What You NEED to Know About Disney's Magical Express Replacement

2021 brought a lot of huge changes to Disney World, with updates to health and safety policies, the 50th anniversary celebration, the launch of Disney Genie, new restaurant openings, and new rides debuting.

2022 also brought its share of changes, with one of the biggest being the suspension of Disney’s Magical Express, the free transportation option that allowed Disney World guests to get to and from the Orlando International Airport and their Disney World hotels. However, there are TWO paid replacement services: Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer.

Although Disney World guests will still have rideshare and car rental options at the airport, both Mears Connect and the Sunshine Flyer offer (paid) services similar to Magical Express. So here’s what you need to know about both!

What Mears Connect Offers

Mears Connect offers two services: standard and express. Standard service is a shared ride (meaning a bus full of other guests) that has an “economical” fare that will include all tolls and surcharges. This service will make a limited number of stops on the way to your resort. Mears also promises that a standard Mears bus will have Disney World guests on their way within 20 minutes of checking into the Mears Connect reception area at Orlando Airport.

On the other hand, Express service will take guests directly to their resort, as well as back to the airport, with shorter wait times. It’s pricier (we’ll get to that in a bit), but that price also includes all tolls and surcharges.

However, note that Express still may be a shared service and you may still share a vehicle with other guests going to the same hotel as you. Mears Connect service launched on January 1st, 2022.

How much does Mears Connect Cost?

For standard service, Mears Connect typically costs $20.90 per adult and $14.85 per child for a one-way trip. A Round Trip costs $39.90 per adult and $28.35 per child. Express service is $250 Round Trip, which is for up to four passengers. Additional passengers are $55 each.

However, we often see sales on Mears Connect trips, like the spring savings shown above. Please note that the rate for children only applies to kids ages 3 to 9. Children under 3 ride for free.

How Will Mears Connect Work?

You will need to book your Mears Connect service prior to your arrival on the Mears Connect website. You’ll choose whether you want to book standard or express service, and from there, you’ll fill out all information, including your drop-off location, flight number, arrival date and time, and how many are in your party. Fill in your payment details, and you’re all set — you’ll receive an email confirmation of your reservation.

When you arrive at Orlando Airport, you will need to go pick up your luggage. Once you have your bags in hand, you’ll want to find the Mears Connect reception area, located on Level 1, Ground Transportation Level, in Terminal B. You should see signs to navigate you there.

Mears Connect station at Orlando Airport

From your hotel, you can ask front desk personnel where to pick up your bus — your return time will already be on your emailed ticket/receipt. And just like Magical Express, that pick-up time is three hours before your flight departs. So be at your pick-up spot on time so you can catch your flight.

What Hotels Does Mears Connect Service?

Mears Connect services a wide variety of hotels in the Disney World area, including ALL Disney-owned properties. However, it also services the following hotels:

Shades of Green
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Disney Springs
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek
Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace at Disney Springs
Holiday Inn Orlando at Disney Springs
Orlando World Center Marriott
Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando Disney Springs
B Resort & Spa

For all other hotels, you can book a Mears Luxe private black car or a Mears taxi. You also have rideshare and car rental options.

Check out Mears Connect reviews from AllEars readers here!

What The Sunshine Flyer Offers

The Sunshine Flyer only offers one shared option for getting to and from Orlando Airport and Disney World hotels, which is similar to that of Mears Connect. However, The Sunshine Flyer features buses themed as old-fashioned passenger cars and train locomotives (because we all know how much Walt Disney loved trains). The Sunshine Flyer website states that guests will not have to wait more than 20 minutes before boarding a bus at the airport, and although the motorcoach may have multiple stops, the last stop will not take more than 65 minutes.

What makes this service even more unique is that no two vehicle designs are the same, meaning that guests who use the service more than once get a different experience every time. Note that The Sunshine Flyer service launched on February 1st, 2022.

How Much Does The Sunshine Flyer Cost

The Sunshine Flyer’s cost is $19.50 per adult and $12 per child for one-way service, $39 per adult, and $24 per child for round-trip service.

Much like Mears, we often see sales and special rates for The Sunshine Flyer, and have even seen sales where kids ride free all summer long! Check to see what the pricing is ahead of your trip.

How Will The Sunshine Flyer Work

Guests can make their reservations for The Sunshine Flyer online, offering up much of the same information as they would for Mears Connect. When arriving at Orlando Airport, guests will then pick up their luggage and travel to the Main Terminal Building on Terminal B, Level 1, in the Ground Transportation area. After guests check in here, they will be directed to their motorcoach.

The day before guests check out of their Disney World hotel, they’ll receive an email with the departure time of their motorcoach, which will be approximately three hours before the scheduled departure time for domestic flights and four hours before scheduled departures for international flights.

What Hotels Does The Sunshine Flyer Service?

Currently, The Sunshine Flyer only has Disney World-owned resorts listed as the hotels that it currently services.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin and Shades of Green are also listed as options on The Sunshine Flyer website.

Read AllEars reader reviews of The Sunshine Flyer here!

So that’s everything you need to know about Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer. Keep reading AllEars for more Disney and Orlando Airport transportation news!