Today, a Disney spokesperson confirmed that plans for the Disney Springs Brightline Station have been canceled. The much-anticipated train station, that has been teased to Disney fans for the past few years, held the promise of a convenient way to get to Disney World from the Orlando airport. Now, we’re hearing reports of the Disney Springs station being scrapped according to an official statement released by Disney spokesperson, Avery Mather.
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.
Walt Disney World Spokesperson, Avery MatherBrightline’s New Route Through Downtown Orlando
This comes as a surprise to many, as Disney had been promoting the new station for some time now. The announcement comes off the heals of the recent adoption of a new route for Brightline through the Downtown Orlando area that promises to connect the Orlando International Airport with the Orlando Convention Center before extending all the way to Tampa within the right-of-way of the I-4 median and other existing transportation corridors.
The plan originally called for Brightline’s high-speed train to take a route that went south of Orlando near State Road 417, bypassing the Downtown Orlando area to the south and traveling directly to Walt Disney World before heading east on I-4, but that plan has been met with resistance recently.
Recently, Universal and other local area businesses, have joined forces to lobby for the new Downtown route that is being called the Sunshine Corridor. Universal has been in favor of this new Sunshine Corridor route, as it features a station at the Orange County Convention Center, which will be in close proximity to their new Epic Universe theme park.
Why Would Disney Cancel The Disney Springs Station?
As of June 1st, 2022, it was announced that Central Florida has received a grant award of up to $15,875,000 in federal funding from the United States Department of Transportation. The grant would go toward developing Central Florida’s Sunshine Corridor, and Brightline’s proposed Tampa to Orlando intercity passenger rail project. This federal grant money all but solidified the use of the Sunshine Corridor route, and made Disney’s preferred route along State Road 417 very unlikely to be used.
According to reports, it seems Disney has canceled its plans for the Disney Springs station due to the recent developments regarding the new route that will connect the airport directly to Disney’s competitors before passengers would reach the Disney Springs station. Now, Brightline’s exact route on its way to Tampa has once again become unclear.
What Are Your Thoughts?
What do you think of this Disney news? Are you disappointed that the Disney Springs Brightline station has been canceled? Let us know in the comments below! Stay tuned to the DVC Shop blog for all the latest developments in and around Walt Disney World, as well as Disney Vacation Club resorts.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
