Disney gets its way for Florida bullet train

This is complete ... stuff. Yes, Disney may be the largest money source for the city of Orlando, but using taxpayer money on a train that bypasses not only the convention center, but the other parks too? The High Speed Rail Authority may have passed the bill on it, but I don't see it coming to fruition without some sort of litigation from either the Universal parks or the people who run that Convention Center.

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Brett
Resident Launch Whore

Yes, but here is the problem.

The hugely intelligent voters of Florida passed a Constitutional Amendment to push for this bullet train without having a clue as to what it would cost. You need only look around the country at proposed projects that have been cut due to lack of funding.

So now, we are obligated to build this boondoggle and, of course, the taxpayers want it but don't want to have to pay for it. Nice how that works, huh?

So, the legislature must find a way to meet the demands of the Amendment without bankrupting the State. One way to get that done to to bow to the pressures of Disney and get at least one significant source of revenue for this disaster waiting to happen.

If the entire line ever gets built (Miami to Tampa via Orlando) I would be willing to bet that 1/2 to 3/4 of all future riders will be riding ONLY the Orlando airport to Disney segment anyway.

If I was a Florida, I'd be pissed, not only that Disney got their way for corporate welfare, but at the voters who passed this ridiculous amendment in the first place. Who the hell passes a constitutional amendment to build a train? Florida and their goddamn hanging chads!

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

this is the way to go to keep Disney on top. Bullet trains have been used in Japan and Advanced European countries for years. This will Propell Disney to the front of the line ... As always and Bombondier ,if chosen to develop the trians is a local company and will stimulate the pennsylvaina economy.....Who can touch Disney when it comes to re-inventing itself???????? no one..

This issue is to Disney what the casino issue was to Cedar Point. Disney doesn't really want the bullet train but, if it is going to be built, they certainly want to elbow out the competition.

The same time Florida voters passed this amendment they also passed a Constitutional Amendment protecting pregnant pigs. Yes, you heard that right.

And then, to add insult to injury, they passed a Constitutional Amendment to lower class size in the public schools when there is already a shortage of teachers. On top of that, Floridians don't want their kids in portables but don't really want to pay for new schools.

Yes, I live amongst some really wise folks.

Of course, the House of Mouse is always raked by commentators and pundits but just this past week the Florida House voted to extend $350 million plus to Scripps (an R&D company from California) to build a research facility in Palm Beach County. All of the papers and commentator are applauding this use of public funds.

Go figure.

So is this definitely a bullet train a-la France and Japan or is this a revitalization of the Florida Maglev Project? I worked for Maglev, Inc. here in Pittsburgh for 2 years and saw extensive information on that system. Maglev is more and more gaining support from smaller systems at Old Dominion and soon to be California Univ. of PA, and perhaps this could revitalize Florida as a player in the High Speed Maglev competition. Probably not a good thing for Pittsburgh if that does happen as our reigion is sort of 50/50 on support as it is and the backing of the Mouse would probably put Florida over the top easily.

If its an amendment that doesn't make any sense, isn't that part of the governor, if not the governMENT as a whole of the state, to repeal or at least challenge things that don't make sense? There's an election coming up, launch a quick decisive campaign about how much this train's going to cost taxpayers and see if they'll repeal their earlier vote.

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Brett
Resident Launch Whore

I think it's Spectactular. Typical Disney-politics. What the Mouse wants---the Mouse gets!

-Michael

Go Disney. If I were them, I would have done the same... and on top of trying, it actually worked. It's only a stop(s) at Disney, not the entire purpose of the train. It's fairly easy to find a way to Universal Orlando from there as well. I like Disney more than UO and it's the most important attraction in Orlando for me (and probably many other people), so maybe I would feel different if it was the other way around. If you're not going to Disney or Orlando, I don't see how it would really matter. If all else fails, just do it the old-fashioned way.

-Danny

For Disney, that's great. For the rest of the Orlando attractions between the airport and Disney, that sucks.

Oh well, for a state that puts in Jeb Bush (the same governer who passed a 14 day bill to give him the authority over the court system), deserves the cost of a train that isn't really going to do anyone any good.

This is why I don't live in Florida!

Regards.

Jeb was completely against the bullet train, the pregnant pigs and the class size amendment. Why? Because he knows the state can't afford to build a train that noone will ride; can't afford to build the amount of schools the class size amendment will require; and should not embarass itself but putting pigs in the Constitution.

Jeb wanted to do something about the train and the class size amendment but got raked through the coals for even suggesting he knew better than the voters.

Disney did what they should have done as a business, not as a community member. However, they are a business first...are they not?

Jeff said the two *magic* words..."Corporate Welfare".

I don't give a rat's arse (pardon the pun) what businesses want, I don't think public money should be spent propping up private enterprises.
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Mistakes were made, others are to blame...

Hey, you folks in Florida have nothing to complain about when it comes to dumb voters (as I hunker down for the doo-doo). I'd much rather have a bullet train that we can't afford than a two-(hundred million)-bit actor for governor. Then again, I don't think I'd trade him for yours. Oh well, I'll just go whine in my corner. ;)

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Who says "No one will ride the bullet train?" I thought this was a web site for coaster experts, not transportation "experts".

Five years ago the federal government forced Salt Lake to built a 14 mile light rale project against all the cries and *****ing of the conservative republicans who run the state. No mass transit/no money for big new freeway.

The rail line was built and immediatly exceeded rider estimates by 60%.

A second line was built, also wildly successful. Now six different cities that we anti-mass transit are fighting each other for the next leg of track. The exact same thing is true in Denver. And the new rail system in San Diego is always full of people when I visit... and would be more so if they extended it to the airport.

I lived in Tampa. Florida is a vacation state. Many vacationers don't take their cars with them. The Florida bullet train will be successful is done properly.

As someone who lived and worked in Japan, trains, when run efficiently, really are the future, especially as traffic gets worse and worse. And in Japan, the trains stop directly in front of most major theme parks. That was the only way to get around and see the country.

And as someone who lives and works in Orlando, I hope this will get the tourists off the roads (since some of them are driving on opposite sides of the road for the first time) and into the trains.

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Check out www.themeparkdiva.com for info on my new show!

"The Florida bullet train will be successful if done properly."

And what are the chances that this is going to be done properly? Some are suggesting this first step isn't being done properly by ignoring a whole tourist section of Orlando (including one of the largest Convention Centers in the world) to placate Disney.

I have yet to talk to anyone in South Florida who said they would take a train to Orlando instead of drive. The key will be keeping the number of stops to a minimum.

And, if you think this is a site for coaster experts then you don't know what you are talking about. I know very few coaster experts that post on this site.

First off Florida needs to get things straight. This maglav or bullet train should not pass just to Disney. If anything there should be a bullet to WDW parks, Convention Center,Old Town,Universal and BGT. Those are the major attractions. And Orange County needs to get smarter! Jeez, what a country.

At least the trains in San Diego serve more than one destination.

Also, having a station at the stadium is great for folks who don't want to fight traffic. The commuter trains are successful because the freeways are jammed.

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

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As someone who lived and worked in Japan, trains, when run efficiently, really are the future, especially as traffic gets worse and worse.

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In Japan, sure... but it's not in American culture to happen. Americans love their cars.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

I think this will help all the parks. The most riders of this go to disney i am sure there will be busses (at first) to the other parks & I Drive. They did a survey of all burger kings and mcdonalds a few years ago where the best performing ones were on opposite corners . The ones by themselfs did not do as well. When the riders of this get off at disney and see how crowded they will go someplace less crowded. When the people who run orlando see that mass transit is working there will be a loop or a spur from here.