Hi everyone! There is some breaking Disney World news this week that will greatly impact your Disney World vacation in the future. As you can tell from the title, there are several popular perks that are being discontinued for Disney resort guests. So, without further delay, here are the Resort guest perks Disney World is eliminating:
Magical Express
The Magical Express is a free shuttle to and from the Orlando International Airport (MCO). It is a very convenient transportation offering for guests staying on Disney property to travel between MCO and The World. Unfortunately, Disney just announced that this complimentary service is now being officially discontinued starting January 1, 2022. That means guests traveling through MCO will need to secure transportation to and from Disney World property. Fortunately, ride share programs (think Uber and Lyft) are a great option instead of relying on the Magical Express. There is also word that Brightline, a rail system in Flordia, is planning to expand its routes to include shopping districts such as Disney Springs. We shall see what happens!
Don’t forget to check out our complete guide to Disney World transportation!
Luggage Service
Another perk linked to the Magical Express is complimentary luggage service. Guests arriving to MCO and taking the Magical Express, would have their luggage delivered straight to their Disney World Resort rooms. No waiting at baggage claim! At the end of the vacation, Resort guests were also able to check their luggage in at their resort. The luggage would then “magically” make its way onto the plane! With the Magical Express being eliminated in 2022, the complimentary luggage service is also being discontinued. Aww shucks!
Just a quick note… The luggage service is on hiatus since the start of the pandemic for safety reasons.
Extra Magic Hours
Disney is also eliminating another very popular resort guest perk, Extra Magic Hours. This allowed guests staying on property to visit a different theme park each day during exclusive times (either in the morning or evening). Unfortunately, it’s another service that has been suspended since the pandemic, and it’s not returning. Disney is putting another program in it’s place… Later this year, Resort guests will be able to visit the theme parks early in the morning, before the general public. However, the evening exclusive magic hours will not be returning.
It will be interesting to see if Disney World eliminating these popular resort guest perks will encourage visitors to seek accommodations off-property. We stayed off-property during our last vacation and did really enjoy it! There are definitely pros and cons, so be sure to check out our articles!
Until next week… Cheers!!!