Sunshine Flyer Airport Shuttle to Disney World: Info & Tips
The Sunshine Flyer is a new themed airport shuttle service to Walt Disney World, replacing Magical Express. This covers pricing, transportation info, and everything we know about the bus between Orlando International Airport and resorts, plus commentary on this v. Mears Connect. (Updated January 10, 2023.)
Let’s start with a quick recap. Walt Disney World’s free shuttle service from MCO to the company’s hotels, Disney’s Magical Express, ended early last year. Guests now need to find their own transportation from the airport to their resort, and we cover the range of options in our Guide to Airport Transportation for Walt Disney World. There is no one-size-fits-all perfect solution; it depends on your party size, budget, and other factors.
The first option to launch was Mears Connect. That offers airport transportation service via high occupancy vehicles, including buses and vans. This is the “spiritual successor” of Disney’s Magical Express, using the exact same buses as its predecessor (Mears was the operator of DME and owned the buses). We have more up-to-date details, in Reservations & Pricing for Mears Connect, Disney’s Magical Express Replacement.
Another alternative for Walt Disney World airport shuttle buses from MCO is the Sunshine Flyer, a themed motorcoach bus experience. Offering a convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation, the Sunshine Flyer allows guests to start the themed magic of their Walt Disney World vacation from the moment they step off the plane.
We’ve used Sunshine Flyer since launch, and generally found the service comparable to Disney’s Magical Express. Both are economical and reliable ways to get to Walt Disney World, albeit not particularly efficient. That was also the case with Disney’s Magical Express, where the last word in the name was always a bit dubious. For its part, the Sunshine Flyer does a better job at replicating the “Magical” part of that name, with a fun theme–albeit minus any Disney IP.
January 10, 2023 UPDATE: Sunshine Flyer announced the launch of Sunshine Flyer Direct, its private transportation service from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World resorts.
The Sunshine Flyer Direct will provide exclusive, private transportation for guests, and it will be able to pick-up guests at any terminal including the new Terminal C. Guests will have the option to select their preferred vehicle: sedan, luxury SUV, or van; they will also be able to choose their preferred pick-up time. Sunshine Flyer Direct drivers will handle all luggage including meeting guests at the baggage claim to assist with bags.
Like the company’s regular bus transportation, the Sunshine Flyer Direct is well-equipped for kids, including three-point harness seat belts for safety. Plus, a variety of fun offerings to start the trip off on a well-themed foot with free conductor hats, stickers, and coloring/activity books for kids.
Turning back to the buses, above is a look at the range of wraps that the Sunshine Flyer offers on its main fleet. Just like the variety of themed Disney Skyliner gondola designs, it’ll be fun to spot the different train models. Should be a good time for kids with a degree of “re-rideability.”
The Sunshine Flyer’s buses are late model, premium buses with themes that center around old-fashioned passenger cars and train engines. From the bus designs to staff dressed as 1920s rail conductors and engineers, the motorcoaches effectively serve as time-machines, offering a glimpse into 1920s train travel.
Upon entering the Sunshine Flyer staging area, guests will not wait more than 20 minutes to board the bus, and the ride to the resorts is scheduled so the last stop will not take more than 65 minutes.
Originally, Mears Connect made this same 20 minutes promise, but has since quietly dropped it from their website as guests have reported waiting up to 45 minutes to depart. It’ll be interesting to see whether the Sunshine Flyer can do a better job dispatching buses more frequently.
The buses service all Walt Disney World resort hotels and offer with a restroom, USB chargers, and three-point seatbelts for the comfort and safety of all guests. Ahead of travel, guests will book their tickets online and receive a QR code they will scan once arriving at MCO, which will ensure smooth timing and departures to Walt Disney World resorts.
For the return trip to Orlando International Airport, you’ll receive a confirmation email advising you of the motorcoach departure time the day before you check out from your Walt Disney World hotel. It will be approximately 3 hours prior to your scheduled departure time for domestic flights and 4 hours prior to your scheduled departure time for international flights.
The Sunshine Flyer officially started service from Orlando International Airport last year. The Sunshine Flyer offers transportation to all Walt Disney World resort destinations in Orlando, from Value Resorts to Deluxes.
Tickets for the Sunshine Flyer must be booked at least four days ahead of arrival. The cost is $19.50 per adult and $11 per child each way. There is no round trip discount–prices are $39 and $22, respectively, for round trip adult and child fares.)
The Sunshine Flyer offers a full refund if cancelled 72 hours in advance, or credit towards future tickets if cancelled under 72 hours. For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Sunshine Flyer does have some limitations as compared to Mears Connect. For one, Sunshine Flyer reservations are only accepted up until 4 days before service, whereas Mears Connect allows last-minute reservations.
Additionally, the Sunshine Flyer service starts at 4:00 am and services flights starting at 7:00 am. The last bus leaving Orlando International Airport is at 11:00 pm. By contrast, Mears Connect runs 24/7.
Finally, the Sunshine Flyer does not pick up or drop off guests at MCO’s new Terminal C. However, there is a tram that takes guests from Terminal C to Terminals A/B where the Sunshine Flyer is located. Mears Connect offers service from Terminal C.
For most Walt Disney World tourists, none of these differences will matter. The bulk of visitors book airport transportation far in advance, don’t do red-eye flights, and fly into Terminals A or B.
However, this will impact maybe ~10% of you, especially those flying internationally or from the West Coast, and last-minute travelers. To of those things describe us, and as such, we’ve had more challenges using the Sunshine Flyer than Mears Connect. That doesn’t diminish its service or quality–just makes it less suitable for us. As with anything, your mileage may vary!
To its credit, the Sunshine Flyer has a passionate team offering a quality transportation option that immerses Walt Disney World visitors in a themed experience from the moment they land at MCO. “We’re incredibly excited to launch The Sunshine Flyer and give Disney guests the chance to kickstart their vacation with a fun, unique travel experience,” said Frank Sherman, CEO of TMS, the parent company of the Sunshine Flyer.
“Everyone knows the magic of Disney once they’re inside the park gates. But, through The Sunshine Flyer, we’re able to give guests the chance to start their vacation from the minute they step off the plane and turn what used to be a procedural drive into the beginning of an adventure to remember.”
With 25 years of experience as a large events transportation company working with world-class events such as the FIFA World Cup, NBA Finals, and PGA TOUR Tournaments, TMS contends that their company is primed to offer a streamlined and well-executed service.
“By combining our storied expertise in mass transportation management with a creative, themed experience, we have the unique opportunity to offer an experience that’s both stress-free and engaging,” added Sherman.
“After all, Disney guests deserve a trip to remember, right from the start. Whether they’re young or old, travelling in a group or solo, we hope The Sunshine Flyer sparks the imagination and excitement of all of our guests from the moment they step on the bus.”
In celebration of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, the Sunshine Flyer will donate 50% of all revenue from the first 50,000 passengers during the first 50 days of business to Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida to support their mission of creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
As a part of the Sunshine Flyer’s commitment to giving back, all Make-A-Wish children and their families will receive complimentary service from the Sunshine Flyer for their Disney wishes indefinitely.
In terms of commentary, this is awesome. Well, at least as “awesome” as going from the free (or at least included in the cost of hotel stays) Disney’s Magical Express to something that costs extra. With that said, the Sunshine Flyer is not to blame for Walt Disney World’s shortsighted decision to eliminate Magical Express. Can’t exactly fault another business for Disney’s ill-advised cutbacks.
What’s awesome about this is that it’s themed–and to something objectively cool. Trains are awesome, as is the golden age of rail travel after which the Sunshine Flyer is modeled. Perhaps I’m biased as a railfan who visits museums, enjoys railroad simulators, and far prefers train travel to all other forms of transportation–but you know who else loved trains? Walt Disney. Even setting aside my own interests, there is a clear “Disney connection” to the Sunshine Flyer’s theme.
Another reason this is awesome is because the Sunshine Flyer is not operated by Mears. For those who are otherwise unfamiliar with it, Mears is a transportation company with coach buses and taxis that enjoyed a virtual monopoly on Orlando for decades–before Uber and Lyft arrived on the scene. Since then, Mears has been extensively involved with rideshare lawsuits over the past several years.
Historically, we have not been fans of Mears. We had several negative experiences with them in the pre-rideshare days–enough to arrive at the conclusion that it was a poorly-managed company doing the bare minimum and not caring about customer service given their aforementioned monopoly.
If you’ve read our posts about the Disney’s Magical Express saga, you might find this surprising. We’ve been fairly sympathetic to Mears, which is largely because we have reason to believe they got “done dirty” by Disney (as the kids say). I also don’t like some Time Warner properties, but nevertheless feel pity for how they got screwed over in the AT&T acquisition. Beyond that, Mears was filling a void left by the end of Disney’s Magical Express and would be the default “best” option for many tourists. With the arrival of the Sunshine Flyer, that is no longer the case.
Granted, I have absolutely zero knowledge of or experience with TMS. For all I know, they could somehow be responsible for the plight of Florida’s manatees. I’m guessing not, but it is possible they offer similarly poor customer service. However, I’m willing to take my chances on pretty much any transportation service over Mears. Any company with such an affinity for the golden age of railroads can’t be all bad.
Ultimately, more competition and alternatives for transportation between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World resorts is a good thing for consumers. Even if you’re a monster who hates trains, it’s hard to deny this as positive news from that perspective. As past precedent has demonstrated, Mears having a monopoly is not a good thing. We strongly recommend booking one of these shuttles rather than relying on Uber or Lyft if you’re visiting this year or in 2023.
Without Disney’s Magical Express, rideshare demand has increased, and at times there’s an insufficient supply (or drivers) in the Orlando market at times when travel volume is high. We’re used Uber and Lyft when traveling between the Orange Counties (Florida and Southern California) this year, which tends to put our MCO arrivals late at night. For whatever reason, MCO is often slammed late at night, which leads to surge pricing. We’ve paid as much as $70 for a ride to Walt Disney World via rideshare. That’s not even as bad as it gets–we’ve heard of some people paying $100. Unless you have a large party, using an airport shuttle service is going to be much more economical than that.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the Sunshine Flyer? Will you use the service, or is it too expensive for shared transportation? Will you opt for Sunshine Flyer, Mears Connect, Uber, Lyft, or renting a car? Thoughts on pricing, efficiency, or anything else regarding airport transportation? What do you think about Walt Disney World ending Disney’s Magical Express? Other thoughts on this? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Thank you SO much for this post! I already booked my family on Sunshine Flyer for our arrival to WDW in March!
Do you have any advice on the safest and most cost-effective way for a family of four (2 children) to get from WDW to Universal and then from Universal to MCO?
Hi Tom!
Always good information!
We just used your link to book Mears for our January trip as I was lost in what to do because we always drive down to FL and if we fly we always had Magical Express. We have never used ride share services anywhere and it was adding a level of anxiety to our trip. So Thank you!!
I am not sure when I will be returning to Disney, but the shuttle from the airport to the hotel was one of the best. The fact that once I left my bags at the airport in Baltimore I did not have to get it upon arriving at the hotel was always a plus. I am always traveling with my grandchildren with or without parents. I can not imagine not having this service traveling with children. If the cost covered both ways I would have no problem paying it.
If the security lines for domestic flights out of MCO are anything like they were before the pandemic…3 hours might be cutting it kind of close. (Especially if everybody has to check their own luggage now. I wonder what the ripple effect from THAT will be…) Those buses look nice, though.
Yay! The Hogwarts Express 😀
So happy to read this: As a part of the Sunshine Flyer’s commitment to giving back, all Make-A-Wish children and their families will receive complimentary service from the Sunshine Flyer for their Disney wishes indefinitely.
Great news! Trains are much, much cooler than any bus. Now, if only they would carry it to full theming, like drinking a cold beer from a glass like we did on the ICE trains in Germany and France last year, even if it can’t be rolling along at 218kph…
It is so odd to me that they stopped the magical express as a cost cutting measure. As it’s been set on your blog in many many other places this kept you trapped on Disney property. Many people are not going to go through the bother of getting an Uber or a lift just to go to a non-Disney restaurant. They will take Disney transportation and eat either in the parks or at the resorts. Once people get used to grabbing an Uber or a lift from the airport, it’s going to be much easier to decide to get one too a non-Disney restaurant, or to bite the bullet and decide to just rent a car
Just back (Sunday) from WDW. After 2 weeks there I can truthfully say people who go there are not guests. They are customers. Remember that, don’t expect magic (& you will get it when least expected), then your stress level will be better. We got lots of magic.
We switched, in the week before arriving from DME to a ‘black car’ service. More expensive but was met at baggage claim (after getting lost & found by driver), taken to a Publix, no extra charge, to get medically needed beverage for hubby. He was kind, helpful, & happily answered dumb questions. If we go back will not go with either of the shuttle services. Though checked new one & they have buses that can handle disabled people. Only have to let them know with reservation. Was put on a van once with DME that made me horribly motion sick.
Sent hubby to DHS one day with directions on how to get both major Star Wars rides. Including buying an ILL for RoftR at about 7:30am. He had a ball. I slept most of the day. Both happy.
Whether we go again has lots to do with whether they start limiting crowds, either with pricing or crowd limits. By the end I stopped caring if I hit someone who walked in front of me & just stopped. Eventually looking down & saying ‘oh sorry’. I’d go around while saying ‘NO you aren’t’. Remember scooters do NOT stop on a dime. And we are everywhere.
WDW will never be as wonderful as our first. Just after 9/11. Not many people, those there polite, truly Patriotic, & we all helped each other. Now like an overcrowded feedlot. With yelling, crying, child abuse.
Mary,
I completely agree with you. However, what is tragic is no one cares. We don’t hear anything about attendance getting smaller at Disneyworld Orlando nor Anaheim. I am tired of reading people’s complaints but then not willing to stand up to Disney and say, “No more of my money!” They continue to pay and do whatever Disney demands.
Until I see movement in people stopping paying for their decisions, I will follow the news and read the blog here but won’t be spending any of my money on anything Disney.
Will TMS be going to the Dolphin & Swan? We started using Mears when ME stopped going to the Dolphin and Swan a couple of years ago. We prefer the private ride to bus. I must say we have always had good luck with the Mears car service, guess we have been lucky. However we also pay a hefty price for the private car ride so…
Is it ironic that the ESCOT bus line has a shuttle from MCO to Universal and back but not to Epcot?
I am 36. The wraps on these buses and the costumed drivers should not be as exciting to me as they are.
We’re going to be at WDW the week after these start up and I’m currently torn between feeling like we HAVE to use these guys and feeling like using them days into after their launch could be a serious mistake.
Trains transcend age. It doesn’t matter if you’re 8 or 80, railroads rule.
(Also, agree with your hesitation in booking so soon after launch.)
Any scuttlebut on the Brightliner? Last I heard there was supposed to be a decision in July which route it was going to take; i.e., closer to UO or following the other (original?) route that followed the highway to Disney Springs?
Last I heard, they delayed the 417 decision indefinitely. Anyone can correct me if that’s wrong–I honestly stopped paying super close attention to that saga.
I know some other Disney sites have covered the Brightline breathlessly, but frankly, I just don’t see the point. Best case scenario is it debuts in 2025–and I’m skeptical even of that.
we are flying Jet Blue to Orlando in August 2022. I see that the new south terminal at the airport will be open by then… Do you have any idea how Mears or Sunshine Flyer will work with the new terminal?? I was trying to figure out if we had to take the people mover to the main terminal (with luggage) to get our bus to Disney, or will we be picked up at the south terminal.. It’s way early to expect anyone to know, but i was hoping maybe you had more info since you are generally out front of other blogs on changes. You do a great job keeping us informed, and we really like reading your posts….
Unfortunately, I do not know–if that information is available at this point, I haven’t come across it. Sorry!
I checked to see if they were going to Universal as well, but not yet. They did allude to adding destinations in 2022. The pricing seems way better, and I’d choose this over Uber/Lyft for the certainty. Although, I did see a post somewhere on the social media dark web that unpacked how TMS is not only anti manatee, but has also taken several anti duck positions over the years. So, buyer beware.
Anecdotal evidence that means nothing…but when we were at MCO early in December I felt genuine empathy for everyone using Magical Express in its final days. It was not busy at the airport when we flew in (no problems getting an Uber, and no surge pricing) but the line for ME was the longest I had ever seen it. It seemed like they had already reduced the capacity by a significant amount.
I haven’t used DME at all this year, but I pop into that area every time we make an airport trip, and it has been bad for most of this year. (And we’ve heard the same repeatedly from readers.) There are times when there have been no issues whatsoever, but they’re the anomalies. It’s clear cutbacks have already been made.
To the extent that DME causes problems on ride share availability, I don’t see it being constrained to airport journeys. It’ll be spread out across all Orlando area journeys, or maybe even affect those journeys more since airport trips are preferential for drivers.
Shuttles like this, by their very existence, might mitigate this – but I don’t see that changing the individual passenger case for using one (except to avoid the general higher prices).
Agree with all of this.
Shuttles will definitely mitigate strain on rideshare and rental cars, but it’s a question of degree. Most visitors to WDW don’t read blogs like this one, so awareness of DME alternatives will probably be fairly low at the start of 2022. I could see a repeat of the situation back in spring of this year, when rideshare/rental prices surged, as did wait times for both.
Any word on whether or not these new folks will do anything similar to the luggage handling that Magical Express had? That was one of my favorite aspects of using DME!
Not a bad substitute trains are cool. But for me the big deal with Magical Express was the ability to not touch my luggage between dropping it off at the drop off skycap and getting it off the conveyor on my return home. Fortunately we are now 6 hours from Disney World so we don’t have to fly now at all. For us no big lose. But I like that there are more options. Competition (like greed for lack of a better word) is as you said good.
Tom, will this option offer exclusively busses? The problem with Mears was you weren’t guaranteed a bus, meaning you could get a bus or a van. As someone that travels with two children in car seats, this was just unacceptable. You could literally get to the airport and it be a van, without a car seat. If this option guarantees a bus, I would be willing to pay a higher amount and not deal with the stress of Mears.
Already sent an email to their PR person asking this exact question. Honestly, I wasn’t aware of that issue with Mears Connect until this week–I’m hoping to get clarification from them about this, as well. (There’s no good reason this should be an issue with Mears–it’s the same fleet as they used with DME!)
Bob Chapek, the current Disney CEO, is doing great harm to the Disney brand and the guest experience. His only apparent concern is maximizing returns to the Disney stock shareholders at the expense of we, the guests. What he did with holding back the trams was disgraceful.