For countless Walt Disney World fans, the Magical Express trip from Orlando International Airport to their hotel presented a simple and fun start to the theme park’s vacation paradise.

But alas: The flexible service for hotel guests, with luggage showing up in his room circling and shooting at Disney attendees, ended earlier this year.

So what can park guests do if driving to and from the airport wasn’t part of Disney’s dream?

There are features, not so magical, or with Mickey or Minnie waving at the window, but they are available.

While the farewell of the Express was announced last year, the latest hurrah took position in early January.

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Pamela and Bill Skaar of Grand Prairie, Texas, are among those who will miss the Express but say they will return to Walt Disney World as soon as possible. His last trip on the Express was from Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. to Orlando International on January 8.

The Skaars have become members of the Disney Vacation Club after celebrating their wedding anniversary in 2007.

“We began to enjoy the convenience and ‘magic’ of being transported to and from the airport’s Magical Express buses,” said Pamela, a retired speech-language pathologist.

“They were picking up our luggage for us and magically gave the impression in our room at our hotel a few hours later. They were also lovely Disney-themed buses, with fun, entertaining and well-behaved drivers and cute Disney videos as we drove. to or from the airport. “

Now, they say, they will take Mears Connect operated through Mears, whose drivers sailed on the Magical Express from 2005 until their farewell. But unlike Magical Express, Mears Connect would possibly not be free. Do not collect passengers’ luggage or drop it off at your hotel rooms. Guests will need to take care of this on their own.

Still, the Skaars retain the memory of the latter on the service, when they were the only two other people on the bus and posed for photographs with the driver.

“We have so many fond memories of the Magic Express, just the two of us, and other times with our adult children and grandchildren,” Pamela said. “Years ago on the road, we brought my sweet mother, who has passed away. . . he took the Magical Express with us and enjoyed WDW for the first time in his life at age 70. “

For those who want an elevator from the airport to Disney resorts, here are a few options.

Mears Connect, Standard and Express options.

The charge for a popular one-way rideshare service is $16 for adults and $13. 50 for children.

For $250, travelers can book an explicit direct-to-hotel service for 4 passengers. Add $55 for more passengers. Depending on the site, it could be a shared service.

For data and reservations: mearsconnect. com. For a personal car, you will want a reservation at least one day in advance, and for the shuttle service, 24 hours in advance. Taxis can also be obtained through Mears, 24/7. Passengers will want to avoid baggage claim before heading to the Mears location in Orlando International, where they will board Terminal B, Level 1, on the transport floor, at the former Disney location.

Taxi, Uber or Lyft : all those features are found in Orlando International, with possible features like UberX, UberXL and, on the more expensive side, Uber Black.

Sunshine Flyer: This direct bus service from the airport to the resorts has yet to get underway (the launch is scheduled for Feb. 1), but it’s promising for those looking for the kind of entertainment deals they loved on the Magic Express. Rather than focusing on Disney, it is presented as reminiscent of exercise in the 1920s, with buses packed like locomotives or passenger cars and drivers and staff dressed as drivers and engineers.

The adult charge is $17 one-way and $34 for a circularArray. For youth ages 3 to 9: $12. 50 one-way; $25 circularArrayChildren under 2 can sit on an adult’s lap for free. Get the main points about sunshineflyer. com.

Car rental: While this would possibly be the most productive option for those who need the freedom to have a vehicle at their disposal for a trip, do not forget that in addition to not being entertained, there are tolls on the road. With that in mind, there’s the payment for parking at Disney resorts, up to $25 per night.

Contact Britt Kennerly on bkennerly@floridatoday. com and Twitter: @bybrittkennerly Facebook: /bybrittkennerly.