Hotels near Hollywood Studio walkable?

[cigar95]

she . . . . .

"She"? Did I have surgery I didn't notice?

 

[AriesAriel]

Looking at this map, I wondered about the feasibility of choosing any of the nearby hotels for a walking trip to Hollywood Studios. The pictures shows 1 to 2 miles from Carib Beach, PopCentury, or Coronado. Swan & Dolphin look more walkable.

A 2-mile walk each way is fine with me, I have a high level of fitness for my work, but an wondering if the heavy or high-speed use of the nearby roads make it unwise to walk.

Any thoughts? Swan/Dolphin aren't really budget-priced anymore, so trying to expand my acceptable area.

(I tried to include a map but don't know how to host it online).

Boardwalk is reasonable if you rent points. We couldn't afford to stay there otherwise!

 

[fireflyer]

"She"? Did I have surgery I didn't notice?

Oooops.

Boardwalk is reasonable if you rent points. We couldn't afford to stay there otherwise!

Thanks, am googling it now.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually it's not that bad - once you make it across the crosswalk to the north side of Buena Vista, there's a nice sidewalk that will take you right to the walking path from Epcot to the Studios.

And getting to the crosswalk from the CBR parking lot isn't much of a problem, as it's walking mostly across fairly closely-mown grass. (Hence less of an issue with critters.)

Okay, I still don't see the crosswalk, and that walkway looks like it goes under Buena Vista Drive - so not designed to be accessible on foot.

 

[mom2of2]

there isn't a crosswalk at all. The roads are dangerous enough with drivers unfamiliar with the area let alone adding in walkers

 

[Alesia]

This probably isn't the best idea - lots of snakes and wildlife in the grass in Florida!

I agree. Not just snakes, but venomous ones. And chiggers in the summer.

Stay out of the grass.

 

[Skylarr29]

Why in the world would you not just get on the bus?!

 

[coolbrook]

Why in the world would you not just get on the bus?!

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[Princess Yvey]

The Hollywood Tower Hotel is really close. But they have a problem with guests disappearing. So I don't recommend staying their.
- See more at: http://www.disboards.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=52840919#sthash.553FAr6q.dpuf

Have they fixed the elevator there yet?

 

[Bullseye]

Why in the world would you not just get on the bus?!

We always chuckle when we see someone trying to maneuver the terrain along the roadways in wdw. They always look like they're regretting the decision. It's hot and buggy.

 

[fireflyer]

Why in the world would you not just get on the bus?!

Bus service continues to decline. Wait-time / load-time / ride-time / unload-time = ~40 min. Why in the world would you not just walk?

I walk a 12-min mile (for hours). Perhaps very different than the average tourist, which is why it's great that Disney offers the bus system. However, my original question is simply seeking a walking alternative.

P.S. Chiggers are avoidable by spraying deet on the outside of your socks. And snakes in the mowed grass are not a threat to me. I work in FL pine rocklands, and the biggest watch-out by far is the mosquitoes

 

[JanaDee]

Bus service continues to decline. Wait-time / load-time / ride-time / unload-time = ~40 min. Why in the world would you not just walk?

I walk a 12-min mile (for hours). Perhaps very different than the average tourist, which is why it's great that Disney offers the bus system. However, my original question is simply seeking a walking alternative.

P.S. Chiggers are avoidable by spraying deet on the outside of your socks. And snakes in the mowed grass are not a threat to me. I work in FL pine rocklands, and the biggest watch-out by far is the mosquitoes

There is no walking alternative.

Correction ~ there is no SAFE walking alternative.

 

[fireflyer]

...that walkway looks like it goes under Buena Vista Drive - so not designed to be accessible on foot.

I wondered if it could be a cement drainage canal instead of a walkway. But if you follow it west, you'll see that it clearly connects to a crosswalk at the next intersection (Epcot Resorts Blvd). It's possible that might be a workout path for the EMS guys.

I guess I'll just add this to my list of things to "check out". Thanks everyone for the ideas & cautions.

 

[Schmeck]

There are gators across the way in the drainage ditches near CBR - no way would I walk over there!

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

This probably isn't the best idea - lots of snakes and wildlife in the grass in Florida!

I thought I was being a whoos when I read about walking through grass.
Ya no thank you. My luck I'd find that snake or gator waiting for me.
I'm shivering just thinking about it.

Thanks for confirming what I thought.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's really pretty simple. There aren't crosswalks simply because Disney doesn't want guests walking along those roadways.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Bus service continues to decline. Wait-time / load-time / ride-time / unload-time = ~40 min. Why in the world would you not just walk?

I walk a 12-min mile (for hours). Perhaps very different than the average tourist, which is why it's great that Disney offers the bus system. However, my original question is simply seeking a walking alternative.

P.S. Chiggers are avoidable by spraying deet on the outside of your socks. And snakes in the mowed grass are not a threat to me. I work in FL pine rocklands, and the biggest watch-out by far is the mosquitoes

To avoid injury
To avoid death
To avoid being stopped/picked up by Disney security or police

It truly is for your safety that you cannot do this. I'm sure that figured into the design somewhat because walking paths do exist in places. Just none where it is required to cross a major roadway. Even at Downtown Disney, they have parking CMs manning the cross walks near the temporary parking at the Casting Center and Team Disney. Now that guests are crossing a major roadway in droves -- which was not the intent as that area developed -- the CMs are the to mitigate the risk involved with droves of guests crossing at the same time.
And that is at designated cross walks using established sidewalks.

They don't want you on the road. While it may be healthier (for the exercise) and quicker than the busses, it isn't really safer.

That is why one should NOT walk.

(It may also result in a fine if a police officer stops you, but not sure--so money would be another possible reason not to walk.)

 

[Queuing4Disney]

The Hollywood Tower Hotel is really close. But they have a problem with guests disappearing. So I don't recommend staying their.

Have they fixed the elevator there yet?

Not yet, but I hear Disney has assigned a crew to fix it. Of course, it's the same crew that's scheduled to fix the Yeti at AK first so ummm....

 

[cigar95]

Okay, I still don't see the crosswalk, and that walkway looks like it goes under Buena Vista Drive - so not designed to be accessible on foot.

I'll describe what I'm referring to - Bing maps is my reference, as well as my (not-what-it-used-to-be) memory.

From the southeast corner of Buena Vista and Victory Way across Buena Vista to the northeast corner, there's a painted crosswalk. And beginning on the northwest corner - after crossing the little-used driveway into the fire station - there is a sidewalk that takes you past the Hess station, past the southern edge of the Boardwalk parking lot, with paths down to either the east or west side of the waterway that runs down to the Studios. (Only the east side will get you to the Studios - the west side will take you to the Swan.)

I've walked it from the waterway as far as the Hess station, have not continued on to the fire station/CBR. But I wouldn't hesitate to do so. (Then again, I'm also nutty enough to have walked from the TTC to the back way in to the Wilderness Lodge. Strangely enough, it was a cast member at the TTC who gave me the directions!)

 

[fireflyer]

From the southeast corner of Buena Vista and Victory Way across Buena Vista to the northeast corner, there's a painted crosswalk. And beginning on the northwest corner - after crossing the little-used driveway into the fire station - there is a sidewalk that takes you past the Hess station, past the southern edge of the Boardwalk parking lot, with paths down to either the east or west side of the waterway that runs down to the Studios.

Cigar, you're right. You gave me the idea to look back at the historical imagery. The crosswalk at Victory & BuenaVista is clearly visible, from Jan 1999 all the way thru Jan 2012. Then it seems the street was re-sealed & re-painted (but without the crosswalk) sometime before the Oct 2012 photo. Hmmph.