| WDW Pledges To Provide 50 Acres Of Free Land For Proposed High Speed Railway |
| Hoping to capitalize on an economic stimulus funding for high-speed rail in Florida, Walt Disney World has pledged to devote 50 acres of its resort property to a train station. This is a departure from its earlier reaction to a previous plan to bring high-speed rail to Orlando. The former plan included a stop at the Orange County Convention Center (an area very close to Disney World's major competitor, Universal Studios) which may explain Disney's reluctance to support the plan. There is speculation though that Disney's recent purchase of Marvel Entertainment (whose prior contracts with Universal Studios will now benefit Disney financially) has softened its concern about the train stop. The Tampa-Orlando high-speed rail system would reduce traffic along sections of I-4, shorten travel times between Central Florida's major metropolitan areas, and provide an environmentally friendly alternative to driving. Additionally, tourists wishing to combine travel to Disney World and Florida's Gulf Coast beaches would be able to do so without renting a car. |