Disney’s Magical Express Military Disney Tips Review

I love Disney’s Magical Express, Disney World’s complimentary bus service between the Orlando International Airport and Disney World Resorts.

Note: Disney’s Magical Express will be ending! Reservations beginning on 1 January 2022 will no longer receive Magical Express service!

A new paid third party option starts 1 January 2022. See: Mears Connect

Disney’s Magical Express is a service that Disney provides exclusively to those staying in Disney Owned Hotels, it is not available for Shades of Green Guests, but those using Disney’s Armed Forces Salute discount at Walt Disney World Resorts are eligible.

Shades of Green guests should see this page.

Grab a Free Ride from Mickey, from Orlando Intl. Airport to WDW

Note: During the current operating situation, Magical Express luggage service from your departure airport to your room is not available.

See our special pages on the current situation that are linked at the top of this post!

Note: Disney World has announced that Disney’s Magical Express will be ending! Reservations beginning on 1 January 2022 will no longer receive Magical Express service!

How to Find the Magical Express

When you arrive at your airline arrival gate at the Orlando International Airport, follow the signs for baggage claim.

You’ll board an elevated subway like train which will take you to the main terminal.  Once you pass out of the secure area you’ll enter a large atrium. In this atrium there is an Official Disney Store, called the “Earport.” You will be on level 3 of the airport. Baggage claim is on level 2 and transportation is on level 1.

See our Guide to Orlando International Airport

Walt Disney World’s Earport

There are 2 “Terminals” at the airport A & B. They are on opposite sides of this central atrium area. Each has its own baggage claim area and transportation areas. Continue to follow the baggage claim signs to your Baggage Claim area (either A or B). You’ll go down the escalator to level 2.

Disney’s Magical Express is on the B side. So if you are picking up your bags on the A side, after getting your bags you’ll go back up to level 3 and cross over to the B Side.

If your baggage area is on the B side, you’ve picked up you bags on the A side, or you only have carryon proceed to the level 1 transportation area on the B side.

You’ll then see signs directing you to Disney’s Magical Express, which is at the far end.

Once you are there step up to the counter to check in. You will need the Magical Express letter that you received in the mail ahead of time or a Magic Band to check in. They can also look up your reservation, but that takes a little longer.

Once checked in, the Disney castmembers there will direct you to one of several numbered lines.

Each line is for a specific Disney Resort. After a wait you’ll board a bus to your resort. These buses make several Resort stops and your Resort might not be the first one.

The driver will take your luggage and place it in the cargo area of the bus for you.

While you are enroute to your hotel there will be Disney videos playing in the bus.

The bus has charging stations at each seat (they don’t always work) and a bathroom if needed.

Once the bus arrives at your hotel just hop off and the driver will get your bags for you. Tipping is encouraged.

Now you can check in if you haven’t checked in online, or you can head right to the theme parks if you are going to use your tickets that day. If not your could do one of the many free or low cost things to do at WDW and save your theme park ticket for the next day.

Departure Letter

On your departure day the service works essentially the same.

The day prior to check out a letter will be hung on your room door telling you when and where to catch your bus to the airport (usually about 3 hrs prior to your plane’s departure time). Your luggage will ride with you this time.

You or a bell hop will bring your luggage to your pickup location. The bus driver will load the bags on the bus for you.

Once at the airport the driver will get you bags for you and you’ll then take thems to the airline check-in area yourself.

Note: Disney’s Magical Express must be booked at least 10 days prior through disneyworld.com, the Disney Reservations Center by calling 407-W-DISNEY or your travel agent.

• Back to Basics Posts - A great place to start, offering basic topics!
• Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
• The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start-to-Finish Guide

• Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
• Dining Overview Page
• Transportation Overview Page
• Technology Overview Page
• Shades of Green, WDW’s Military-Only Resort

The Mouse Experts is a travel booking company specializing in Disney vacations. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!