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New Shuttle Service from MCO to Disney Called The Sunshine Flyer Starting in 2022

by Whitney Littlejohn · December 20, 2021

Transportation Management Services (TMS) announced today the launch of The Sunshine Flyer, a themed motorcoach bus experience that will transport guests from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World® Resorts.

Offering a convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation, The Sunshine Flyer will allow guests to start the magic of their Disney vacation from the moment they step off the plane. 

Credit: The Sunshine Flyer

Today is the official launch of  The Sunshine Flyer ,  the newest ride option to Walt Disney World® Resorts.

Launched by Transportation Management Services (TMS), The Sunshine Flyer offers a themed experience centered around old-fashioned passenger cars and train engines and provides travel to and from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World® Resorts, all while supporting Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida in the process. 

The service aims to alleviate the stress of airport transportation and kickstart the magic of the family vacation from the moment they board the bus:

• The buses are designed on the exterior to look like old-fashioned locomotives or passenger cars
• Staff will be dressed as 1920’s rail conductors and engineers
• The buses will have entertainment throughout the trip
• Ticket pre-sales begin on December 20, and service will begin on February 1, 2022

Prices are as follows:

With 25 years of experience as a large events transportation company working with world-class events such as the FIFA World Cup, NBA Finals and various PGA TOUR Tournaments, TMS is primed to offer a streamlined and well-executed service through The Sunshine Flyer. The buses service all Disney resorts and are complete with a bathroom, USB chargers and three-point seatbelts for the comfort and safety of all guests.

Ahead of travel, guests will book their tickets online and receive a QR code they will scan once arriving at Orlando International Airport which will ensure smooth timing and departures to the Resorts. The Sunshine Flyer will begin service from Orlando International Airport on February 1, 2022.

There is also a charity component to the launch of the service in honor of Disney’s 50 th  anniversary:

• For the first 50 days of service, 50% of Sunshine Flyer ticket sales will be donated to Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida .
• Make-A-Wish children and their families will receive complimentary service from the Sunshine Flyer for their Disney wishes indefinitely

The Sunshine Flyer offers transportation to all Walt Disney World® Resort destinations in Orlando, including Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s All Star Movies Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and more.

Credit: The Sunshine Flyer- more models released next year

In 2022 The Sunshine Flyer will be adding new locations to the service, including Universal Orlando Hotels, International Drive Hotels, along with other Disney Partner Hotels.

Thinking about a Disney getaway? 2021 packages are available for booking and 2022 packages are now open! Fill out our form below or contact me today for your FREE, no-obligation quote for a Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line or Adventures By Disney vacation! My magical planning services are included at no extra cost. Get in touch at 843-288-1130, via email at [email protected]  or follow along on  Facebook  and  Instagram .

Source: SunshineFlyer.com

Tags: MCO new bus transportation Orlando International Airport The Sunshine Flyer Walt Disney World Resorts

Whitney Littlejohn

Whitney is a wife and mom of 2 princesses of her own. She has grown up visiting Disney World and has turned her passion into a career. When she's not at the parks, she can be found planning her client's vacations with MickeyTravels and sharing advice with readers at MickeyBlog. Please reach out for a free, no-obligation quote at 843-288-1130 or [email protected].

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‘The Sunshine Flyer’ Themed Transportation to Walt Disney World

Last Updated on May 4, 2022

The Sunshine Flyer is another offering for Disney World transportation after Disney’s Magical Express Service is ended in 2022 at Walt Disney World, so going forward guests will have to find a new way to get to their Disney Resort Hotels.

The Sunshine Flyer , a themed motor coach experience has been launched as another express option for guests traveling to the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels from Orlando International Airport (MCO). This service is being operated by Transportation Management Services (TMS). With the imminent ending of Disney’s Magical Express resort transportation service, this is the second service to be offered.

The Sunshine Flyer to Disney World

The 1920’s themed motor coach will include staff dressed in Conductor and Engineer uniforms from the time period.

The Sunshine Flyer offers transportation to all Walt Disney World® Resort destinations in Orlando, including Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and more. TMS.com

About The Sunshine Flyer

Tickets for The Sunshine Flyer must be booked at least four days ahead of arrival. Tickets are $17.00 per adult and $12.50 per child. For more information and to book tickets, visit  www.sunshineflyer.com .

The Sunshine Flyer is the perfect option for families, groups, and individuals looking to start their Disney vacation from the moment they step off the plane.

Your Thoughts...

Please share your thoughts in the comments or reach out on social media...We would love to hear from you.

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Sunshine Flyer Airport Shuttle to Disney World | Info and FAQs

In this story, we are going to explain everything you need to know about the new sunshine flyer airport shuttle service., it was the most convenient transportation solution to get from the airport to your resort hotel, and the fact it was free was one of our favorite perks to staying on-site..

The Sunshine Flyer is a motorcoach shuttle that transports guests between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Resort.

What is the Sunshine Flyer Airport Shuttle?

It works in a similar way to Disney’s Magical Express in that it picks you up at the airport, brings you to your hotel, and then back to the airport when it’s time to go home.

– Themed 1920s service – Technology-driven approach to keep your trip under 60 minutes

Here are some of the benefits of using The Sunshine Flyer from their website:

– Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House

Where Does the Sunshine Flyer Go?

– One-Way Service – $17 per adult, $12.50 per child – Round Trip Service – $34 per adult, $25 per child

How Much Does the Sunshine Flyer Shuttle Cost?

Swipe up to read the rest of the article, related posts.

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Is The Sunshine Flyer the Magical Express Replacement We’ve All Been Dreaming Of?

by Catherine Hiles | Dec 21, 2021 | Walt Disney World , Walt Disney World News , Walt Disney World Resorts

Looking for a Magical Express replacement in 2022? The Sunshine Flyer is a new themed transportation service between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World Resorts. Scroll on for details and our review.

The Most Magical Place on Earth can be surprisingly stressful to get to and from. And in 2021, Disney announced that it would be discontinuing its Magical Express transportation service between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World Resorts in 2022 , potentially making the journey even more of a pain.

What Is the Sunshine Flyer?

The Sunshine Flyer offers a unique way to travel to Disney from the Orlando airport. The vehicles are modeled after old-fashioned locomotives or passenger cars, and staff will be dressed as 1920s rail conductors and engineers.

Photo courtesy of The Sunshine Flyer

Each bus will provide entertainment for the entirety of the journey. And, even better, The Sunshine Flyer will support Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida by donating 50% of ticket sales for the first 50 days of service to honor the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World.

How Can You Get Tickets?

The Sunshine Flyer began operating on Feb. 1, 2022. Tickets are available at TheSunshineFlyer.com .

Note:  Reservations are accepted up until four days before service.

How Much Does It Cost?

You can either buy a one-way ticket or a round-trip ticket, depending on your travel plans. The prices are as follows:

• One way: $17 per adult; $12.50 per child (3-8 years).
• Round-trip: $34 per adult; $25 per child (3-8 years).

Where Is The Sunshine Flyer Located?

Once you land at Orlando International Airport, follow signs to the Ground Transportation area in Terminal B, Level 1.

After checking in at the desk, you’ll be directed to your vehicle. Wait time is no more than 20 minutes, and the total ride time will be no more than 65 minutes.

Avoid disappointment by booking your airport transportation aboard The Sunshine Flyer today.

REVIEW: The Sunshine Flyer Is a Magical Disney World Transportation Option

WDW Magazine Communications Director, Tatjana Lazar, recently took a gifted ride from Walt Disney World to MCO via The Sunshine Flyer. We asked her to provide a review of her experience. Here’s what she said:

While waiting for my ride back to MCO from Pop Century, I witnessed a number of buses and car services pulling up to carry guests off to the airport. They were mostly generic and not very memorable vehicles. But when my purple Sunshine Flyer coach, named The Starfish, pulled in, I was pleased to say, “Oh, there’s my ride!” This purple Sunshine Flyer bus was Tatjana’s transport from Pop Century to MCO. Photo by Tatjana Lazar The fun paint job and friendly driver helped me feel like the Disney magic wasn’t quite done yet.   After handing my bags over to be loaded into the coach, I climbed aboard. The bus was about 50% full, so I knew it had already made a number of pickups before coming to Pop Century.   I found a window seat and settled into a plush and comfy chair for my ride to the airport. The coach made just a couple more stops to pick up guests at Art of Animation and Caribbean Beach before heading off to its final destination. The chairs were so comfy. Photo by Tatjana Lazar Along the way we were treated to some cute animated shorts featuring trains. It’s worth noting that these were not Disney animations , but Max Fleischer shorts. They did help pass the time though! Especially since I’m not able to look at my phone or read in moving vehicles without getting motion sick.   When we arrived at MCO, we parked in the area formerly occupied by Magical Express, and our driver unloaded all our luggage.   I did get the chance to see the blue Sunshine Flyer, named The Manatee, while I waited for my luggage.   There are a number of Sunshine Flyer coaches, and each one has a different paint job. So be sure to challenge your travel companions to a guessing game of which color will be picking you up on your future Sunshine Flyer rides!   Overall, my experience with the Sunshine Flyer was quite pleasant, and I would absolutely consider using them on my next Walt Disney World vacation.

Other Magical Express Alternatives

Mears is the main replacement for Magical Express, and while it’s been operating out of Orlando longer than The Sunshine Flyer, we’ve got to admit it doesn’t feel as magical as The Sunshine Flyer .

Alternatively, we’ve also tried out Quicksilver Tours and loved  it . It’s pricier than The Sunshine Flyer, but it’s private and comes with stops at a grocery store . And, you know, you may end up in a limo. 🤷

Thank you to The Sunshine Flyer for our gifted ride from Pop Century to MCO during a recent trip to Walt Disney World!

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Tag: sunshine flyer

Most recent, alert the way you get to disney world from the orlando airport has changed.

By Lauren Writtenberry 3 Comments

When planning your Disney World vacation, you’re making your packing list , you have your itinerary down, and you make your hotel and park pass reservations .

Walt Disney World

But you also have to think about how you will actually GET to Disney World, especially if you are flying. After Disney’s Magical Express ended service in January 2022, we saw 2 major companies take over that role, transporting guests to and from the Orlando International Airport and their Disney World hotels (for a fee) . Those main services were Mears Connect  and  The Sunshine Flyer . But there’s since been a change.

[Read more…]

REMINDER: BIG CHANGE To Disney World Transportation Starts Next Week!

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DON’T FORGET: There’s a BIG change coming soon to the transportation services between the Orlando International Airport and Disney World.

Orlando International Airport

If you’re planning to fly to Disney World for your next vacation, this change could very well impact your trip. Make sure you’re prepared before you take off! [Read more…]

BIG NEWS ANNOUNCED: Unexpected Merger Will Change Transportation from the Orlando Airport to Disney World

By Kelly Oliveros 10 Comments

There’s a major airport-to-hotel transportation update you need to know about.

Mears Connect bus

No, Disney’s Magical Express is NOT coming back. Since the Magical Express ended, we’ve seen 2 major companies essentially “fill the void” of that service, transporting guests to and from the Orlando International Airport and their Disney World hotels (for a fee). Those main services are Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer . And these were competing comapnies…until now.

When Did Disney’s Magical Express End? Why Did It Go Away?

By Lisa Gilmore 5 Comments

For many years, Disney World Resort guests had the opportunity to use Disney World Magical Express  to travel to and from the airport. But in 2021, after the 2020 closure and reopening, Disney announced that this opportunity would be coming to an end.

Gone but not forgotten🥲

As of January 1, 2022, Disney World discontinued the Magical Express airport transportation service. Here is what we know.

Step By Step: How To Plan a Disney World Trip

By Kim LaPaglia 1 Comment

Have you decided to take a trip to Walt Disney World? Congratulations! The excitement starts the minute that you start planning your vacation.

Welcome to Disney World!

But where do you begin? Whether this is a first trip to Disney World or a repeat visit, it takes patience to research flights, transportation, hotels, dining, tickets, and more.  We know that you have more questions than answers right now . You’re probably asking yourself all of these questions: Should I fly or drive to Orlando ? Which Disney resort fits my touring plans ? How does Disney transportation work ? Where should we have a character meal ? Which admission tickets do we need ?

How To Get to Disney World from the Orlando Airport for UNDER $10

By Hannah Risser Leave a Comment

If you are flying to Disney World , chances are you will land at Orlando International Airport . While it’s a popular choice because of how many other cities it connects to, it isn’t quite within walking distance of Disney World (in fact, it’s a decent drive to get to the parks).

© The Sunshine Flyer

With the loss of the free Magical Express and the average price for an Uber to Disney World ranging from $40 to $80 or more, many guests opt for cheaper alternatives. One such option is the Sunshine Flyer and right now they’re making it even more affordable to get to Disney World!

How To Travel from the Orlando Airport to Disney World Like a VIP

By Hannah Risser 2 Comments

Remember the good old days of the Magical Express ? After Disney did away with their free airport shuttle service, other options took its place, including the Sunshine Flyer.

Sunshine Flyer

These buses are themed around “old-fashioned passenger cars and train engines” and help get you in the headspace for a special trip as soon as you leave the airport!

The Orlando Airport Transportation CHANGE That Could Impact Your Next Disney World Trip

By Emma Kenner Leave a Comment

If you’re using the Sunshine Flyer transportation service soon, you need to know this update !

Walt Disney World has a lot of moving parts in 2023. With the new nighttime shows in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT , the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company, and the opening of TRON: Lightcycle Run , Disney is expected to be pretty busy this year. If you’re one of the people traveling in for all of the festivities, you probably need to know this new update from Sunshine Flyer !

How You Could Get to Your Disney World Hotel from the Airport for LESS

By Kelly Oliveros 1 Comment

If you’ll be flying to Disney World soon, there’s a transportation deal you may want to take advantage of ASAP.

The Magical Express is gone, so you’ll need to find alternative transportation to take you to/from the Orlando Airport and Disney World . One thing you could use is The Sunshine Flyer (essentially a Magical Express replacement service that you have to pay for). You could previously save BIG on future Sunshine Flyer trips thanks to some Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals . But if you missed those, don’t worry!

How You Can Save BIG On Disney World Airport Transportation NOW

By Jordan-Paige Sudduth 1 Comment

There are LOTS of ways to in around Disney World.

There are the Disney buses , the Skyliner , and the ferries, not to mention that you can take a rideshare service or your own car/a rental car around as well. But what about getting to and from the airport? Disney’s got two direct services, The Sunshine Flyer and Mears Connect , and one of them has a pretty sweet Black Friday deal!

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The Sunshine Flyer Offers Kids Ride Free Promotion for Walt Disney World Guests

• by Michelle Snow
• June 21, 2022 June 21, 2022

When Disney’s Magical Express stopped running in January 2022, one of the companies that popped up to replace it was The Sunshine Flyer.

Their motorcoaches have been shuttling guests between the Orlando airport and Walt Disney World since the beginning of the year.

Now, to celebrate its first summer in operation, The Sunshine Flyer is offering a limited-time “kids ride free” promotion for families.

The Details

For trips booked by July 31st, 2022, the fares are $16 per adults each way, and kids are free, which is a nice savings.

The tickets do not need to be used before July 31st, 2022, just purchased.

Plus all Make-A-Wish® children and families receive complimentary service from the Sunshine Flyer for Disney wishes indefinitely.

Transportation

The Sunshine Flyer’s buses are late model, premium motorcoaches with themes that center around old-fashioned passenger cars and train engines.

From the bus designs, to staff dressed as 1920s rail conductors and engineers, the motorcoaches are a fun way for families to travel between the airport and Walt Disney World.

The buses service all Disney resorts, and offer guests a bathroom, USB chargers, and three-point seatbelts on board.

To Purchase

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit SunshineFlyer.com .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by FLORIDA AIRPORT SHUTTLE (@sunshineflyerorlando)

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2 thoughts on “The Sunshine Flyer Offers Kids Ride Free Promotion for Walt Disney World Guests”

How do I get to the link? The screen stays blank. I need a ride for 4 people on 12/5/2022 and return 12/9/22 to and from the Orlando Airport to Saratoga Springs (might change). Sincerely, Lorraine Chappine

Hi Lorraine… as stated above, the link to book is https://sunshineflyer.com/ . I just clicked on it, and it takes me right to the page with a pop-up advertising the kids ride free promotion.

Comments are closed.

Sunshine Flyer Experience

Anyone use Sunshine Flyer for transportation recently? What are the wait times at the airport before you get on the bus? They have a deal going on and I’m tempted to try it. Thanks!

I did in February shortly after they started the service. It was fine. The workers/drivers were helpful and friendly. We left the airport within minutes of boarding a bus that wasn’t even half full. Pick up was timely. I will use them again.

I used them 2 weeks ago and it was very good. Take the deal! I think the bus was already there on our way to Disney World and we just had to wait to board (maybe 5ish minutes?). And they were extremely punctual in picking us up for the trip back to MCO.

I’ve definitely heard much better things about Sunshine Flyer than Mears, at least for the pickup from your resort. Let us know how it goes!

Is there really some sort of small cheap prize for kids? I’m looking for any carrot to make it to a bus.

I’m not sure what you’re asking, but I think it’s a great idea to have a few “prizes” on hand to bribe (I mean entertain) your kids as needed!

It sounds like the type of service that would give your kids a toy train when they board. But I’m guessing they don’t.

Nope, nothing.

I travel with all the goodies-but a “if you walk up there and down there and then go back there again…” can end with “and a nice person may give you a prize…well that’s just what my crew needs!!!

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Mears Connect Review

Mears Connect offers shuttle bus service between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World resorts plus select off-site hotels. In this transportation review, we’ll share our experience with the paid replacement for Magical Express, offer comparisons to alternatives, and more.

Let’s start with a quick recap. Walt Disney World’s free shuttle service between MCO and the company’s resorts, Disney’s Magical Express, has now ended . Guests now need to find their own ground transportation from the airport to their hotel, and we cover the range of options in our Guide to Airport Transportation for Walt Disney World . There is no one-size-fits-all perfect solution–it depends on your party size, budget, and other factors.

Mears Connect is one such option. It’s attractive to many Walt Disney World visitors because it’s actually by the same company that operated Disney’s Magical Express. In fact, Mears Connect literally uses the exact same drivers and buses, just minus the Disney-branded wraps. Some of the buses look very similar to the old ‘ocean-liner’ DME buses, with only Disney logos and characters removed…

Mears Connect promises fast and convenient airport transportation service in high occupancy vehicles, limited wait times to board a bus, comfortable seating, an arrival souvenir, limited stops to your hotel, and more. (At present, luggage handling is not offered, but Mears hopes to add this in the future.)

The biggest selling point of Mears Connect is their claim that it’s the same reliable, safe service guests have been using for decades to Walt Disney World area hotels. Again, since this is largely a rebranded Disney’s Magical Express, the allure of that is strong. This Mears Connect review will take a look at whether the airport shuttle delivered on those promises.

We’ll begin with the booking process, which is simple and straightforward. From start to finish, it took only a few minutes to make and receive confirmation of my reservation. I was able to book online on incredibly short notice, and the booking engine autofilled my details after entering my airline and flight number.

This is notable because Mears Connect’s direct competitor, Sunshine Flyer, requires 4 days’ notice when making reservations. This probably won’t matter to most Walt Disney World planning obsessives, but for those of us who procrastinate, it can be a problem. There’s even walk-up availability for the ultimate foot-draggers. ( On a totally unrelated note, unfortunately we will not have a Sunshine Flyer review until the next time we have a need to return from the airport .)

Mears Connect has two options: Standard and Express. The latter is direct service to your resort and back to the airport, as the guaranteed first stop. Express is not necessarily a private service; it may be shared. Given that, booking Mears Connect Express makes no sense whatsoever, as Mears has a number of competitors that specialize in actual private service. I don’t see the point of reviewing Mears Connect Express, nor do I want to pay the premium for it in a world where Uber exists, so I booked Mears Connect Standard.

The Standard level of service is a shared ride service on high-occupancy Mears Connect vehicle, which costs $16 for adults and $13.50 for children for a one-way trip or $32 for adults and $27 for children for round trips. This is the regular multi-stop shuttle bus option.

Approximately 24 hours before my flight, I received a boarding pass for the bus with a QR code via email from Mears Connect. Upon landing at MCO, I received a text message reminder with a link to my boarding pass and arrival instructions. Now, you might think it’s overkill to send this boarding pass twice. That’s fair.

Somehow, I still made my way over to the Mears Connect boarding area on autopilot and presented my MagicBand like a doofus. Old habits die hard, I guess. As I fumbled to find the QR code, the Mears Connect desk attendant found my reservation in the system, handed me a pair of sunglasses (the free arrival gift), and sent me on my way to the loading zone.

It was a late flight, and at this point, there were maybe 4 other people in the entire Mears Connect loading area. Earlier in the year, I had seen photos of long lines to check-in and board the buses; that absolutely was not my experience. This isn’t to say you won’t encounter a long line–it really depends upon demand, and the influx of arrivals versus how quickly Mears can process guests and dispatch buses.

In any case, guests quickly filled in behind me and in other lanes. Within 10 minutes, the bus started boarding. It took another 15 minutes of waiting for a few more stragglers to show up, and even then, my Mears Connect bus was only around 20% full when we departed.

Upon departure, the bus driver announced that there would be 5 stops: Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Gaylord Palms Resort.

That final, off-site hotel actually is a stone’s throw from Bonnet Creek and Pop Century, so it was actually a pretty efficient itinerary. I’m not sure if that was a matter of planning, or simply luck that the passengers weren’t dispersed over a larger geographic area on property and off.

I assume someone must be the first stop when taking these shared shuttle services from the airport, but it’s never us. In years of using Disney’s Magical Express, I’d reckon that we were the last or second-to-last stop approximately 90% of the time. Maybe somewhere out there, our Wario and Waluigi counterparts are boasting on their blog about always being first.

True to form, my destination was the last stop on this Mears Connect route. In this case, that was actually my preference, as this was for the sake of review. Timing everything from the moment I was checked in until I exited the Mears Connect bus, the whole process took 1 hour, 25 minutes and 50 seconds.

Had I been the first stop, it would’ve taken just under an hour. This is more or less consistent with our rides aboard Disney’s Magical Express, which is wholly unsurprising. The drive from the airport still takes the same amount of time, as do the stops between each resort.

The wildcards are going to be the waits to board buses, depart, and number of stops. Those are variables for which no single review can account, and even if they could, you’d have no way of knowing what your experience would be before arrival. It could take 45 minutes on the absolute low end, or 2 hours on the high end. Perhaps even longer during peak season with long lines for buses–but even that should be offset by demand necessitating a more frequent bus dispatch interval.

This is the tough thing about reviewing the Sunshine Flyer, Mears Connect, or even Disney’s Magical Express before them. You could luck into a flawless experience where you timed everything perfectly, were dropped off first, and the whole process only took 45 minutes. Conversely, your timing could be terrible and it could take 2 hours.

Two guests could arrive literally 10 minutes apart but have polar opposite reviews–one just barely making the bus to their destination and the other just barely missing it. One might write effusive praise online about the shuttle service, the other a rant about poor service and delays. Both would be equally true, with mere minutes separating the great from the awful.

From my perspective, this makes a time-based review of Mears Connect virtually pointless. While it took me a slightly above-average amount of time, your experience could vary widely from this. The most important thing to know is the range of these fluctuations, and that they are entirely possible and equally unpredictable.

You might luck into a 45 minute total transit time, and that’s great. But you need to be prepared and willing to wait 2 hours, as that’s also in the realm of possibilities. If not, Mears Connect is not for you. (Same goes for Sunshine Flyer.)

This was only a one-way trip aboard Mears Connect. We did not (and will not) test the resort to airport return service because, frankly, the lead times are absurd. You are picked up from your hotel a minimum of 3 hours prior to your flight (at least 4 hours for international flights), with actual pick-up times often being more like 3.5-4 hours for domestic departures.

In fairness, this is nothing new. Disney’s Magical Express did the exact same thing, and it was in large part driven by the unpredictability of security wait times at MCO. We have Global Entry and seldom check bags, so we’re usually leaving for the airport less than 2 hours before our flight’s departure.

On the service side, Mears Connect was practically perfect. Everyone at the airport was courteous and helpful, and the driver tried to liven up the bus ride with a fun and upbeat attitude. No issues or complaints whatsoever–they did as good of a job as possible.

But–and I’m sure many of you saw this coming and know where it’s going next–it’s simply not the same as Disney’s Magical Express. How could it be?

Even with offering the same shuttle service at a foundational level, Mears Connect simply does not have that inarticulable Disney quality to it. This was easily foreseeable and is unsurprising, but it nevertheless bears emphasizing.

Disney’s Magical Express had a lot of flaws. It was beloved despite those, and many visitors were easily able to ‘paper over’ the problems in their minds because, true to the name, it was a magical way to start their vacation. Being greeted by Mickey Mouse in his captain’s hat, a memorable and quotable video on board, and various little Disney touches all made it easier to overlook what was otherwise an inefficient method of airport transportation.

It wasn’t that Disney’s Magical Express was good, it was that it was  Disney. A way to be immersed in the experience from the moment you landed in Orlando, all the while building anticipation aboard the bus and ultimately exiting at your themed resort. It was exciting, fun, and distinctly Disney–even while being operated by Mears. It was a bittersweet end to the trip, but one that already began planting the seeds for your next  visit.

Now all of that is gone. The shuttle service must stand on its own, without its weakness veiled by the ‘magical’ veneer. Mears Connect is fundamentally the exact same shuttle, but, fairly or unfairly, it will be perceived differently by guests. Those same long waits and that inefficiency that existed before suddenly might be less tolerable.

Ultimately, that’s where we stand with Mears Connect. For better or worse, the objective experience is nearly identical to what Disney’s Magical Express offered for the last two years (after eliminating luggage handling). Whether it’s right for you is a personal question, and hopefully one you can answer in light of the above information about waits, service, and cost.

Personally, Mears Connect is not something that we would use if visiting Walt Disney World for fun. (We only did this for the sake of reviewing it.) With just the two of us, the cost of the shuttle typically beats Uber or Lyft by a slim margin–but not when allocating even the minimum value to our time, which is probably a fair assessment of its worth. Were we a larger party, it would almost certainly make financial sense to opt for something different. Then again, there’s also value in predictability, convenience, and using an established service–so I get the appeal there.

What I will never understand is the discontinuation of Disney’s Magical Express. As we’ve been saying since Walt Disney World announced the end of DME, we maintain that this is an incredibly shortsighted and guest-unfriendly decision that will have unforeseen negative long-term consequences for Walt Disney World once pent-up demand fizzles out. It’s impossible to put a dollar-value on that feeling of being immersed in the Disney ‘magic’ from the moment of arrival to departure, and the impact of its loss–on brand affinity & goodwill, guest satisfaction, and likelihood of returning–is equally incalculable. Mears Connect might offer the same service for a fee, but there’s still a world of difference.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think of Mears Connect? Have you already used Mears Connect? If so, what were your wait times and overall impression of the offering? Will you use Mears Connect, or is it too expensive for shared transportation? Will you opt for Mears Connect over Sunshine Flyer, Uber, Lyft, or renting a car? Thoughts on pricing, efficiency, or anything else? What do you think about Walt Disney World ending Disney’s Magical Express? Other thoughts on this? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Slowest transportation ever. What a waste of money for “express”. Unimpressive.

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