nicsbx wrote:David wrote:The extra magic hours thing is being changed. Ever on-site guest will get early 30 mins entry to any park they want on any day they want, rather than just an extra hour(s) at a specific park on a specific day.
Mears, who run the magical express have already confirmed they will continue the service but I don’t think this will include the baggage facility where your bags automatically appear at your hotel room. Rumours also say that around the time Disney’s magical express finish the new Brightline train that leaves MCO will stop at Disney Springs where you will then be able to jump on a resort bus.
Not ideal when your humping suitcases around but another option.
David
I don't think the Brightline service will be up and running within the next 11 months. I believe the idea is that the service will reach MCO sometime in 2022, but the extra track to Disney/Tampa will begin construction after that. It might be good for American visitors who are just visiting for a short spell but for international visitors it's really little use, given the singular destination and need to get to resort hotels with a lot of baggage.
Magical Express's end is a really confusing situation. Mears will pick up the business, but it leaves a sour taste for Disney resort guests for sure.
Brightline's future expansion west of Orlando towards Tampa is some years away yet and will be of little consolation to those who would ordinarily use Magical Express in the meantime. It'll be good to have a rail option between MCO and Disney in the future.
ColOrd wrote:It might sound slightly callous but with another TATL player out of the market, does this help VS in the medium term once the US reopens?
Another key question to be asked - what will IAG now do with the remaining LEVEL routes? I suspect quietly dropped as there’s just no need for it now!
It might help VS on routes they competed together on, but their impact has long been felt already with the three tier economy fares. The bigger issue as I see it is how quickly will demand recover?
As for LEVEL, it wouldn't surprise me. BA were quick to dump their LGW-OAK and LGW-FLL routes as soon as Norwegian had initially announced moving to SFO and MIA respectively, plus if I'm not mistaken LEVEL long-haul uses Iberia aircraft and AOC anyway. The short-haul side was shut down last year.