Walk Around the World Bricks Being Removed at Magic Kingdom
As work continues to transform the Walt Disney World park arrival experience, bricks from “Disney’s Walk Around the World” will begin to being removed from Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center in the coming months. This is occurring due to walkway reconfigurations, plus more bag check stations, metal detectors, and other measures to aid in the screening of guests to expedite the park entry process.
Since they were not designed to be removed individually, the retired bricks will not be available for guests to take home. Instead, guests who sponsored a brick may purchase a commemorative version between now and August 31, 2019 at Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. in Magic Kingdom, the Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs, or later this spring on shopDisney.com.
Those who participated in the original Disney’s Walk Around the World program can stop into City Hall at Magic Kingdom or Guest Relations at Disney Springs to verify their purchase, at which time they’ll be given a one-time use voucher to purchase one commemorative 6” brick at a special price of $10. For those who didn’t participate but would like to purchase one, souvenir bricks are available to customize and purchase starting at $30 for the 6″ size or $50 for the 8″ size.
In their blog post announcing this, Disney notes that the bricks “were sold with the commitment that they would be displayed until 2011.” Many fans online have stated that they were promised the bricks would remain forever when they were purchased, but there’s presumably contractual fine print that contradicts such verbal commitments.
Interestingly, in reading the pamphlet for Disney’s Walk Around the World, it also explicitly states that there would be no remedy other than the refund of the sponsorship fee if the bricks were removed before the tenth anniversary of their installation. (This explains the 2011 date above–the last bricks were installed in 2001.)
As such, Walt Disney World selling the bricks now seems like a cross between a goodwill gesture to fans who thought their bricks would be permanent, and a way to make some money from fans who didn’t have the chance to buy bricks two decades ago. Most of us probably fall into the latter category.
We played around with the kiosks a bit, customizing a few different brick options, but ultimately didn’t buy. I don’t know what we’d do with a random new brick like this at home; it seemed a bit pointless. It’d be one thing if we had one previously and wanted to recreate that–we’d absolutely buy a commemorative replica. Buying for the first time now to own and display a random brick without any added meaning? Eh, to each their own, I guess.
This is the second ‘guest legacy’ project Walt Disney World has announced would be retired or relocated within the last few weeks, following Leave a Legacy. As previously covered in our Play Pavilion and New Park Entrance Announced for Epcot post, those tombstones will be removed and destroyed, with the photos relocated outside the park.
We lauded that change, as we’ve long derided Leave a Legacy as a war memorial and visual clutter overdue for removal. In this case, we don’t feel the same way.
Unlike Leave a Legacy, there’s no visual blight associated with Walk Around the World. Rather, it takes normal bricks and adds a personalized touch to them, being important to the guests who have one without detracting from the guest experience of those who don’t.
I’d go a step further and say that, even as someone who doesn’t have a Walk Around the World brick, I think they add to my experience in a small way. They remind me of the powerful impact Walt Disney World has had on thousands of families over the years, the milestones celebrated at the parks, etc. They’re not a big thing, but they’re non-intrusive and a charming touch.
I feel the same way about the Disney Vacation Member photos adorning the walls of Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West Resort. Those are even more personal, and have the added bonus of showcasing semi-vintage images of Walt Disney World. As with these bricks, those photos are a small way of humanizing Walt Disney World. Stuff like this helps rebuke the whole ‘faceless corporation’ label that’s sometimes given to Disney.
With all of that said, the operative word in all of the above should be “small.” These bricks are a small touch and add something small to my Magic Kingdom arrival experience. I’m far from upset about their removal, and if that paves the way for more efficient (or decluttered) security checkpoints and walkways, I’m all for it.
The other pressing question that should be on everyone’s mind right now is, “what does this mean for the walkway to nowhere?!” I assume that, like me, this has already caused you some sleepless nights.
For those who are unfamiliar with it, the walkway to nowhere is the walkway between the resort boat and monorail launches that looks like it leads to the Grand Floridian. It’s paved with the Walk Around the World bricks, has benches along the way, and street lamps marking the path…that results in a dead-end short of the Grand Floridian.
If you’ve ever watched this pathway from the monorail, you’ve undoubtedly seen people walking it, presumably bound for the Grand Floridian, only to (again presumably) get to the deep end with a confused look on their faces. This walkway is currently closed off, and it’s future is unclear.
The problem with finishing this walkway means some sort of bridge would need to be installed to connect the path to Grand Floridian. Such a bridge, if done incorrectly (or the least expensive route), could spell the demise of the Electrical Water Pageant. Obviously, there are other ways such a bridge could be done, but I’m not optimistic enough to think we’d get both a walkway to Grand Floridian and the continued run of Electrical Water Pageant.
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Your Thoughts
Do you have a Walk Around the World brick? Plan on purchasing a commemorative version? Do you agree or disagree with our perspective? 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!
Thé brick we had was bought for my husband, son, daughter and me by my in-laws. It was a great surprise. They knew how much we loved Disney World. We were excited to go to Disney to find our brick. It took us awhile, but we found it. We all laid on the ground in a circle with our heads surrounding our special brick. A kind person took our picture. That was more then 20 years ago. We still have that great photo. We would visit our brick over the years. Are names are probably worn away by now. It was a wonderful gift. We have the framed photo and our memories. Disney can recycle our brick.
I’m here now at WDW celebrating my 25 wedding anniversary in which I had purchased a brick and wanted to see it ! Realizing all bricks where completely gone while on the monorail going over, I stopped at magic kingdom guest services to ask? Seeing I get mail for everything at my house from Disney and they keep great records of my time spent money how many days etc but no mention of taking your memory away ! he said oh very sorry they should of informed you but here on this business card is a number to call , okay that you ! But later with classes in hand there is no number?? Wth Disney getting the runaround from a corporate vacuum for money!!
I remember we did get a voucher for a discount on a small plastic replica brick that was being sold through the Disney store but in the end, I didn’t bother.
My wife and I purchased our brick in 1994 am totally disappointed that we were never notified of the bricks removal. Never received voucher to purchase a commerative brick.
every comment that the folks said it is a sad day.
We have been members of Disney Vacation Club for 30 years and the brick was key to all our visits it was right in front of the Magic Kingdom just off the Monorail exit.
Glad I took many photos over the years
Can you buy a new brick for the new path
So can you buy a new brick to be placed on the new path
Not a good idea for Disney. They have finally taken the last step in removing any personal sentimental value of going to WDW. I can feel the difference when visiting. Had brick 25years ago when Disney really felt like a warm welcoming place to be, recent visits have the feeling of cold Buisness first feeling. My brick was the last thing to keep the magic feeling and the times past. The decision to remove will now take away any desire to ever return. May as well go to the local amusement park at home as that is what Disney is becoming. Will not be suckered into another WDW scam. See ya Mickey. What a shame….
We are sad our brick will go, but I still wonder why the “walk around the world” was never finished. That was the initial promise. Was the Electric Light Parade canal in the way? In which case, why say it was going to connect all the hotels with MK unless they had expected to stop the parade and build a bridge?
We visited Disney back in 1995 as a surprise for our sons. We purchased a brick in early spring and when we arrived at The Magic Kingdom, we had a cast member place a marker near our brick. Our sons were so excited to see our family’s names right near the entrance. I knew they wouldn’t be there forever but was a little disappointed to hear every single one of them would eventually be destroyed. I sent an email to Disney and so far, no response. Just hoping to hear from someone before time runs out.
Bought a brick in 1996 and is closer to the Grand Floridian. Any idea when those will be removed?
I was at the Magic Kingdom yesterday, and went to find my brick down by the Grand Floridian (W029) and the cast member told me that those were going to be some of the first to be removed. They will give you a voucher at City Hall to have a new 6″ commemorative brick made (to take home) for the cost of 10 dollars. My voucher says good until August 31, 2019. I just had to tell them the name of the brick’s sponsor and they were able to look up all the information necessary.
I am extremely disappointed that my family’s brick will no longer be there to visit on every trip! My father and I purchased this as a surprise gift for my mother. We frequent Disney as much as possible. To me, it is extra annoying that Disney is charging those who “sponsored” a brick that they are “allowing” us a one time voucher to purchase a commemorate brick at the bargain price of $10! WOW… Disney just couldn’t give the “sponsors” a replacement commemorative brick! It goes with the latest Disney trend (in my eyes) Disney just seems to be caring less about their loyal fans! Very disappointed
I will miss seeing our brick which dates back to 1994. It was the year our son was born and every time we fly across the pond, we make sure we stop by before entering into the MK. . Sometimes we each place our hands on the ground surrounding it and other times we place a foot and snap a photo.
i was hoping the commemorative brick would be an exact replica of the original with the year, section and brick number, as well as the names engraved in it and location of residence. Looking at the samples, it doesn’t appear to and therefore will have no real meaning for us.
What I think I will do if the brick is still intact when we arrive in May, is to take one last photo with either feet or hands, and have it enlarged, mounted and framed. Even though this will be a more pricey option, it will be more of a magical memory maker than the one they are offering.
I purchased this block back in 1995. My wife and I are DVC members and have be going to Disney frequently for over 40 years. The block is especially sentimental to us as our sons name also appears on the block. Our son, a police officer died during a training exercise in 1999. We visit this block at least twice a year and it brings back such good memories. We will miss it terribly.
I am terribly sorry about losing your beloved son. I also own a brick. Every time we visit Magic Kingdom, we take a picture of it. Sincerely, Paula Baione.
We purchased our brick in 2007, more then 10 years ago. Very disappointed in the last minute announcement of the brick walkway being removed in the coming months. The brick became part of our families vacation tradition , taking pictures of the kids every year with our brick. It will be a big disappointment that our first grandchild never had a chance to be part of this tradition.
Would you know if they were purchasable online? My husban’d and my 25th anniversary is coming up in a few years and I think he’d appreciate one as part of his gift. We wouldn’t be able to get back to Florida until after then so it’d be online or nothing for us.
i kind of always wanted a brick but we never had one. i think back in the 90s with the vacation packages that had so many extra options you could choose from, it was a choice but we typically went with other options. i read somewhere that at some point they would be offering an ornament version of the commemorative bricks, so i would get one of those and pretend we had a brick.
what surprises me about this is i figured those were out of the way enough, and makes me wonder just how extensive the new security checks are going to be that it requires digging these up. anything short of actual airport bag scanners is a fail. it would streamline everything to do with security checks and make the lines move so much faster just set it up like the airport, put all bags on the scanner, go through the metal detectors, pick up on the other side and go on your way.