For me, this is always where my vacation started, that feeling of the cold air when you step in from the bus is a magical experience, and the comfy, yet safe seat, accompanied by the TVs showing old cartoons, it is great. Disney can make anything feel magical, and this is no exception.
I'm so sad that I didn't get chance to use this bus service seen I live Florida to use it So sad that they are taking it away RIP September 2005- January 1st 2022
On my most recent trip, Disney messed up and sent my Magical Express ticket and tags to someplace in Tennessee. While I knew all I had to do was scan my magic band and they would let me on the bus, it also turns out that they were able to go get my checked bag for me and deliver it to my resort room at pop Century just like normal simply by having me provide my regular bag claim check. They scanned it, sent me to my bus, and I found my bag in my room later that night when I returned from the park. So don't panic if you don't have your ticket or big yellow tags on your bags. If you're staying on property you can still ride the Magical Express and have your bags delivered.
I was part of the test group back in 2005 - I LOVE the Magical Express - I am a lone traveler and have no need to rent a car. I get my own luggage and carry it with me to the bus. This is a great service they offer. My only complaint is they took away the cool Disney movies that played as we traveled to and from the resort and most of all, I miss bus drivers actually talking to us - with the recorded messages, they ignore us once the door is closed and we are on our way.
I used the Magical Express service when I went to Disney World in March 2018. It worked exactly as promised, and there was one more thing that Rob didn't mention, perhaps because it is irrelevant to his topic. I am a skeptic and a cynic. It is in my nature to not believe anything that seems too good to be true. The Magical Express promised to take my bags directly from the airplane to my room on Disney property. I never had to go to the luggage carousel to retrieve them. I didn't believe this was for real. There are too many things that have to happen and too many hands in the mix for it to be successful. My wife insisted that we take advantage of it. So imagine my surprise when we got a text from the hotel advising us that our room was ready (we were already at the Magic Kingdom at that moment). We decided to go check it out and, sure enough, there were our bags, in the room, waiting for us. I have never been so happy to be wrong about something!
Worked at Disney back in 1989. Back then there was talk of Disney building a monorail from the Airport directly to Disney. As with the DME, it was met with resistance from Taxis, limos, etc. Never took off but it would be a great thing to do too!
Yeah, that was part of the deal that was also going to expand monorail service to Hollywood Studios(then MGM) and the eventual secret 4th park that even in the early 90s everyone knew was gonna be a Busch Gardens clone. Kinda wish that happened. Not just for the easy Airport transportation but Monorails to all the parks would be so nice
I love DME. IT is so convenient. The wait at MCO is the worst though when you are just excited to get there! The buses are nothing special other than the paint job on the outside. I'd love to see some Disney Magic done to the inside! Any chance you would do a video about the internal Disney Transportation, specifically the busses. Boats, Monorail and Gondola welcome...Minnie vans too??? Great Video Rob!
I will say that I’ve learned that if you come in on a week day, there tends to be less of a wait inside the airport for your bus and it isn’t as crowded and hectic. I went last September and came in on a Saturday (which I assume most people come in on the weekend) and it was so crowded and cramped inside the waiting area for magical express but then I did a 5 day trip last month where we came in on a Monday morning and it was so much better. The wait was shorter and you actually felt like you had room to breathe and hear yourself think.
we always come in on a weekday. Its been both busy and dead. Both we have experienced longer waits. My point was more that it feels like forever when you are just soo excited to get there!
TheWyman55 I was down there about a month ago and one night we were coming home from magic kingdom and didn’t really wanna get on the bus cause we were at pop century and that line gets crazy at night so we got on the monorail to the transportation and ticket center and decided to pay for an Uber to get back to our resort sooner and our Uber driver would not talk to us the entire time and just seemed really sketchy. So after that I’ll stick to waiting for the buses.
I hear the Lyft run Minnie Vans are much nicer. They consider the drivers cast members so they hold them to higher standards then your average Uber driver
The Magical Express is a great part of vacation. It’s nice not to have to lug your bags across MCO to get to the bus which is a pain. It’s also great to be able to check your bags at the resort before you head home.
Nice video. But if memory serves, when it was first introduced, it was a priced add-on the vacation package; only after a couple years did it become 'free'
Magic Express is one of the many perks that I rave about and tell people why they should stay on property. Being able to wave goodbye to your checked luggage at your home airport and not worry about it and have it show up in your room has to be the single most convenient thing Disney manages to do. It makes travel with kids a lot easier and it gets you to the hotel and in the parks as quick as possible, which I realize is what Disney wants but for someone who wants to optimize my time and not waste a day traveling either way its great.
Love this service .also when we did our Disney cruise took the bus to get on the ship . saved time it is an hour drive or so to the port . easy way to fly in and get aboard the ship
Super interesting video! Thank you for sharing! I loooove the magical express. It really is something I look forward to at MCO. your trip is magical and full disney from the second you get off the plane!
Disney has done a superb job simplifying the transportation side when on property. The Magical Express and how you don't have to worry about your checked bags when arriving or departing (aside from the convenient on property bag checking service) as well as on property buses to all of the parks and hotels makes the vacation really stress free.
It would be cool if you made a video talking about the old Toon Town section of Walt Disney World. I faintly remember it as a kid and used to love the Goofy rollercoaster. Maybe a video of why they took that area out? I remember it having Mickey and Minnie's houses, a chip and Dale area, and a go-kart place.
The fall of the taxicab cartel because of their failure to evolve and adapt to 21st Century mobile technology is one of the greatest feats of competitive capitalism. The taxicab lobby is a big reason why many airports in the US don't have proper public transportation connections (light rail, subway, bus rapid transit, etc.) to city centers. It's not surprising they get very defensive and go out aggressively against a resort shuttle coach like the Magical Express.
This video actually answered a question I had - why doesn't the DME go to Orlando Sanford? I mean it probably wouldn't cost that much more in gas and the fees would be lower (I learned from this video it doesn't matter, they contractually can't).
I grew up in florida so I never used the magic express but when my family went it was always for 4-5 days at least and we'd park the car leave it for 90% of the time and take the busses and as a kid I loved it because it added to the whole immersed in disney feel so for parents it makes it easier to plan all inclusive and for kids you feel more into the vacation so between the magical express and the intra property transportation it's more than just Convience, it's about the disney expirence from when you arrive to when you leave. Why not extend that to people flying from out of state (or especially to those from out of country seeking the disney expirence)
I grew up in Tampa [even before WDW opened!!] and the last time I went to the parks I used the bus on my return leg. I had to get up BRUTAL early to make my flight to the West coast, but it was SO worth it not to be dealing with a rental return. I also used to hate knowing that my rental car was just sitting there in the guest parking lot at Pop Century racking up fees as I park hopped!
Love knowing the history of Magical Express. In 2002 i traveled to WDW for the first time without my parents. I had to find my own way to WDW for the airport which was a hassle. my last 3 vacations were solo and so much better with Magical Express. So much less hassle not having to deal with bags. In 2015 and 2017 my rooms werent ready. No sweat just drop off my carry on at the free resort drop off and head into park. Last year I get back and room still not ready. But thats another story unless u want to hear it. Anyway ME yes might have some flaws but its free and takes out stress for guests staying on property.
The nerve of these limo companies. “Oh we can’t make money if Disney is taking it away from us.” Your businesses would be nothing if Walt Disney World was not in Orlando. To me this is kinda the same thing with Disneyland and the Eastern Gateway project. Restaurants and hotels were mad that Disney wasn’t pushing tourists towards the outside offering outside of Disneyland, but again these businesses wouldn’t be anything if it wasn’t for Disney. They’re just freeloading on the success of disney.
I Hope Disney and MCO will find a free and better way of getting people on and off Disney Property for their Disney Vacations for Kids as well as people with disabilities. They messed up this news of the service closing real bad and does hurt families in a long run. Dispite never been that Bus was so cool. Sad they killed it.
I believe the reason for the fancy window stickers on the buses isn't just an aesthetic one, they were designed to prevent the passengers from seeing out. Drivers are instructed on the route they have to take so not to show the passengers the other attractions on offer. I imagine the extra money made from the sale of Disney priced bottled water almost covers the cost of running the service. Don't forget alot of the limo services offered a free supermarket stop on route to Disney world.
We flew in from Washington State. A very long trip. However, the Magical Express, and the staff at the Disney Resorts made our trip so easy once we arrived in Florida, that I cannot imagine staying anywhere else, When we decided to spend a day visiting family, Disney even had car rentals on the property and helped us rent the car and return it. It is these services that make the stay worth every penny.
I remember the second time i went back in 2012, they were doing a trivia thing on the bus, and i was the only one that knew what Epcot stood for. For some reason, that's one of my only distinct memories of Disney.
I tried several ways of getting to and from the airport.. and the Disney bus is very much the best deal.. cuz when you rent a car it just sits in the parkinglot most of the trip.. which is a waste of money. Plus now parking at Disneyworld hotels isn't free. Which just adds up. Also with uber I wouldn't doubt the shuttle service is hurting more than before. 😓
My family tried the Magical Express for several years. It was nice, but the problem is we were stuck on Disney property the whole time & stuck with Disney transportation schedules. No going off property for food, no leaving for the airport whenever we wanted, and having to sit on overcrowded buses after days at the Parks.
Considering it was the only pro to make my mom sway from staying off property, I love it. Because otherwise we'd have to cough up nearly $200 just to get to the hotel and airport, plus the other shuttles for other hotels charge to get to disney. Just better to pick disney properties, because you also get free shuttles from hotels to the parks. Just cheaper in the long run. Though I have better experience with the Cali one, but that one is getting more confusing given there's a ton of 'taxis' who use the Disney logo, but aren't official. Almost hopped on a few before asking the driver as we tried showing him our tickets.
Not only does this keep people at the attractions and destinations on property, but it also keeps them spending Disney prices on random items like toiletries. Forgot your toothbrush or sunscreen? Without a rental car, you're much more likely to just hit up the resort gift shop and pay through the nose. Of course, these days Uber/Lyft makes it much easier to leave "the bubble" and visit Walmart instead. But between DME, the dining plan, and all that there is to see/do within the berm, Disney has really succeeded in creating something akin to an all-inclusive resort experience. At this point I doubt even the advent of ridesharing services will have much of an effect in that regard - many longtime visitors are largely accustomed to showing up and never leaving property until it's time to go back to the airport.
the irony was that Mears Transportation Group is the biggest Taxi owner in Orlando, and the stiffest resistance to the DME was Mears Taxi drivers. Granted the Taxi business is still doing great here compared to most metropolitan areas (as a taxi driver for Mears i can confirm, since the company has 1000+ taxis at this point) the introduction of this service slashed taxi drivers earnings by such a significant number, something uber barely did at all
Damn, might as well make a train that runs directly from the airport to Disneyland itself! Also, they never got my family, us Floridians had to hoof it all the way up there on our own. (somewhat sadly....)
I love Magical Express. What i dont get is when people stay on property and arent renting a car or have no where else they are going on vacation still pay a cab or shuttle to take them to and from the airport and WDW. ME is so much easier and less hassle. No worrying about bags.
Have you driven down the highways of California? There are 18-wheeler trucks driving down them everyday that burn diesel. Every modern day train is that carries freight / passengers across the country (including California) has a diesel engine that powers an electric motor that powers the train.
Would you be able to make a video of your favorite books on Disneyland. Not sure if you've done it already but I think that would be really cool. Also I would love to see your sources in the description box for further reference.
Me and my friend stayed at the Pop Century and used Disney's Magical Express when we went to Disney World. And that didn't stop us from taking a cab to the Universal Parks...
Right. It's not intended to stop people completely. It's just meant reduce the incentive for people to. If for every family that still goes to universal there's one that goes "eh, we'll do it next time" then Disney has gotten what they paid for.
Rob, great video but I think you need to do some more current up to date fact checking. For example, YES, Disney did contract with Mears and in the beginning (like during 1 of my 2 trips in 2005) it was always "Disney magical express, operated by mears" and even many of the motor coaches were still MEARS (yellow with black accents). You had to get your bags at the baggage claim carousel just as any other flight, and bring them with you toward DME, (you'd give a Disney cast member your name and where you were heading (they had no official desk, kiosk or computers, simply a clipboard) and they'd tell you what row to go down. Then you'd wait in line for your bus. the DRIVER WOULD THEN TAKE YOUR LUGGAGE FROM YOU (proudly wearing a MEARS name tag) and store it underneath. Now, since the advent of magic bands, no need to retrieve your bags, Disney does it all for you,and these bags 'magically' find there way to your room. GREAT! Except for one thing, in the old days (2005-2011) everyone and I mean EVERYONE would tip their driver 1 or 2 dollars per bag upon disembarking (Driver would retrieve luggage for you at that time) as is industry standard. For a family of 4, that's a tidy $10 to $20 non -taxable tip. The buses often had 60+ people on board, do the math. This all changed in my recollection around 2011 or 2012. The name MEARS vanished and cannot be seen anywhere anymore, and to be frank many folks including myself, try to tip the driver a few dollars (even though we have no bags anymore) just for their hospitality, and they graciously decline. Some buses even have signs saying "please no gratuity" wherethey used to say "gratuity appreciated for exceptional service" . I got friendly with a driver on my last trip in April, we were the last resort stop on his route and it was essentially just me and my girlfriend. Candidly, he told me how they can no longer accept tips and how they don't make anywhere near what they used to, Disney pledged to make this loss in tips up by increasing their hourly rate, which they did, only to be followed by hiring more drivers and decreasing their number of hours. UPDATE PLEASE?!
I appreciate the details, but I'm not sure which facts you're arguing I was wrong about. Care to elaborate? I don't think anything I said in the video directly contradicts what you just said.
The last time I was at DisneyWorld I was thinking they needed something like this. I hated taking the buses and taxis. They're too expensive. Something to note as we are planning a trip to D-World next year. Thanks for the information!
I go somewhat regularly to D-Land! (I'm on the West Coast/Best Coast) I do like the DisneyWorld being-on-the-property-with-all-the-other-parks experience that we don't fully get at Disneyland.
I'm a big defender of unionized taxi services, especially in the age of rideshare services which are essentially non-unionized, unlicensed taxis and therefore worse in the long term for both driver and passengers, but this....... providing a shuttle between the airport and your business is totally fair business practice. If you're going to fight that, you have to fight every hotel, off site car rental agency, casino, and resort that operate shuttles from the airport, and airlines and airports that offer shuttles into the city. Might as well say buses as a concept are a threat to taxis - which is insane.
I remember taking SuperShuttle from LAX to Disneyland, and the driver was reckless, mouthed off to other drivers on the road, bad-mouthed the Disney company the whole way, and was a generally unpleasant person to deal with. I'll take Disney's Magical Express over a third-party company any day of the week.
Magical Express is good for those interested in only going to WDW but is poor for people who want to do the rest of the parks (as intended). Magical Express would be improved by offering road trips from other Eastern cities like an 2 way adventure by Disney trip with a week or 2 on property.
I went there a lot as a kid with my family. As I got older I began to appreciate their dedication to immersion and escapism, and the more I read into the history of the parks the more I admired how the place is essentially run like a small but efficient country. So it's sort of a double fandom of both the place itself, and the history and work that it takes to maintain.
This reminds me about Disney beginning to charge for overnight hotel parking. Part of it is Disney just wants more revenue from those that drive to Disney World. The other part of it is its another way to discourage people from renting a car. What it may do unintentionally is discourage people from staying on Disney property if Disney isn’t their only destination. It will probably be more beneficial to Disney than hurtful, but they may lose some hotel guests in the process.
Rob. Love your videos including this one but I have a completely off topic question. Do you think they will ever make Michael Eisner a Disney Legend. I know his exit wasn't on positive terms (read Disney Wars) but he did so much for the company. He, along with Frank Wells, turned the company around and it would be nice if Disney acknowledged that.
![NLE Choppa - Or What ft. 41 (Orchestra Mix) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/biOFASEgSOM/mqdefault.jpg)
R.I.P Magical Express, 2005-2022. A quirky yet loved perk from Disney. I sure do miss it a lot😢😢
For me, this is always where my vacation started, that feeling of the cold air when you step in from the bus is a magical experience, and the comfy, yet safe seat, accompanied by the TVs showing old cartoons, it is great. Disney can make anything feel magical, and this is no exception.
Disney Later: Say goodbye to Magical Express
Literally everyone including most Disney employees: 😭
Just met you on the monorail. Thanks for being so kind, and thanks for the picture!
No problem! It was awesome meeting you! Have a fantastic rest of your trip!
I'm so sad that I didn't get chance to use this bus service seen I live Florida to use it
So sad that they are taking it away
RIP September 2005- January 1st 2022
RIP Magical Express 2005-2021 :(
So darn glad that they DIDN'T manage to stop DME, because it's so reassuring to get off the plane and basically immediately be in Disney's hands. :)
trickycrayon 3 hours when u find the dang bus at the end of the room
Garfield is Awesome OR just let Disney take care of you
Yeah, sure, just take a car after your 11h flight to America..
And why rent a car if Disney Transport is Free, like literally free
Well, about that...
@@LostWipeoutSimpsons NOPE PRETENDING THAT'S NOT HAPPENING
On my most recent trip, Disney messed up and sent my Magical Express ticket and tags to someplace in Tennessee. While I knew all I had to do was scan my magic band and they would let me on the bus, it also turns out that they were able to go get my checked bag for me and deliver it to my resort room at pop Century just like normal simply by having me provide my regular bag claim check. They scanned it, sent me to my bus, and I found my bag in my room later that night when I returned from the park. So don't panic if you don't have your ticket or big yellow tags on your bags. If you're staying on property you can still ride the Magical Express and have your bags delivered.
I was part of the test group back in 2005 - I LOVE the Magical Express - I am a lone traveler and have no need to rent a car. I get my own luggage and carry it with me to the bus. This is a great service they offer. My only complaint is they took away the cool Disney movies that played as we traveled to and from the resort and most of all, I miss bus drivers actually talking to us - with the recorded messages, they ignore us once the door is closed and we are on our way.
I used the Magical Express service when I went to Disney World in March 2018. It worked exactly as promised, and there was one more thing that Rob didn't mention, perhaps because it is irrelevant to his topic.
I am a skeptic and a cynic. It is in my nature to not believe anything that seems too good to be true. The Magical Express promised to take my bags directly from the airplane to my room on Disney property. I never had to go to the luggage carousel to retrieve them. I didn't believe this was for real. There are too many things that have to happen and too many hands in the mix for it to be successful. My wife insisted that we take advantage of it. So imagine my surprise when we got a text from the hotel advising us that our room was ready (we were already at the Magic Kingdom at that moment). We decided to go check it out and, sure enough, there were our bags, in the room, waiting for us. I have never been so happy to be wrong about something!
Worked at Disney back in 1989. Back then there was talk of Disney building a monorail from the Airport directly to Disney. As with the DME, it was met with resistance from Taxis, limos, etc. Never took off but it would be a great thing to do too!
Yeah, that was part of the deal that was also going to expand monorail service to Hollywood Studios(then MGM) and the eventual secret 4th park that even in the early 90s everyone knew was gonna be a Busch Gardens clone. Kinda wish that happened. Not just for the easy Airport transportation but Monorails to all the parks would be so nice
I love DME. IT is so convenient. The wait at MCO is the worst though when you are just excited to get there! The buses are nothing special other than the paint job on the outside. I'd love to see some Disney Magic done to the inside!
Any chance you would do a video about the internal Disney Transportation, specifically the busses. Boats, Monorail and Gondola welcome...Minnie vans too???
Great Video Rob!
I will say that I’ve learned that if you come in on a week day, there tends to be less of a wait inside the airport for your bus and it isn’t as crowded and hectic. I went last September and came in on a Saturday (which I assume most people come in on the weekend) and it was so crowded and cramped inside the waiting area for magical express but then I did a 5 day trip last month where we came in on a Monday morning and it was so much better. The wait was shorter and you actually felt like you had room to breathe and hear yourself think.
we always come in on a weekday. Its been both busy and dead. Both we have experienced longer waits. My point was more that it feels like forever when you are just soo excited to get there!
Really depends on the time of year. Tuesdays and Wednesday can sometimes be crazy because those are when flights are cheapest
D S that’s Monday’s
Rob Plays - "Making Mundane Topics, Interesting! As Only He Can!!!"
It’s Jack!!!!
I wholeheartedly agree with this Jack guy! Although his Profile pic looks like a rubbish Toothpaste advert!
Another great video Rob!
Who here is sad that this bus is going away in January 1st 2022
It’s kind of ironic that the taxi drivers were complaining bout Disney taking customers. Now with Uber’s and Lifts they are almost obsolete.
Just goes to demonstrate that rather than fight against change, one should learn and adapt to stay competitive.
Just like how people are complaining about CGI replacing stop motion for visual effects.
Oh don't worry they hate Uber and Lyft too
Paige Hannah as long as I don’t have to deal with scary creepo cab drivers and filthy cabs, I don’t care about a price fluctuation.
Taxi drivers complain about Uber too. I have no sympathy for people having to compete for business; that's just how business works.
Thanks Rob! It was nice to see the history of the Magical Express! 😁
I prefer the magical express to any shady cab or bus driver that I see when I go to disneyland
TheWyman55 I was down there about a month ago and one night we were coming home from magic kingdom and didn’t really wanna get on the bus cause we were at pop century and that line gets crazy at night so we got on the monorail to the transportation and ticket center and decided to pay for an Uber to get back to our resort sooner and our Uber driver would not talk to us the entire time and just seemed really sketchy. So after that I’ll stick to waiting for the buses.
A buddy of mine was an uber driver. He was also a heroin addict.
I hear the Lyft run Minnie Vans are much nicer. They consider the drivers cast members so they hold them to higher standards then your average Uber driver
The Magical Express is a great part of vacation. It’s nice not to have to lug your bags across MCO to get to the bus which is a pain. It’s also great to be able to check your bags at the resort before you head home.
I've used it. It's really good and helpful
4:45 R.I.P. Robin Williams
Great way to start the day. Thanks Rob!
Thanks!
Nice video. But if memory serves, when it was first introduced, it was a priced add-on the vacation package; only after a couple years did it become 'free'
Another awesome video from an awesome dude! Thanks Rob!
Something about just hearing the word Disney makes me feel like I’m on a vacation. Binging the whole channel for that feel
I've used it. Great perk
Magic Express is one of the many perks that I rave about and tell people why they should stay on property. Being able to wave goodbye to your checked luggage at your home airport and not worry about it and have it show up in your room has to be the single most convenient thing Disney manages to do. It makes travel with kids a lot easier and it gets you to the hotel and in the parks as quick as possible, which I realize is what Disney wants but for someone who wants to optimize my time and not waste a day traveling either way its great.
Love this service .also when we did our Disney cruise took the bus to get on the ship . saved time it is an hour drive or so to the port . easy way to fly in and get aboard the ship
Super interesting video! Thank you for sharing! I loooove the magical express. It really is something I look forward to at MCO. your trip is magical and full disney from the second you get off the plane!
Your content is always great! Also, love the robo-butler shirt! Nice nod to horizons
If you can dream it!
Disney has done a superb job simplifying the transportation side when on property. The Magical Express and how you don't have to worry about your checked bags when arriving or departing (aside from the convenient on property bag checking service) as well as on property buses to all of the parks and hotels makes the vacation really stress free.
It would be cool if you made a video talking about the old Toon Town section of Walt Disney World. I faintly remember it as a kid and used to love the Goofy rollercoaster. Maybe a video of why they took that area out?
I remember it having Mickey and Minnie's houses, a chip and Dale area, and a go-kart place.
The fall of the taxicab cartel because of their failure to evolve and adapt to 21st Century mobile technology is one of the greatest feats of competitive capitalism. The taxicab lobby is a big reason why many airports in the US don't have proper public transportation connections (light rail, subway, bus rapid transit, etc.) to city centers. It's not surprising they get very defensive and go out aggressively against a resort shuttle coach like the Magical Express.
I love this service so much! Super convenient .
Great video Rob - learned something new today!
This video actually answered a question I had - why doesn't the DME go to Orlando Sanford? I mean it probably wouldn't cost that much more in gas and the fees would be lower (I learned from this video it doesn't matter, they contractually can't).
I grew up in florida so I never used the magic express but when my family went it was always for 4-5 days at least and we'd park the car leave it for 90% of the time and take the busses and as a kid I loved it because it added to the whole immersed in disney feel so for parents it makes it easier to plan all inclusive and for kids you feel more into the vacation so between the magical express and the intra property transportation it's more than just Convience, it's about the disney expirence from when you arrive to when you leave. Why not extend that to people flying from out of state (or especially to those from out of country seeking the disney expirence)
These kinds of videos are exactly the kind of behind the scenes thing I love to learn about! Great video!
Thanks!
There was a bus service to the Disney World Resort before the Magical Express and it was very affordable.
But? The Magical Express is free?
Awesome stuff!
I grew up in Tampa [even before WDW opened!!] and the last time I went to the parks I used the bus on my return leg. I had to get up BRUTAL early to make my flight to the West coast, but it was SO worth it not to be dealing with a rental return. I also used to hate knowing that my rental car was just sitting there in the guest parking lot at Pop Century racking up fees as I park hopped!
I love Disney Express. Glad they created it.
Love knowing the history of Magical Express. In 2002 i traveled to WDW for the first time without my parents. I had to find my own way to WDW for the airport which was a hassle. my last 3 vacations were solo and so much better with Magical Express. So much less hassle not having to deal with bags. In 2015 and 2017 my rooms werent ready. No sweat just drop off my carry on at the free resort drop off and head into park. Last year I get back and room still not ready. But thats another story unless u want to hear it. Anyway ME yes might have some flaws but its free and takes out stress for guests staying on property.
Howdy ya’ll! Hope ya’ll have a wonderful day (or did if your day is over)!
The nerve of these limo companies. “Oh we can’t make money if Disney is taking it away from us.” Your businesses would be nothing if Walt Disney World was not in Orlando. To me this is kinda the same thing with Disneyland and the Eastern Gateway project. Restaurants and hotels were mad that Disney wasn’t pushing tourists towards the outside offering outside of Disneyland, but again these businesses wouldn’t be anything if it wasn’t for Disney. They’re just freeloading on the success of disney.
This is one service my family loves!
Another awesome video!
Hi past me
Are you going to do a video on why the Magical Express is being discontinued?
Yay! New video! I’m getting excited for my stay in July :)
I like that your videos are unique. No one else seems to cover these topics.
I Hope Disney and MCO will find a free and better way of getting people on and off Disney Property for their Disney Vacations for Kids as well as people with disabilities. They messed up this news of the service closing real bad and does hurt families in a long run. Dispite never been that Bus was so cool. Sad they killed it.
Could you do A video on high speed rail. I enjoy all your videos thank you very much!
Interesting! I used the Magical Express when I went to DW back on 2008. Had no idea there was so much politicking behind it.
I believe the reason for the fancy window stickers on the buses isn't just an aesthetic one, they were designed to prevent the passengers from seeing out. Drivers are instructed on the route they have to take so not to show the passengers the other attractions on offer. I imagine the extra money made from the sale of Disney priced bottled water almost covers the cost of running the service. Don't forget alot of the limo services offered a free supermarket stop on route to Disney world.
Great video Rob...I always use the magical express, it's a great perk to staying on Disney property
Yay! Just got out of class to this! Just on time!
Use it every year and love it
We flew in from Washington State. A very long trip. However, the Magical Express, and the staff at the Disney Resorts made our trip so easy once we arrived in Florida, that I cannot imagine staying anywhere else, When we decided to spend a day visiting family, Disney even had car rentals on the property and helped us rent the car and return it. It is these services that make the stay worth every penny.
I had wondered how this service came to be! Thank you for the great video explaining it!
I remember the second time i went back in 2012, they were doing a trivia thing on the bus, and i was the only one that knew what Epcot stood for. For some reason, that's one of my only distinct memories of Disney.
Top notch video as usual. Rob, have you made any videos on the history and end of Pleasure Island? If you didn't, please do. Hubs from Brazil.
I tried several ways of getting to and from the airport.. and the Disney bus is very much the best deal.. cuz when you rent a car it just sits in the parkinglot most of the trip.. which is a waste of money. Plus now parking at Disneyworld hotels isn't free. Which just adds up. Also with uber I wouldn't doubt the shuttle service is hurting more than before. 😓
Very fascinating to hear this back story.
Interesting! Never knew about the hurdles they had to overcome. Thanks for sharing!
Really think getting rid of this is a mistake that they'd regret. Hope they reverse course or provide something comparable.
Thanks Rob!
Great video!
Excellent video as always!
My family tried the Magical Express for several years. It was nice, but the problem is we were stuck on Disney property the whole time & stuck with Disney transportation schedules. No going off property for food, no leaving for the airport whenever we wanted, and having to sit on overcrowded buses after days at the Parks.
Rob, mai boy, you done it again!
RIP DME and most of all the baggage services disney killing the magic little by little
Great video as always
I'm just glad they included Stitch in that bus commercial 😀
I don't particularly care about Disney, but somehow RUclips recommended me your videos and they're pretty interesting.
So sad to see this perk going away!
Considering it was the only pro to make my mom sway from staying off property, I love it. Because otherwise we'd have to cough up nearly $200 just to get to the hotel and airport, plus the other shuttles for other hotels charge to get to disney. Just better to pick disney properties, because you also get free shuttles from hotels to the parks. Just cheaper in the long run.
Though I have better experience with the Cali one, but that one is getting more confusing given there's a ton of 'taxis' who use the Disney logo, but aren't official. Almost hopped on a few before asking the driver as we tried showing him our tickets.
Not only does this keep people at the attractions and destinations on property, but it also keeps them spending Disney prices on random items like toiletries. Forgot your toothbrush or sunscreen? Without a rental car, you're much more likely to just hit up the resort gift shop and pay through the nose. Of course, these days Uber/Lyft makes it much easier to leave "the bubble" and visit Walmart instead. But between DME, the dining plan, and all that there is to see/do within the berm, Disney has really succeeded in creating something akin to an all-inclusive resort experience. At this point I doubt even the advent of ridesharing services will have much of an effect in that regard - many longtime visitors are largely accustomed to showing up and never leaving property until it's time to go back to the airport.
4:26 Stitch!
Did the Disney Cruise Line buses come around the same time as Magical Express, or did they come before?
the irony was that Mears Transportation Group is the biggest Taxi owner in Orlando, and the stiffest resistance to the DME was Mears Taxi drivers. Granted the Taxi business is still doing great here compared to most metropolitan areas (as a taxi driver for Mears i can confirm, since the company has 1000+ taxis at this point) the introduction of this service slashed taxi drivers earnings by such a significant number, something uber barely did at all
I remember using the service when it first came out. I have to say it wasn’t that bad.
Damn, might as well make a train that runs directly from the airport to Disneyland itself!
Also, they never got my family, us Floridians had to hoof it all the way up there on our own. (somewhat sadly....)
I love Magical Express. What i dont get is when people stay on property and arent renting a car or have no where else they are going on vacation still pay a cab or shuttle to take them to and from the airport and WDW. ME is so much easier and less hassle. No worrying about bags.
Rob, what do the Disneyland/WDW railroads run on? Is if fuel? Are they electric?
Adam Ferry They’re steam powered
^^^ what he said and it’s done using diesel
Diesel engine to boil water to generate steam.
But in California it's illegal to emit too much diesel.
Have you driven down the highways of California? There are 18-wheeler trucks driving down them everyday that burn diesel. Every modern day train is that carries freight / passengers across the country (including California) has a diesel engine that powers an electric motor that powers the train.
Would you be able to make a video of your favorite books on Disneyland. Not sure if you've done it already but I think that would be really cool. Also I would love to see your sources in the description box for further reference.
Me and my friend stayed at the Pop Century and used Disney's Magical Express when we went to Disney World. And that didn't stop us from taking a cab to the Universal Parks...
Right. It's not intended to stop people completely. It's just meant reduce the incentive for people to. If for every family that still goes to universal there's one that goes "eh, we'll do it next time" then Disney has gotten what they paid for.
Can you do a vid on the evolution of animatronics in Walt Disney world
Rob, great video but I think you need to do some more current up to date fact checking. For example, YES, Disney did contract with Mears and in the beginning (like during 1 of my 2 trips in 2005) it was always "Disney magical express, operated by mears" and even many of the motor coaches were still MEARS (yellow with black accents). You had to get your bags at the baggage claim carousel just as any other flight, and bring them with you toward DME, (you'd give a Disney cast member your name and where you were heading (they had no official desk, kiosk or computers, simply a clipboard) and they'd tell you what row to go down. Then you'd wait in line for your bus. the DRIVER WOULD THEN TAKE YOUR LUGGAGE FROM YOU (proudly wearing a MEARS name tag) and store it underneath. Now, since the advent of magic bands, no need to retrieve your bags, Disney does it all for you,and these bags 'magically' find there way to your room. GREAT! Except for one thing, in the old days (2005-2011) everyone and I mean EVERYONE would tip their driver 1 or 2 dollars per bag upon disembarking (Driver would retrieve luggage for you at that time) as is industry standard. For a family of 4, that's a tidy $10 to $20 non -taxable tip. The buses often had 60+ people on board, do the math. This all changed in my recollection around 2011 or 2012. The name MEARS vanished and cannot be seen anywhere anymore, and to be frank many folks including myself, try to tip the driver a few dollars (even though we have no bags anymore) just for their hospitality, and they graciously decline. Some buses even have signs saying "please no gratuity" wherethey used to say "gratuity appreciated for exceptional service" . I got friendly with a driver on my last trip in April, we were the last resort stop on his route and it was essentially just me and my girlfriend. Candidly, he told me how they can no longer accept tips and how they don't make anywhere near what they used to, Disney pledged to make this loss in tips up by increasing their hourly rate, which they did, only to be followed by hiring more drivers and decreasing their number of hours. UPDATE PLEASE?!
I appreciate the details, but I'm not sure which facts you're arguing I was wrong about. Care to elaborate? I don't think anything I said in the video directly contradicts what you just said.
Hey can you do one with uber? I would love to know how uber impacted Disney and other businesses.
Dme is the only reason i fly honestly
Ralph Cordero Personally I fly because driving would be 48 hours straight with no breaks, but DME is a nice bonus on top of it
The last time I was at DisneyWorld I was thinking they needed something like this. I hated taking the buses and taxis. They're too expensive. Something to note as we are planning a trip to D-World next year. Thanks for the information!
Just go to Disneyland ( :
I go somewhat regularly to D-Land! (I'm on the West Coast/Best Coast) I do like the DisneyWorld being-on-the-property-with-all-the-other-parks experience that we don't fully get at Disneyland.
I'm a big defender of unionized taxi services, especially in the age of rideshare services which are essentially non-unionized, unlicensed taxis and therefore worse in the long term for both driver and passengers, but this....... providing a shuttle between the airport and your business is totally fair business practice. If you're going to fight that, you have to fight every hotel, off site car rental agency, casino, and resort that operate shuttles from the airport, and airlines and airports that offer shuttles into the city. Might as well say buses as a concept are a threat to taxis - which is insane.
I remember taking SuperShuttle from LAX to Disneyland, and the driver was reckless, mouthed off to other drivers on the road, bad-mouthed the Disney company the whole way, and was a generally unpleasant person to deal with. I'll take Disney's Magical Express over a third-party company any day of the week.
Magical Express is good for those interested in only going to WDW but is poor for people who want to do the rest of the parks (as intended). Magical Express would be improved by offering road trips from other Eastern cities like an 2 way adventure by Disney trip with a week or 2 on property.
What made you so into Disney?
I went there a lot as a kid with my family. As I got older I began to appreciate their dedication to immersion and escapism, and the more I read into the history of the parks the more I admired how the place is essentially run like a small but efficient country. So it's sort of a double fandom of both the place itself, and the history and work that it takes to maintain.
but doesn't Mears run like all the cabs in the Orlando area??
What's the ball park pricing for Lyft Or Uber to go from Orlando airport to Disney resorts?
This reminds me about Disney beginning to charge for overnight hotel parking. Part of it is Disney just wants more revenue from those that drive to Disney World. The other part of it is its another way to discourage people from renting a car. What it may do unintentionally is discourage people from staying on Disney property if Disney isn’t their only destination. It will probably be more beneficial to Disney than hurtful, but they may lose some hotel guests in the process.
I feel Disney is so smart like they always win in law suits because they we’re smart and know what ever could happen couldn’t
Me and my mom love Disney and we call it the magical and trgicely exspes
WOOOOW ROUGH START LUCKL THEY FIXED TH PROBLMS
3:55 Be careful which metaphors you choose!
Rob. Love your videos including this one but I have a completely off topic question. Do you think they will ever make Michael Eisner a Disney Legend. I know his exit wasn't on positive terms (read Disney Wars) but he did so much for the company. He, along with Frank Wells, turned the company around and it would be nice if Disney acknowledged that.
My ride on the magic express wasn’t very good it wasn’t a very long ride but our suitcases went somewhere else and we got them at 10:30 at night