Disney World Building Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian Walkway
Walt Disney World will soon build a path between Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian. While this has been rumored for decades, Disney has finally filed a new permit with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with a title that’s a dead giveaway: “GRAND FLORIDIAN TO MK WALKWAY.” Subsequent to this, Disney has confirmed that the project is, indeed, a walking path between the park and monorail loop resorts.
“Building” a path is probably a misnomer, as most of this path has existed for years. It’s the infamous “pathway to nowhere” and there’s a decent chance some of you have fallen prey to it. Upon finding a long monorail line after the Magic Kingdom fireworks, perhaps you’ve spotted a tranquil, illuminated pathway leading towards Grand Floridian.
What a great, stress-relieving convenience! Or so you might’ve thought at first, enjoying a nice stroll over ‘Walk Around the World’ pavers, delightful views of Seven Seas Lagoon, and the warm glow of lamps overhead. That is, until arriving at the end-end of the path and having to turn around, walk back to Magic Kingdom, and wait in that long monorail line. Not that we know from experience or anything. At first blush, the completion of this pathway seems like pretty great news. There is a potential downside, though…
Before we get to that, let’s take a look where things presently stand on this confirmed project. We took a look on the resort monorail today, as it looks like prep work is already beginning for the bridge across the canal:
These photos are admittedly not the greatest, so it’s probably tough to see the white flags marking what, presumably, will be the new walkway connection.
Prior to that, the existing path is still in place, although it’s no longer accessible from Magic Kingdom due to the Walk Around the World removal work.
The downside is that the reason this path has never connected to Grand Floridian is because there’s a canal in between the resort and Magic Kingdom that leads to storage and maintenance facilities for Magic Kingdom’s fleet and floats used in the Electrical Water Pageant.
In order to complete this pathway between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Magic Kingdom, a bridge over this canal will be necessary. To allow for future (infrequent) maintenance, it’ll need to be a removable bridge of some sort. In order to allow for the daily use of the Electrical Water Pageant, it’ll pretty much need to be drawbridge.
That should raise some red flags. For years, we’ve joked that the only reason Electrical Water Pageant still exists is because the “team” behind it is a dude named Earl who Walt Disney World management forgot was on the payroll 3 decades ago. He hauls it around behind his 1970 Sears fishing boat every night, hoping none of the hotshots wise up.
Or should I say, half-joked. Electrical Water Pageant’s continued existence defies logic in the era of modern Walt Disney World. It wouldn’t surprise me if it flies under management’s radar, and I fear that it only continues to run nightly because it’s cheap. My concern is that any impediment to that “cheapness” could be the demise of Electrical Water Pageant.
I want to be abundantly clear here: Electrical Water Pageant does not necessarily have to be retired and there is not even a rumor that it will be retired. The bridge here could be a drawbridge or Electrical Water Pageant’s docking location could be moved. This is simply a worry of mine–there are simple solutions to this problem.
With Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary on the horizon, I’d hope that Electrical Water Pageant would be safe for at least the near future. However, so much has been changing these last few years that it being retired doesn’t seem outside the realm of possibilities. I’ll be seeing Electrical Water Pageant a few times this week just in case!
This would seem to be part of Walt Disney World’s plans to overhaul the park arrival experience, which is presently being carried out at both Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Most notably, this has entailed the controversial removal of the Walk Around the World bricks in front of Magic Kingdom and the TTC. It’s a bit ironic that these bricks are being removed just as this pathway full of them will finally start to see regular use.
This is just one of many infrastructure projects currently underway at Walt Disney World that range from new roadways and overpasses to the Skyliner gondola transportation system. Regardless of how you feel about individual projects, this massive undertaking is nice to see. It will alleviate stress on Walt Disney World’s strained infrastructure…although it could also be a harbinger of future crowds Walt Disney World is forecasting for the 50th Anniversary and beyond.
While we’re apprehensive about what will happen with the Electrical Water Pageant, the truth is that Walt Disney World could axe that any day for no reason at all, irrespective of this project. This would present a convenient excuse, but it’s not as if an excuse is needed.
With that in mind, we’re pretty excited about this pathway between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom. One of the reasons we favor the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower is because of the walking path, which is always more reliable and efficient than taking the monorail (it also has what’s consistently the shortest bag check line at Walt Disney World).
This new path will directly connect the Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to Magic Kingdom, which should be only a slightly longer walk than Magic Kingdom to Contemporary. It should also be noted that there’s an existing path between the Grand Floridian and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Additionally, there’s a path between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Polynesian. Finally, there’s a path between the Poly and Shades of Green.
We walk all of these paths with regularity, and in the future would absolutely walk from any of these three resorts to Magic Kingdom rather than taking the boat or monorail (well, for half the year; April through October are probably too hot and humid for the longer walks).
Ultimately, these longer walks certainly won’t be for everyone, but we far prefer being in control of our own destiny (so to speak) on foot than being beholden to Disney’s transportation. In fact, guests like us who will walk are probably in the minority, but even 10% fewer guests on the monorail will help ease the burden on that system. Color us cautiously optimistic about Walt Disney World’s new walkway project between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom!
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Your Thoughts
What do you think about the walkway project between the Magic Kingdom and these monorail loop resorts? Will you use it, or are you more worried about the potential loss of Electrical Water Pageant? Do you agree or disagree with our thoughts on this? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Tom,
We are planning our family trip for January 2021 and want the walking access to MK. We were planning BLT but this development would be a game changer. In your opinion, does the scope of work and pace in which they are working, lead you to believe it would be completed sooner than later? We are renting DVC and have to book 11 months out which is putting us in a predicament.
years ago my wife and I did fall for the “path to nowhere.” LOL we always stayed at GF and thought “hey we can walk from MK back to the resort!” suddenly we were faced with water!
was still a nice stroll.
it will be nice when finished. if one can walk from contemporary to polynesian (is there a path?) – guests can literally walk one big circle through all MK resorts, right?
Any news on an estimated completion date for the pathway between the Floridian and MK?
Do you think they will put some kind of barrier near the water? The path does get close to the water and I would be concerned about alligators and poisonous snakes. Especially at night and not being able to see them.
There is fencing near the water line at the Poly and GF, so it stands to reason they would do something similar to protect whatever foot path they put in.
Those who don’t live in Florida may have an exaggerated view of gator-human dynamics. Newscasts and urban legends don’t help. Gators don’t want to be around humans any more than we want to be around them. There are plenty of country clubs with gators living in ponds and water hazards on golf courses. Attacks on humans are quite rare. Attacks on golf balls landing a few inches offshore, not so rare. Gators see the splash and assume it’s food. Gators are single-focused creatures with brains the size of a walnut. They tend to attack only what they perceive as a meal. Most news stories of gator attacks involve a small pet getting eaten because its owner let it go too close to the edge of a pond. It’s extremely rare for a gator to attack an adult walking down the sidewalk. But it’s always best to put up protective fending, and avoid exposed areas where gators have been spotted before.
Hi Jay,
Yes I am very familiar with Florida’s critters. LOL I have close family all on the Gulf side. My mom lives on a water view and I am used to seeing gators as close as laying next to her screened lanai. So that is why I asked the question. All you need is 1 curious gator to cause a problem.
Thanks, Sherry
And people like you actually vote lol
actually I do not vote. I will leave that for you. It always amazes me why people have to be nasty.
Considering they already have the drawbridge at Epcot for the show barges, I don’t see this as an insurmountable obstacle. This should also allow for a full-circle jogging path around the lagoon, which could be a desirable outcome as well.
Will it be worth going to DW next summer with all the price increases and changes or should someone wait until 2021? Our 30 year wedding anniversary is 2020…..
One thing almost for sure is, prices won’t go down. If you postpone for a year, expect 2021 to be higher than 2020.
I’m really excited by this. I much prefer to walk places when I can and if even a few people do it it will make things more comfortable for those choosing to monorail or boat it over.
Any guess on how far of a walk it would be from shades of green to the park entrance once it’s complete?
We always walk from BLT
This is a great and well needed addition.
Love the idea of the new walking path, but do you think this will bring more non-GF / non-Poly guests to these hotels and make the hotel amenities more crowded? I’m thinking specifically about the folks that like to watch the fireworks from the beach at these resorts. The walkway will make it much easier for non-hotel guests to stroll over to the hotels and take advantage of grounds, restaurants and other facilities.
I don’t see that being an issue. Most people don’t even know to walk to Fantasyland for an uncrowded fireworks view, let alone to the resort beaches.
The biggest cause of crowds in the hotel lobbies and on the beaches is locals, many of whom do not have tickets or are blocked out. Walt Disney World has been very aggressive about not allowing resort parking this year (to an absurd point, in some cases), so I think this problem is already starting to be addressed.
Unfortunately, there will be some I’m sure. That’s been a long-term complaint of mine: monorail resorts filled with non-guests crowding the common areas. They use the Poly and GF to escape park crowds and heat, or to spend time at a higher-tier resort than the one they’re paying for… leaving registered guests to suffer the congestion. They’re blocked from the pools, but pretty much everything else is fair game. I’m NOT saying to lock down the resorts entirely, but in all fairness, there should be more areas reserved for registered guests only.
So in other words, make Chef Mickey off limits to those not staying at the Contemporary
“So in other words, make Chef Mickey off limits to those not staying at the Contemporary”
Peter Brennan, I never said that. In fact, I specifically said, “I’m NOT saying to lock down the resorts entirely.”
ADR is a perfectly valid reason for non-guests to be there.
What I am saying is, Disney needs to find sensible ways to mitigate some of the over-crowding from non-guests. MK gets hot and crowded, and I get that people want a break from the noise. But using the Poly/GF as their (free) personal escape zones, crowding the common areas, consuming chairs/couches in lobbies and quiet areas, congesting the monorail stations, and generally making it more difficult for registered guests to freely move around and enjoy the resort, isn’t fair to those paying to lodge there.
I live locally and visit the resorts often and have never seen “congestion,” other than maybe around Christmas-time when it’s fully booked anyway, and at that, it’s mostly the GF due to their displays. Disney promotes visiting the resorts because they feel if you like what you see, you will book a room there one day. Never mind the $$ they get when visitors make purchases at the food and gift shops. Their biggest issue is parking at the resorts to make sure guests have spaces which they are controlling. It would be impossible to have someone stand at entrances and check magic bands all day to make sure you are staying there.
Any idea on timeframe? The pathway is the main reason I love the Contemporary so much, but we have a stay at the Polynesian coming up in 2020.
Isn’t that canal how they get the riverboat and the jungle cruise boats to maintenance as well? For anything major that can’t be done at the ride location? So that would mean the drawbridge would be a necessity regardless of the Electric Water Parade which we love.
Your right about the riverboat. In fact, look at google maps now, and the Mark Twain is in the canal near another draw bridge and what appears to be a set of locks to equilize the water level between the lagoon and the rivers of america.
My guess is that they do not put in a draw bridge, but one that can be moved out of the way when the river boat requires maintenance. I don’t see the Water Pageant remaining in the canal. I hope they get rid of it. Sure, it’s nostalgic, but with the traffic on the lagoon at that time of night, having a 100ft string of rafts sort of gets in the way of all the other boats.
Using the distance tool on Google Maps, it’s about 3,000 feet from the closest point at the first canal at the GF to the entrance area, coming in from the boat launches at the MK. However, that’s presently a back area with delivery trucks, behind the business center, so the actual walkway might very well be longer. If it starts near Florida Way, around the front side of the business center, it adds around another 500 feet.
It’s still a great idea. A draw bridge or swing bridge would work just fine here. The alternative of a bridge raised to go over is also viable, but would need a gentle slope, and might not be as cost effective. Plus as a walking experience with kids and casual walkers, a climb like that is not preferred. The bridge would only need to be opened briefly twice a day, during a connecting period of time, and could otherwise be unmanned.
A cheaper option to keep the Electrical Water Pageant would be to make the bridge level about 10 feet so the boats could pass under it. That would cost more than a lower bridge but much less than a drawbridge. But a medieval crank and chain drawbridge would be much cooler.
I previously worked in monorails at WDW and would often get asked if the path led to Grand Floridian / is there a way to walk there so I imagine it will get quite a bit of use!