Grand Floridian Expansion

[theBIGyowski]

I wonder if they could build some kind of transportation that is ground-based that runs from GF to MK. It would not be a bus...but maybe some kind of shuttle-train or something. You could come at it from that side of the Seven Seas Lagoon...which I assume would not mess up the flow of traffic.

Adding all of those BLT rooms probably didn't make the kind of impact that adding rooms to GF would...simply because you can walk to MK from BLT and the Contemporary. But to other parks...definitely a big increase in load.

Oddly enough, last time I stayed at the Contemporary, they were very active in discouraging us from walking back and forth to the MK.

Very interesting. How so? What was said?

I have never made that walk before...do you have to walk across streets and possibly interfering with bus traffic? That is the only reason I could see them ever wanting people to not walk between the Contemporary and MK.

[Wizzard419]

That and the wild chupacabras they release into the area.

WIth the monorail, it's kind of a bad design when you think about it, there really is no need for a human operator anymore. Airports (and the getty) have been using driverless systems for years and the records have been clean. The only problem is that people would still be waiting (on the tracks or in the stations).It doesn't really matter how much a guest pays, if there is no means to reduce the wait times in a meaningful way then they will just have to just delay their enjoyment.

It makes me wonder if the fuse for people is cut way short when waiting for vacation resort transport though. I was at disneyland one day and they were loading both sides of the tram loading area since it was a busy-ish day. The tram stops at the one on the other side of the area (roughly 30 feet away) and she snaps at the CM demanding to know why the tram stopped there. Cue 10 seconds later the other tram pulls into the area.

[fancyfeet]

It makes me wonder if the fuse for people is cut way short when waiting for vacation resort transport though. I was at disneyland one day and they were loading both sides of the tram loading area since it was a busy-ish day. The tram stops at the one on the other side of the area (roughly 30 feet away) and she snaps at the CM demanding to know why the tram stopped there. Cue 10 seconds later the other tram pulls into the area.

I think some people just have short fuse on vacation in general. I have seen so many people at disney go off on innocent CM's for absolutely nothing. Those are the ones you wish you could send back to their resorts for a nap!

[DIAC1987]

Disney is being quite optimistic. Attendance numbers are down and what do they do? Build more hotel rooms

[horizons1]

This is another perfect reason to complete the walkway between MK and GF that currently ends where the boats go backstage. They could add a rotating bridge like what they have for the train behind Big Thunder, only smaller scale since it would only be for pedestrians.

[Wizzard419]

I forgot they have a similar attitude when it comes to walking from Epcot/resorts to DHS. The boats move so slow I can jog there faster.

I wonder if they found something like "if a guest has to walk there they will be less likely to stay as long and spend money".

[Amy]

I forgot they have a similar attitude when it comes to walking from Epcot/resorts to DHS. The boats move so slow I can jog there faster.
I wonder if they found something like "if a guest has to walk there they will be less likely to stay as long and spend money".

You might have something there. Time spent walking could be time spent in the parks spending money?

[Wizzard419]

I was thinking more along the lines of energy expended, if you walk there you may not stay as long since you took a healhty walk/jog. With the path from the resorts to DHS it runs mostly parallel to it and as long as you can get an average speed over like 4-5 MPH (I forgot what the "friendships" run at) you will beat it there since they are really slow and make stops.

[Amy]

I was thinking more along the lines of energy expended, if you walk there you may not stay as long since you took a healhty walk/jog. With the path from the resorts to DHS it runs mostly parallel to it and as long as you can get an average speed over like 4-5 MPH (I forgot what the "friendships" run at) you will beat it there since they are really slow and make stops.

Oh, I see. I would guess the few extra minutes walking from your resort doesn't make that big of a difference when you are walking for 10-12 hours anyhow...

[Wizzard419]

I wonder if Disney does expect a significant upturn in tourisim in the next few years? Since ideally the time to build (as someone pointed out) is when the econ is low so contractor and materials costs are lower and you can have it completed right as people start coming back. I know their stated numbers have not been too bad (if I recall they are still going up).

[Stitch's Cousin]

Disney is being quite optimistic. Attendance numbers are down and what do they do? Build more hotel rooms

This expansion is very likely based to some degree on how quickly Bay Lake Tower DVC is selling despite the sour economy. As I think a previous poster stated, if buying into DVC, many people would rather be right next to one of the theme parks. Especially a monorail resort. Since people are willing to pay, Disney will gladly take the hefty buy-in fees for DVC NOW (assuming the GF expansion is DVC) and work on filling up regular resort rooms with "discounts" as needed in the coming years.

I really doubt the expansion plans would be moving forward at this time if it weren't for the success of BLT.

[Polynesian Princess]

I have never made that walk before...do you have to walk across streets and possibly interfering with bus traffic? That is the only reason I could see them ever wanting people to not walk between the Contemporary and MK.

I've not walked it personally, but from driving around there I don't think it does. It runs on the right side parallel to the buses heading into the MK.

[Wizzard419]

I really doubt the expansion plans would be moving forward at this time if it weren't for the success of BLT.

You would be amazed at what companies will build when they have a signed contract. There are a few office parks in Irvine where they are either totally empty or sparsely populated (for years) and they are building more offices because they have to.

[momeja]

It shocks me because I had thought DVC sales were going down due to the current slow economy....

After 9/11, Disney watched its value plummet because no one was visiting the theme parks. It figured out that what it needed to do was stop focusing on one-time visitors and focus instead on repeat customers. And there are no better repeat customers than folks who've bought a piece of the mouse by buying a timeshare.

So, although sales may be down from prior to 2008, I think DVC is a long term strategy of Disney's and one we'll see for a long time to come.

That said, though, I don't know if the GF expansion will be more DVC or a more extensive conference facility. I could see that, too.

[leblanan]

I have never made that walk before...do you have to walk across streets and possibly interfering with bus traffic? That is the only reason I could see them ever wanting people to not walk between the Contemporary and MK.

I've not walked it personally, but from driving around there I don't think it does. It runs on the right side parallel to the buses heading into the MK.

It could be there's also a safety component too. Towards the end of the walk as you're nearing the Magic Kingdom, you are right along side the bus stop with lots of buses going through there and no fencing separating you. They have had a few bus incidents over the last couple of years.