BrightLine Train coming to MCO and DISNEY

[TamaraQT]

I haven't seen any posts about the BrightLiner train coming to MCO. Evidently there will be stop at Disney World. I am shocked I discovered it watching a video on YouTube "Driving Orlando". They mentioned it and I looked it up. I am SHOCKED more people aren't talking about it. Is it because people love Disney Magic Express so much? Even the fact that it goes to Tampa. Also it will go as far south as Miami. Due to CoVID they aren't allowing the ability to sign up for the mailing list. But judging by the website, GO BRIGHTLINE this is going to be an awesome transportation addition to Orlando area.

 

[Lewisc]

The Disney stop isn't set in stone. People don't love DME so much as the train alternative might not be free. DME is direct bus service to your resort. Rail would require bus from the Disney station to your resort. Total travel time could be similar.

Originally Virgin had a role and the service was going to be Virgin branded. Search for something like Virgin Rail. It was discussed

 

[JimMIA]

Lewis is correct -- the Disney stop is in the talking stages only. I think it will eventually happen, but we'll have to see.

To me, the big advantages of BrightLine for WDW visitors are these:

• Brightline will bring three additional airports into the mix. Right now, most visitors fly into MCO and a few fly into either Sanford or Tampa. Brightline will provide access to MIA, FLL (Fort Lauderdale) and PBI (West Palm Beach). That expansion of the travel market will provide so many additional options for non-stop flights, both inbound and homeward bound.
• Brightline will also provide easy access to two additional ports. Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale is not especially notable, but it will be an addition.
  • Port Miami's addition, on the other hand, will be huge for people who want to combine a cruise with WDW. Port Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world and has a vast array of cruise companies, itineraries, etc. It's a gigantic step up from Port Canaveral, and Brightline WILL (set in stone already) have a stop directly inside Port Miami.

The practical benefit of this new option will be that WDW visitors will be able to do things like fly non-stop into Miami from their home city instead of connecting flights to MCO, cruise from Port Miami, and on their return from the cruise transfer directly to the train to Orlando, which will take about 3 hours. They will then be able to fly home from any of the airports mentioned above.

Hopefully, some of you wonderful folks will combine a trip like that with a few days in South Florida -- because if all you do is WDW and cruise, you are REALLY missing a lot! Now, it will be easier to add a few days and spend some time in the Florida Keys (which are beautiful), explore the real Everglades (Everglades National Park is just SW of Miami) and experience another of America's prime tourist destinations -- Miami and our incredible beaches.

 

[joelkfla]

I haven't seen any posts about the BrightLiner train coming to MCO. Evidently there will be stop at Disney World. I am shocked I discovered it watching a video on YouTube "Driving Orlando". They mentioned it and I looked it up. I am SHOCKED more people aren't talking about it. Is it because people love Disney Magic Express so much? Even the fact that it goes to Tampa. Also it will go as far south as Miami. Due to CoVID they aren't allowing the ability to sign up for the mailing list. But judging by the website, GO BRIGHTLINE this is going to be an awesome transportation addition to Orlando area.

If you search you will find that it has been talked about many times, as recently as this summer, but there hasn't been anything new to discuss lately.

The line to MCO is under construction, but service is still at least 2 years + some months away (end of 2022). Management has said they would like to provide service to WDW "shortly after", but nothing has been finalized beyond MCO yet -- and they have a history of being overly optimistic on start dates. The extension to Tampa, if it happens, will probably be at least a couple of years further out. No station location has been secured yet for either WDW or Tampa.

I have ridden the train once. It is very nice and comfy.

BTW: The name is Brightline, not BrightLiner. Maybe that's why you didn't find anything if you searched.

 

[TamaraQT]

Thanks everyone. This post can be closed now since it's spelled incorrectly. Mods please delete. Thanks.

 

[JimMIA]

No need to close a thread because of misspelling. People misspell stuff all the time -- in fact, I just corrected one of mine in my post above!

 

[DL1WDW2]

I hope this service will not give Disney a reason to discontinue Magic Express ...

 

[joelkfla]

BTW, Brightline trains are manufactured in California by Siemens, a German conglomerate that sponsored Spaceship Earth & Illuminations for over a decade. Their trains, locomotives, and light rail vehicles are used across the USA and throughout Europe. They have a reputation for quality and reliability.

 

[WingateBucs]

Any time line on the Tampa leg?

 

[JimMIA]

I hope this service will not give Disney a reason to discontinue Magic Express ...

It will not, because the purpose of DME is not to provide transportation from MCO to WDW resorts. The purpose of DME is to keep WDW resort guests captive onsite.

I don't think many MCO passengers will elect to pay to transfer to a train when they can ride DME for free. In fact, many Brightline riders from South Florida will probably get off at MCO and take DME from there.

Disney has a good thing going with DME and they know it.

 

[JimMIA]

Any time line on the Tampa leg?

I haven't found any reliable estimates. I think Joel's guesstimate above of 2024-2025 is reasonable -- assuming they do it at all.

As Joel said, the company has target dates, but those dates slip WAY later because of having to get regulatory and zoning approvals. And once you get those, construction always takes longer than anticipated.

 

[Lewisc]

Lewis is correct -- the Disney stop is in the talking stages only. I think it will eventually happen, but we'll have to see.

To me, the big advantages of BrightLine for WDW visitors are these:

• Brightline will bring three additional airports into the mix. Right now, most visitors fly into MCO and a few fly into either Sanford or Tampa. Brightline will provide access to MIA, FLL (Fort Lauderdale) and PBI (West Palm Beach). That expansion of the travel market will provide so many additional options for non-stop flights, both inbound and homeward bound.
• Brightline will also provide easy access to two additional ports. Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale is not especially notable, but it will be an addition.
  • Port Miami's addition, on the other hand, will be huge for people who want to combine a cruise with WDW. Port Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world and has a vast array of cruise companies, itineraries, etc. It's a gigantic step up from Port Canaveral, and Brightline WILL (set in stone already) have a stop directly inside Port Miami.

The practical benefit of this new option will be that WDW visitors will be able to do things like fly non-stop into Miami from their home city instead of connecting flights to MCO, cruise from Port Miami, and on their return from the cruise transfer directly to the train to Orlando, which will take about 3 hours. They will then be able to fly home from any of the airports mentioned above.

Hopefully, some of you wonderful folks will combine a trip like that with a few days in South Florida -- because if all you do is WDW and cruise, you are REALLY missing a lot! Now, it will be easier to add a few days and spend some time in the Florida Keys (which are beautiful), explore the real Everglades (Everglades National Park is just SW of Miami) and experience another of America's prime tourist destinations -- Miami and our incredible beaches.

Some people think the rail people have made errors in projecting demand. They used statistics on the NY-DC high speed rail service. Both NY and DC have excellent mass transit and a large number of business passengers.
A connecting domestic flight frequently add 2 hours to your flight. Taking rail from Miami is likely to add more then 2 hours. Time to get to the train station. Waiting time for the next train.
Guests who want to train to Miami and visit Everglades or Florida Keys. That suggests renting a car in Miami. Easier, and probably cheaper, to rent the car in Orlando then drive, on your schedule, directly to the Keys.

It will not, because the purpose of DME is not to provide transportation from MCO to WDW resorts. The purpose of DME is to keep WDW resort guests captive onsite.

I don't think many MCO passengers will elect to pay to transfer to a train when they can ride DME for free. In fact, many Brightline riders from South Florida will probably get off at MCO and take DME from there.

Disney has a good thing going with DME and they know it.

Disney has already abolished inbound luggage delivery and RAC. Replacing transportation from MCO with bus transportation from a Disney station should save Disney $ and will still encourage guests to stay onsite.

 

[JimMIA]

A connecting domestic flight frequently add 2 hours to your flight. Taking rail from Miami is likely to add more then 2 hours. Time to get to the train station. Waiting time for the next train.

Agree, but there is more to it than time. Flight schedules can get much more convenient when you have multiple airport options. It's the kind of thing where the traveler will have to look at the whole picture. They might be able to get much better flights to MIA or FLL, and even with the train ride, arrive at a more convenient time.

Another factor is cost. They might be able to reduce their travel expense combining a flight to South Florida and using the train.

Lots of variables to be evaluated.

 

[TamaraQT]

I hope this service will not give Disney a reason to discontinue Magic Express ...

Well on "micechat.com", the announcement has been made that Disney will discontinue Magic Express in January 2022.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.micechat.com/279811-breaking-disney-world-magical-express-ending-extra-magic-hours-replaced/[/URL]

 

[jlmarr]

Well on "micechat.com", the announcement has been made that Disney will discontinue Magic Express in January 2022.
https://www.micechat.com/279811-breaking-disney-world-magical-express-ending-extra-magic-hours-replaced/

Fixed that for you.

I'm not sure what Brightline will amount to - are they going to have a train every 5 minutes in each direction? I'm supposed to haul my luggage onto the train, then from the train to the Disney buses at DS, then off of the Disney bus at my resort? Doesn't sound like a great guest experience if that's the case.

 

[TamaraQT]

Fixed that for you.

I'm not sure what Brightline will amount to - are they going to have a train every 5 minutes in each direction? I'm supposed to haul my luggage onto the train, then from the train to the Disney buses at DS, then off of the Disney bus at my resort? Doesn't sound like a great guest experience if that's the case.

Thank you for fixing it.

I'm not sure what Brightline will amount to either but I am certain it will leave alot to be desired if expected to be an alternative to Magic Express. I can see plans to increase rental car rates as I am sure that will definitely be on the list that some will consider. It looks like they are pushing Uber, Lyft and MinnieVans too.

 

[sethschroeder]

They are talking about 2023 opening dates now which is a long ways from Jan 1, 2022.

Train is not a replacement for ME. Some people might use it but not a primary replace.

Happy to change my mind if time-line is sped up, capacity of trains increases, and area in DS in updated to allow for capcity and luggage.