Did you know that in the future, you will be able to take a train to Disney World from the airport instead of grabbing an Uber or hopping on Disney’s Magical Express replacement?
No, not THIS kind of train (but that would be super fun!).
That’s right — Brightline is planning to connect from the Orlando International Airport to Disney World. But, right now, the Brightline train only runs from Miami to West Palm Beach, so it is also currently expanding up to Orlando. And now, this route has hit another major milestone in its construction!
Work on the Brightline’s extension recently hit 75% completion, according to Orlando Business Journal. This info was shared in Brightline’s most recent monthly bond disclosure.
©Brightline
The $2.7 billion extension is a 170-mile stretch between Orlando International Airport and West Palm Beach, Florida.
©Brightline
Just in February, Brightline completed a 3.5-mile segment near the Orlando airport, which was the first segment of the project to finish construction. A second set of new trains were also delivered to the Orlando vehicle maintenance facility. Test runs also began back in January from West Palm beach to Cocoa Beach so drivers could get familiar with the route.
©Brightline
The project should be done by the end of this year, but that is only the estimated date of construction being completed, not when the service would begin. Brightline is also working on a proposed Tampa extension, according to Orlando Business Journal.
©Brightline
Stay tuned to DFB for more news and updates about the Brightline Train.
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Would you take a train to Disney World? Tell us know in the comments!
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While it would be great to have a train to Walt Disney World, as one of your posts correctly points out the MCO (Orlando International airport) to Disney Springs option may be available in 2026. The option to Tampa is just in the federal application phase. Also, while the run from MCO to south Florida (W Palm Beach and Miami) is nearing completion for service there are no planned intermediary stops so boarding at the airport in 2023 would mean departing in south Florida. Still, when it is completed to WDW it would be a convenient option, yet would require additional ground transportation from WDW to resorts. If it ever connects Port Canaveral to WDW I would take that rather than drive as we did yesterday.
Train will be great to see going from MCO to DS. We fly in from Houston 4-5 times a year, and for us it will come down to cost for the train vs Uber vs Bus. My concern with the train is cycle time. If i just missed a train, how long till next one. I would not want to be left waiting an hour or more. Busses have been reliable at not holding us up over 30 min or so. Uber is always available, but may hit peak pricing. Bottom line, it will be an economic eval every time we go based on lost time vs cost; I never had to stress this way with DME. Still, we are excited to see a legitimate 3rd option come for our MCO to Disney transport needs.
Any word if the train station will have baggage handling service? Would be nice if on departure day you could check bags onto your flight at DS, or at least have the bags held till your departure time.
Under the old way of operating the transportation from the airport to the resort was magical. You fly into Orlando, get on the bus, arrive at your resort and later in the day your luggage appears in your resort room. I have not heard of any mention of baggage handling from the airport to the resort. The return to the airport was also magical, check your luggage at the resort and they appeared at your destination. With all the changes being made will it be my responsibility to handle my luggage upon arrival and departure from Orlando/WDW?
Hi Doug, yes, unfortunately the days of your luggage magically appearing in your room are in the past and as of right now there is no luggage service.
The train won’t be of use for us, coming from Texas. Wouldn’t want to fly 3 hrs to MCO, wait for the next train, which could be an hour or more, get off in Disney Springs with our luggage, then find an Uber to the hotel. Faster to take a ride share from the airport to our hotel. The train would add an hour or two to our commute to Disney. Florida residents traveling to Disney might find some use for it for a quick trip.