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Walt Disney World Eliminates Magical Perks For Guests

Chanel Adams

Walt Disney World made two sudden moves. On Monday, January 11, the company announced that it would say goodbye to Magical Express and Extra Magic Hours. The Orlando-based theme parks are no longer the most magical place on Earth. Transportation is going to be a lot more difficult in the traffic-heavy area.

Magical Express was a free shuttle service that transported guests to and from the resort. Also, the company wants to do away with its Extra Magic Hours. With this additional perk, with no extra fee, guests could arrive early or stay late at the parks. They can avoid the crowds and enjoy their favorite rides.

Magical Express ending transportation in 2022

Disney’s Magical Express service will end in early 2022 at Walt Disney World. The service is expected to end on January 1, 2022. However, Disney’s Magical Express is still available for stays leading up to that date. But DME will no longer provide luggage delivery for those arriving and departing Orlando International Airport. Also, the resort airline check-in service is no longer available.

On Monday, Walt Disney World released a statement regarding the cancelation of this service.

“Vacationers have more options to choose from than ever for transportation, including ride-share services that save time and offer more flexibility to go where they want, when they want,” the company said in a statement to WDW News Today. “In light of this shift, when Disney Resort hotel bookings open for stays in 2022, we will no longer offer Disney’s Magical Express service for airport transportation, starting with arrivals Jan. 1, 2022.”

Other complimentary transportation options such as the hotel buses, monorails, and the new Disney Skyliner will still be available within the Walt Disney World Resort. However, none of those services transport guests to and from the airport. They only provide transportation to all four theme parks. Without DME, guests will have to find alternative options that are affordable and convenient.

Many Disney guests relied on the Magical Express. It became the main mode of transportation to and from Orlando International Airport (MCO). Without it, parents will have to pack car seats and bring them on flights. People will have to pay out of pocket for rideshare, rental cars, or shuttle service.

Mears releases statement on DME suspension

Once the news spread, Mears released a statement to WDW News Today on the matter. The company assured guests that they will continue to provide transportation to the Walt Disney World Resort. But that will still come to an end in 2022. Both Disney and Mears Transportation have seen a large number of layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Walt Disney [World] made us aware of their decision,” the company said. “While we are disappointed Disney will no longer offer this service, we intend to continue offering transportation services between the airport and all area theme parks and hotels to meet the demand of our visitors now and in the future.”

Although it hasn’t been confirmed, the Brightline train could replace DME. It will travel from MCO to Disney Springs, but won’t be ready until 2023. It’s also unclear how much this mode of transportation will cost. However, the train service does offer tickets as low as $10.00 per person.

To use Brightline, you would have to use another bus. This means you would have to lug your suitcases through Disney Springs to wait for your Disney Resort bus, which could be an inconvenience. Keep in mind, this is only a rumor at the moment. If executed correctly, it could end up being a simple solution for guests.

Walt Disney World eliminates Extra Magic Hours

The bad news continues. Since the reopening of Walt Disney World in July 2020, Extra Magic Hours were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it appears that it won’t be coming back in the future. Instead, Disney Parks introduced “Resort Guest Early Entry,” which will replace Extra Magic Hours.

In time for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary, hotel guests will enjoy a 30-minute early entry to any theme park, every day. However, it doesn’t benefit those who loved spending late nights at the parks. Disney claims it’ll help guests better spread out their vacations across all four theme parks. The company introduced Extra Magic Hours in 2000 as an added benefit for Disney Resort hotel guests.

Hours rolled out on a daily basis as part of the park operations calendar. A specific park or time slot would be indicated. Guests could then plan their trips around the Extra Magic Hours to increase their time in the parks. Extra Magic Hours included both early mornings and late nights at the parks.

The new option does not have an official release date. This comes amid the long list of benefits that have also ended. Some of those complimentary perks include free MagicBands and souvenir luggage tags and Magical Extra booklets. Disney is taking away the “magic” of its on-property vacations.

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