A potential public transportation update that could have massive ramifications for Disney World and Universal Orlando just got a massive boost from the city of Orlando.
Disney Springs
Earlier this week, the Orlando City Council voted to approve $500,000 for a study on a potential expansion of the SunRail system to include stops at Orlando International Airport, the Universal Orlando Resort, the Orlando Convention Center, and Disney Springs.
The Orlando local government agreed to contribute $500,000 to the potential SunRail expansion study. However, a few other organizations and potentially private businesses will need to fund the study, as the Orlando Sentinel reported that it will cost $6 million. Once completed, the study could help sway the federal government to construct the Sunshine Corridor project.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the “two-year study is expected to dig into projected ridership of the expansion, maintenance and operation costs, environmental impacts, station locations and track alignments.”
©SunRail
The push for an expansion of the SunRail system comes at a time when traffic congestion is strangling the roads among many of Orlando’s attractions, including Disney World. Another massive FDOT project — an expansion of I-4 outside of Disney Springs — aimed at reducing this congestion just began construction this month.
However, even with that road expansion, many believe that a further public transportation infrastructure is the answer to these traffic issues. As Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer stated, “Certainly our traffic problems are only going to get worse if we don’t embrace transit,” per the Orlando Sentinel.
FDOT
Orlando had pledged $500,000 to a study that could bring more robust mass transit options to the Central Florida tourist capital, including stops at Disney and Universal. Stay tuned to DFB for more on this evolving infrastructure plan.
Destination: Disney World! Flying To and From Orlando International Airport (MCO)
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I still like to rent a car getting around disney. Their transportation is very slow. I guess I’m still a Californian 🤷
The Sunrail should extend & add a station at Ronald Reagan Pkwy near Lee Jackson pkwy. It’s a single track but it only used by Amtrak 4 times a day.
I just got back from Disney I am handicapped and used a scooter,all of the Disney Transportation was very fast and is Wheelchair/Scooter accessible,renting a car would be harder I think because you would have to park far away and walk to the different parks.
The only sucky part about a Disney springs stop is you’d still need to flag an Uber or Lyft to your hotel since you can’t bring your luggage onto the hotel buses there. May as well just use a Mears bus still since it at least gets you to the room. Or better yet, why not just bring back magical express…
Sounds interesting Oh, wait, Sunrail only runs on weekdays. If it starts running daily to Disney and Universal when we couldn’t get it to run downtown on weekends despite all the nightlife and sporting events downtown, expect a whole lot of people to be ticked off.