What's behind the magic kingdom?

There is a sign just past the Contemporary that reads "Authorized vehicles only". Pretty sure this means the backstage road is not "open to the public".

No such sign. Perhaps at the entry to some of the side roads off World Drive but not on World Drive itself. It most definitely is open to the public.

BobK/Orlando
 
No such sign. Perhaps at the entry to some of the side roads off World Drive but not on World Drive itself. It most definitely is open to the public.

BobK/Orlando

I even "rode" on the loop around MK on google earth. (yes I'm that pathetic when it comes to Disney.)
 
No such sign. Perhaps at the entry to some of the side roads off World Drive but not on World Drive itself. It most definitely is open to the public.

BobK/Orlando

Are you sure there is no such sign? I seem to recall that there were two, on either side of World Drive, just past the last Contemporary parking entrance/exit. Not big ones, mind you - speed limit sized. And there are NO direction signs of the sorts on the guest roads at all.
 

I even "rode" on the loop around MK on google earth. (yes I'm that pathetic when it comes to Disney.)

Ah, that was a good idea. Here is a link to the sign I believe is the one via Google maps. If you turn and look at the opposite side of the road there is another. You can't make it out, but it's 4 works, the last three look like they could be "Authorized Vehicles Only" - the first could be "Disney". There is also another in the turnout that goes to the backstage cast parking in Tomorrowland.

Both signs on World Drive point towards northbound traffic, even though it is a two-way road, so they are meant to be read by northbound traffic only. Interestingly, you'd only see them "too late", without a decent option to turn around.
 
Ah, that was a good idea. Here is a link to the sign I believe is the one via Google maps. If you turn and look at the opposite side of the road there is another. You can't make it out, but it's 4 works, the last three look like they could be "Authorized Vehicles Only" - the first could be "Disney". There is also another in the turnout that goes to the backstage cast parking in Tomorrowland.

Both signs on World Drive point towards northbound traffic, even though it is a two-way road, so they are meant to be read by northbound traffic only. Interestingly, you'd only see them "too late", without a decent option to turn around.

which basically means that one would have to continue around the loop.
 
which basically means that one would have to continue around the loop.

Or pull in to one of the fenced turnouts and turn around.

I have some vague recollection of the very first time we went down of having accidentally missed the turn to the Poly, seen the signs, but ended up having to follow the road because there was no other way, but DW doesn't remember it.
 
Or pull in to one of the fenced turnouts and turn around.

I have some vague recollection of the very first time we went down of having accidentally missed the turn to the Poly, seen the signs, but ended up having to follow the road because there was no other way, but DW doesn't remember it.

It's also more fun to go around (although a pp said there isn't much to see, which is what google basically showed me.)
 
It's also more fun to go around (although a pp said there isn't much to see, which is what google basically showed me.)

Yeah...you get a quick glance at the monorail maintenance facility, but that's pretty boring during the day :)

I like how Google still lists a short segment between World Drive and Floridian Way as "Asian Ln". The Floridian was later built where the original Asian Resort was planned.
 
Yeah...you get a quick glance at the monorail maintenance facility, but that's pretty boring during the day :)

I like how Google still lists a short segment between World Drive and Floridian Way as "Asian Ln". The Floridian was later built where the original Asian Resort was planned.

and in google maps, "living seas" has an airport symbol on it, probably due to the fact a helipad was back there a while ago. Also, the road behind it is called avenue of the stars (I was originally looking for the exact name of the street behind it, and got the airport symbol as an added bonus.) :banana:
 
and in google maps, "living seas" has an airport symbol on it, probably due to the fact a helipad was back there a while ago. Also, the road behind it is called avenue of the stars (I was originally looking for the exact name of the street behind it, and got the airport symbol as an added bonus.) :banana:

Yeah, I'm not sure why the name Avenue of the Stars - seems more appropriate for DHS.

FYI, Google Earth 6 has a neat new feature - you can see past satellite images with a slider so you can switch between different years. The WDW images go back to 1995.
 
Yeah, I'm not sure why the name Avenue of the Stars - seems more appropriate for DHS.

FYI, Google Earth 6 has a neat new feature - you can see past satellite images with a slider so you can switch between different years. The WDW images go back to 1995.

I noticed that, and actually did it this past weekend. Kind of weird seeing AK as a plowed over area of land, although it doesn't look like that much has changed from above (my first trip was in 97, and I was like 2 then so I really don't know what was/wasn't there.)

on a seperate note, where do you live in Mass., givin the tornados going on today.
 
FYI, Disney has some control over the homes, kinda like a homeowners association. As for the Four Seasons, they wanted them to come in - but like I said, as far as I know they haven't even started the building yet, so I'm not sure what's happening there.

There are still homes slated to be built, but I think Four Seasons may have dumped that piece back to Disney. Check out the Golden Oaks info, here:

http://disneygoldenoak.disney.go.com/

They're being built adjacent to the new Four Seasons resort (whenever that gets built). I'm pretty sure they're being built on the parcel that was originally going to be for the Four Seasons Fractional Ownership homes....where the former Eagle Pines was.

I'm not sure if they've broken ground yet, or not.
 
There are still homes slated to be built, but I think Four Seasons may have dumped that piece back to Disney. Check out the Golden Oaks info, here:

http://disneygoldenoak.disney.go.com/

They're being built adjacent to the new Four Seasons resort. I'm pretty sure they're being built on the parcel that was originally going to be for the Four Seasons Fractional Ownership homes....where the former Eagle Pines was.

I'm not sure if they've broken ground yet, or not.

They definitely dropped the homes part back to Disney. As of the sat images from a year ago, you can already see that they cleared out some of the land and prepped some portion of the roadways, even paved some. I still haven't had the chance to look at Bing's aerial views, which are sometimes newer.

Edit: I checked Bing, which they seem to have somehow made more annoying - the angled aerial views are definitely slightly older, when you can find the right direction and zoom level to see them. I finally figured out how to get just the plain satellite view, and it appears to be more recent than the GE images. I've never seen anything that defines what is going where, but the left side of the development could be part of the Four Seasons. There are several buildings under construction right as you go in, but they are awfully close to each other to be luxury homes - could be villas for the resort. There are a couple more buildings under construction just north of there as well.

It looks strange though because there is already a pool-type structure built, and a lot of finishing work around it...while the buildings are just getting started...

No home construction of Golden Oak to be seen yet, but no idea what the age of the images are.
 
... You can't make it out, but it's 4 works, the last three look like they could be "Authorized Vehicles Only" - the first could be "Disney". There is also another in the turnout that goes to the backstage cast parking in Tomorrowland.

Both signs on World Drive point towards northbound traffic, even though it is a two-way road, so they are meant to be read by northbound traffic only. Interestingly, you'd only see them "too late", without a decent option to turn around.

It's a standard sign used all over property and it says "Service & Authorized Vehicles Only". If you look at Black Lake Rd south of Animal Kingdom you can see this same sign and actualy read it.

The signs are over on Floridian way just after the GF entrance too going north.
 
There is a sign just past the Contemporary that reads "Authorized vehicles only".

Pretty sure this means the backstage road is not "open to the public".
That's 100% false. Whenever my family and I go to the Winter Garden Shopping Plaza we always drive past the Contemporary and go behind the Magic Kingdom where they have the Monorail service station, Disney University and the Cast Member parking lot for those who work at the Magic Kingdom. Each time driving there we have never had any issues or someone saying we are not allowed to drive there.
 
That's 100% false. Whenever my family and I go to the Winter Garden Shopping Plaza we always drive past the Contemporary and go behind the Magic Kingdom where they have the Monorail service station, Disney University and the Cast Member parking lot for those who work at the Magic Kingdom. Each time driving there we have never had any issues or someone saying we are not allowed to drive there.

The signs exist. Doesn't mean the Disney police are going to arrest you though. But it's not "false".
 
The signs exist. Doesn't mean the Disney police are going to arrest you though. But it's not "false".
But to actually say cars that are not authorized can not drive past there is false, since it's something my family and I have done. Plus I am sure a lot of other regular guests drive past there and are not authorized according to that sign.
 
No home construction of Golden Oak to be seen yet, but no idea what the age of the images are.

Was going through the Orange County website for Notices of Commencement and saw that someone purchased a lot there to build on. Haven't driven in there so can't say what's going on. If I get a chance, I will.

BobK/Orlando
 
Was going through the Orange County website for Notices of Commencement and saw that someone purchased a lot there to build on. Haven't driven in there so can't say what's going on. If I get a chance, I will.

BobK/Orlando

If I remember the ownership agreements, they can choose one of several designs approved by Disney, but can't just build whatever they want. They are essentially buying the house as well, not just the lot - whether the house has been built yet or not.

Unless of course things have changed yet again :)
 


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