Will the Train to Disney World Really Be Better Than Magical Express?

In case you haven’t heard, Disney’s Magical Express will discontinue its service starting in January of 2022. That means anyone flying in and out of Orlando International Airport will need to find new ways to travel to and from their Disney World Resort hotel.

Mears Connect will launch right when Disney’s Magical Express is suspended, providing a new (albeit paid) bus transportation option between MCO and Disney World. Looking to the future, however, we’re eagerly awaiting more updates regarding the new Brightline train.

Brightline would provide a new high-speed rail service from Orlando International Airport to Disney World. In fact, Brightline is set to provide transit across the state of Florida, spanning from Tampa to Miami. The stop at Disney World would be located at Disney Springs.

While there are many positives that could come from Brightline, there’s no doubt that Disney’s Magical Express will be hard to top.

Will Brightline actually wind up being a better option? Let’s take a look at what we know so far and what we still don’t know.

What we know so far about the train so far:

With stops stretching across the state of Florida, Brightline will be a huge plus if you live in-state and along the rail line. Visiting Disney World could be easier than ever before!

One of the drawbacks, however, is that Brightline’s singular stop in Disney World right now would be in or around Disney Springs. Guests will likely need to transfer to some sort of bus transportation at Disney Springs to reach their hotels.

One positive with Brightline being a high-speed rail is that it will likely provide quicker transportation to Disney World. It can take a while for Disney’s Magical Express to take you to your hotel, and Brightline will likely be able to hold more guests, offer continuous service, and bypass any traffic in and around the area.

One final detail that we know right now about Brightline is that it’s delayed — big time. As of right now construction of the train is delayed indefinitely, and we may not see the completion of Brightline until 2026. That’s roughly four years at a minimum we won’t have Brightline at all and will have to take Mears Connect or find another transportation option.

What we don’t know yet:

One of the unknowns as of this writing regarding Brightline is exactly how much “Disney” will be incorporated into the trains. Since it stretches across the state of Florida as a high-speed rail transportation option, it won’t only serve tourists traveling to Disney World. So the Disney “magic” will likely be minimal, if it exists at all.

While it hasn’t been confirmed, there’s a possibility that guests will need to collect their own bags from baggage claim. This is vastly different than Disney’s Magical Express, where Disney would collect guests’ bags and drop them off in their hotel room!

Like we mentioned above, we also don’t know exactly when it’ll be complete — but we do know it’s delayed. After already facing several setbacks, construction of Brightline has been delayed indefinitely.

And finally, we don’t know how much Brightline will cost. Magical Express was free for all Disney World resort guests, meaning that any cost associated with Brightline would be a major con, especially if it’s pricey. Keep in mind that the transportation option immediately replacing Disney’s Magical Express, Mears Connect, does require a fee.

Click here to read more about the delays with Brightline’s construction!

Would you take the Brightline train from Orlando International Airport to Disney Springs, or would you seek alternate transportation options? Let us know in the comments!

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