News Disney's Magical Express to end after 2021

[dsinclair]

Indeed. But they are the largest in the area and I would be shocked to see them just throw their hands up in surrender.

Much like the companies that service Disneyland guests at LAX, I'd expect to see Mears and others come up with something similar for MCO.

I hope so, and assume some new option would pop up. We're planning a October 2022 trip, and as others have said, having car seat aged kids but no DME will make to and from the airport so much more of a headache.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

Terrible news. The perks and reasons to stay at a Walt Disney World resort just keep disappearing.

 

[Parker in NYC]

This is horrid. Magical Express and its luggage perks (pre-COVID) were one of the cornerstones of a WDW trip.

I guess it’s back to the not-halcyon Tiffany Town Car days of yore... are they still in business?

 

[WDWYankee15]

Also, I'm sure Mears is so pleased with staring down the barrel of that loss of revenue. Will they institute a for-payment outside service using the infrastructure?

This is what there was prior to DME.

 

[jpeden]

This is a horrible decision on their part. At this point, if I’m paying to stay at a deluxe I would much rather stay at the Four Seasons. They now get the same perks as staying on property and the hotel is nicer, rooms are larger, and the service is actually four/five star.

 

[eandm]

After going an average of 5-6 trips a year since we first bought annual passes a few years ago - we may have to go back to maybe 2 trips a year with all the extra transportation costs -- and drop the annual passes ......

 

[Dukeblue1227]

This Sucks. Ugh.

 

[nicb88]

I'm waiting for DVC to take away my free parking benefit. There are no perks to being on site. The off site hotels that you can book for much cheaper (and on credit card points) that have the same value at this point.

I’m not sure DVC can take away ‘free’ parking as you effectively own at the property and pay for it via dues. If I recall, it’s all written into the contract or something. I’m sure someone else can clarify that!

 

[dolbyman]

I always took the paid Disney shuttle buses from the Paris airports (VEA Magical Shuttle), works just fine.

So if Mears makes this an external paid service .. whatever (still a bad decision from Disney..unless there is some sort of secret plan behind it)

 

[Lora Baines Bradley]

What a horrible move. We always drove in but this seems like an incredibly dumb idea.

 

[Dayma]

One by one Disney is taking away some of the stuff we love. But hey, at least we get rides that don't break down daily. Oh wait.

 

[GusEzra]

Another thing is IF I'm now going to stay on property and have to rent a car I no longer need Disney Transportation to get to the parks since I'm paying for parking at the resort can't you park for free at the parks(while it lasts)? no more waiting for crowded busses. now its crowed trams (if they return) and since im driving around why not get some fast food for lunch or dinner? or just go to the store for supplies.

 

[Brian]

Another thing is IF I'm now going to stay on property and have to rent a car I no longer need Disney Transportation to get to the parks since I'm paying for parking at the resort can't you park for free at the parks(while it lasts)? no more waiting for crowded busses. now its crowed trams (if they return)

Yes, you still get "free" theme park parking when you stay at a Disney resort.

Of course, you pay for that by paying for parking privileges at the resort.

 

[flynnibus]

For this?

Extra Magic Hours discontinued and will be replaced by Early Theme Park Entry

Walt Disney World Resort hotels guests will now get less early access time, but with more flexibility.

www.wdwmagic.com

Did you use a transparent sarcasm tag I'm missing?

30mins early... in place of EMH? That is beyond insulting.

 

[HarperRose]

For this?

Extra Magic Hours discontinued and will be replaced by Early Theme Park Entry

Walt Disney World Resort hotels guests will now get less early access time, but with more flexibility.

www.wdwmagic.com

You mean the EMH they just announced won't be coming back? You get to enter any park 30 minutes early instead! Yay for you, they're spinning something you've always been able to do.

 

[UNCgolf]

I wonder how long until Disney eliminates bus transportation around the resort?

I don't actually think they will eliminate it for various reasons, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them cut back significantly. If Uber/Lyft are more efficient than DME for transport from the airport, why not also just have guests use them to get around Disney property? Especially if they bring back Minnie Vans and can charge guests more money. Plus if it leads to more guests driving and parking their cars at resorts/the parks, then that's even more revenue!

 

[Disney Glimpses]

You mean the EMH they just announced won't be coming back? You get to enter any park 30 minutes early instead! Yay for you, they're spinning something you've always been able to do.

Bingo, early entry isn't even a new thing. They just made a cut and pretended it was a modification.

 

[Lilofan]

I wonder how long until Disney eliminates bus transportation around the resort?

I don't actually think they will eliminate it for various reasons, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them cut back significantly. If Uber/Lyft are more efficient than DME for transport from the airport, why not also just have guests use them to get around Disney property? Especially if they bring back Minnie Vans and can charge guests more money. Plus if it leads to more guests driving and parking their cars at resorts/the parks, then that's even more revenue!

Buena Vista Drive from All Star to Disney Springs can't even handle normal high season traffic .

 

[mattpeto]

Bingo, early entry isn't even a new thing. They just made a cut and pretended it was a modification.

There will be an alternate system...

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I wonder how long until Disney eliminates bus transportation around the resort?

I don't actually think they will eliminate it for various reasons, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them cut back significantly. If Uber/Lyft are more efficient than DME for transport from the airport, why not also just have guests use them to get around Disney property? Especially if they bring back Minnie Vans and can charge guests more money. Plus if it leads to more guests driving and parking their cars at resorts/the parks, then that's even more revenue!

Would be shocked to see any changes to bus transportation. At least for the routes that don't have access by foot/ferry/monorail/skyliner. That is literally the WDW experience.

The Magical Express, while nice, is only 15 years old. I hate this change, but our fondest memories in the 1990s of WDW do not include the Magical Express.