Why Is Everyone So Obsessed With the Orlando Airport Brightline Train?

Last year, the Brightline train station at Orlando International Airport officially opened, and since then, almost everyone has been talking about it.

We even took the train from Orlando to Miami to see what all the fuss was about, and after our trip, we were sold. We’re not the only ones who love Brightline, though. The Orlando route has been so popular that Brightline has expanded the route several times. But why? Let’s talk about it.

It’s cheaper than flying

First off, if you’re traveling in Florida, you’ll save a LOT of money flying to and from Orlando. Instead, you can take the Brightline train for as little as $49 each way. The best part? You won’t have to pay extra for bags or seat selection or those other things airlines typically charge additional fees for. You’re allowed two carry-on bags FOR FREE.

Want a first class experience? You can book a premium ticket for as little as $149 each way. That’s certainly less expensive than first class on an airline. However, if you’re on the lookout, you can even get special deals for fares from time to time, and there are also occasional deals where kids can ride for free.

It’s more convenient and comfortable than flying or driving

If you fly to Orlando, you’ve got a lot of hassle in store for you — that’s just all part of flying. There are the stresses at the airport you have to deal with, plus you have to sit in uncomfortable seats that are generally too small and uncomfortable. A Brightline train experience is the OPPOSITE of that. There are far fewer stresses in traveling by train PLUS the seats are roomy and comfy.

It’s even more convenient and comfortable than driving because you can do all sorts of things during your train trip. Need to catch up on some work? The trains have free Wi-Fi. Or you can just read a book, watch your favorite show on Disney+, or even take a little nap.

You don’t have to wait in long TSA security lines

At the airport, you have to spend a LOT of time waiting to get through security, and then you have to go through the whole security process of taking off your shoes, removing your little baggie of liquids that you prepared ahead of time from your bag, and removing your electronic devices from your bag. Once it’s all done, you’ve got to shove everything back in your bag and put your shoes back on.

Going through security at a Brightline station is way easier. You don’t need to remove your shoes or computers from your bags and there are no limits on liquids. When we rode the train, we were through security in just five minutes.

You’re less likely to experience delays and cancellations

If you fly, there are hundreds of factors that could play into your flight being delayed or even canceled. It happens ALL the time. Flights are delayed by so many factors, including air traffic, weather, and more. That’s less likely to happen when you’re taking the train.

First, you don’t have to worry about weather outside of Florida, which can often affect flights IN Florida. Trains generally arrive on time, or even early, which isn’t something you can expect often from flying.

You don’t have to get to the station three hours early

If you’ve flown out of Orlando International Airport, you know the general rule of thumb is to get to the airport at least three hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. And it might even take you three hours just to get to your gate.

If you’re taking the train, it’s advised that you arrive 15 minutes before your train is scheduled to leave. That’s it. Just 15 minutes. That’s about what we did when we took the train. We spent five minutes getting through security. Then we boarded the train about 10 minutes before departure.

You don’t have to deal with traffic

If you plan on driving around Florida, you might have to deal with some pretty hectic and congested traffic conditions. Driving from Miami to Orlando is NOT a lot of fun because you will deal with heavy traffic along the way.

However, if you’re taking a Brightline train, there IS no traffic because Brightline has dedicated tracks that take you to and from where you’re going.  There’s no such thing as rush hour traffic on the train.

So that should tell you why Brightline is such a big deal in Florida. It’s literally changed the way we travel around the state. If you’re planning on traveling around Florida, we highly recommend giving Brightline a chance.

Is the New Brightline Train Coming to Disney World? We Have an UPDATE!

Have you ever taken a Brightline train? Let us know in the comments.

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