If you’re planning your next trip to Walt Disney World, you might be wondering if the beloved Disney Magical Express will make a comeback in 2025.

Remember the good old days of free perks when you stayed at a Disney World Resort?

From free MagicBands to Extra Magic Hours for ALL guests (at Value and Moderate Resorts too!), it feels like we had it all … in comparison to these days.

Today, if you stay at a Disney World hotel, you are paying for your room, transportation and proximity to the parks.

Whist that’s great, it’s a huge step down from the perks we were used to just a few years ago.

One of the biggest former on-site perks for guests flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO) was the Disney Magical Express. This free shuttle would take you to your hotel and back to the airport at the end of your vacation.

Other services – namely Mears Connect – have stepped in, but they don’t quite capture the same magic.

Even though Mears operated the Disney Magical Express (you can even take the same buses, though they don’t scream Disney anymore).

This is mainly because it’s not free anymore!

Now that it’s been nearly three years since the Magical Express drove into Disney World history (pun intended), let’s explore if it will ever make a return – so we can save money on our Disney World vacations!

This post is all about exploring whether the Disney Magical Express is coming back in 2025.

Disney Magical Express

The History of Disney Magical Express

The Disney Magical Express bus service was a beloved service that many visitors relied on for a seamless journey from the airport to Disney World.

As I mentioned, it was essentially a Disney shuttle from the airport that would take you to your Disney hotel. And at the end of your trip, it would take you back to MCO.

Launch and Operation

Disney’s Magical Express launched in May 2005, aiming to make the journey easier for those visiting Walt Disney World. Guests arriving at the Orlando International Airport were greeted with free transportation directly to their Disney Resort hotels.

The service, provided by Mears Transportation Group, included a comfortable bus ride and complimentary luggage delivery. Your bags would magically appear in your hotel room, allowing you to jump straight into your adventures without waiting at baggage claim.

The implementation of the Disney Magical Express was borderline genius. Not only did it feel like a great deal for guests, it was a great business move for Disney.

It helped to keep guests on site at Disney World. If Disney provides you with free transportation to and from the airport, you’re less likely to go spend some time at SeaWorld, or most importantly, Disney’s biggest competitor, Universal Studios Orlando – who have been gaining popularity – and attendance – massively since 2010.

So, if the Magical Express helped Disney to “win the Theme Park war”, they wouldn’t get rid of it … right?

Does Disney still do Magical Express?

No, Disney decided that the best thing to do was get rid of the Magical Express!

Yes, despite all the valid reasons why the Disney Magical Express transportation makes sense for guests – and Disney – it sadly left us in 2022, after 17 amazing years.

However, as with many things, the story of Disney Magical Express ended when Disney announced in early 2021 that the service would be discontinued by January 1, 2022.

But why was the Disney Magical Express discontinued?

The Disney Magical Express cost would’ve been high for Disney: Maintaining a free shuttle service is expensive, and Disney had to evaluate its operational costs, especially amid changes in travel dynamics caused by the pandemic. That being said, staying at a Disney World resort can be expensive, so could Disney have continued funding this. Probably. But if they don’t have to, they won’t. Yeah, when it comes to transportation from the airport, the Disney Difference doesn’t exist anymore. 😭

Paid alternatives such as Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer emerged to fill the gap, for guests who don’t mind paying for the service (in 2023, Mears Connect and the Sunshine Flyer merged, so we will just be talking about Mears for now).

Current Transportation Alternatives

With the Disney Magical Express no longer in operation, travelers heading to Disney resorts need to explore other transportation options. Let’s take a look at some alternatives that can help make your journey just as magical.

Mears Connect Service

Mears Connect has stepped up as a leading option for those missing the Disney Magical Express.

They offer two levels of service: Standard and Express.

The Standard service is shared and makes multiple stops, meaning you might have to wait a bit longer at times.

This costs $16 for an adult one-way, $13 for a child and it’s free for children 2 and under.

The Express service, on the other hand, offers a more direct and quicker route, with minimal waiting.

A round trip for up to 4 people costs $238.10 + $11.90 PFRC (privilege fee recovery charge). For every additional person (5+), it costs an extra $52.38 + $2.62 PFRC.

Mears Standard Service Mini Review

I used the Standard service in August 2024, when I stayed at Bay Lake Tower, and had a decently positive experience.

On the way to Bay Lake Tower, we stopped at Old Key West and Saratoga Springs on the way, but it was pretty efficient.

disney magical express orlando — Disney’s Old Key West Resort

On the way back to the airport, my bus was late (just over 10 minutes late).

As this was my first solo trip, I was a little worried about missing my flight home!

But I spoke to one of the drivers, who ended up collecting me unexpectedly, as well as guests from the hotel side of the Contemporary and the Grand Floridian.

So, is it a perfect service? No.

I haven’t used the Express Service, but it could be more convenient, if you’re happy to pay the premium.

Other Transportation Options

If Mears Connect isn’t for you, there are plenty of other ways to get to your Disney destination:

Ride-Shares: Services like Uber and Lyft are popular. They don’t just offer convenience but also allow you to travel on your schedule. Unless I’m traveling alone, this is my first choice for convenience, and if there’s more than 2 people in your party, it can often be similarly priced or more cost-effective than choosing Mears.

Taxis: Traditional taxis are always available. They might not be as tech-savvy as ride-shares, but they get the job done. They can be quite a bit more expensive though.

Rental Cars: If you prefer having a car at your disposal, renting is a good choice. This allows for flexibility in moving around the area. Parking is now free again at Disney Resorts for all hotel guests (not just Disney Vacation Club members).

Will Disney Magical Express Return in 2025?

Since we said goodbye to the Disney Magical Express, many of us have wondered if it will ever make a comeback.

Nobody knows for sure, but I think there’s a small chance.

The keyword being ‘small’.

If Disney could get away with it, Disney Magical Express would never return again.

At the end of the day, they’re a business that wants to be profitable. As I mentioned, the Disney difference has not seemed to extend into this decade very much.

But, we all know that Epic Universe is opening at Universal Studios Orlando in Summer 2025. And we can assumed that Disney will see a decline in attendance due to the new park.

So, if Disney is struggling to persuade people to spend most or all of their Orlando vacations at Disney World, they may just bring back the Disney Magical Express to hold onto their Orlando theme park market share.

That being said, “bringing back Disney Magical Express” is A LOT easier said than done. So, would Disney go to the effort of bringing it back?

Perhaps, but only if they were really desperate.

And if Disney Magical Express makes an appearance in the future, it is unlikely to be as soon as 2025.

Since 2010, Disney has taken a reactive approach to Universal’s success (since the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter).

So, if Disney brings back Disney Magical Express, it will probably be after Epic Universe is a huge success that takes guests away from Disney World.

(Of course, at the moment, this is assuming that Epic Universe will be as popular as we’re predicting).

If Universal really wants to keep people on property, maybe they’ll implement their version of the Magical Express …

At this rate, that seems more likely than Disney bringing back the Magical Express. 😭

The Future of Disney Magical Express

Sadly, there is no easy answer to this.

I hope that one day in the near future, I can update this post and excitedly tell you all about the Disney Magical Express is returning.

But until then, we’ll just have to keep hoping! 🤞

Ta Ta For Now

Do you think the Disney Magical Express will ever return in the foreseeable or long-term future?

This post was all about exploring whether the Disney Magical Express is coming back in 2025.

Is the Disney Magical Express Coming Back in 2025?