I have two young kids, 4 and 9, and let me say, last Mardi Gras, the crowds were ungodly. One night, while leaving mk, I had to carry my 9 yeard old because of the crush of the crowds. It was flat out dangerous for adults, let alone kids. Another night we were funneled through the back exit being spoken of on this thread. It was way less congested and safer. However, it looked like what it is, a service area. And I don't want my kids' day at mk, for what it costs, to end by exiting an area that looks like a Wal-Mart restroom. So, kudos for a safer, themed exit. Some folks refuse to see that safety is always ahead of show. Plus, does Disneyland experience the crowds mk does? I say good job TDO.
I agree. It's all about guest experience. I have been going to wdw since I was 6, and I am 38,now. The crowds are insane all year, now. There is not a time that is true "off-season" any longer. It's crowded year round. Also, lets take into account that mk and Epcot take in the majority of guests for all of the reasons we have discussed on this board for the last few years ad nauseum. I can say, as many here will agree, it is difficult to get done the number of attractions in the parks, especially mk, as we were able to in the past. So, would I rather see the money spent on new attractions that was spent on the new bracelets? Sure. But, I think we can all agree that ak and hs need much work. So, the new additions of attractions at mk, in addition to the bracelets across the property may make existing experiences more accessible and manageable while new attractions are built and brought online at ak and hs to eventually even out the crowds as they were in the past. Right now, the biggest bang for your buck at wdw is at mk and Epcot. Until this changes, the crowds will remain horrendous. So, this bypass is needed to allow for a more manageable, safer exit every evening. It is absolutely dangerous at times, so it is needed. Plus, as I stated before, if I am dropping 5000 bucks on a week in wdw, I do not want my, or my Kids' magical day ending by being forced to exit via an unthemed service passage that is the equivalent of a back alley of a McDonald's.
It looks like they could easily put up two more new shops and maybe another sit down dinning back there. It would be neat to have a place with roof top dining that also had a view of the fireworks.This is the path my parents described when they took the back stage exit. It stated next to the Plaza restaurant which has always had a kind of a awkward look anyway. I'm wondering if this new path will connect up mid way at the ally in the middle of Main St. because aren't those buildings on the dead end ally just empty facades?
What's funny is that I showed my then 5 year old nephew the concept art for New Fantasyland, and he was able to explain that the next time he visited there would be a ride there and a path there. It's nice to see that people on this site aren't capable of comprehending that.
In this backstage area? It is nowhere close to being big enough.
I know it's smaller, but wouldn't a smaller version of the Osborne Lights be better than no Osborne Lights?
I would say there is zero chance of that area being used for a show. It is all about bypassing Main Street to get in and out, putting in a show would be in opposition to that idea.
There is no "Utilidoor access loading" or whatever you speak of on that side of the park. While it is true that there are entrances to the Utilidoors there, there is certainly no type of area where trucks would be needed to enter the tunnels or anything comparable. Anything else in that area could easily be moved. If they only plan to keep this area open after the fireworks, that would be quite stupid. A permanent covered walkway needs to be there so people can go around parades and stay under cover on rainy days.
Oh, I'm not expecting anything amazing. I'm actually expecting them to do the least that they can get away with.
This would be the point... in a perfect world you would want people to do this if they are using this as a primary exit every night. It's a lot of lost revenue for them to pass all the shops on Main Street. Not to mention if they stop keeping traffic moving on the street in front of the stores and make that all viewing area (which is sorely needed), this would be the only access into the shops.
A covered area is much more important than you think.
Yes, the new daytime parade isn't a just daytime parade. It has some amazing elements that will best viewed at night. Although ALL the parades going away is speculation on my part, I've considered all the facts leading up to the new parade, and they actually NEED to get rid of the other parades to allow for the new parade. It's more complicated than it looks, and if I go into detail, I would prefer to do it in a dedicated thread to just that. My quick mention of them earlier was to simply say, "if you like them, go see them while you still can."
That's a good point.
At any rate, I wouldn't expect people to want to watch the fireworks from the new pathway. Given the height of the buildings and the liklihood that the new path will keep guests fairly close to to them, visibility of the fireworks show is likely going to be very poor.
