{{short description|Shuttle transportation service (2005–2022)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}} {{use American English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox bus company | name = Disney's Magical Express | logo = Disney's Magical Express Logo.png | logo_size = 250px | image = Disney Magical Express Bus (2531699826).jpg | image_size = | image_caption = A Magical Express bus parked outside a Walt Disney World resort hotel | company_slogan = | parent = The Walt Disney Company | founded = {{Start date and age|2005}} | commenced = | ceased = | defunct = {{End date and age|2022|01|01}}<ref name=DMEending/> | headquarters = | locale = Florida, United States | service_area = {{unbulleted list|Bay Lake|Port Canaveral}} | service_type = Coach | alliance = | routes = | stops = | destinations = {{bulleted list|Walt Disney World Resort|Orlando International Airport|Disney Cruise Line Terminal}} | hubs = Walt Disney World Resort | stations = 23<ref name="Official Site" /> | lounge = | depots = | fleet = Van Hool buses | ridership = 6,000 (2009)<ref name=Sentinel2009>{{cite news|date=February 5, 2010|last1=Kassab|first1=Beth|title=Magical Express sets bar high for high-speed rail|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-kassab-cfb-disney-express-02082010-20100205-column.html|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|access-date=January 26, 2016|url-access=limited|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201141014/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-kassab-cfb-disney-express-02082010-20100205-column.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><!-- Daily ridership --> | annual_ridership = 2.3 million (2013)<ref name=Sentinel2013>{{cite news|title=Disney's Magical Express traffic rises|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2014/02/26/more-tourists-ride-disneys-airport-bus-service/|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|first=Jason|last=Garcia|access-date=January 26, 2016|date=February 26, 2014|url-access=limited|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201162804/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-02-26/business/os-disney-magical-express-traffic-rises-20140226_1_walt-disney-world-magical-express-animation-resort|url-status=live}}</ref> | fuel_type = | operator = [http://www.mearstransportation.com/ Mears] (buses)<ref name="Mears/Universal">{{cite news|last1=Pedicini|first1=Sandra|title=New Universal Orlando airport shuttle service is starting|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-universal-magical-express-disney-airport-20150831-story.html|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|access-date=January 26, 2016|date=August 31, 2015|url-access=limited}}</ref><br>[http://www.bagsinc.com/ Bags, Inc.] (baggage)<ref name="Bags Inc Gets Contract">{{cite news|date=March 25, 2015|last1=Brinkmann|first1=Paul|title=Disney Magical Express contractor files layoff notice for 204|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/brinkmann-on-business/os-layoffs-near-orlando-international-20150325-post.html|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|url-access=limited|access-date=January 26, 2016|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201135619/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/brinkmann-on-business/os-layoffs-near-orlando-international-20150325-post.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ceo = | leader_type = | leader = | website = {{Official website}} }}
'''Disney's Magical Express''' was a private ground transportation and luggage delivery service for the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida and the Disney Cruise Line Terminal at Port Canaveral, operated by Mears Transportation. The complimentary service was only available to guests with hotel reservations at the Walt Disney World Resort as well as those with departures with Disney Cruise Line.<ref name="Official Site">{{cite web|title=Disney's Magical Express|url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/magical-express/|website=Walt Disney World|access-date=January 26, 2016|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201111058/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/magical-express/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History== Disney's Magical Express commenced operations in 2005. It initially faced strong opposition from the Greater Orlando Livery Association and Orlando-area ground transportation companies and taxi cab operators, who argued that it allows Disney to "whisk away" potential customers who would otherwise have continued on to a taxi cab or private transportation service for transportation to their hotel. This keeps them from leaving Disney property during their trip to spend money elsewhere, since they do not need a rental car or other transportation to get to their resort.<ref name=Sentinel2009/>
Despite the initial opposition, the service became extremely popular, carrying 2.2 to 2.3 million guests between 2009<ref name=Sentinel2009/> and 2013.<ref name=Sentinel2013/> In 2010, Allegiant Air announced that they would be moving ten of their flights from Orlando Sanford International Airport to Orlando International Airport, based partially on the fact that Disney's Magical Express service only goes to Orlando International,<ref name=Sentinel2009/> though the airline later moved back to Sanford, citing higher costs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Allegiant Air changes Orlando route back to Sanford airport|url=http://www.goupstate.com/news/20101027/allegiant-air-changes-orlando-route-back-to-sanford-airport|website=GoUpstate.com|access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> In 2015, Universal Orlando, Disney's main competitor in the area, announced their own airport shuttle to their resort, Universal's SuperStar Shuttle. It was initially operated by Escot Bus Lines, until Mears Transportation took over as of April 1, 2021.<ref name="Mears/Universal"/>
In November 2021, Brightline announced an extension of their higher-speed rail line from the Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal to Disney Springs,<ref>{{cite press release |title=Walt Disney World and Brightline Enter Into Agreement Regarding Brightline Station at Disney Springs |url=https://www.gobrightline.com/press-room/Walt%20Disney%20World%20and%20Brightline%20Enter%20Into%20Agreement%20Regarding%20Brightline%20Station%20at%20Disney%20Springs |website=www.gobrightline.com |language=en |publisher=Brightline |date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=January 3, 2022 |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103201924/https://www.gobrightline.com/press-room/Walt%20Disney%20World%20and%20Brightline%20Enter%20Into%20Agreement%20Regarding%20Brightline%20Station%20at%20Disney%20Springs |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Burke |first1=Peter |title=Brightline, Walt Disney World agree to build station at Disney Springs |url=https://www.wptv.com/lifestyle/travel/brightline-walt-disney-world-agree-to-build-station-at-disney-springs |work=WPTV |date=23 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> which raised concerns over the future of Disney's Magical Express. In January 2021, The Walt Disney Company announced the discontinuation of Disney's Magical Express, which was made effective January 1, 2022, citing changes to consumer preferences as the reason;<ref name=DMEending>{{cite news |title=Disney ending Magical Express bus service and Extra Magic Hours for hotel guests |url-access=limited|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-et-disney-ends-extra-magic-hours-magical-express-bus-20210111-n74artglrffcvkvnrh6nptx4e4-story.html |first=Dewayne|last=Bevil|publisher=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maehrer |first1=Avery |title=A Look Ahead at Walt Disney World Resort |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/01/a-look-ahead-at-walt-disney-world-resort/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111170640/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/01/a-look-ahead-at-walt-disney-world-resort/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |website=Disney Parks Blog |date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> the announcement was subject to controversy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insidethemagic.net/2021/02/magical-express-replacement-kc1/comments/|title = Magical Express is Ending, but Will Anything Replace It?|date = February 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-world-news-magical-express-update-crowds-crash-construction/|title = Disney World News: Magical Express Update, Crowds Crash & Construction|date = January 16, 2021}}</ref> Transportation from the resorts to the airport continued until January 10, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insidethemagic.net/2022/01/disneys-magical-express-officially-retired-kc1/|title = Disney's Magical Express is Officially Retired|date = January 11, 2022}}</ref>
==Service== Disney's Magical Express service ran exclusively from Orlando International Airport, available to guests with reservations at a Walt Disney World resort hotel.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wdwprepschool.com/how-magical-express-works/|title=How Magical Express works at Disney World|date=2017-03-29|work=WDW Prep School|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en-US}}</ref> For return service to the airport, guests were typically scheduled for a motor coach departure from their Disney resort hotel to Orlando International Airport no less than three hours prior to their flight's scheduled departure time for domestic flights; four hours for international flights. Disney's Magical Express also transported guests from Orlando International Airport or their Disney Resort hotel to Port Canaveral for Disney Cruise Line departures and back.
Bags, Inc. handled the collection and transportation of guest luggage from the airport directly to the guest's resort hotel until July 2020<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-09|title=Disney's Magical Express Will No Longer Provide Luggage Delivery Service Beginning July 16|url=https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/disneys-magical-express-will-no-longer-provide-luggage-delivery-service-beginning-july-16/|access-date=2021-09-29|language=en-US}}</ref> with no need for guests to go to baggage claim. After the service was discontinued, guests were required to pick up their baggage and check in with the transportation.
==References== {{commons category}} {{reflist}} {{Walt Disney World}}
Category:Bus transportation in Florida Category:Walt Disney World transit Category:2005 establishments in Florida Category:2022 disestablishments in Florida Category:Orlando International Airport