Disney4me Posted March 5, 2021 Report Share Posted March 5, 2021 New walkway connects Magic Kingdom, Disney's Grand Floridian. Is this anything? View the full article I’m at Walt Disney World, walking away from Magic Kingdom and I’m thinking about David Letterman. More specifically I’m on the newish walkway that connects the theme park with Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and I’m thinking about Letterman. Remember how the talk-show host would introduce an act then turn to musical director/sidekick Paul Shaffer and say “Is this anything?” Orlando Magic TV announcer David Steele uses this with perhaps-significant NBA facts alongside Jeff Turner, too. o there in a strange no man’s land on the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon I ask myself the same question. Right now I’m going with “well, sorta.” I feel like Dave and David are more decisive. A paved walkway now connects Magic Kingdom with Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. It runs along the Seven Seas Lagoon and the monorail track. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Of course, theme parkers can turn anything into an event, including waiting for hours to buy cookies, waking up at 6:59 a.m. to use an app and gazing over construction walls. The pathway’s entrance on the Magic Kingdom end is down on the water level next to boat dock 2. Go just to the left of the monorail ramps. Once upon a time, there were commemorative pavers on this route, but they were removed as part of the ongoing remodeling of the Magic Kingdom entrance. There are a few benches and lamp posts at first. And then there’s peace and quiet, despite being so close to the biggest theme park on Earth. I heard real, non-animatronic birds singing happy tunes. On the left is the lagoon. There’s a good bit of grassy buffer between the water and the sidewalk, along with rope dividers and stern warnings about native Florida wildlife, squelching any urge to jump in. There’s an even wider expanse of grass on the right, certainly big enough for a flag-football game, and, beyond that, a row of trees that reminds you about how much land Disney owns and how much isn’t built up. THE DAILY DISNEY Disney: Liberty Belle’s move requires digging, divers, darkness FEB 05, 2021 AT 8:30 AM Soon you get to the part of that path that previously dead-ended. The resort added a pedestrian bridge there to get over a small waterway that connects Seven Seas Lagoon with a backstage area. The bridge can be moved — that’s how they recently got Liberty Belle riverboat from Liberty Square to dry dock (off Bay Lake) and back. Peeking down that stretch might earn you a glimpse of the Electric Water Pageant units, although you can see them from the monorail as well. The view of the lagoon is much like what you get from the ferryboats that connect Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center. When I took this walk about a month ago, I encountered about 10 other walkers and only one double-wide stroller. It’s wonderfully socially distant. The path goes beneath the monorail three times, and that’s curiously exciting. I managed to be at the curve out from Grand Floridian right at the train passed over, which thrilled me and one of the occupants of the double-wide stroller. Near the end of the walk I came upon a group of cast members off in the grass staring at the trees. I identified them as Imagineers (jeans, beards, smiles, upward glances), but I didn’t recognize anyone. All I really could overhear (another clue) was “Of course, nothing is set in stone.” What’s the collective noun for Imagineers? Discuss. I always default to “gaggle,” but we can do better. The path ends on the convention center end of the Grand Floridian. I walked around the lobby for a bit. It had that midday mostly empty feel. Then I wandered past the wedding pavilion — pavers remain over there, but are rapidly fading with time. Construction foiled my plan to go to the Polynesian, so I backtracked and took the monorail all the way around to the TTC. That felt a little naughty since I wasn’t registered in a hotel, but I behaved myself and didn’t take my face covering off while inactively eating or drinking and not stationary. So, is this anything? It’s a nice walk. Get in your steps. It’s an escape. It’s not far, although this summer it may feel distant. Is it worth doing? Sure, once, just for the experience of being in uncharted Disney territory. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theme park news? Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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