Orlando Airport Extends Disney’s Airport Deal for Five Years

ORLANDO (AP) – Walt Disney World's express shuttle that takes visitors directly to the resort from the Orlando International Airport without having to wait for luggage will be around for another five years. Limousine operators, taxi drivers and rental car companies complained that the airport's agreement Wednesday with Disney has caused them to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in business. "This meeting today was a big slap in the face, an insult," said Greater Orlando Limousine Association president Mike McKenzie. "It showed that there was no care given to any other entity other than Disney Magic Express." McKenzie said small transportation businesses had no say in the matter and were not informed of discussions leading up to the decision. But airport executives said Wednesday that the deal provided a "huge benefit" to the airport by bringing in visitors from all over the world. Disney's program also increases the capacity of the busy terminal by reducing the number of passengers who require ticketing and baggage services. As a result, it allows the airport to postpone building a costly new terminal, said Jeffry Fuqua, chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, "We're essentially at break even with this service. They're paying their way and we're getting all the benefits of the intangibles," Fuqua said. Disney's Magical Express lets visitors on domestic flights, staying at Disney hotels, check their luggage at their hometown airports and bypass waiting at the luggage carousel at the Orlando airport. The program has transported more than 1.1 million passengers since it began in May 2005. Under the new terms, the fee that Disney pays the airport per passenger will increase from 50 cents to 75 cents next year, with an option to increase it again in 2010. Magical Express, which has become a national model for moving passengers and luggage, has been well received by Disney visitors, Walt Disney World Resort President Al Weiss said. As a result, more passengers are flying than driving, which brings more business to the Orlando airport. "This is really great for central Florida, really good for the airport and it's doing nothing but bringing more passengers to central Florida," Weiss said.

Wahoo! This is good stuff, as I wrote about last week.