Walking to Grand Floridian?

[steve76]

Am I right in thinking that you cannot walk from the Magic Kingdom to the Grand Floridian, and that your only option is to use the Monorail?

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

You are correct. There is a canal in your way on the north side of the lake.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Am I right in thinking that you cannot walk from the Magic Kingdom to the Grand Floridian, and that your only option is to use the Monorail?

Or take the ferry to TTC and then walk,

or take the direct launch

Andrew

 

[steve76]

Thank you both. I had actually forgotten about the boats - duh!

It beats me why they don't build a bridge over the canal so that you can walk.

 

[Endeavour105]

Thank you both. I had actually forgotten about the boats - duh!

It beats me why they don't build a bridge over the canal so that you can walk.

Because the EWP barges are stored in the canal and the height of the bridge would be prohibitive due to the height of the EWP light panels...

Also, WDW is not going to go to the expense of building such a structure to accommodate the miniscule number of people wanting to walk to/from the MK from/to the GF.

 

[steve76]

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Because the EWP barges are stored in the canal and the height of the bridge would be prohibitive due to the height of the EWP light panels...

Also, WDW is not going to go to the expense of building such a structure to accommodate the miniscule number of people wanting to walk to/from the MK from/to the GF.

But the monorail already goes over the canal, so they would just have to build a tall enough bridge or a retractable/lifting/rotating bridge. However, I can appreciate that it wouldn't make much financial sense. It just pains me to have to use transportation to get somewhere when I can walk! To me, a hotel being within walking distance of the MK is a huge plus, but like you say, most people wouldn't walk anyway.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

Also, WDW is not going to go to the expense of building such a structure to accommodate the miniscule number of people wanting to walk to/from the MK from/to the GF.

What makes you thing the number is minuscule? Find any thread on the new DVC building at the Contemporary, and you'll see person after person explain how happy they will be to be walking distance to the MK. Find any thread talking about the Beach/Yacht club, and see all the folks explaining how great walking to Epcot is. I can point you to threads of folks begging Disney to build a walking path from AKV to DAK. While not everyone likes to walk, tons of people do.

There aren't any technological barriers to building a bridge over a canal. Disney is a pretty resourceful company - take a look at the moving bridges they use for the Illuminations barges at Epcot. For whatever reason, Disney chooses not to open up that pathway.

 

[CarolMN]

Maybe they also don't want guests to see some of the backstage areas the walking path would pass. But I think it is mostly the money for something that isn't necessary and will not generate any revenue.

FWIW, I'd much rather they spend available capital improvement money on things such as park attractions.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

What makes you thing the number is minuscule? Find any thread on the new DVC building at the Contemporary, and you'll see person after person explain how happy they will be to be walking distance to the MK. Find any thread talking about the Beach/Yacht club, and see all the folks explaining how great walking to Epcot is. I can point you to threads of folks begging Disney to build a walking path from AKV to DAK. While not everyone likes to walk, tons of people do.

Bay Lake Towers or Contemporary to MK are about a 6 minute walk; much faster than using the monorail if you include wait time.

Beach/Yacht clubs to Epcot are also only a short walk and often faster than waiting for the boat.

GF to MK would be a much longer walk, and far less popular.

Andrew

 

[Traveliz]

Just Friday night my daughter and I were lamenting the fact that you can't walk from MK to GF. I bet alot of people would do it.

Whenever I get one of those what would you like to see surveys I mention that.

Liz

 

[DisneyWalker44]

GF to MK would be a much longer walk, and far less popular.

Front door of the CR to MK is about .50 miles. Front door of the GF to MK would be about .67 miles. Is that really a "much longer walk"? You think that would be "far less popular"?

 

[goofy4tink]

Anyone stop to consider just how high the monorail is up at that point..where it crosses the water of the canal entrance??? Do you really think Disney is going to build a drawbridge at that level just to allow GF folks to walk to the MK??? I suppose it could be lower but it isn't the same as having a draw bridge at Epcot, over in the WS, to allow the fireworks barges through each night. Believe me...I realize there are a lot of folks that like to walk, and run, while on Disney property. But I stay at BW and there just isn't all that much foot traffic between BW and DHS. And there are still a ton of guests who use the boats to get to Epcot, rather than walk. I really doubt there would be all that many people that would make that trek from the GF to the MK....It is a long walk.

 

[steve76]

Anyone stop to consider just how high the monorail is up at that point..where it crosses the water of the canal entrance??? Do you really think Disney is going to build a drawbridge at that level just to allow GF folks to walk to the MK??? I suppose it could be lower but it isn't the same as having a draw bridge at Epcot, over in the WS, to allow the fireworks barges through each night. Believe me...I realize there are a lot of folks that like to walk, and run, while on Disney property. But I stay at BW and there just isn't all that much foot traffic between BW and DHS. And there are still a ton of guests who use the boats to get to Epcot, rather than walk. I really doubt there would be all that many people that would make that trek from the GF to the MK....It is a long walk.

Er, if it's a drawbridge then it can be at any height you want. It can be at the same level as the path. Alternatively they could just keep the EWP floats somewhere else, like where they keep all of the other boats. I really don't think it's beyond Disney's capability to find a workable solution to getting across a canal!

The distance from GF to MK is less that the distance from Spaceship Earth to the American pavillion in Epcot. The walk would be along the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon, passing beaches and woodland, with the resorts to look at and the monorail passing overhead. To me, that's a pleasant walk. I don't think that I'm that strange?!?

However I take the point that most people would still get the monorail or boat to the MK. But, I think that there would be a sizeable minority that would walk if it was an option - either as the main method of getting to the MK or to avoid waiting for the monorail or boat. I know that if I was staying at the GF it would be nice to know, for example, that if there was a queue for the monorail after Wishes I could just take a pleasant walk back to the hotel.

It would be a selling point for the GF - after all, they use it as a selling point for the Contemporary (inc. Bay Lake Tower) and the Epcot resorts. The fact that many people might not actually use the path is kind of irrelevant in this regard - it's still a selling point. Many people are sold on the idea of staying on site as they get access to Extra Magic Hours - but don't get up in time to use them.

I've talked before on the boards about why they don't build a path from the WL to the TTC or from AKL to the AK. I can understand, though, that these are usually the least expensive of the Deluxe Resorts and they use walking distance and monorail access as price discriminators between the resorts. But the GF is supposed to be the flagship resort, and the most expensive, so I can't help thinking they should have built a path.

I'm not seriously expecting Disney to build a bridge. It wouldn't cost much but the benefits would be difficult to quantify. I'm just slightly puzzled as to why they didn't do so when they built it in the first place.

 

[clkelley]

I'm not sure AT ALL why Disney discourages walking on so much of their property. There are sooooo many walkable distances, but without proper sidewalks, it's really not a good idea.

One prime example.

The entrance of Ft. Wilderness and the Epcot parking lot is only about 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile.

A small bridge and a railed-off golf cart path/walking path and parking area would be GREAT for Fort Guests.

 

[grimley1968]

I just looked at some satellite imagery via Google Maps of the area.

Yes, there is the canal where the EWP barges are stowed, but there is also a smaller canal directly to the north of GF. That would probably not be a major impediment to a bridge, since it doesn't look to be there for any other reason besides drainage.

Also, there is an existing paved, or maybe sand road (can't quite tell from the images) between the small canal and the bigger one that holds the EWP barges.

On MK side of the EWP canal is a red stone paved walkway already there (unless it's been torn up since the satellite photo was snapped). It's the same kind of pavement you walk on at the entrance to MK, and indeed it goes right up to that entrance.

It appears to me, having seen this, that WDW may have intended for there to be a walking path from GF to MK at one point, as the existing walking path goes right up to that EWP canal before ending. I'm betting the cost and logistical problems of crossing that EWP canal stopped the project in its tracks.

Finally, though, it's not much of a selling point for the GF to be able to say "You can walk to MK from here", when it has the monorail and boats already. It's one thing for EPCOT resorts to be able to say that about EPCOT, since it is pretty convenient, but then they don't have the monorail to whisk them right up to the front of EPCOT, like GF has with MK.

 

[steve76]

Finally, though, it's not much of a selling point for the GF to be able to say "You can walk to MK from here", when it has the monorail and boats already. It's one thing for EPCOT resorts to be able to say that about EPCOT, since it is pretty convenient, but then they don't have the monorail to whisk them right up to the front of EPCOT, like GF has with MK.

Well, when I booked my next trip, we narrowed our choice of hotel down to the Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Contemporary - because we wanted to be able to walk to at least one of the parks. I think it would be a selling point. But we'll have to agree to disagree!

 

[TheWog]

could be an environmental thing as well. Some sort of bug or bird habitat they discovered and couldn't disturb or something.

 

[grimley1968]

could be an environmental thing as well. Some sort of bug or bird habitat they discovered and couldn't disturb or something.

I doubt it. The walkway I was looking at looks much more well-kept than, say, 35 years old and never touched again (it's actually a continuation of the walkway you take to board one of the GF/Poly boats). It's hard to imagine they'd build such a nice looking (and appears to be lighted as well) path all the way to the canal, only to be stopped by an environmental review. It seems like that would occur before the first shovel of dirt was moved.

I bet they just got to the canal, and lost the financial will to bridge it with whatever would allow for foot traffic and those barges to go under it.

The other road/path on the far side of the EWP canal looks much less well-kept, as though no one rides it very much. It may be there to allow cranes to get up to the monorail tracks for maintenance, since it is about as close as you can get to that portion of the monorail without being in the water.

Looking at all that on a satellite image really does make me think they intended to build a walking track from GF to MK, but simply gave up when it came time to cross the EWP canal.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

While I can see Grand Floridian guests wanting a walkway when returning from the Magic Kingdom, let's not forget when going to the Magic Kingdom the Grand Floridian is the last stop on the Resort Monorail line, so their guests would have the shortest time ridding it. So I would say you need to take the good with the bad and if Grand Floridian guests want to get back there as fast as possible when leaving the Magic Kingdom, they can always take the boat if they don't want to ride all around on the Resort Monorail.

 

[ntsammy5]

Swim across the canal and be done with it!