If you are planning to take a vacation to Walt Disney World in the near future, you may need to rethink how you will get from Orlando International Airport to WDW. As of January 1st of this year, Disney has discontinued their Magical Express shuttle service, which means you’re going to need another way to get to your on-property Disney hotel.
Here are the five best alternatives to Disney’s Magical Express at Walt Disney World.
Mears Connect
Firstly, Mears Connect is the most similar service to the Magical Express system, which was subcontracted by Mears. While Mickey isn’t decorating the bus or featured in an on-ride pre-arrival film, the company still offers safe and reliable express service they have always provided to Walt Disney World.
Roger Chapin, a Mears spokesperson, shares: “We plan to offer the same level of experience, service, and convenience we’ve provided for the last 16 years, on behalf of our longtime partner, as returning guests and first-time visitors can expect nothing less. It is important for visitors to know they still have many of the same safe transportation options for their Orlando visit, all offered by the same company who has been providing seamless, economical, and hassle-free transportation for decades.”
The new Mears Connect service offers two levels to choose from, Standard and Premium:
Standard service features shared transportation on a bus or van. Guests can expect a wait time of 20 minutes or less from their check-in at the Mears reception to departure. With the current introductory rates, Standard services are priced at $16 per adult and $13.50 per child for one-way transportation to or from MCO. Roundtrip service is available for $32 per adult and $27 per child.
Premium service offers a dedicated vehicle with “limited to no wait time”. Rates begin at $250 for round trip service with up to 4 passengers, with additional passengers priced at $55 each.
The Mears Connect service began on January 1st, 2022. For more information, visit: Mears Connect
Sunshine Flyer
Transportation Management Services (TMS) is now offering a new themed-experience motorcoach service from MCO to Walt Disney World. With 25 years of experience as a large events transportation company, The Sunshine Flyer is another solid alternative to Magical Express.
The buses service all Disney resorts and offer an onboard bathroom, USB chargers, and three-point seatbelts for the comfort and safety of all guests.
The Sunshine Flyer’s buses are premium motorcoaches with themes that evoke old-fashioned passenger cars and train engines. From exterior bus designs to staff dressed as 1920s rail conductors, the motorcoaches are like time machines, taking you to WDW in style.
In honor of WDW’s 50th anniversary, the Sunshine Flyer will be donating 50% of all revenue to the Make-A-Wish Foundation from 50,000 passengers in the first 50 days of business (which began February 1st, 2022).
Sunshine Flyer reservations are now available. Tickets are $17 per adult and $12.50 per child each way. Reservations must be made at least 4 days in advance. For more information, visit Sunshine Flyer.
As of March 1st, 2022, Sunshine Flyer announced the Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) resort, Shades of the Green Resort, is now added to its list of destinations for military families. Military discounts are available, prices are slashed from $17/adult and $12.50/child down to $15.30/adult, and $11.25/child.
Rideshare from Orlando Airport to Walt Disney World
Uber and Lyft are popular and well-known ride-share service options. While they aren’t complimentary like Disney’s Magical Express used to be, you can still catch a ride to your resort hotel without having to worry about renting a cart or paying for parking. A normal rideshare car can accommodate about 4 guests and costs approximately $35 (though, it can be more or less depending on demand). But you can request a larger vehicle accommodating up to six guests at a higher fee. Check your app for current rates and details. Keep your party count and luggage in mind when you book and expect pickup times to vary. We’ve had rideshare pick us up within a minute or two and as long as 15 minutes when we arrived early in the morning after a redeye flight.
Rideshare pickup locations at Orlando International Airport are noted on signage by the curb. But please follow the instructions in the app about where to meet your driver. If you can’t find your driver, you can always contact them through the app.
Get a Taxi from Orlando Airport to Walt Disney World
Similar to both rideshare options, taxis are still one of the easiest ways to get from the airport to your resort. Some services offer larger vehicles if you call and request one. They are generally more expensive than rideshare and it can be hard to figure out the cost as a taximeter charge by the mile and time. As a general guess, a cab can cost between $55 and $70 one way. There are generally taxis lined up waiting to whisk guests away to their destination. Here’s where you can find a cab at Orlando International Airport:
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- Located on the A-Side of the Terminal,
in the center of the Arrivals Level (Level 2) - Located on the B-Side of the Terminal,
in the center of the Arrivals Level (Level 2)
- Located on the A-Side of the Terminal,
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The following Taxi services are offered at Orlando International Airport. You can call for a general quote or request a special-sized vehicle. You can also call these services for pickup at your hotel to return to the airport at the end of your trip:
Orlando Airport Taxi Services:
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- Diamond Cab Company: 407-523-3333
- Mears Taxi Yellow/City Cab: 407-422-2222
- Quick Cab: 407-447-1444
- Town & Country Transport: 407-828-3035
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Car Rental
It can be surprisingly inexpensive to rent a car in the Orlando area (depending on the time of year and demand). However, that means you need to consider things like gas and parking fees. Having your own car means you are more flexible with your transportation options and can get groceries and other necessities without paying for them at a surcharge on Disney property. The best rate often comes with weekly car rentals.
A service like Hotwire or Kayak can help you compare rental rates across all the different providers. But, in our experience, stick with the ones located at the airport so you don’t get stuck waiting for a shuttle to a remote rental center. We’ve listed the rental counters at the Orlando Airport with their current Yelp ratings. Some do much better than others with customer service, wait times at the counter, etc. Buyer beware.
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- Alamo (rating 3.5)
- Avis (1.5)
- Budget (1.5)
- Dollar (1.5)
- Enterprise (3.5)
- Hertz (2)
- National (3)
- Payless (1.5)
- Sixt (2)
- Thrifty (1.5)
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Let’s Hear From You
Finding an alternate way to get to your Disney World hotel isn’t difficult, but it isn’t as inexpensive or convenient as it used to be. While we’ll all miss Disney’s Magical Express, it’s relieving to know there are still multiple options to travel from the airport to WDW. Let us know what works best for you and your family.
Related Walt Disney World Travel News
With all the new and returning attractions coming to Walt Disney World in 2022, along with 50th-anniversary celebrations, are you planning a trip?
Here’s some recommended reading…
Top New Rides and Attractions Coming to Walt Disney World in 2022
The Top 10 Disney Parks Stories of 2021 – The Fun and the Furious!
Edited by: CF
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