We try to give you our best Disney World planning tips and tricks on the daily. With Disney’s constantly changing environment, we HAVE to provide you with tips on the daily because Disney’s plans can change *snaps fingers* just like that. 

But if someone were to ask us right now what we believe is the MOST important thing to remember for planning a Disney World vacation in 2022, we’d be able to answer that pretty quickly. Because THIS particular change is going to impact a LOT of travelers VERY soon. (And there’s still a LOT of people that might not know about it yet!)

Disney’s Magical Express, which provides complimentary transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport to Disney World, is ceasing operations at the beginning of 2022. (*Weeps hysterically*) Slowly but surely, we’re seeing fewer and fewer Magical Express offerings being provided, such as the Magical Express’ former luggage delivery service, as the shuttles prepare to be fizzled out of Disney’s existence. 

But SO MANY guests rely — quite heavily, in fact — on this included service. And there are still SO MANY guests that might not yet realize that, come 2022, things are a-changing! 

So, How Are We Going To Get To Disney Now?

The operating company of Disney’s Magical Express, Mears, promises guests that there will be a new shuttle service starting January 1, 2022 (immediately after Disney’s Magical Express services end) called Mears Connect. You can now book your reservation for Mears Connect on their website in just three easy steps:

1. Select your service
2. Provide the ride details
3. Enter your payment information.

Hold up — you want us to go back to that second step? (AKA: the vague “ride” details we mentioned.) That just means you’re going to input which resort you’re going to need dropped off and picked up from, along with your flight details, how many people will be in your travel party, how many bags you’ll be bringing, and if you’ll need wheelchair access on the new shuttle system. 

There will be two different transportation options offered on Mears Connect: Standard and Premium services.

UPDATE: Premium service is now called “express” service.

According to the Mears Transportation website, The Standard Service will be shared, utilizing large vehicles and monitored wait times; The Premium (now “express”) Service, on the other hand, will provide direct service and limited wait times.

If you reserve the Standard Service, a one-way trip will cost you $16 per adult and $13.50 per child, while the round trip will cost $32 per adult and $27 per child.

For the Express (formerly “premium”) Service, however, you’re looking at a round trip of $250 for up to 4 passengers, and an added $55 per additional passenger. (Note: The cost for the express service used to be $200 for up to 4 passengers, but that has since changed).

These prices are currently listed as “Introductory Prices,” meaning they’ll possibly fluctuate later on. No worries, though — we’ll let you know as soon as they do!

So yes, you’re reading that right. The “free” service (you’re still paying oodles of dollars to go to Disney World in the first place, so “free” is a relative term!) many guests relied on is, essentially, still going to be around, but now guests have to do the work to set it up. Oh yeah — and pay for it now. Cool. 🤨

Check out the ULTIMATE guide to planning a Disney World vacation HERE!

Will There Be Other Options In The Future?

But WAIT — there’s MORE! The Brightline Train is another transportation option guests will be able to choose to board in the future, but that service isn’t going to be available until the end of 2022. So if you’re planning a vacation to Disney World for the 50th Anniversary Celebration that will kick-off on October 1st and last for the next 18 months, you don’t need to concern yourself with that mode of transportation for now. 

However, when the Brightline Train DOES become available, it’ll run from the Orlando International Airport and stop near Disney Springs. 

This is not a brand-new train to the Florida area. The Brightline Train already runs from Miami Station, Fort Lauderdale Station, West Palm Beach Station, and on into the Orlando Station (which is at the South Terminal of Orlando International Airport)!

Currently, a 75-mile journey on the Brightline Train from Miami to West Palm Beach will set you back $17 to $28 per passenger. Since it’s only 18 miles to Disney World from the Orlando International Airport, that could ~potentially~ place future tickets at around $7 per person. However, that’s merely speculation on our part. After all, this is *Disney*, and we could see the price being a bit steeper for the *magical* convenience.

Learn more about Brightline’s future prices HERE!

Not Sold On Mears Connect Just Yet?

If you’re not quite sold on the Mears Connect, you can consider other travel options!

Uber, Lyft, or other ride-sharing services can take you from the airport to Disney. Prices for these ride-sharing services range depending on the time of day, the distance you’re traveling, and the customer demand, but there’s a good possibility this transportation option could end up costing you and your travel party less than booking a ride on the Mears Connect — especially if the prices for the Mears Connect rise after the Introductory Prices are no longer available. 

Or, you can always rent a car from the airport, which will give you complete control of when you arrive from point A to point B. (We don’t necessarily recommend renting a car, though, since those get pretty pricey AND you’ll have to pay for parking on top of that already-hefty fee if you’re staying on Disney World property. Do the math and see if it makes sense for your travel party!)

Learn all about parking at Disney World HERE!

We’re not going to lie — we’re going to miss Disney’s Magical Express! It’s been a reliable mode of complementary airport-to-Disney World transportation for many years. (Even if it *was* more Tragical than Magical at times — especially when it had to take us BACK to the airport at the end of our vacation. The HORROR.)

Basically, we want everyone to really be prepared for this change. Many of us have grown SO accustomed to hopping off the plane and on one of those big, colorful motorcoaches — for free! No worrying about how you’ll get to and from Disney World. But now, the times are changing, and gone are the days of a conveniently AND free way to get to the Most Magical Place On Earth. It appears there will still be (somewhat) convenient options available but any way you slice it, you’re gonna end up paying to get from the airport to Disney World now. 

As we learn more about the Mears Express, the Brightline Train, and the other modes of transportation that’ll get you into the Wonderful World of Disney, we’ll update you here! So keep coming back, and we’ll keep providing the info — deal? Deal.

What unexpected wait should you prepare for when driving in Disney World? Find out HERE!

How do YOU plan on getting to Disney World from the airport when Disney’s Magical Express retires? Let us know in the comments below!