BLT - How wide does that walkway from CR look to you?

[twinklebug]

If the designers have made the pathway 16' wide like those in Boston I think it'll be good, but I have a suspicion it might be pretty narrow... looks that way from the design & construction photos I've seen, but they could all be misleading given the huge scale of everything. Anyone have the dimensions?

I'm asking as I'm speculating on what kind of 'traffic' we're looking at trekking to/from BLT to CR when it finally does open. (chairs, strollers, folks who insist on walking 4 people wide ) Particularly when it first opens and everyone wants to tour it. We might need fast passes just to get in .

 

[bookwormde]

From the perspective I got of it I would judge it to be 14-16’ IW wide, but it is hard to tell for sure.

bookwormde

 

[hakepb]

On the posted plans (new BLT declared thread), the walkway looked not quite 3 doors wide. which would only make it ~8'

 

[jbrowna]

To me, it looks about the size of a jetway at an airport. How wide is that?

 

[drusba]

Based on the scale and figures provided on the pedestrian bridge map attached to the master declaration, it looks to be only about 7 to 8 feet across.

 

[tjkraz]

I don't see any problems with the width of that walkway. It's not like there will be streams of people passing thru at all times.

Those headed to the MK will be taking the elevator to the 1st floor to walk. I assume there will be a bus stop outside, so those headed to DHS, DAK, DTD and the waterparks will also have no need for this walkway.

Seems like its predominant use will be people visiting the tower, or using the monorail to access Epcot or the other MK resorts.

 

[hakepb]

I don't see any problems with the width of that walkway. It's not like there will be streams of people passing thru at all times.

Those headed to the MK will be taking the elevator to the 1st floor to walk. I assume there will be a bus stop outside, so those headed to DHS, DAK, DTD and the waterparks will also have no need for this walkway.

Seems like its predominant use will be people visiting the tower, or using the monorail to access Epcot or the other MK resorts.

I see a problem.
Same problem as all DAK (Park) walkways, they're curvy.
People walk in straight lines, and cut the curves. You'll always get stuck behind a slow walker cutting ther curves, then the walkway will function as a 3'-4' walkway Plus there will are views along the way, so people will keep stopping on the path to look, and congest the (narrowed cut-curvy) walkways even further Did the Imagineers not learn anything about what happened at DAK? The only time you can walk at a decent speed at DAK is when you follow the parade.

 

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

It doesn't look like they'll be able to hold any ECV drag races on that bridge, that's for sure!

 

[jbrowna]

I see a problem.
Same problem as all DAK (Park) walkways, they're curvy.
People walk in straight lines, and cut the curves. You'll always get stuck behind a slow walker cutting ther curves, then the walkway will function as a 3'-4' walkway Plus there will are views along the way, so people will keep stopping on the path to look, and congest the (narrowed cut-curvy) walkways even further Did the Imagineers not learn anything about what happened at DAK? The only time you can walk at a decent speed at DAK is when you follow the parade.

I was told, some time ago, that the roads at WDW were deliberately built curved, so as to force traffic slower. With straight roads you'd have to put in speed bumps or such. I suspect the same reasoning applies to the pathways at DAK and to the bridge: build it curved to slow people down! Can you imagine if it were a straight shot from one building to the next? You would have ecv drag races, and running kids, and probably people launching toy cars or something across the bridge. I believe the whole design philosophy at WDW is to slow people down....

 

[DisFlan]

I was told, some time ago, that the roads at WDW were deliberately built curved, so as to force traffic slower. With straight roads you'd have to put in speed bumps or such. I suspect the same reasoning applies to the pathways at DAK and to the bridge: build it curved to slow people down! Can you imagine if it were a straight shot from one building to the next? You would have ecv drag races, and running kids, and probably people launching toy cars or something across the bridge. I believe the whole design philosophy at WDW is to slow people down....

I think it was probably just to make the bridge more pleasing to the eye as a connection between a very square-angled building and a very rounded building. A straight or angled bridge would have been jarring - and uninteresting. It's probably more of an attempt at thoughtful architecture than speed control.

It may not be an ideal width, and as Tim mentioned, it may have some traffic snafus. I'd guess that, architecturally, width likely followed form and cost. A narrower curve is more elegant looking. And a wider bridge would probably require more supports - and expense.

DisFlan

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

I was told, some time ago, that the roads at WDW were deliberately built curved, so as to force traffic slower. With straight roads you'd have to put in speed bumps or such. I suspect the same reasoning applies to the pathways at DAK and to the bridge: build it curved to slow people down! Can you imagine if it were a straight shot from one building to the next? You would have ecv drag races, and running kids, and probably people launching toy cars or something across the bridge. I believe the whole design philosophy at WDW is to slow people down....

I think the curves help keep it from looking like a 200' long tunnel. Instead the curves break it up into shorter sections so it doesn't look that long. I would estimate the width, based on the dimensions on the plan as well as the fact that there is a double door at the end, at around 8' wide.

 

[hakepb]

I think the curves help keep it from looking like a 200' long tunnel. Instead the curves break it up into shorter sections so it doesn't look that long. I would estimate the width, based on the dimensions on the plan as well as the fact that there is a double door at the end, at around 8' wide.

I understand design / traffic concerns, and the design looks quite nice from the outside.

BTW, I think this is about the best hallway, ever:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/BeachClubVillasCommonAreas/165-6524_IMG_JPG.html
It is straight, wide and relaxing and beautiful, in-part due to the furnishings and seating areas.

8' is highly utilitarian, not luxury in a high traffic area. There are other ways to break down hallways and offer "resting/viewing areas" I'd guess the designers would perfer a wider one than being constructed at BLT, until the engineers figured out the costs. The unbalanced (right then left) curves has to create some oddly very high structural stresses rotating the invisible center axis, and a lot of steel is needed to support those stresses. FYI in a possibly unrelated comparison, I saw a mention that the "random, curving, delicate" birdsnest over the stadium in Beijing was constructed out of rather massive 4' steel box beams all welded up. Those curves cost many, many extra tons of steel.

 

[threegoofys]

With a walkway that small I better lay off the DDP. Maybe eat salad while there!

 

[della]

It doesn't look like they'll be able to hold any ECV drag races on that bridge, that's for sure!

And I too love that walkway in the BC!