Brightline train service to Walt Disney World via station at Disney Springs appears to be cancelled

Jun 28, 2022 in "Disney Springs"

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Brightline Disney Springs route

Posted: Tuesday June 28, 2022 10:26am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Brightline's rail service to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World appears to be cancelled as a result of changes to the track routing.

Disney spokesperson Avery Maehrer told Orlando Business Journal, "As many people who are involved in this project are aware, the new route configuration does not support a Disney Springs station and as a result, we don’t anticipate being part of this project."

The cancellation of the project should come as no surprise, as rail service to Walt Disney World has been discussed for decades and plans never come to fruition.

Brightline and Walt Disney World Resort announced in late 2020 that they had entered into an agreement to bring Brightline train service to Disney Springs.

Disney Springs overview

The service was to link Walt Disney World and Brightline stations at Orlando International Airport, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Brightline Disney Springs route

The design concept for the proposed station at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort included a lobby on the ground level, passenger facilities and an upper level train platform.

At the time of the original announcement, Jeff Vahle president of Walt Disney World Resort said, “We’re excited to work with Brightline as they pursue the potential development of a train station at Walt Disney World Resort, a project that would support our local economy and offer a bold, forward-looking transportation solution for our community and guests.”

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Andrew252 hours ago

Businesses need to grow in order to satisfy investors/creditors, they certainly would like to expand into Tampa if they believe it makes sense financially.

TrainsOfDisney2 hours ago

I don’t know if I’d call 2 million riders a year a “niche” product. And that’s of course growing. Why do you think it’s not? Businesses expand all the time. Adding Tampa and then Jacksonville has always been part of the business plan.

JMcMahonEsq3 hours ago

The flat earther line wasn't meant as a shot at people who want the train line or not. It was more just as a exaggerated statement that there are niche markets that can served for almost anything, but that just because there are "some" people that would use/want something, doesn't mean its a big enough market to invest in servicing. If it came across that i was relating pro tampa/MCO train route people to flat eathers that wasn't the intention. While I haven't seen the studies that were done, I just don't know how much the demand/use for the Miami/Orlando leg can be used/translates to demand for a east/west spur between Tampa and Orlando. Its not a knock against Brightline the company, it seems like they are doing well both in marketing and implementation for the Miami/Orlando route. But that almost goes to my point, is the the expansion worth the risk, and is the ROI high enough to justify the risk, when the current route is finically doing well, assuming it is.

Twirlnhurl18 hours ago

Does Disney get grant money for Disney Transport? I don't think they do. (Not saying they never would, I just don't think that it is a part of their current business model.) Lynx gets grant money to operate, including operating bus likes that serve WDW from outside, but that serves a tiny fraction of the population that is served by Disney Transport.

TrainsOfDisney18 hours ago

Right…. Infrastructure. Like… public transit!

Twirlnhurl18 hours ago

I don't think Disney has received many grants for their theme park stuff. I'm sure that they've had some research grants at Living with the Land and stuff like that, but that is very limited. Maybe they got some grant money for low cost housing and for clean energy busses? The primary government benefit that Disney gets at WDW is access to municipal bonds for infrastructure through RCID/CFTOD. The only way delivery services could reduce the number of cars on the road is if they are able to trip chain (deliver to multiple houses on a single trip) enough to offset the induced demand for the product. So if 5% of the grocery deliveries only exist because of the presence of the delivery service, and 6% of grocery deliveries are delivered by drivers who deliver to two houses instead of one house, you would reduce the number of cars on the road by 1%. More factors go into it, though. And I think the literature mostly shows very modest reductions in traffic system wide, but it is contingent on a bunch of variables.

Rich Brownn20 hours ago

Believe it or not, not all Florida tourists have kids. Nor is everyone traveling to Tampa a tourist.

Disstevefan122 hours ago

I argue there are more cars on the road. In the old days, before these services, we planned when we ran errands. and the delivery folks were not on the roads. I KNOW I use these services to get stuff delivered WAY MORE times than I would have gotten in my car to do the same task.

GhostHost100022 hours ago

don't worry...no doubt they'd charge for it. I'm surprised we don't have to drop a quarter in a bucket at the front of the bus when we get on yet

Disstevefan122 hours ago

That will cost only 1 zillion dollars.

Lilofan22 hours ago

Less cars on the road since some including my own family don't even bother getting in their car to run most errands and or going to other stores. Let someone else do it for us and come to poppa .

King Racoon 7722 hours ago

I'm sure the footers are in place already. Also Zootropolis confirmed for galaxy's edge.

GhostHost100022 hours ago

Let's start a rumor Disney is expanding the monorail to MCO

HauntedPirate22 hours ago

Right, because every person on a train or bus is at least half a car off the road (thinking of carpools, etc.). I think we're on the same page here. :)