check out All the Ways to Get To and From the Airport Without Disney’s Magical Express
- Is Uber Cheaper Than the Service Replacing Disney’s Magical Express? We’re breaking down the numbers here
- Here’s How Much Disney’s Magical Express Replacement Will Cost You
And, be sure to check out more of our reader review pages to help you plan your next Disney World trip or even contribute yourself!
Click HERE to visit our main review page!
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Will you be using one of the new Disney World shuttle services for your next trip? Let us know in the comments!
We did the mears connect on january 8th and 15th. At the airport they leaved us waiting definitely more than 30 minutes telling us we would be next. Of course when they came to us to ask where we were headed the bus that we were supposed to be assigned , had just left! . Then for our return trip they never picked us up on the hotel and when i called to ask they had to assigned a taxi to us. Bad experience for both trips so never again.
They are buses..not magical, of course.
I don’t trust them. I have heard too many bad reports. Recently, they made several guests late for their flights going home. We will never know who was really at fault. It was a communication break down between Meers and Disney. I am using Town Car curb to curb service. I grew up with the owner. Very confident in my choice.