The non existant walkway from Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom

[Dan Murphy]

Is it possible that it is NOT intended to be a walkway to Magic Kingdom, but rather a path for a water-to-land transfer point for something - perhaps ELP floats, as it is right next to the place where they are stored?

The walkway doesn't just follow a straight line and end, it also juts down a bit, and right below the area where it juts down is something constructed and blue at the water's edge. Is it a dock? It looks like one. Perhaps the walkway ends at its true destination, and that is it.

Anyway, it's a total guess as I have ZERO knowledge in these areas, but that's my contribution. It looks to me like a place where things on water could be loaded/unloaded onto land, and then transported along the paved walkway to wherever they need to go next.

Not sure the time difference between these two satellite photos, but there is a difference.

http://binged.it/Z4IJ5Z

http://binged.it/ZVeLk9

You can zoom and rotate for other views.

 

[Elmo9607]

All I know is one night after I was at MK I forgot that the path doesn't connect anywhere and I figured I'd walk to the GF...I was not amused!

 

[Cyrano]

Folks this thread has drifted off topic. ADA has no place here so do not post further in this regard.

Thank you

 

[jw50]

Not sure the time difference between these two satellite photos, but there is a difference.

http://binged.it/Z4IJ5Z

http://binged.it/ZVeLk9

You can zoom and rotate for other views.

Those are fairly old photos, they do not show the DVC construction at the GF.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Google maps has a slightly more recent capture...

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&so...deg=270&z=18&cid=12042125262433612192&iwloc=A

 

[SueM in MN]

All I know is one night after I was at MK I forgot that the path doesn't connect anywhere and I figured I'd walk to the GF...I was not amused!

LOL

I've seen people walk past the monorail on that path - sometimes families with kids in strollers, so I'm guessing they are not just wlking for the exercise.

I wonder how many get to the end of the path and are not amused!

 

[SueM in MN]

Google maps has a slightly more recent capture...

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&so...deg=270&z=18&cid=12042125262433612192&iwloc=A

Seeing the patch of beach along the path just beyond the monorail makes me wonder if the beach was intended as a destination where guests outside of MK could view the water pageant?

The path on the Grand Floridian side looks like a service road to me.

 

[HubbDave]

Silly people...they intended to tunnel under the canal...

 

[TheDisDork]

All I know is one night after I was at MK I forgot that the path doesn't connect anywhere and I figured I'd walk to the GF...I was not amused!

Same here! Except I had my mother in tow-- who was even less amused after my aggressive insistence that there's no such thing as a path to "nothing" in Disney. I was right, there were benches!

 

[doconeill]

This thread got referenced from another thread...I normally don't like to wake sleeping threads...

Anyways, there were some comments on how easy it would be to build a bridge...be it a draw, swing, etc. But draw and swing bridges aren't as cheap as some might think. There is a maintenance cost associated with them, and they have to be regularly maintained and inspected. A lot of cost for what might be minimal use and no revenue.

Building a standard bridge would be no small task either. The ADA regulations specify that the slope can be no greater than 1:12 ratio - that's 1 foot for every inch of elevation. I don't know what the minimum height needed would be, but lets say 20 feet would be sufficient. That means that to reach 20 feet, 240 feet of ramp is needed.

But wait, there is more!

The ADA also says that the maximum length of any sloped ramp is 30 feet. That means we can't go more than 30 feet without a flat "rest" platform. I don't know what if any requirements there are over the size of such a thing, but let's say 8 feet. We need seven of them over 240 feet. That's another 56 feet. We're are almost a football field in length, and that's on EACH SIDE of the bridge! Yes, there is plenty of space, but that's still a lot of bridge.

As someone mentioned, you can reduce that length by doing switchbacks...but now you are making it very WIDE...if it is a 10 foot wide path, and you switch back at 30 feet to make the rest platforms the turnarounds, that would end up being at least 80 feet wide. That could be a bit problematic on the GF side as the existing area narrows and has monorail stanchions as well.

 

[mesaboy2]

This thread got referenced from another thread...I normally don't like to wake sleeping threads...

Anyways, there were some comments on how easy it would be to build a bridge...be it a draw, swing, etc. But draw and swing bridges aren't as cheap as some might think. There is a maintenance cost associated with them, and they have to be regularly maintained and inspected. A lot of cost for what might be minimal use and no revenue.

Building a standard bridge would be no small task either. The ADA regulations specify that the slope can be no greater than 1:12 ratio - that's 1 foot for every inch of elevation. I don't know what the minimum height needed would be, but lets say 20 feet would be sufficient. That means that to reach 20 feet, 240 feet of ramp is needed.

But wait, there is more!

The ADA also says that the maximum length of any sloped ramp is 30 feet. That means we can't go more than 30 feet without a flat "rest" platform. I don't know what if any requirements there are over the size of such a thing, but let's say 8 feet. We need seven of them over 240 feet. That's another 56 feet. We're are almost a football field in length, and that's on EACH SIDE of the bridge! Yes, there is plenty of space, but that's still a lot of bridge.

As someone mentioned, you can reduce that length by doing switchbacks...but now you are making it very WIDE...if it is a 10 foot wide path, and you switch back at 30 feet to make the rest platforms the turnarounds, that would end up being at least 80 feet wide. That could be a bit problematic on the GF side as the existing area narrows and has monorail stanchions as well.

It's too bad you're not any good at math.

 

[ChristineOH]

I brought many wheelchaired people to WDW and always used the Monorails when I wanted. These were chairs pushed by manpower, me, and had no trouble dealing with it at all. But, that said, the fact that the ferry exists is, in reality, offering an alternative to getting someone to MK means that they have lived up to the law. As said, no grandfathering is required. There is an alternative.

Don't people at the GF access the monorail from the second floor? Where they can use an elevator to get there?

I think a walking path would be nice, but mostly for joggers and those avoiding lines at the ferry or monorail after the fireworks. Or if the monorail breaks. That monorail trip is so quick and convenient.

 

[Robo]

1- Don't people at the GF access the monorail from the second floor?

2- Where they can use an elevator to get there?

1- Yes.
2- There are elevators in the GF lobby.

 

[TJBerry]

Don't people at the GF access the monorail from the second floor? Where they can use an elevator to get there?

I think a walking path would be nice, but mostly for joggers and those avoiding lines at the ferry or monorail after the fireworks. Or if the monorail breaks. That monorail trip is so quick and convenient.

It is quick and convenient, when it is running.

 

[gibbow]

I'd love to see this path! It's nice to just take a leisurely stroll from the MK at night or even during the day. Furthermore it would be a pretty cool running path to see everything!

The two most reasonable 'arguments' against immediate completion I can see are that the GF has a direct monorail ride to the MK where as CR guests must ride around the track hoping to miss delays if they do not want to walk

OR, they decided to scrap the idea for now until they decide it is truly necessary to free up resources for something else

Either way, it would be pretty cool having an operating bridge there

 

[LSUfan4444]

Well, this post aged nice