AK walk from bus stop to gate - in need of moving walkway?

[wm49rs]

The solution to limited immobility is only secondly an ECV.

The first solution is the removal of obstacles. Such as height differences, pointless steps, and needlessly long distances to walk.

Well, by that rationale (and considering the complaints about walking), EP should be pretty much wiped off the map....

They're theme parks. They have immersive elements which sometimes entail mild hills, a few extra steps, and even a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the front gates. It's not poor design, it's part and parcel of the experience. Just as having to walk the distance from the parking lot gates to the World Showcase is part of the same for EP.

 

[FettFan]

Or maybe, just maybe, it was put in its location and configuration for a reason that is not apparent.

I know Joe Rhode always said he wanted people to feel like they were leaving civilization.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Or maybe, just maybe, it was put in its location and configuration for a reason that is not apparent.

It was obviously put where it is because the space above was designed to hold BK.

Even if there is a reason behind a poor design, it is still poor design.

The expected main modes of transport at the time of build at the MK (monorail+ferry), and at EPCOT (monorail+tram) drop you off directly in front. Not so with DAK.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Or maybe, just maybe, it was put in its location and configuration for a reason that is not apparent.

I would guess there was no concern with making people walk because that is very much a part of the point behind the park and it's message. If anything, the design of the park points to making people walk more than would be actually required to hold the physical contents. To make matters worse, there are even attractions that require walking to experience!

 

[fractal]

Are there any security reasons for having the bus stops at that distance from the front of the park?

 

[Master Yoda]

It was obviously put where it is because the space above was designed to hold BK.

Even if there is a reason behind a poor design, it is still poor design.

The expected main modes of transport at the time of build at the MK (monorail+ferry), and at EPCOT (monorail+tram) drop you off directly in front. Not so with DAK.

What makes you qualified to call it a poor design? Do you have a degree in civil engineering and design mass transportation systems for a living?

When I look at it I see a very efficient set up for moving large numbers of buses to centralized drop of point with room left over for possible expansion.

 

[jlevis]

I'd rather see them put in a lake and run a ferry back and forth. Keeping with the theme of the park there could be crocodiles and hippo's in the lake. Humphery Bogart could captian the boat and Katherine Hepburn could serve drinks.

 

[marni1971]

I guess consensus is walk off the calories you'll put on at Yak n Yeti..

 

[SulleyanBoo]

Just walk that walk and count those lost calories to having one more beer or side of fries

 

[jakeman]

Or maybe, just maybe, it was put in its location and configuration for a reason that is not apparent.

I'm not 100% on this, but if memory serves me right there is either a canal or a really deep ditch in those trees to the left of the bus stop. Either way, I do know there is a giant fence in those trees to prevent folks from getting backstage. Not to mention the cleared area right behind it is an expansion pad.

 

[SulleyanBoo]

lol. Sometimes we walk from the car/parking lot to the gate and don't even use the tram. I believe that's even farther. Ain't nothin' wrong with burning a few extra calories

same here! I gotta always get something from the confectionary or a few drinks around the world so I just try to walk extra any way I can anyways.

 

[BryceM]

I don't see why this idea got shot down so fast. It is a pretty long walk, especially if you have a handicapped person or like me have a baby brother and a toddler sister.

 

[Tom Morrow]

The walk doesn't seem any further than the other 3 parks' bus stops. Okay, maybe slightly further. The intense heat and humidty of DAK and the lack of shade in that area can make it pretty brutal, though.

 

[SulleyanBoo]

Totally agree with all the "there should be shade" comments. Florida sun can definitely be very brutal.

 

[jlevis]

The expected main modes of transport at the time of build at the MK (monorail+ferry), and at EPCOT (monorail+tram) drop you off directly in front. Not so with DAK.

Not sure what your idea of "directly in front" is but as one who enjoys the ferry ride from the TTC to MK I can attest that it is one long walk from the ferry landing to the bag check then to the turnstiles. And, that walk from the ferry landing at the TTC to the handicapped parking is a killer.

 

[FettFan]

I don't see why this idea got shot down so fast. It is a pretty long walk, especially if you have a handicapped person or like me have a baby brother and a toddler sister.

Because the cost of maintaining an open-air moving sidewalk in hot, humid central Florida simply would outweigh the cost to build it in the first place. It is not a practical solution.

 

[BryceM]

Because the cost of maintaining an open-air moving sidewalk simply would outweigh the cost to build it in the first place. It is not a practical solution.

That's true. Atleast make it shaded or have those cool mist fans around!

 

[The Empress Lilly]

What makes you qualified to call it a poor design? Do you have a degree in civil engineering and design mass transportation systems for a living?

When I look at it I see a very efficient set up for moving large numbers of buses to centralized drop of point with room left over for possible expansion.

What makes you qualified to call it an efficient design? Do you have a degree in civil engineering and design mass transportation systems for a living?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I don't see why this idea got shot down so fast. It is a pretty long walk, especially if you have a handicapped person or like me have a baby brother and a toddler sister.

This.

Life is very different if you have to do WDW with a special needs person. Suddenly, there is no more talk about burning off of calories. Instead there are brutal limitations to content with.

Sometimes a traffic acccident can leave a person with limited mobility, and even limited energy. I'd rather this energy could be expended on doing one animal trail together with me, then on walking - twice - a quarter of a mile to and from the busses.

 

[Master Yoda]

What makes you qualified to call it an efficient design? Do you have a degree in civil engineering and design mass transportation systems for a living?

I can call it an efficient design because in more than 100 trips to AK, including the days it reached capacity when E:E opened, I have never once seen buses backed up. I would classify that as an efficient design. Wouldn't you?