Walking between resorts

[abh]

Is is possible to walk from the Grand Floridian to the Wilderness Lodge and also from the Grand Floridian to the Contemporary Resort? We would like to eat breakfast at these places for a change instead of a theme park or at our own hotel and it seems like the Monorail, etc, takes a long time getting there!

 

[Robert P]

GF to WL, no way.
I do not think it would be possible for GF to CR either.

The monorail would be alot quicker than walking, even if walking was somehow possible.

 

[disneyag]

The roads aren't pedestrian friendly. I believe they frown on people walking them. The monorail from GF to CR would only take 10 minutes or so. To get to the WL, you could monorail to MK and then take the boat to WL.

 

[CleveRocks]

I know that there's no way to walk from GF to MK. Since you can't get to Contemporary in that direction on foot, even if you COULD walk all the way around Seven Seas Lagoon and eventually make it to Contemporary on foot that way, it would have to take much longer than the door-to-door momorail service.

 

[shafke]

The only places you can safely walk to from the GF are the Poly and TTC. Going to the CR you would have to go past the TTC and then you would be on the roads where there are no sidewalks to speak of and this would be very dangerous.

 

[clkelley]

The only walking options are:

The entire Epcot resort area:
Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin, Epcot, Studios, Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf

There is a sidewalk that connects:
Coronado Springs, Blizzard Beach, Winter/Summerland Mini-Golf, McDonalds, All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, All-Star Movies

Port Orleans FQ and Port Orleans Riverside are connected by walking path.

Ft. Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge are connected by walking path.

Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Shades of Green, and TTC are connected by walking path

Contemporary and Magic Kingdom are connected by walking path

Saratoga Springs and Downtown Disney are connected by walking path

 

[salmoneous]

Grrr. Major pet peeve coming..

Walking is a great thing. It's not just about getting from place to place - the joy of the walk is an event in itself. Unfortunately, Disney goes out of it way to make it difficult for walkers. And, also unfortunately, DIS posters - well meaning all of them - pick up on Disney's anti-walking attitude and overestimate the difficulties of walking around The World.

Far too often questions of "can I walk there" are met with answers that it is too far, or is impossible due to busy unsidewalked roads. Yes it's important to point out the distance and difficulties. But I think most people who ask about walking are willing to put in a little time - and some even willing to put up with a little difficulty.

Now, there are a few places that are near impossible to get to. Unfortunately, the MK and the Contemporary are on that list. You have to go through a tunnel that goes under the canal connecting Bay Lake and SSL - it might be possible to get through there on foot, but even I'm willing to put this on the "can't get there from here" list.

GF -> WL on the other hand, is walk-able. The walk from GF to the Poly is one of the best at Disney - just follow flower-filled walking paths. Then you have to get from the Poly to Timberline Drive (we'll get back to this one). Timberline drive is a sidewalkless road, but isn't busy and is a nice walk for many people. I wouldn't do it with children and certainly not with strollers - but its fine for adults. The tricky part is getting from the Poly to Timberline. Easiest way is to go through the parking lot, then cut across the grass to the World Drive / Timberline Drive stoplight and cross there

A nicer and more scenic option is to hug the shore of Bay Lake, past the ferry terminal, past a strand of trees, then follow an old path to the intersection of World Drive and Topiary Lane. The only problem is you have to cross World Drive without a light, but I've never had a problem. Then you just take the back way into Wilderness Lodge. (note - I know there is construction going on in this area that might impact this route).

Now I'm sure most people aren't up for a walk from the GF to the WL. But for the adventurous - or just folks who like to walk and explore - it's doable.

PS - CLKELLEY - that's a nice list of places connected by official walking trails. You should probably add OKW, which is connected to DTD and SSR.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Grrr. Major pet peeve coming..

Okay, fine. You have an excellent point - although Disney really DOES discourage walking where there are no sidewalks, to the point that I've seen posts from people who've been stopped by the CM in the booth at the entrance to a resort, when they've tried to walk from the resort.
On the other hand, the original poster in this thread is under the impression that walking from the Grand Floridian to either the Contemporary or the Wilderness Lodge will be faster than using Disney transportation. NOT true. The Resorts monorail can manage the first trip in about ten to twelve minutes. Walking, they'd probably still be at the GF
Wilderness Lodge is a little more complicated - either monorail to the Magic Kingdom and boat to WL, or monorail to the Contemporary then the boat to WL, or launch (little boat) from GF to MK and bigger boat from MK to WL. All three sound a bit complicated, but any of the three would be much faster than walking. And despite salmoneous's advice, never try walking along a sidewalkless, open-to-the-public road at night

Now, salmoneous - the walks you describe sound extremely interesting in themselves. Any other suggestions for off-the-beaten-path walks at Walt Disney World?

 

[NotUrsula]

I suppose that if you really wanted to walk from GF to the CR (without pause) for exercise, you could do it by taking the ferry. Walk from GF to the TTC ferry landing, walk in place on the ferry deck (or do laps), then walk from the MK ferry landing to the CR.

Personally, I get lots of exercise walking around the parks and in the Boardwalk area, where we usually stay -- I don't feel the need to go to extraordinary lengths to get extra walking done in the MK neighborhood. We did do a walk from the TTC to the GF once, when both monorails were out of service due to a lightning strike, and we had to pick up DS from one of the children's programs. Even right after a rain, that was a long, hot walk in September heat.

 

[disneyfansmandl]

Question, we are staying at CBR for the first time next weekend. Can you walk to the Boardwalk area from there?

Thanks for any help.

 

[TyGuy]

Question, we are staying at CBR for the first time next weekend. Can you walk to the Boardwalk area from there?

Thanks for any help.

In order not to bring down the wrath of Major Pet Peeve... Oh wait, that wasn't someone's name While not impossible, this would be a difficult walk since you would need to cross Buena Vista Dr.

However, if you could walk over to MGM from CBR then use the walkway to the Boardwalk.

 

[salmoneous]

In order not to bring down the wrath of Major Pet Peeve... Oh wait, that wasn't someone's name While not impossible, this would be a difficult walk since you would need to cross Buena Vista Dr.

Sorry - was I wrathy in my last post? If I ever get too far out of hand, just give me a "lighten up Francis".

Anyway, check out this Satellite View of the intersection of Buena Vista with Victory Way near the CBR. You'll see the stoplight and crosswalk that should make getting across Buena Vista not so scary. You'll also see the path going off to the left that connects to the path that goes between the Boardwalk Inn and MGM.

You'll also notice that in the photo, the walkway just dead ends at that corner and doesn't go into the CBR. Which is what it did last time I was there. I assumed they would extend that path into the CBR - anyone know if they've done that?

Assuming it still just ends there, you would have to walk along Buena Vista or Victory to get to that corner. Or do what I do (note - this is probably NOT an approved Disney action - not sure where it falls on the pool-hoping scale of naughtiness) and just cut across the grass.

 

[PCFriar80]

In order not to bring down the wrath of Major Pet Peeve... Oh wait, that wasn't someone's name While not impossible, this would be a difficult walk since you would need to cross Buena Vista Dr.

However, if you could walk over to MGM from CBR then use the walkway to the Boardwalk.

There is a crosswalk Victory Lane and Buena Vista, just across from the Lego Firestation. My DW and I walk to EC and the Boardwalk all of the time when we stay at CBR. It's about a 30 minute walk and all sidewalks and crosswalks once you cross at Victory and Buena Vista. The only "non-sidewalk" part is walking on the lawn adjacent the Aruba bus stop to get to the intersection.

 

[TyGuy]

Sorry - was I wrathy in my last post? If I ever get too far out of hand, just give me a "lighten up Francis".

Not too wrathy... but for some reason "Major Pet Peeve" struck me as funny.

I stand corrected about the walk from CBR to BW. It actualy doesn't sound like a bad walk at all. This is comming from a guy who was one of the "fence hoppers" who walked from MGM to the YC before they officially opened the walkway.

 

[disneyfansmandl]

Thanks for the info. I think we may try it. And don't worry about a Major Pet Peeve. I think it's pretty minor compared to some of mine. A lot cleaner language too.

 

[PCFriar80]

Not too wrathy... but for some reason "Major Pet Peeve" struck me as funny.

I stand corrected about the walk from CBR to BW. It actualy doesn't sound like a bad walk at all. This is comming from a guy who was one of the "fence hoppers" who walked from MGM to the YC before they officially opened the walkway.

Now that's funny!! We did the same thing! Well sorta. We're not the fence
scaling type people....but we would walk up that path to the road and dart across the street, down the other side to pick up the sidewalk again!

 

[CleveRocks]

Sorry - was I wrathy in my last post? If I ever get too far out of hand, just give me a "lighten up Francis".

Thank you, Sgt. Hulka.

That's the fact, Jack.