Walkway from AKV to AK Park

[CarolAnnC]

it can have a fence, i think some people are really not fully getting a clear picture of what this could be.

I dont think it would be a 2 foot wide path with a 4 ft chain link fence on either side. nor would it be a dirt path running right through a pack of wild animals or gators

gators and other animals would have zero effect on a potential path

and even by some wild crazy occurance a gator did get anywhere near that path---what are you going to do go up and pet it?

We encountered an alligator when leaving Orlando International Airport just a couple of years ago. It was about 9 pm at night and dark out. The two cars ahead of us on the airport access highway suddenly started veering way over, almost running off the road. I thought they were drunk..

There it was, a huge alligator about 7 feet long or so, and it was racing and I mean RACING across the highway. I thought it was a cougar at first! Man, those things can run so fast, I could not believe my eyes. If anyone ever encountered one of those on a path at AK I can assure you they would never have to approach to pet it. It would be draggin you off within seconds I am sure...

 

[sjdisneywedding]

We encountered an alligator when leaving Orlando International Airport just a couple of years ago. It was about 9 pm at night and dark out. The two cars ahead of us on the airport access highway suddenly started veering way over, almost running off the road. I thought they were drunk..

There it was, a huge alligator about 7 feet long or so, and it was racing and I mean RACING across the highway. I thought it was a cougar at first! Man, those things can run so fast, I could not believe my eyes. If anyone ever encountered one of those on a path at AK I can assure you they would never have to approach to pet it. It would be draggin you off within seconds I am sure...

fair enough, but I still dont see how any animal or gator or anything unwanted for that matter, panther included, would ever get onto an enclosed path

 

[Caskbill]

The probability that Disney will build a walking path, enclose it, light it, and create a new AK entrance, and staff that, is about zero.

There's no real cost payback.

Now what to me would make some sense is something that would completely eliminate the bus service totally. That would mean a transportation system capable of moving all guests, ECV, strollers, et al.

I can think of 3 things:

1. A people mover, elevated, similar to the TTA, and enclosed from the weather.

2. A tram, eg LasVegas's trams, like the one between Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur, or the one between Treasure Island and the Mirage. It could be a monorail, or steel rails like the two mentioned. In Vegas, both of these trams are powered by a moving cable.

3. An actual Train of some kind, similar to the one that goes out to Rafiki's station. It would be themed for an AK - AKL/AKV atmosphere. Designed for quick loading/unload, and capable of strollers etc. It would make sense if it was on a single track, and could move in both directions. Possibly powered by a cable as the LasVegas trams operate. If they did it right and it was basically a straight shot to the main entrance, I could see putting a walking path next to the rails, for those guests who want. Similar to the walking path between ToonTown and Space Mountain, which basically parallels the train tracks for that section.

If the AKL/AKV to AK busses are completely eliminated, there is some payback. If they designed a system so it was cheaper to operate than the bus system, then they may eventually save money. I've got to believe that using an electrically operated cable driven tram would be a lot cheaper than running diesel busses.

Of course they would have to go to the main entrance gate. If they have to build a new entrance, that would offset any potential savings.

They would need a backup system, but the current bus system could probably serve that purpose. If the system went down for a short period, they could route existing busses temporarily.

Just .02

 

[simzac]

Good ideas Caskbill. I like the elevated tram especially with a view looking down at the animals as you travel.

 

[fishermouse]

HAs any one bothered to look at a map.. You can get to the front gate without going over the river and through the woods. since this is WDW you will have to do some walking to get there. but nothing unreasonable for those that enjoy the walk. Part of the path would be sidewalks near the road thest could cut through some wooded area but not the annimal pens. Having said that a nice monorail ride over the annimals would be nice...

 

[sjdisneywedding]

HAs any one bothered to look at a map.. You can get to the front gate without going over the river and through the woods. since this is WDW you will have to do some walking to get there. but nothing unreasonable for those that enjoy the walk. Part of the path would be sidewalks near the road thest could cut through some wooded area but not the annimal pens. Having said that a nice monorail ride over the annimals would be nice...

lol, you have an uphill battle on your hands here. I tried that point of view for days going back and forth. for some reason people just cant get the distance, location, and animals out of their head long enough to consider the options

I never really was saying it will or wont, noone really knows that. All I am/was saying is that it can and its not that far fetched

I do agree a monorail or those options mentioned would be better than a path any day of the week

 

[crisi]

HAs any one bothered to look at a map.. You can get to the front gate without going over the river and through the woods. since this is WDW you will have to do some walking to get there. but nothing unreasonable for those that enjoy the walk. Part of the path would be sidewalks near the road thest could cut through some wooded area but not the annimal pens. Having said that a nice monorail ride over the annimals would be nice...

Yep, used walkjogrun.net to calculate some distances. Its about twice the walk (a little less, if I remember right) that it is from MGM to BW to get to the current gate of AK from the closest edge of AKL. The MGM to BW walk is - as far as I can tell from taking it a few times each trip and reading comments about it on the board - underused because its too far a walk, people would rather take the slow boat. Its about the distance from MGM to Epcot - and I've almost never seen people recommend that walk - with the exception of if you are trying to do Illuminations and Fantasmic in a single night.

You can cut it down to half a mile (about the MGM/BW distance) but you'd need to put in a new entrance in order to do that - and go "over the river and through the woods."

I think this is a little like talking about putting is a walk from OKW to Epcot - it isn't far, but you'd need to put a bridge over the highway and take guests backstage to make it a reasonable walk.

Disney isn't really designed to walk around. The parks are - but you can't even walk from the Grand Floridian to the MK next door (unless you want to go via the CR). Bridging the channel is not any more difficult than some of the ideas proposed here. Creating ways to walk around Disney isn't a priority for Disney.

Doesn't mean it wouldn't be cool, but I think we are talking about the likelihood of such a thing, not whether it would be cool (because a moving sidewalk or tram over the Savannah would, of course, be very cool.)

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Yep, used walkjogrun.net to calculate some distances. Its about twice the walk (a little less, if I remember right) that it is from MGM to BW to get to the current gate of AK from the closest edge of AKL. The MGM to BW walk is - as far as I can tell from taking it a few times each trip and reading comments about it on the board - underused because its too far a walk, people would rather take the slow boat. Its about the distance from MGM to Epcot - and I've almost never seen people recommend that walk - with the exception of if you are trying to do Illuminations and Fantasmic in a single night.

You can cut it down to half a mile (about the MGM/BW distance) but you'd need to put in a new entrance in order to do that - and go "over the river and through the woods."

I think this is a little like talking about putting is a walk from OKW to Epcot - it isn't far, but you'd need to put a bridge over the highway and take guests backstage to make it a reasonable walk.

Disney isn't really designed to walk around. The parks are - but you can't even walk from the Grand Floridian to the MK next door (unless you want to go via the CR). Bridging the channel is not any more difficult than some of the ideas proposed here. Creating ways to walk around Disney isn't a priority for Disney.

Doesn't mean it wouldn't be cool, but I think we are talking about the likelihood of such a thing, not whether it would be cool (because a moving sidewalk or tram over the Savannah would, of course, be very cool.)

I agree it wouldnt be the shortest walk in the "World", but the examples you are describing have a few different variables involved. The AKl/AKV doesnt have a boat option or a monorail option. Theres really no need to walk from the GF to MK since there is a monorail. Boats although slow are sort of cool and fun, busses will never be cool or fun(unless you are talking a party bus in the caribbean) .


At AK there is only the busses. no other deluxe resort has to rely soley on busses to get everywhere. also, most of the resorts, deluxe or not, have somewhere to go without relying on busses.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I hate to keep harping on it, but even going to the main entrance you are only looking at approx the distance from the S/D to Epcot's back entrance

not short, but certainly managable

 

[famsen]

I think a walkway connecting AKL/AKV to AK woudl be a fabulous idea!

 

[wildernessDad]

I used Gmaps Pedometer to map out a path. It's a little over a mile in length. You can find it here.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1464293

Of course this isn't official, just my playing with Gmaps.

It would be like walking around World Showcase, the length that is.

 

[crisi]

At AK there is only the busses. no other deluxe resort has to rely soley on busses to get everywhere. also, most of the resorts, deluxe or not, have somewhere to go without relying on busses.

Each resort has something - or lacks something - other resorts have. AKL has the best food court of the Deluxes - BW has nothing other than the Boardwalk Bakery. ALL the Deluxes have a signature restaurant - except the Poly. Grand Floridian has TWO. Some Deluxe resorts have marinas, some don't, some have kids clubs, some don't. When a person chooses a resort, they line up what they need with what the resort has and they make a decision. AKL has a lot of stuff that is attractive - the animals to start with. A zero entry pool. The best (IMO) resort programming. Fantastic theming. They have been having occupancy issues, but it seems like the DVC conversion has been designed to address that.

At the time they built AK and AKL, all the Deluxe resorts had park access other than buses. If they felt that was a non-negotiable Deluxe resort attribute, they would have done something to build it in when the resort and park were built - a canal with a boat, a train, or a path.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I would love to have a walkway, but why would it have to lead to the main entrance? Why couldn't there be a second entrance similar to the International Gateway?

MG

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Each resort has something - or lacks something - other resorts have. AKL has the best food court of the Deluxes - BW has nothing other than the Boardwalk Bakery. ALL the Deluxes have a signature restaurant - except the Poly. Grand Floridian has TWO. Some Deluxe resorts have marinas, some don't, some have kids clubs, some don't. When a person chooses a resort, they line up what they need with what the resort has and they make a decision. AKL has a lot of stuff that is attractive - the animals to start with. A zero entry pool. The best (IMO) resort programming. Fantastic theming. They have been having occupancy issues, but it seems like the DVC conversion has been designed to address that.

At the time they built AK and AKL, all the Deluxe resorts had park access other than buses. If they felt that was a non-negotiable Deluxe resort attribute, they would have done something to build it in when the resort and park were built - a canal with a boat, a train, or a path.

I agree with you, I am not saying AKL/AKV is lacking amenities or it should not be a deluxe resort by any stretch of the imagination.

I happen to love AKV, which is why we bought in there. But that said I hate the busses. I realize they are a good system for WDW and many use and like them,but they are not for me whatsoever. Thats why we drive or rent a car

taking busses to me feels like I am in the city or back in school, not on vacation

Im strictly saying it certainly would not hurt in any way to have another option there to get somewhere. I doubt at this point they are going to build a monorail or a canal.

I am the biggest opponent of the theory "they would have built it from the start" "or its not there now, why would they add it".

Its just absolutley nuts to know how things will plan out, you can use that arguement for anything

 

[simzac]

I agree it wouldnt be the shortest walk in the "World", but the examples you are describing have a few different variables involved. The AKl/AKV doesnt have a boat option or a monorail option. Theres really no need to walk from the GF to MK since there is a monorail. Boats although slow are sort of cool and fun, busses will never be cool or fun(unless you are talking a party bus in the caribbean) .


At AK there is only the busses. no other deluxe resort has to rely soley on busses to get everywhere. also, most of the resorts, deluxe or not, have somewhere to go without relying on busses.

Call me weird if you like, but I think the buses are both cool and fun.

 

[simzac]

I would love to have a walkway, but why would it have to lead to the main entrance? Why couldn't there be a second entrance similar to the International Gateway?

MG

Based on the map 2 posts above yours, it looks to me that a path could only go to the main entrance. JMO

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I would love to have a walkway, but why would it have to lead to the main entrance? Why couldn't there be a second entrance similar to the International Gateway?

MG

IMO there totally could be. others have suggested the cost of maintaining a second entrance would not be financially feasible.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Call me weird if you like, but I think the buses are both cool and fun.

lol, hey to each their own, I dont believe theres anything against thinking buses aree cool and fun, just not my idea of deluxe resort transportation options

 

[Dsnyvryyear]

I think the primary reasons for not making long walkways is that Disney likes to keep all of the behind the scenes just that. They don't want you to see a tractor Trailer full of Hippo Dumpings pulling out from a dumpster behind a large industrial building. Every walkway, road, jogging path is carefully planned to keep the image of being in a clean new world. Also the gators, I watched them catch a 3ft one on Tom Sawyers Island a year ago. If they can make it into one of the most protected parks they must be everywhere.

JMHO

 

[SamSam]

I used Gmaps Pedometer to map out a path. It's a little over a mile in length. You can find it here.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1464293

Of course this isn't official, just my playing with Gmaps.

It would be like walking around World Showcase, the length that is.

Dh and I would love this! We enjoy the walkway from BCV to Mgm and it looks like this would be similar. I really hope that WDW decides a walkway between AKV and AK is a good idea.