Today In Disney History ~ May 5th
Disney’s Magical Express is a private ground transportation and luggage service delivery for Walt Disney World Resort operated by Mears Transportation. The service is complimentary and is only available to guests with reservations at one of 21 Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
The Disney’s Magical Express service 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, and 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.
However, the service became extremely popular, carrying 2.2 million people in 2009,
and 2.3 million in 2013. In 2010, Allegiant Air announced that they would be moving 10 of their flights from Orlando Sanford International Airport to Orlando International, based partially on the fact that the service only goes to Orlando International (the airline later moved back to Sanford, citing higher costs at Orlando International).
In 2015, Universal Orlando, Disney’s main competitor in the area, announced their own airport shuttle to their resort. The Universal service is operated by SuperShuttle, costs $35 round-trip, and has guests take care of their own luggage.
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