December 2016 brought many upsell options. It seemed like Disney was announcing new ways to spend more money for more convenience every day.
One of the biggest announcements involved Disney Express transportation, which picks up and drops off passengers inside the parks in backstage areas. There is one pick up and drop off location at each park, and each park has its own bus. Pick ups occur about every 30 minutes.
You can purchase the Express Transportation option at the loading areas:
Magic Kingdom: Near Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Epcot: East of Spaceship Earth
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Next to Rock N roller coaster Starring Aerosmith
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Across from Kilimanjaro Safari
Any Guest Relations desk in the parks or at one of the Disney resort hotels can help you too. The Cast Member will add it to your MagicBand to make boarding the bus easier and faster.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Express Transportation.
Pros
First, if you have ever driven in Disney World, you know that the traffic can be horrendous. With Express Transportation, you can park your car once and transfer between parks without having to drive yourself.
Second, since the Express Transportation buses drop you off inside the park gates, you don’t have to go through security at each park. This means fast park hopping and saved time which results in more time enjoying the Disney World theme parks.
Finally, you get lots of backstage time. While some people might consider this a downside, it’s actually pretty cool. If you’ve ever been backstage in the parks, you know that it’s a totally unique experience. However, especially if you have young children, this might ruin some of the Disney magic.
Cons
Really the only con of Express Transportation is the cost.
For one day, you’ll pay $15 per person. If you’d like a multi-day pass, it will cost $24 per person.
While this might get expensive if you have a large family, it isn’t outrageously expensive especially if you’re visiting at a busy time of year when security lines and bus stops are packed.
Is Disney’s Express Transportation upsell worth it?