Earlier this year, Disney canceled their free Magical Express bus service that took guests between their Disney World hotels and the Orlando International Airport. While many guests were disappointed with the change, some turned to a different potential option that could transport guests between the airport and Disney World: a high-speed Brightline TRAIN.
©Brightline
Disney announced the possibility of a high-speed train route between the parks and the airport way back in 2019, and a deal was reached with Brightline in 2020. The original deal held that the route would be complete in 2022, but delays with construction and planning pushed that deadline back several times. Now, Disney has CANCELED their plans to work with Brightline on this project, which has left many people wondering WHY.
On June 27th, 2022, Disney announced that they were backing out of their deal with Brightline to build a Disney Springs stop along a train route from the Orlando International Airport to Tampa, FL. This update came as a surprise to many people, as the project has been in the works for over 2 years.
Why Did Disney Back Out of the Deal?
A Disney spokesperson told the Orlando Business Journal that Disney was going to step away from the project because the updated plans for the train’s route did not actually include a stop on Disney property. “As many people who are involved in this project are aware, the new route configuration does not support a Disney Springs station and as a result, we don’t anticipate being part of this project,” said Avery Maehrer.
©Brightline
Originally, the plans did include a stop on Disney World property. That stop would have been in the Disney Springs area, although the (then) anticipated location was not given. Some possible sites for the stop were in the southern part of Disney Springs or on some undeveloped land between Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and some Disney staff offices.
Disney Springs
Over the last several months, however, Brightline and several interested parties (including Disney, Universal Orlando, regional planners, residents of Florida, and others) have been debating different potential routes for the train. They have now settled on a route that no longer includes a stop on Disney World property.
Why Did Brightline Change the Route?
There were a couple of possible routes in discussion when Brightline was deciding on a plan for this train. One was along State Road 417. This route would bypass a tourist corridor and take a direct route to Disney World.
Potential Routes ©Brightline | Obtained via the Orlando Sentinel
Another proposed plan went down State Road 528 to International Drive. This plan was originally not the preferred route because it was much more expensive than the 417 option. However, in 2022 a potential solution was offered after several meetings: the “Sunshine Corridor Program.”
©Brightline
Under this program, there would be a corridor built for SunRail’s commuter trains that would lead from the airport to SunRail’s existing north-south tracks. The path would then go through the Orange County Convention Center and south International Drive.
Brightline would lease the rights to use that east-west SunRail corridor, and then would be responsible for building its own tracks from there to Tampa. By leasing the tracks, Brightline could save some money and also speed up the construction process.
©Brightline Trains
After several meetings with lots of interested stakeholders, Brightline chose the Sunshine Corridor option. The Orlando Business Journal reported that the original 417 route “drew heavy criticism from multiple parties, including residents of the Hunter’s Creek community and I-Drive business stakeholders,” which likely factored into the decision.
In addition, Universal Orlando heavily advocated for the Sunshine Corridor route so that the train could transport guests to their upcoming theme park, Epic Universe. Universal offered to donate land and funds to this project if the Sunshine Corridor route was chosen.
©Universal | Epic Universe Concept Art
With many advocates and a now-possible budget, the Sunshine Corridor Program was chosen. Unlike the 417 route, the Sunshine Corridor Program route does not run through Disney World property, so a station in Disney World was out of the question.
Could Guests Still Take the Train to Disney World?
Brightline has confirmed that they will still build a train stop near Disney Springs, although it will not actually be located on Disney World property. So guests will be able to get close to Disney World by using the Brightline train once construction is complete.
Disney Springs
Keep in mind that the station won’t actually get passengers onto Disney World property, so guests will need to find their own transportation from the station to the parks and hotels. Free Disney transportation is currently only offered on Disney World property, although that could change in the future if Disney decided to provide transportation from the Brightline station to the parks and hotels.
Disney bus
Disney has not commented on whether they will consider a transportation service between the station and Disney World. So for now, guests would need to find their own way. Possible options include taxi services or ride shares (like Uber and Lyft).
Lyft pick-up zone at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
While we wait for further updates and construction to wrap up on this route, remember that you currently have a few options for getting between the Orlando International Airport and Disney World. There are a couple of Magical Express replacement services — Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer. Both are paid services, and they function similarly to how Magical Express worked. You’ll need to make reservations ahead of time, and then once you arrive at the airport you’ll board a bus with other guests and ride to your hotel.
Mears Connect
Guests can also choose to rent a car, call for a taxi, or book a ride share through services like Uber or Lyft.
Rideshare sign
We’ll continue to watch for more updates on the train to Disney World, so stay tuned with DFB for all the latest news.
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Smart move by Disney as they shouldn’t give a dime to this project. The overall amount of time for the train combined with then transferring to a Disney resort bus would have made a miserable start to a vacation. Considering the current political environment in Florida and recent events, Disney should avoid financial support of projects such as this. The checkbook should be closed after what occurred with Reedy Creek.
I never pictured the train to Disney Springs as a viable replacement for airport-to-resort transportation. I’m sure Disney wouldn’t allow luggage on their buses, so what was supposed to happen? Call Uber/Lyft and lug the bags three times instead of two? How about we bring back ME and guests lug the bags zero times, Bob and Josh?
I believe that the real reason they did away with this plan is because it suddenly gives Disney patrons an opportunity to jump on the train from Disney Springs and visit Universal Studios, Seaworld, Busch gardens etc. Disney has really been falling behind in the innovation department lately and the last thing they want to do is be hooked up via rail to competitors who are delivering the goods.
It’s a shame Bob Chapeck’s contract was renewed for another three years. Under him we have to pay for connection between airport and resort, you have to pay for magic bands that were once free. If you drove you have to pay for parking at resorts, Disney stock is half of what it once was and he got into political fight he should of stayed out of.
White noise? What the heck?! Go for a PINK noise machine! Yes there is such a thing, and it may be better for some purposes.
So take a plane to Orlando then a train to near Disney then a UBER to Disney. No thanks. All those transfers will take forever.
Disney, please reinstate Magical Express. Make it a paid add on to reservation packages if you must, but please bring it back. It made staying on site at a Disney hotel so special and convenient.
After following this for some time now it sounds like Disney were never really in on the project, there was never an announcement about the station location, how guests would then transfer to hotels etc. So for them to announce that they are not part of it now doesn’t really come as a surprise at all, I think they just wanted/expected brightline to pay for it all and they could just sit back and promote guests being able to take the train from the airport.
I never considered the Briteline/Disney option feesable or even realistic in meeting and exceeding guest expectations. A huge waste of time and energy.
Disney has decided to say money by not providing the Magical Express, it’s a business decision supported by Bob Chapek, and Susan Arnold. They could have offered a voucher for each guest for either Mears Connect or Sunshine Express to make up for the lost of a free ride to and from the airport and your resort. Plus the convenience of not having to deal with your luggage coming or going.
Disney Parks and Resorts are a business, That’s all it is now, Walt and Roy are long gone and their intent to provide a place where the average family could spent time creating Magic and Memories has faded into a memory, at least at Walt Disney World.
Like Bob and Susan I have also made a decision. Not to do business with Walt Disney World my family and money go to other places now. If you don’t like Bob and Susan’s decisions then I encourage you to do the same.
So now the train is an extra step that can of work and time; then you still need to get to Disney. Just get a ride from the airport. I don’t think the rail was ever practical. Local drive to the rail, ride it to downtown and then still have to get to work from the rail.
This is a misleading article. First Disney had planned that the train route would be different. Disney had plans for a route that required Brightline to purchase private property, add more turns and cost far more in construction to bring the train to Disney Springs, or should we be truthful and say across the freeway from Disney Springs. When Brightline could not purchase the property required Disney backed out because there would be no station near Disney Springs.
This was failed thinking from the start. Not only had the property not been secured, but it would also require a pedestrian overpass from the Train Station across the freeway to Disney Springs. Once the guests got to Disney Springs they would be again stuck. Disney transportation buses from the Hotels to Disney Springs do not allow luggage. Even if they did the Buses are already crowded. Try and get Mom, Dad and two kids all your luggage, car seats on the bus. The other alternative is an uber, taxi or other ride share limo service at that additional cost. Factor in all the added wait times for the train, taxi, bus and it was a no win. Did Disney take into account that Orlando International Airport is a 24/7 airport and the services to connect the guests to the airport are not.
Disney blew this and has no one but Disney to blame. Disney is in self-destruct mode.
I live near the train crossing & tracks for Brightline. Not only is it a nuisance. But their safety record is horrible and horribly frequent. Wouldn’t be a good look for Disney
Who do they think is going to ride?