Rumor Higher Speed Rail from MCO to Disney World

[lazyboy97o]

Again, not unnecessary, this "red tape" is meant to make sure the project not only doesn't majorly disturb the little wildlife Central Florida has left, but also aims to make sure it doesn't cause harmful effects to humans like exacerbating flooding to nearby housing areas or disrupting travel flows down the line (which all have exponentially grown or changed in central florida since the first study). You cannot just say "red tape boohoo" without understanding why it is there. Every piece of research or review is there because it wasn't considered in a previous project, which led to negative effects. It's not like they're just adding hoops and barriers for fun when they do these projects.

These studies have been done multiple times already. Much of the proposed right of way was first mapped out over a decade ago for the Florida High Speed Rail project. Rights of way have even been reserved for years now by FDOT along the highways. You can go look at the Beyond Ultimate drawings and see them, including the turn from the Beachline to I-4.

A big part of why the Beachline route was to cost Brightline more than the FL-417 route is because it is so built up. It’s not cutting through undeveloped land.

The real icing on the cake is that there is already a rail connection between SunRail and the airport. The tracks are already there. They’re still in use and owned by the City of Orlando through the Orlando Utility Commission. A SunRail train could go to the airport today but it is being studied again.

 

[koc1723]

Which they also did when it was high-speed rail sponsored by the federal government. That project fell through in part because of universal's temper tantrum although that was not the nail in the coffin for the project.

However It does raise the question as to whether or not they really want do this? I suspect they don't. All they really want is to make sure there isn't a train that goes from the airport to Disney. It's okay if it goes to them first and then Disney but definitely not direct to Disney. Or no train at all is just fine and hence they put up A stance that seems like they support it when really they're putting up more obstacles than there are solutions. By design.

There will be people who say they will take the train. I bet if I got a survey or asked at MCO if I would take a train to Disney/Universal, of course I would answer yes, but that is not the full answer.
The big caveat is the time, convenience and price.
I recently got back from a WDW trip and MCO to our resort (Coronado Springs) was about $65 for a lyft. I was a party of 4, so about $30 roundtrip per person, not bad. It would need to compete in that range, but probably be cheaper since I was dropped off at my resort and even better very close to my room.
Convenience, any transfers from the train to buses needs to be fast and easy and not add to the cost. (could they do some luggage transfer option?)
When I traveled to London UK (pre-pandemic) and took the Heathrow Express it achieved most of these things, but I was without my family for that so my math would change for any trip to WDW.

If I have to stop at 9 stops before getting off the train to only transfer to bus with another 5-6 stops. No thank you (for many reasons but time is the greatest). They would need to consider express trains to Disney and Universal to make this work. It is why the CTA in Chicago was not a primary method to get to the loop from ORD, way too many stops.

This study needs the end to end journey in mind and Disney/Universal needs to involved to ensure it makes sense. I suspect any study done in the way described will not actually get to this level of detail, but maybe they will surprise me.