MK, GF, AND THE ROAD TO NOWHERE.....

[Gillyrose779]

Has anyone else walked the road to nowhere?

There is a very nice brick path past the monorail and boats that take you to the GF and Poly. The monorail was down when we were trying to get to GF so we began to walk towards the boats and saw the path. It has the nice MK lights and is very nicely maintained. We were excited to think we could walk to GF but, as we got to the water canal, a bench welcomes us and the path just stops.

It was quite disappointing as this would have been a huge plus for staying at the GF for us. Even though the monorail is great I hate having to rely on transportation and we love to walk. I bet it looks really nice at night too with the lights along Bay Lake.

I researched and found Disney may having been thinking about making a path from MK to GF but decided against it- probably didn't want to build the bridge.

I would love to see this done- would anyone else use it if it was there?

 

[Robo]

1. Has anyone else walked the road to nowhere?

There is a very nice brick path past the monorail and boats that take you to the GF and Poly. The monorail was down when we were trying to get to GF so we began to walk towards the boats and saw the path. It has the nice MK lights and is very nicely maintained. We were excited to think we could walk to GF but, as we got to the water canal, a bench welcomes us and the path just stops.

It was quite disappointing as this would have been a huge plus for staying at the GF for us. Even though the monorail is great I hate having to rely on transportation and we love to walk. I bet it looks really nice at night too with the lights along Bay Lake.

I researched and found Disney may having been thinking about making a path from MK to GF but decided against it- probably didn't want to build the bridge.

2. I would love to see this done- would anyone else use it if it was there?

1. Sure.

2. This topic comes up pretty frequently on this board and there have been many discussions about it.

It has come up so often, that I have several maps and images showing the area under discussion.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That's why the CR is better

 

[Robo]

That's why the CR is better

 

[HFC1969]

Serious question...

Do you think they didn't build the bridge to seclude GF from foot traffic?

We prob one of my top complaints about GF.. cant walk to MK like we do from Contemp..

 

[Gillyrose779]

Thank you Robo- you are a wealth of knowledge!!

We just came back from staying at BLT- sorry but I find CR and BLT blah blah blah- basic pool, basic entry, just basic. The only redeeming factors are the walk, which is not even close to being as nice as the walk to HS and Epcot from the Epcot resorts, and California Grill- yum!

That is why I was so excited about the possibility of the GF walk- the brick path with the lights along Bay Lake was immensely nicer than the BLT walk to MK. The walk to Mk from BLT/CR was full of parking lots, roads, and plain landscaping- not very magical and I didn't get the 'Disney Bubble' feel.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Serious question...

Do you think they didn't build the bridge to seclude GF from foot traffic?

We prob one of my top complaints about GF.. cant walk to MK like we do from Contemp..

I think they didn't build it becuase it would cost too much. They would have to build a bridge that can open to let the boats through for the Electric Water Pageant. Having the walkway wouldn't generate any additional income, so Disney probably sees no need to make the investment.

 

[tjevans]

Reading the title to the thread, I thought you were trying to find a place for some "private time" with your girlfriend while at MK!

 

[Gillyrose779]

Reading the title to the thread, I thought you were trying to find a place for some "private time" with your girlfriend while at MK!

Ha ha!- nope... and that would be "private time" with my husband as I am a lady darn it.

I will say if anyone is looking for some peace and quiet from MK that path would be the place to go!

 

[chartle]

I think they didn't build it becuase it would cost too much. They would have to build a bridge that can open to let the boats through for the Electric Water Pageant. Having the walkway wouldn't generate any additional income, so Disney probably sees no need to make the investment.

Or build it tall enough to clear the boats.

If there was a draw bridge they would have station someone there when it was open. If they built it high there are ADA issues with ramp steepness.

 

[larryz]

Or build it tall enough to clear the boats.

If there was a draw bridge they would have station someone there when it was open. If they built it high there are ADA issues with ramp steepness.

They interrupt foot traffic in Epcot at least once per day when they open the drawbridge to let the Illuminations barges into the lagoon...

 

[Gillyrose779]

It's all about cost versus benefit I guess. There are at least three bridges at the Epcot resorts but the boardwalk is there that adds a lot of entertainment/income- also the resorts are closer to Epcot than GF is to MK.

I would enjoy it greatly though and it would make me stay at GF more- I just wonder if more people are like us. Would you stay at GF if there was a path or would that have no affect on your decision?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Thank you Robo- you are a wealth of knowledge!!

We just came back from staying at BLT- sorry but I find CR and BLT blah blah blah- basic pool, basic entry, just basic. The only redeeming factors are the walk, which is not even close to being as nice as the walk to HS and Epcot from the Epcot resorts, and California Grill- yum!

That is why I was so excited about the possibility of the GF walk- the brick path with the lights along Bay Lake was immensely nicer than the BLT walk to MK. The walk to Mk from BLT/CR was full of parking lots, roads, and plain landscaping- not very magical and I didn't get the 'Disney Bubble' feel.

I like BLT/CR, but I can see why some people don't. The walk to Epcot from the Epcot resorts is nicer...I think the walk to DHS is not as nice and is longer than even the CR-MK walk IIRC? At least from BC.

But regardless, walking to MK (and being able to escape on foot at night!) is awesome.

 

[Robo]

Or build it tall enough to clear the boats.

You'd run into ADA issues with a bridge that tall, and to build ramps long enough to serve such a high overpass, the costs would skyrocket.

 

[chartle]

They interrupt foot traffic in Epcot at least once per day when they open the drawbridge to let the Illuminations barges into the lagoon...

Yes and I have always seen a CM there to make sure someone doesn't do anything stupid. If they had a draw bridge they would have to have someone go out every time it went up which is most likely more than once a day. Also it would be up while the electric water parade was going on. A prime time for people leaving the MK.

 

[chartle]

You'd run into ADA issues with a bridge that tall, and to build ramps long enough to serve such a high overpass, the costs would skyrocket.

A rough calculation for a 20 foot high ramp is 480 feet at 2 feet of ramp for every inch up. And that my not be enough since the riverboats also have to clear.

 

[Robo]

Plus, we haven't even brought up the rather extensive problems on the Grand Floridian end.

There would either need to be another BRIDGE built (to the west of the monorail beam) to get a closer
route to the Floridian, or a very long (and inconvenient) new sidewalk built along the road
from the GF parking lot to reach the west end of the
access road on the Floridian side of the water inlet.
(See the bottom 3 images in my Post #2 of this thread.)

As I said, these situations have been questioned, discussed and reasoned many times
over the years on this board.

 

[Gillyrose779]

Here is the thing. We all know it can be done- there should already be plans drawn up at Disney so they know exactly what they need to do--- otherwise why would they have built the nice brick sidewalk with lights on the MK side in the first place? Disney is not the type of company to start a project without having a plan laid out.

It looks like sometime during the laying of the sidewalk they decided it was no longer important. Cost outweighed the benefits? Maybe. Erosion around water an issue? Probably not but who knows.

All I know is I would like to know.... and I would like it built!