Monorail extension setback ... Bullet Train Announced!

[RobDoc]

A FL state panel voted today that the proposed bullet train across central Florida will run directly to the Walt Disney World resort from Orlando International Airport, bypassing the taxpayer-funded Orange County Convention Center en route to Tampa.

Here is a <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-florida-bullet-train,0,4061342.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines">more detailed report</a> on the $2.5 Billion project.

Enjoy!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

"...high-speed rail has been decried as a boondoggle by Gov. Jeb Bush and many legislators...,"
Interesting, I wonder why they think that.

 

[zulaya]

Interesting...I'll be watching to see how this unfolds.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Doc; Thanks for that interesting bit of news. I wonder if politics has to do with the bypassing the convention center and the opposition of Jeb Bush?

HBC

 

[RobDoc]

Politics ... in Florida ... ??? ...

I think the direct-to-WDW route was a huge coup for Disney and a public slap for USF/Convention Center/etc- even though it's really tough to disagree with the economics of the situation in the final analysis. Besides the huge number of potential riders to WDW, the "donation" of 50 acres for the train station (... think- 2nd TTC for WDW) had to also be an additional incentive for the project to be decided as it apparently has.

If this comes to fruition, I expect that we won't see monorail expansion, but may see light rail type of transport within WDW.

Stay Tuned!


.02

 

[fkj2]

Could this eventually cost a lot of jobs in tourism? Not to mention the drop in potential car rentals from the airports.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

A FL state panel voted today

Maybe they voted by punch card and didn't really vote for what they thought they did. Supreme Court here we come!!!!

Politics ... in Florida ... ??? ...

Never. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding.

HBC

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by fkj2
Could this eventually cost a lot of jobs in tourism? Not to mention the drop in potential car rentals from the airports.

Something tells me Mears isn't thrilled with this possibility.

 

[Caskbill]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
If this comes to fruition, I expect that we won't see monorail expansion, but may see light rail type of transport within WDW.

This seems likely since the station will be east of WDW, there'll still be a need to get guests from the station to their respective resorts. A light rail makes more sense than running a lot more busses and would probably be cheaper in the long run to operate, especially if the light rail could connect outlying WDW resorts with the monorail or some of the parks.

It seems this would also make it possible to run a light rail from the new station, north, to the convention center still. Basically the new station then becomes a hub for convention attendees as well as WDW guests.

Time will tell.

 

[disneyberry]

just in case anyone is interested, there are some good links to other articles + websites about this on a thread on the Transportation Board.

click here to look at the thread: Florida High-Speed Rail -- MCO to WDW

 

[JimC]

Here is link to the project's web site. Pretty ambitious, but the funding is not yet there.


http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/

 

[Beth]

I voted against this train - and I still don't agree with it..

But just as many of you have pointed out that it may <i>hurt</i> businesses like Mears and Tiffany Town Service, I suspect it may be a "boost" to us over here in Tampa. Many have described on these boards in the past how they chose to fly into TIA because of the better rates - think of it now with the added convenience of the train directly to WDW.

As you said - time will tell...

 

[slc224]

I don't know about everyone else, but I for one think it would be a major pain to first catch the bullet train (carrying luggage), transfer to a 'light rail' (carrying luggage), transferring to the TTC to either the monorail or a bus (carrying luggage), then finally making it to OKW. This will make a 20-25 minute ride on Mears or limo service (front door dropoff) probably more like 90 minutes. When it's time to go home, just reverse this process.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I don't know about everyone else, but I for one think it would be a major pain to first catch the bullet train (carrying luggage), transfer to a 'light rail' (carrying luggage), transferring to the TTC to either the monorail or a bus (carrying luggage), then finally making it to OKW.

I feel the same way. Will guests have to cart all their own luggage from the train to the bus (or light rail) that takes you directly to your resort or will this be a service provided by WDW such as when you have a flight connection and all luggage is automatically transferred ? I suppose we'll have to follow this story for awhile to see how it unfolds.....
Thanks for the link Doc.

 

[zulaya]

I like this concept, but I am wondering what other modes of transportation will be available at what we seem ot be calling TTC 2.

I am one of those people who likes to be in control of my life at all times. So I need a rental car because there will be times I want to drive to the parks. So if this happens, I'd consider taking the train from the airport to TTC2 IF I can get myself a rental car in that vicinity.

 

[beattyfamily]

Reading this gives me flash backs to our trip to Paris. My DH thought it would be just great to take the train from the airport directly into Paris. Well, it was a nightmare as we have 2 young DDs and luggage and a stroller and it was a long walk to the train in the airport (completely on the opposite side of where we landed). Then the train ride with our luggage and then walking around Paris looking for our hotel with all our luggage and our DD's!!

It is only good for those with very little luggage. Unless they have something special in mind for our luggage situation and how we'll get from the train station to our resorts, we'll still be renting cars.

 

[MikeBW]

This is for Rich.

What do you think will take longer?

1) bullet train from MCO to WDW

or

2) walk from the BW front desk to your BWV room

 

[DisneyKidds]

Disney made Orlando what it is.................so it's no surprise they won the Beeline Expressway battle. The juggernaut moves on, but it will be interesting to see how it plays out and gets implemented.

As for renting a car, which we always do, I don't see that this will change that. For us, renting a car is more about being able to get around within WDW than it is about getting there from the airport. Unless this train leads to some new, efficient transportation system with WDW then we'll still get that car.

Reading this gives me flash backs to our trip to Paris. My DH thought it would be just great to take the train from the airport directly into Paris. Well, it was a nightmare as we have 2 young DDs and luggage and a stroller and it was a long walk to the train in the airport (completely on the opposite side of where we landed). Then the train ride with our luggage and then walking around Paris looking for our hotel with all our luggage and our DD's!!

Beatty..............if you have any sage advice on navigating Paris shoot me a PM. We're heading to Paris/DLP next summer for a few days with our kids (ages 5, 3, 1) and I've read some about the transportation options from the airport. I think I'm leaning towards taking the Disney shuttle from the airport to DLP (as opposed to a train/high speed train option). From your post I assume you'd agree?

 

[KNWVIKING]

By passing the Convention Center was a result of Disney threatening to provide courtesy transportation to WDW from the airport as part of all bookings. without those 2.2 million WDW guests riding the train, it would have been a big bust.

I don't think I would worry too much just yet about the baggage issue. I'm sure Disney will figure out an effective way to transport everyone and everything as painlessly as possible.

As for the rental industry: There are a couple things to consider. First, people using Mears aren't renting cars anyway, so they have no affect. Second, some people factored in the cost of Mears against the cost of a rental. Depending on the size of the family it is sometimes cheaperto rent. Based on a suspected cost of $25.00 per person to ride the train, it may still be benificial to rent a car. Third, if I were Alamo/National I would try to get a rental agency set up right at the WDW train station. People may love the convienance and the price for the rental would be lower because there would be no airport fees. While the airport location may lose some biz, the train station local may more then make up for it.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by DisneyKidds
Beatty..............if you have any sage advice on navigating Paris shoot me a PM. We're heading to Paris/DLP next summer for a few days with our kids (ages 5, 3, 1) and I've read some about the transportation options from the airport. I think I'm leaning towards taking the Disney shuttle from the airport to DLP (as opposed to a train/high speed train option). From your post I assume you'd agree?

Well, we were going to Paris first and it was a pain finding the train and then walking in Paris to find our hotel...but you are going to DLP and depending on how much luggage you have it might be worth looking into the train. It arrives right at the entrance to DLP. Then you must walk from the train station to your hotel and depending on which hotel you are staying at I guess it could be a long walk?

I don't know anything about the shuttle but the good thing about that would be storing away your luggage and having a relaxing trip but where does it drop you off? At the train station or at your hotel??

Will you be visiting Paris at all? Our DD's were 2 and 5 at the time we went. Our 2 year old LOVED the trains. PM if you have any more questions!