Airport, drivers hash out issues
Limo drivers met with airport officials to air concerns about a new Disney service.

By Steve J. Collins
Sentinel Staff Writer

Senior Orlando International Airport officials moved closer Wednesday to addressing complaints from limousine owners who say Disney’s new shuttle service is getting preferential treatment.

Greater Orlando Livery Association members met behind closed doors with airport executive director Bill Jennings and other officials to talk about ways to accommodate limo owners’ concerns. Although details have yet to be worked out, both sides agree there will be changes in how limo drivers are treated at the airport.

“The meeting went excellently,” said Randy Terranova, president of the Greater Orlando Livery Association, which represents 180 limousine services with 600 vehicles.

Disney introduced Magical Express in May. Anybody staying on Disney property may use the service, which allows passengers to skip the luggage carousel and go straight to a Disney bus. Bags are delivered directly to guestrooms. Limousine and cab drivers operating at the airport report a significant drop in business since the program’s inception.

Livery association officials say the airport has given Disney and Mears Transportation Group, which operates the buses, preferential treatment.

They say limos have been moved to make room for buses, which has made it more difficult for drivers to pick up passengers. They say in some cases the change has doubled the amount of time drivers spend at the airport because they have to leave passengers at the curb and go retrieve their car.

“We’re going to come up with a plan to address the concerns put on the table,” Jennings said. He added that while it’s unlikely limousine services will be completely satisfied, he’s prepared “to work in the spirit of compromise.”

Another meeting is scheduled for Dec. 20. In the meantime, Jennings said airport officials will meet with representatives of Disney and Mears.

Limo drivers also complain that Disney’s airport greeters — those perky folks wearing big white mouse gloves who direct passengers to a bus — have greater access to passengers than limo drivers do. Further, they say greeters are breaking airport solicitation rules by recruiting passengers.

Jennings said Disney greeters shouldn’t be talking to prospective passengers who haven’t already arranged to take a bus. However, he said it is appropriate for the greeters to have more access than limo drivers, who must stay in the baggage-claim area.

“We think it’s important to move those people [Magical Express users] quickly through the airport because they bypass baggage claim,” Jennings said.

Limousine officials disagree with that rationale. “I guess that’s going to be open to debate,” Terranova said. “We don’t think that’s fair.”

Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said the company is complying with the airport’s guidelines.

The limousine representatives also complained to airport officials that Mears employees have harassed them and made some drivers give up parking spots.

Roger Chapin, Mears’ vice president of public affairs, said the company has not heard any complaints from airport staff.