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You can now book Mears' new shuttle service to Disney resorts — Here's what it'll cost you

Terry Ward
Terry Ward
Contributor
Aug. 05, 2021
•
3 min read
20200714_Disney-World-Reopening_SHull-55
You can now book Mears' new shuttle service to Disney resorts — Here's what it'll cost you
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Editor's Note

This post has been updated with new information.

For an overwhelming number of visitors landing at Orlando International Airport (MCO), getting to the Walt Disney World area is the first order of vacation business.

Loyal park visitors got a shock earlier this year when an official statement released by Walt Disney World announced the move to terminate the complimentary Disney's Magical Express bus service, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

To fill that gap next year, Mears Transportation Group (which currently operates Disney's Magical Express bus) announced it would launch its own direct shuttle service to Walt Disney World resorts from the airport starting Jan. 2022.

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And now, anyone who has a Disney trip planned for next year can start booking the new Mears Connect service for rides beginning Jan. 1, 2022.

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Mears Connect service will initially link visitors arriving at MCO to resorts in the Walt Disney World area aboard "high occupancy vehicles" and offer similar amenities — including luggage handling service, return trips and convenient staging at the airport terminal, services enjoyed by passengers on Disney's Magical Express since 2005.

However, unlike Disney's Magical Express, Mears Connect isn't free. There are two tiers of service: Standard, which is a shared ride that makes a few stops en route to your hotel with waits of up to 20 minutes after checking in at the Mears reception area at the airport; and Premium, a direct ride to your resort with no other stops and "limited to no wait time."

Mears Connect is currently offering "introductory rates" for rides beginning Jan. 1, 2022. Let's take a look at what it'll cost you:

  • Standard service: $16 each way for adults, $13.50 each way for children (double prices for a round-trip ride)
  • Premium service: $200 round-trip for up to four passengers; each additional passenger is $55

You can book your rides now at Mears Connect's site.

The termination of Disney's Magical Express Bus is just one of many changes at Walt Disney World to keep in mind when planning a trip in 2021 and beyond.

And while the Disney Magical Express will continue to offer service until its official termination date, luggage delivery is no longer provided for passengers arriving and departing from Orlando International Airport.

MCO is serviced by ride-hailing services, including Lyft and Uber and airport taxis, too. With these introductory prices for the Mears Connect shuttle, a family may end up saving more by choosing one of those options instead.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.