GOAA's chairman said 'mistakes' were made when the board approved of Magical Express.
Beth Kassab
Orlando Sentinel
December 15, 2005
The chairman of the board that governs Orlando International Airport said Wednesday that the airport made "mistakes" when it agreed to support Disney's Magical Express.
Jeffry Fuqua, chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said the airport should have required Walt Disney World to operate the free shuttle and baggage service from both sides of the terminal instead of one. The airport also should have limited how many people could ride the service during the 18-month pilot period that began in May, he said.
"Yes, we made some mistakes," Fuqua said. "Pilot means pilot. It [Magical Express] should have been capped."
The comments came after months of criticism from other ground transportation companies at the airport that say their businesses have been damaged by Magical Express' success. The free Disney shuttle averages about 10,000 people each day, according to Disney figures.
On Wednesday, the airport board voted to revise some of the rules for ground transportation companies, including changes that some board members indicated could be unfair to Disney.
The new rules say that Disney cannot post "greeters" on the second level of the airport, where most transportation companies meet their customers near baggage claim. Instead, the rules say, Mears Transportation Group -- the company that operates the shuttle for Disney -- can post its employees there to meet Magical Express riders.
"To say to them [Disney] you can't have your two employees there, but you can have two employees of the company you hired to do this work, is really splitting hairs in my mind," said board member and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty.
The new rules create a new category of ground transportation companies called "resort transportation service." Only Disney currently meets the definition of that new category.
But, Fuqua said, it won't be long before more companies begin to follow Disney's lead. Already two more groups, including Universal Orlando, have expressed interest in creating a baggage and shuttle service.
Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said the company does feel "singled out" and would prefer a Disney employee greet its guests, but it "will follow the rules" as discussions continue on the future of the program.
Disney and airport officials negotiated for months before signing an agreement a year ago to launch an 18-month pilot program.
In November, airport officials stopped Disney from posting employees on the main level of the terminal because no other transportation companies were allowed to welcome passengers there. It also prohibited Disney from letting travelers who had not pre-booked a reservation from riding Magical Express, because the airport has a policy against soliciting customers in the terminal.
According to a Disney analysis, the program has so far provided a net revenue increase of $1.6 million compared with 2004 and is helping to increase the capacity at the airport by moving passengers and bags efficiently.
On the flip side, other ground transportation companies say they were given no warning of the vast changes Magical Express would bring when it began seven months ago.
"Disney is taking a majority of the traffic at the airport," said Hesam Sahraian, operations manager for L&M Car Rental. "The small businesses count on walk-up business and that has basically disappeared."
Still, board members said change was inevitable and planned a more detailed review of the impact of Magical Express by February.
"It's important as far as I'm concerned to understand that we're going into a new era and we have to change the way we're doing things to move forward," board member Jeanne Van Meter said.
Beth Kassab
Orlando Sentinel
December 15, 2005
The chairman of the board that governs Orlando International Airport said Wednesday that the airport made "mistakes" when it agreed to support Disney's Magical Express.
Jeffry Fuqua, chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said the airport should have required Walt Disney World to operate the free shuttle and baggage service from both sides of the terminal instead of one. The airport also should have limited how many people could ride the service during the 18-month pilot period that began in May, he said.
"Yes, we made some mistakes," Fuqua said. "Pilot means pilot. It [Magical Express] should have been capped."
The comments came after months of criticism from other ground transportation companies at the airport that say their businesses have been damaged by Magical Express' success. The free Disney shuttle averages about 10,000 people each day, according to Disney figures.
On Wednesday, the airport board voted to revise some of the rules for ground transportation companies, including changes that some board members indicated could be unfair to Disney.
The new rules say that Disney cannot post "greeters" on the second level of the airport, where most transportation companies meet their customers near baggage claim. Instead, the rules say, Mears Transportation Group -- the company that operates the shuttle for Disney -- can post its employees there to meet Magical Express riders.
"To say to them [Disney] you can't have your two employees there, but you can have two employees of the company you hired to do this work, is really splitting hairs in my mind," said board member and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty.
The new rules create a new category of ground transportation companies called "resort transportation service." Only Disney currently meets the definition of that new category.
But, Fuqua said, it won't be long before more companies begin to follow Disney's lead. Already two more groups, including Universal Orlando, have expressed interest in creating a baggage and shuttle service.
Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said the company does feel "singled out" and would prefer a Disney employee greet its guests, but it "will follow the rules" as discussions continue on the future of the program.
Disney and airport officials negotiated for months before signing an agreement a year ago to launch an 18-month pilot program.
In November, airport officials stopped Disney from posting employees on the main level of the terminal because no other transportation companies were allowed to welcome passengers there. It also prohibited Disney from letting travelers who had not pre-booked a reservation from riding Magical Express, because the airport has a policy against soliciting customers in the terminal.
According to a Disney analysis, the program has so far provided a net revenue increase of $1.6 million compared with 2004 and is helping to increase the capacity at the airport by moving passengers and bags efficiently.
On the flip side, other ground transportation companies say they were given no warning of the vast changes Magical Express would bring when it began seven months ago.
"Disney is taking a majority of the traffic at the airport," said Hesam Sahraian, operations manager for L&M Car Rental. "The small businesses count on walk-up business and that has basically disappeared."
Still, board members said change was inevitable and planned a more detailed review of the impact of Magical Express by February.
"It's important as far as I'm concerned to understand that we're going into a new era and we have to change the way we're doing things to move forward," board member Jeanne Van Meter said.