Disney’s Magical Express Service Ending in 2022

    Disney’s Magical Express, the free bus service that takes guests between the airport and hotel, will be coming to an end. The service will end January 1, 2022. Here’s what Disney said about the change:

    Vacationers have more options to choose from than ever for transportation, including ride-share services that save time and offer more flexibility to go where they want, when they want. In light of this shift, when Disney Resort hotel bookings open for stays in 2022, we will no longer offer Disney’s Magical Express service for airport transportation, starting with arrivals Jan. 1, 2022. We will continue to operate the service for new and existing reservations made at Disney Resort hotels for arrivals throughout 2021. Additionally, complimentary transportation options – such as buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner – will continue to be available within Walt Disney World Resort for Disney Resort hotel guests, including to and from all four theme parks.

    As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!

    BlogMickey.com Newsletter

    Stay up-to-date with the latest Disney news, right to your inbox!

    Kingdom Destinations Quote

    Vacation Planning Assistance

    We're excited to partner with Kingdom Destinations to help you plan your next trip to Disney parks and experiences around the world. Kingdom Destinations is a full service travel agency, specializing in Disney destinations. Fill out the form below to schedule a free consultation with one of their professional travel advisors today!

    29 COMMENTS

    1. “Vacationers have more options to choose from than ever for transportation” is Disney-speak for “now that you’re not trapped on property, we’re not going to continue paying a fortune each year to Mears to try to keep you there.” Sure, an Uber is only ~$35 each way, but the free transportation felt like a HUGE benefit to staying on property.

    2. Wow! I understand they are a business and looking out for themselves but to my family this was huge. It was the start of our vacation and one of the perks for staying on property. It won’t be an end all for us and will still travel there, but it make us go to Universal for a few days first since we will need to pay for transportation. Disney, if you’re reading this (likely not), you’re going to lose a few hotel night stays from us so hoping your cost cutting measure will make you lose in the end as opposed to earning you more money.

    3. Agree, now you either have to rent a car or use uber or some other service to get to the resort. And we are talking thousands of guests a day that use this service and does uber even have the infastructure to support this ammount of people a day?

    4. Huge mistake…HUGE!
      Magical Express has become part of the “Show”.
      It’s more than a bus ride. It’s part of the experience.
      Just one more reason to take my vacation dollars elsewhere.

    5. So many things are leaving that made the trip magical. Small things that can set a trip a part from going anywhere else.

    6. Will we still be able to check our luggage and get our boarding passes for flights home at the resorts?

    7. Really big mistake!! There was nothin better than not having to worry about transportation and luggage!!
      How does a family of 18 get to the resorts!?

    8. This stinks that was one of the best things about going, no or worry about going or dealing with the airlines. Back to a car rental and going to other parks, no need for Disney park passes for the whole stay.

    9. They will lose 1 night hotel stay from me for each stay. Flying in late at night I always booked an extra night AT Disney to use ME. Now I will just stay near the airport, pay less, then get my uber the next morning.
      They don’t call him Bob Cheapskate for nothing.

    10. What an absolutely idiotic move! I already wasn’t a huge fan of Disney, but the Magical Express was actually one of the few things I thought Disney did well, taking the hassle of travel to and from the airport, and most importantly, baggage, away, so that a family could focus on their vacation. I’m sure it has nothing to do with Disney’s ridiculous daily resort parking fee ($15/$25 per night). I mean really, this isn’t high priced downtown real estate, but 43 square miles of swamp land.

    11. If we don’t have the Magical Express, then it will be cheaper to stay off property and save enough money for transportation to the parks!!! Disney prices were always higher than other places and we won’t spend the extra money to stay at your resorts when you stop taking care of your guest that save for years to come back to see Mickey!!! Maybe universal from now on!!!

    12. One of the main reasons I love my Disney vacation is because it’s a no hassle vacation. Magical express is the beginning, check luggage at the airport and it magically appears in my room, they drive me to the front door of my hotel, don’t have to worry about anything. When it’s time to go home they take care of my luggage and get me to the airport. It also gives me security to feel comfortable to travel on my own when I want. This is a major game changer for me.

    13. Oh my gosh, is there no end to their cost cutting madness?????? I love ME, it’s part of the the trip, just like the parks, resorts, shows, etc. The current Disney management is simply the WORSE MANAGEMENT EVER!!!!! They (Bob Cheapskate) have made so many mistakes over the past few years, well before Covid even was a thing, they can just use that as their excuse now instead of something else. Is the loss of ME the final tipping point for there actually not being enough major perks left to stay on Disney property? I believe so. If folks are having to rent a car or pay $70 round trip for Lyft, that opens up ALOT of other options for hotels and resorts off property that will save them a TON of money over the cost of staying on property at a Disney resort. It’s a sad shame that Disney is taking away so many timeless things, things that make a Disney vacation memorable for so many families, generation after generation. This new Disney is NOT the Disney that Walt envisioned or would have wanted for his legacy. It’s come down to a sad reflection of money over memories and magic for the Disney corporation. I love the mouse with all my heart, I’m an AP holder and Disney stock holder but I think it’s time for all of us to sadly step back and ask ourselves if there’s other places to spend our hard earned dollars besides with Disney.

      • Very well said Jen! I highly recommend looking into our National Parks as an alternative. Yosemite National Park will blow you away!

    14. Not a good idea at all!!! Yes, I know there are other options but that made the trip so much easier. I don’t suppose they will lower the room rates due to this. I remember when hotel parking was free when staying on site. Room rates did not go down then either. Consumers aren’t stupid Disney!!!

    15. No more free magic bands, now taking away magic express transportation; what next – you’ll have to pay to use the Disney app on our phones…. Walt must be turning over in his grave at the direction everything is going. 🥺😡🤯

    16. That stinks! It was so much fun, so exciting and SO stress free to ride the Disney bus with the TV playing Disney cartoons!

    17. As someone with a large family, this is devastating for us. Ride shares don’t accommodate the amount of people and luggage we bring for our week long Disney stays. Upon waiting for a taxi van, which could cost us lots of money and could take a significant amount of time, they also don’t supply the Disney magic that guests receive upon arriving and departing the Orlando airport. With this pandemic causing lots of roadblocks for multiple businesses and families I understand the cuts. Doesn’t mean I have to like them. Hopefully something will come back in the future when business and funds pick up

    18. We will have to rethink about our yearly trips to DW. We’re handicapped seniors and relied on all their help to get to the hotel. And as soon as the transportation ends, Uber, Lyft and taxis are going to take advantage and increase their rates. It’s not bad enough they keep raising their entrance fees. Now we’ll have to sell a kidney just to get there. What a sad world. 💔💔

    19. Won’t be staying Disney anymore. The convenience of the Magical Express was a big part of why we stayed inside the park. We’ll stay outside Disney from now on. Much cheaper too. Very disappointed in Disney!

    20. I never even realized they offered this service! I usually road trip my way down to Florida so I still have my car though. I would imagine people will be able to find other transportation options. Someone will seize the opportunity to make a few bucks and offer a similar service for sure.

    21. my family was planning to go back to Disney in november 2022 and stay on the property but without this service we may re-think vacation plans. Seems like a really stupid idea for a place that wants to make your stay magical.

    Comments are closed.

    BlogMickey.com Newsletter

    Stay up-to-date with the latest Disney news, right to your inbox!

    Related Articles