Magical Express - Money Express?

[seashoreCM]

Does anyone have an idea or a map of the proposed location of the Disney train station?

A primary divider in the WDW area is the I-4 and Irlo Bronson (192) interchange. The main portion of the World, all theme parks and resorts and Downtown Disney -- is in the northwest quadrant (which includes a lot of due north). Celebration is in the southeast quadrant. Disney owns some land to the southwest.

Both Disney and the regional planning agency needs to size up and balance the use of the station as a "public" parking and commuting facility versus a Disney transportation hub i.e. a TTC II. The exact location will influence that balance in a defacto manner.

As a parking area will be needed for commuter use, the most likely on-site location would in the Wide World of Sports area, where a reasonable expanse of unused land is still available.

 

[skiingfast]

The proposals for the High speed line include that most of the track is planned for the center area of I-4.

I have seen a map though it was not very detailed. This map refered to a Celebration/WDW station. Because of the map it did not show were the station was located relative to other land marks in WDW.

I also think a stop near DTD would work well since that parking area is used more at night than during the day.

 

[Lewisc]

The high speed train is projected to have a station at Disney/Celebration, at MCO and near the convention center. It's not clear how many commuters will be taking the train. A parking garage is always an option.

The exact site hasn't been announced, I don't think it's been decided.

"Experts" quoted in various articles suggest Disney may keep DME as is. Trains generally cost more then bus. It's likely total time between MCO and resorts will be longer with the train then with DME.

A PP suggests the train is anticpating attracting 10% of the total traffic on I4. I hope he mis-read the article, that's a pie in the sky number.

 

[skiingfast]

A PP suggests the train is anticpating attracting 10% of the total traffic on I4. I hope he mis-read the article, that's a pie in the sky number.

I did not misread the article. The 10% estimate is what the DOT anticipates.

 

[Lewisc]

I did not misread the article. The 10% estimate is what the DOT anticipates.

I didn't think you made up the number, but it sounds like a number that was manufactured in an attempt to make the numbers work. Do you have a link? I'd like to read the footnotes.

The initial train will be going from Tampa to Orlando. Anyone with a destination other then Orlando will drive. That includes people driving North. People driving to the KSC/Port Canaveral. People driving S of Orlando.

People staying offsite are likely to want their car. Famlies will probably find driving is less expensive then taking the train.

People take the train into NYC (Manhattan). People who drive have to pay tolls, parking ($30-$50 during the week) and horrible traffic. Any statistics derived from the NY area aren't applicable to Florida.

 

[skiingfast]

I didn't think you made up the number, but it sounds like a number that was manufactured in an attempt to make the numbers work. Do you have a link? I'd like to read the footnotes.

I do not have a link. I read this from paper not the internet. The article only states the numbers are from the DOT.

 

[akcire]

I am not going to get into the bus/train debate, because frankly whichever is available will be fine with me (and for times it is not I will rent a car).

However here is a BIG advantage the train could have for Disney if done correctly. If the train is totally ADA accessible, or for lack of a better explanation "roll on ready", it could save a huge amount of time. Currently none of the Disney transportation is accessible without human interaction, either a driver needs to modify the bus for boarding wheelchair/scooters or like on the monorail the station attendant need to place a ramp.

If the train from the airport could be at the same level as the platform a person in a rolling conveyance would be able to board independently, this would additionally facilitate the easy movement of luggage.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I am not going to get into the bus/train debate, because frankly whichever is available will be fine with me (and for times it is not I will rent a car).

However here is a BIG advantage the train could have for Disney if done correctly. If the train is totally ADA accessible, or for lack of a better explanation "roll on ready", it could save a huge amount of time. Currently none of the Disney transportation is accessible without human interaction, either a driver needs to modify the bus for boarding wheelchair/scooters or like on the monorail the station attendant need to place a ramp.

If the train from the airport could be at the same level as the platform a person in a rolling conveyance would be able to board independently, this would additionally facilitate the easy movement of luggage.

Like the airport monorail.

You're from Naperville? I grew up there and live in Aurora now.

 

[skiingfast]

However here is a BIG advantage the train could have for Disney if done correctly. If the train is totally ADA accessible, or for lack of a better explanation "roll on ready", it could save a huge amount of time. Currently none of the Disney transportation is accessible without human interaction, either a driver needs to modify the bus for boarding wheelchair/scooters or like on the monorail the station attendant need to place a ramp.
.

Do you know if this is the case at the GF, as well? It was built just before the ADA act of 1990 but I wonder if Disney used forsite in the design. Does the GF monorail station require the ramps like the Poly and CR?

 

[FireDancer]

I am not going to get into the bus/train debate, because frankly whichever is available will be fine with me (and for times it is not I will rent a car).

However here is a BIG advantage the train could have for Disney if done correctly. If the train is totally ADA accessible, or for lack of a better explanation "roll on ready", it could save a huge amount of time. Currently none of the Disney transportation is accessible without human interaction, either a driver needs to modify the bus for boarding wheelchair/scooters or like on the monorail the station attendant need to place a ramp.

If the train from the airport could be at the same level as the platform a person in a rolling conveyance would be able to board independently, this would additionally facilitate the easy movement of luggage.

I don't know how big of an advantage that really is. It is nice if you need it but I have ridden ME 3 times and have never seen anyone using a wheelchair or scooter get on the bus. Taking the 10,000 foot view I'm not sure it is that big of a financial advantage (the only one that really matters) to Disney to save the time, especially since the buses sit at the airport for a long enough duration of time for them to allow those that need it to board with assistance.

Going back to the original post, I don't see Disney charging directly for ME. The perception of it being free, which we all know it isn't, is a big advantage. While many of the people saying they would take a car instead of pay $45 would probably do the math and reconsider there would be enough people out there who would forgo ME and it would defeat the ultimate purpose of ME. It isn't to give you any convenience, it is to keep you on property. If it were $45 for a round trip I would probably still use it. I almost always go solo so renting a car and paying for gas would cost me a lot more then $45.

As for the train, even if it does happen it is a public works project. It will come in years late and millions over budget because that is what happens. I don't think that the train would negate the need for buses, it would just offset the number of them. Look at Washington DC. They have a great metro system but sill have buses. If there was a single stop for Disney on the train line there would still have to be a mechanism to get everyone from that central stop to the resorts, and it would be buses. They aren't going to build track to each and every resort hotel and park.

 

[akcire]

I don't know how big of an advantage that really is. It is nice if you need it but I have ridden ME 3 times and have never seen anyone using a wheelchair or scooter get on the bus. Taking the 10,000 foot view I'm not sure it is that big of a financial advantage (the only one that really matters) to Disney to save the time, especially since the buses sit at the airport for a long enough duration of time for them to allow those that need it to board with assistance.

The advantages to Disney come on two fronts. First the fact that the guest is able to convey themselves on their own accord----this limits Disney's liability. Every interaction with a guest that requires additional cast member assistance has the possibility of an accident. Not likely but possible. It is also more likely that a cast member will incur an injury to themselves (moving ramp, moving people in wheelchairs, etc).

The second advantage is time. Anyone who has waited for any Disney bus to load a wheelchair or scooter will attest to the time involved. For Disney this could mean that instead of having buses 10 minutes apart, they have two arrive at the same time--generating additional wait times at the arrival destination (and screwing up the bus route timing). Disney is one of the best companies for scheduling their manpower and controlling lines to enhance guest satisfaction. If they can avoid their employees involvement in the loading of "wheeled" occupants (since this would help stroller riders, in addition to wheelchairs, and scooters) they can maintain a more accurate schedule.

These would just be additional advantages, plus trains are cool.

 

[Lewisc]

Guests in a wheel chair will still need to board a bus for the bus trip from the Disney rail station to their resort.

Rail has the "cool" factor. The reality a combinatiion rail/bus trip from MCO to your resort will probably take as long (or longer) as DME.

The rail route is going to go North from the airport to a stop near I Drive and the Convention Center. It will then go S, along I4 to the Disney station. Projected train time from MCO to WDW is around 22 minutes.