Spy Photos of New “Magical Express Style”Buses at Disney World

What are these new buses doing at Walt Disney World? And why are they painted in a similar livery as the old Magical Express buses? I’m a huge nerd when it comes to Disney World transportation, here’s what I’ve been noticing.

disney academy bus in orlando

New Academy buses have been spotted shuttleing Disney Cruise Line guests between Disney World and Port Canaveral.

Most of us Disney-fans know that Disney’s Magical Express was a complimentary transportation service that shuttled guests between Orlando International Airport and Disney World. The program ended in January 2022.

 
magical express bus
 

Magical Express was operated by Mears Transportation Group for many years. Mears also operated the Disney Cruise Line buses that serviced Port Canaveral.

But in 2022, the Disney Cruise Line contract was awarded to Academy Transporation, one of the largest transportation companies in America.

Mears continues to offer airport transportation to Disney World, known as Mears Connect, but it is unaffiliated with Disney. They use the very same buses, just without Disney branding.

Mears, who owned all of the Magical Express buses began removing the Disney graphics on the buses in late 2021. What was left were stripped-down blue buses, without any graphics or references to Disney.

 
mears bus orlando

Former Magical Express bus with Disney graphics removed.

 
Blue Mears Bus in Orlando - Disney World

In early 2022, Mears began adding its own graphics to the former Magical Express buses. Today, there is a variety of designs that Mears uses but you can spot the Magical Express blue paint from miles away.

 
mears-bus
 
 
disney world magical express bus
 

Lately, however, brand-new buses have been spotted around Orlando. Specifically on 528 between Disney World and Port Canaveral, and on Walt Disney World property. They have that classic Magical Express blue paint.

An Academy logo is on the front, across a white panel. That white panel is nearly identical to the look of the former Magical Express buses.

These are brand-new buses, not repainted or rebranded.

academy bus magical express

One of several new Academy buses spotted near Walt Disney World. It’s painted in a similar livery as the former Magical Express buses.

So then, why is Academy taking delivery of new buses painted in the basic Magical Express livery?

Disney Cruise Line buses are navy blue with Disney characters and branding.

When Academy was awarded the Disney Cruise Line contract, it ordered several brand-new buses in the classic navy blue color. Shortly thereafter, the buses began arriving in Orlando and were eventually outfitted with DCL graphics.

Spy photos of the new DCL buses.

 
academy bus disney cruise line

Spy photo taken in July 2023 of a new Disney Cruise Line bus, operated by Academy Bus, just before getting Disney branding and graphics.

 

Disney and Academy obviously have something in mind for these new buses. Could it be the return of Disney’s Magical Express?

When Mears operated both Magical Express and Disney Cruise Line buses, it was common for Mears to use Disney Cruise Line buses as Magical Express buses, when needed.

It’s worth noting that Disney cited low ridership on Disney’s Magical Express as the reason for stopping this service.

disney academy bus

These new Academy buses look nearly identical to the former Magical Express buses, just without the graphics. Several of these buses have been spotted in Disney World and in Port Canaveral.




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Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.


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Darren Wittko

For over 12 years Darren Wittko has been helping people save money at Walt Disney World as both, a travel writer and a travel advisor with Magical Vacations Travel. He’s featured in the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren resides in Celebration, FL.

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