Magical Express - Money Express?

[Crazy4Disney72]

$45 each way is absurd, especially for something that since its inception 3+ years ago has been available at no additional charge. For my family of 5, that would be $450 just to get to and from MCO! Yikes! We would most definitely rent a car for that, or maybe even just drive our own car from PA if we had to pay $450 on top of whatever the airlines would be charging. Given how expensive fuel has become, I could see them charging maybe $5 a person each way, maybe even keep it free to kids under 10 or something, call it a fuel surcharge or something, that doesn't seem too unreasonable, but $45, that's absurd and would definitely have less people using DME and thus more people able to venture offsite during their WDW vacation.

 

[CanadianGuy]

If Disney charges - and I don't think they will.. I think it will be 15$ per person.. round trip.

That's my theory.

Whatever THAT is worth.

 

[margitmouse]

wow...a learning experience here for sure. Sorry to hear about Disney's selfcentered narrowmindedness...am I surpised?? That they have the power to nix a transportation project of that size is, well, disappointing and disturbing amongst other things
I love going there, I just bought time share, but I do believe that the original vision of Walt Disney, some of the values, have been lost in the quest for the dollar. No wonder Roy resigned.

 

[yitbos96bb]

wow...a learning experience here for sure. Sorry to hear about Disney's selfcentered narrowmindedness...am I surpised?? That they have the power to nix a transportation project of that size is, well, disappointing and disturbing amongst other things
I love going there, I just bought time share, but I do believe that the original vision of Walt Disney, some of the values, have been lost in the quest for the dollar. No wonder Roy resigned.

Um you do realize this thread was last posted too in Sept 2008. Since that time Disney has done a 180 and is supporting the project to my understanding. They have donated land for their stop on the train as well.

You may want to check the previous post dates before posting as the info may be irrelevant...such as threads complaining about the age of star tours or hoping they build a contemporAry DVC.

 

[margitmouse]

I stand sufficiently scolded!

thanks for the info, however ..........
ah, another thread!

 

[margitmouse]

I stand sufficiently scolded!

thanks for the info, however ..........
ah, another thread!

 

[yitbos96bb]

I stand sufficiently scolded!

thanks for the info, however ..........
ah, another thread!

Sorry, was not my intention to scold... just didn't want you to waste time on a dead thread.

Actually, I went and looked up a little more on this...

So here is the deal...

There are two projects... one is the High Speed Rail project that connects Orlando Airport (MCO) to Tampa. Disney will have a stop and from what i understand there will be a stop near Sea World and Universal and the COnvention Center (how close I don't know, but it sounds like the DIsney stop is right on property). Eventually the line will run from MCO to Miami on one of two proposed routes (personally, I like the one that goes to COcoa and then down the coast), in phase 2. This is being paid for by a combination of state, local, and federal money, not sure if there is private money as well (much like was seen with Millineum Park in Chicago which blended public and private funds).
The second project is Sunrail, which connects to Downtown Orlando and hits a lot of the suburbs.

Stupidly, these don't connect. However, a private company is offering to build a connecting line with $0 tax payer dollars and will run the train. They only ask for free land to do it from the City. This was proposed at the end of March, 2010.

Potentially, with the High speed rail system opening in 2015, we could see Magical Express go away completely, or they may run it... originally, DIsney said if they built the High Speed Rail along the other proposed path (that would cut out Universal and SeaWorld,) then they would end Magical Express, but would continue it (and canibalize business on the train) if they picked the current path. However, they dropped that stipulation, so we'll see what happens. I'm guessing they can send people on the train cheaper than busing OR they will just end it altogether and not include transportation since the train is going to happen either way.

The stimulus package gave 1.2 billion or so to the project and Florida was one of the three highest beneficiaries of the HIgh Speed Rails part of the Stimulus along with the Chicago Hub project (a multistate high speed rail with a hub in Chicago, much like the 30's and 40's) and California.

 

[margitmouse]

Double wow! Thanks, i find this really exciting
How did you find all this info?
I'll have to branch out further than the DIS sometime huh!

 

[yitbos96bb]

Double wow! Thanks, i find this really exciting
How did you find all this info?
I'll have to branch out further than the DIS sometime huh!

http://www.wftv.com/news/22783479/detail.html - this is on the private connector line.

Google sunrail and florida high speed rail and you'll find tons... Do each separately.

Enjoy, it's interesting reading. Start with wiki and the two project websites

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another post)
I kinda think that if DME is replaced by a high speed train to a station near or even on WDW property, then the travel time from resort to airport will be greater.

And how would Disney arrange things when before 5 in the morning or after 8 at night the wait for a train would be longer?

DME as it is now is (using a transportation industry term) a one seat ride. Using a train would mean making a transfer from a "local" Disney resort bus.

Although I can see a fee for DME, I expect there would be a maximum fee per room.

 

[yitbos96bb]

(copied from another post)
I kinda think that if DME is replaced by a high speed train to a station near or even on WDW property, then the travel time from resort to airport will be greater.

And how would Disney arrange things when before 5 in the morning or after 8 at night the wait for a train would be longer?

DME as it is now is (using a transportation industry term) a one seat ride. Using a train would mean making a transfer from a "local" Disney resort bus.

Although I can see a fee for DME, I expect there would be a maximum fee per room.

I don't know... I don't necessarily agree it will take longer. I mean it takes about 45 min to an hour on ME between waiting, resort stops, etc. The high speed train will run at over 100 mph. There would be just 1 or 2 stops before Disney. So even with the transfers at worst it will be break even.

 

[Lewisc]

DME is free. A direct bus between MCO and our resort.

High speed train means paying for the train trip between MCO and the WDW station. We'll then have to wait at the WDW stop for a bus to our resort. How long is the distance between MCO and WDW? Maybe 20 miles? The train won't be going at 100MPH for much (probably none) of the trip.

We'll have to go from the terminal to the train station. Wait for the next train. Wait for a bus at WDW. The total time savings will be minimal, if any.

 

[yitbos96bb]

DME is free. A direct bus between MCO and our resort.

High speed train means paying for the train trip between MCO and the WDW station. We'll then have to wait at the WDW stop for a bus to our resort. How long is the distance between MCO and WDW? Maybe 20 miles? The train won't be going at 100MPH for much (probably none) of the trip.

We'll have to go from the terminal to the train station. Wait for the next train. Wait for a bus at WDW. The total time savings will be minimal, if any.

1). There are 1-2 stops betweenMCO and Disney. The travel time put forth by the commission for the project was 21 min including stops. Travel time between MCO and Disney by bus is est. At 36 min. This doesn't include multiple stops at multiple resorts or bus wait time. I had to wait 45 min before boarding the bus.

2). You missed the point. There is a good chance DME goes away when this is built. Disney might give free tickets for onsite but either way, it makes too much sense for them to end DME. Even if they pay for the ticket, it would be cheaper than DME.


Under the current setup, I'd take DME too... Most likely it will be faster or the same time to take the train, but free is free. However, if both cost the same
I'd take the train as it will at worst take the same time and at best faster. Either way my feeling is DME will be gone.

 

[Lewisc]

Sorry I didn't word my post better. Disney is currently using DME to refer to three different services. Transport guests via bus between WDW and MCO. Transport luggage from MCO to WDW. RAC for luggage and to provide BPs.

IF the train is built DME would probably no longer provide bus service between MCO and WDW. I suspect the train wouldn't be free. Having to charge for the train might allow Disney to charge for the service.

I don't think DME would go away. It might still handle luggage. Still offer RAC. DME would provide bus service between the resorts and the train stop instead of MCO.

1). There are 1-2 stops betweenMCO and Disney. The travel time put forth by the commission for the project was 21 min including stops. Travel time between MCO and Disney by bus is est. At 36 min. This doesn't include multiple stops at multiple resorts or bus wait time. I had to wait 45 min before boarding the bus.

2). You missed the point. There is a good chance DME goes away when this is built. Disney might give free tickets for onsite but either way, it makes too much sense for them to end DME. Even if they pay for the ticket, it would be cheaper than DME.


Under the current setup, I'd take DME too... Most likely it will be faster or the same time to take the train, but free is free. However, if both cost the same
I'd take the train as it will at worst take the same time and at best faster. Either way my feeling is DME will be gone.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Sorry I didn't word my post better. Disney is currently using DME to refer to three different services. Transport guests via bus between WDW and MCO. Transport luggage from MCO to WDW. RAC for luggage and to provide BPs.

IF the train is built DME would probably no longer provide bus service between MCO and WDW. I suspect the train wouldn't be free. Having to charge for the train might allow Disney to charge for the service.

I don't think DME would go away. It might still handle luggage. Still offer RAC. DME would provide bus service between the resorts and the train stop instead of MCO.

Possibly... I would love the ability for luggage to still go to the resorts. I'm not sure it would be used fro. The train stop... Why pay meats when you have your own on property buses? But I guess it wouldn't go away completely until phase two starts and a line goes to port canaverall.

It's not an if it gets built it's a when. The Feds have given 1.2 billion to the project and the state kicked in. It enjoys political support on both sides so little chance the new governor kills it and the big businesses in the area are lining up in favor. It's still 5 years away minimum though. So DME isn't going anywhere hopefully for at least that time. But I can easily see Disney modify Dme to get rid of mears or do away with it to save money when the train is built... I prefer modification to doing away...

 

[Lewisc]

Some guests get their checked luggage. Many guests have large carryon bags that go in the overhead bins. Disney would need buses that can accomodate luggage. No idea if Disney would contract with Mears or use Disney CMs. Either way I doubt they'd use the same buses they use to transport guests to the parks.

 

[skiingfast]

The more I think about this the more I feel DME will go.

I think the trains from MCO will be more frequent and handle more people at once than buses.
Disney will be able to cut out Mears.
The resort prices won't go down. They never do.
It will be faster than waiting for a bus on each end and taking the slow bus to the airport.

I think the only drawback is it won't have Mickey on the cars or the promotional video inside.

 

[Lewisc]

Replacing Mears with a whatever company is in charge of the rail service doesn't necessarily benefit Disney.

DME buses typically leave with 20-30 guests. A train won't be leaving with only 20 passengers. DME buses typically leave every 15-20 minutes. Train service might be hourly. Maybe every 30 minutes. Does anyone really think it will be more frequent? Guests will still be waiting for a bus to take them between the train station and their resort.

Buses are typically less expensive then trains. Experts are quoted as saying Disney will continue to run DME.

The more I think about this the more I feel DME will go.

I think the trains from MCO will be more frequent and handle more people at once than buses.
Disney will be able to cut out Mears.
The resort prices won't go down. They never do.
It will be faster than waiting for a bus on each end and taking the slow bus to the airport.

I think the only drawback is it won't have Mickey on the cars or the promotional video inside.

 

[skiingfast]

Replacing Mears with a whatever company is in charge of the rail service doesn't necessarily benefit Disney.

DME buses typically leave with 20-30 guests. A train won't be leaving with only 20 passengers. DME buses typically leave every 15-20 minutes. Train service might be hourly. Maybe every 30 minutes. Does anyone really think it will be more frequent? Guests will still be waiting for a bus to take them between the train station and their resort.

Buses are typically less expensive then trains. Experts are quoted as saying Disney will continue to run DME.

From MCO buses leave going to 3 of 20 resorts every 15-20 minutes. Which means they are leaving to each resort every hour?

There are far more accounts of guest waitng 30 minutes plus to leave on DME than in 15 minutes.

The benefit will also be in leaving. Conservativly if it takes 30 mitutes to get on the train and 15 minutes to get to the airport. This is much quicker than ME picking up guest 3 hours before their departure.

Yes I think trains will be more frequent than hourly. Compared to the northeast corridor which has 3 to 4 trains an hour. That's every 15-20 minutes for trains.

Plus it is projected the line will handle the passengers from 27,000 vehicles that are currently on the road. This is 10% of the durrent I-4 traffic. If the eastern commuter train are only seating 300 passengers it will take at least 90 trains per day. 90 trains/ 24 hours per day is 3.75. Again that's about 3 to 4 trains per hour or a train every 15-20 minutes.

Knowing that the train will arrive on a consistent schedule it could be possible to have a bus waiting for each resort when the train pulls in.

Trains tend to offer a higher level of service and be faster than buses adding to the cost of using one.

Experts have stated that if high speed rail is built with a station at WDW DME will be modified.

 

[Lewisc]

I won't take the time to correct the previous post. Much of the information is untrue. The rest of the information is speculative.

I'll meet the poster halfway. Correct as much of your post as you can and I'll do the rest.