New Main Street U.S.A bypass to be built to address entry and exit congestion at the Magic Kingdom

[The Visionary Soul]

This still looks tacky. The Magic Kingdom needs arcades like Paris, plain and simple. Whomever approved this monstrosity (and huge waste of money, by the way) should be demoted.

 

[Next Big Thing]

This still looks tacky. The Magic Kingdom needs arcades like Paris, plain and simple. Whomever approved this monstrosity (and huge waste of money, by the way) should be demoted.

Maybe in the long-term, but for right now, this is what we're getting. Disney needs a way to relieve crowding after wishes quickly. This will do that, people already love it and by getting people who would be leaving anyway out faster, it opens the door for Disney to make more money off of them faster and provide a better experience, specifically resort guests.

Not defending the project, just sort of telling it how it is.

 

[wogwog]

Best guess I could come up with based on the photos. Any guesses on when the thing might be finished?

Two days for you and me and a couple of other folks. For Disney no estimate. Probably the lowest priority of any project. I hear from someone who is in that part of the park a few days a week that weeks would go by with no apparent progress then one night a few things get done and that is followed by more inactivity.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Maybe in the long-term, but for right now, this is what we're getting. Disney needs a way to relieve crowding after wishes quickly. This will do that, people already love it and by getting people who would be leaving anyway out faster, it opens the door for Disney to make more money off of them faster and provide a better experience, specifically resort guests.

Not defending the project, just sort of telling it how it is.

Relieve the crowds quickly? How long have they been building this immersive, heavily themed sidewalk?

 

[Next Big Thing]

Relieve the crowds quickly? How long have they been building this immersive, heavily themed sidewalk?

"Relieve the crowds quickly" has no bearing on how long it's taking to build. The Bypass has been used DAILY since about xmas time... that's what I mean by relieve them quickly. It provides an alternate route. They've even installed permanent signage directing people to this area that they can hide when it isn't open. Also, I never said it was immersive nor heavily themed.

 

[VulcanCafe]

"Relieve the crowds quickly" has no bearing on how long it's taking to build. The Bypass has been used DAILY since about xmas time... that's what I mean by relieve them quickly. It provides an alternate route. They've even installed permanent signage directing people to this area that they can hide when it isn't open. Also, I never said it was immersive nor heavily themed.

I feel like the complaints about the bypass are like complaining that the parking lots aren't themed well enough. These are exits to the real world, not meant for shopping, eating, viewing or otherwise experienced as themed entertainment. You don't want people trying to exit the park at closing to have any reason to stop or slow the traffic flow. At some point the effort and illusion stop, the bypass seems a decent enough place for it to happen.

 

[Next Big Thing]

I feel like the complaints about the bypass are like complaining that the parking lots aren't themed well enough. These are exits to the real world, not meant for shopping, eating, viewing or otherwise experienced as themed entertainment. You don't want people trying to exit the park at closing to have any reason to stop or slow the traffic flow. At some point the effort and illusion stop, the bypass seems a decent enough place for it to happen.

Yes, this is EXACTLY the point of the bypass.

And if any of you had been through the bypass when it was still just a parking lot (much like the other side is when they use it), this is a VAST improvement in keeping people within the theme, but also getting them to where they want to go faster. This is about guest satisfaction and guest safety.

 

[MinnieWaffles]

Yes, but that controlled backstage environment is in pretty constant use by both guests and especially Cast Members.

I guess this just doesn't bother me that much. It literally affects NOTHING if this project takes a while to complete. It's not a ride and it's not even in an area that affects the average guest. It just feels like a pretty pointless thing to complain about. Who cares if this takes a bit of time to finish? More importantly, why does it matter so much?

Have you forgotten where you are? Disney fan-forums: 40% OMG MICKEY MOUSE IS SO COOL, 60% LOOK WHAT DISNEY DID WRONG NOW!1!!!! A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH WOULD RUN THE PARKS BETTER!1!11

 

[Tim Lohr]

The difference between this bypass and the arcades in Paris is that they are always open, they're always visible, and are an attraction unto themselves. The Bypass is only open and visible for a few minutes each day, it's not an attraction it's like themed exit from an attraction... Has anyone ever hung around to take pictures of the exit from Peter Pan's Flight or Splash Mountain? ...no? That's because you're not supposed to. The exits aren't very interesting to look at on purpose, because if they were really pretty to look at, people would stand around looking at them, instead of exiting through them.

Like everybody else I was hoping this was going to be a permanently open area like the DL Paris arcades, maybe it will some day, but that's just not what this area is going to be used for in the near future

 

[roj2323]

Have you forgotten where you are? Disney fan-forums: 40% OMG MICKEY MOUSE IS SO COOL, 60% LOOK WHAT DISNEY DID WRONG NOW!1!!!! A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH WOULD RUN THE PARKS BETTER!1!11

A peanut butter sandwich sounds delicious

 

[Otterhead]

Two days for you and me and a couple of other folks.

I love that whenever Disney takes awhile to finish a longterm project, there's always homebody handymen on these boards claiming they could complete Imagineering's job in "two days". Sure thing, buddy

 

[wogwog]

I love that whenever Disney takes awhile to finish a longterm project, there's always homebody handymen on these boards claiming they could complete Imagineering's job in "two days". Sure thing, buddy

Have you seen it, buddy? Paint, walls and bushes. Yes some imagineer approved. It is not impressive in the least. Cleaned up and functional. I play poker with an imagineer every month or so and even he can't defend it.

 

[Jon81uk]

The difference between this bypass and the arcades in Paris is that they are always open, they're always visible, and are an attraction unto themselves. The Bypass is only open and visible for a few minutes each day, it's not an attraction it's like themed exit from an attraction... Has anyone ever hung around to take pictures of the exit from Peter Pan's Flight or Splash Mountain? ...no? That's because you're not supposed to. The exits aren't very interesting to look at on purpose, because if they were really pretty to look at, people would stand around looking at them, instead of exiting through them.

Like everybody else I was hoping this was going to be a permanently open area like the DL Paris arcades, maybe it will some day, but that's just not what this area is going to be used for in the near future

Exactly. To built the arcades would involve rebuilding main street almost from scratch as all trash, deliveries and stockroom areas will need re-thinking. New access into the shops from the arcades will need to be thought out. The current project is simply so it doesn't look as rubbish when you are walking behind main street. They are never going to spend the cash on enclosed arcades that aren't needed.

 

[wdw71fan]

Other things going on? Is that a joke? It's mainly regular refurb and Maintainence.

Building the Epcot resort area and infrastructure from scratch - in a swamp- whilst simultaneously building a theme park and five resort hotels in the middle of it was a lot going on. This is a minuscule band aid project.

I won't compare to Transformers since there is no comparison. I'll stick to TDO now compared to 25 years ago.

You aren't wrong (of course) but there is a but more than set-dressing going on.. There are some infrastructure relocates as well.. Again, I'm not excusing it.. It's taking forever, just adding my 2 cents.

 

[WDWtraveler]

Photo update as of Tuesday, April 21. Perhaps noted previously by others....."billboard" advertisements now cover the gates at the Main Street entrance to the bypass at Magic Kingdom. The trees behind the gate attempt to hide part of the Tomorrowland buildings that were visible from Main Street.

 

[LL2WDW]

Photo update as of Tuesday, April 21. Perhaps noted previously by others....."billboard" advertisements now cover the gates at the Main Street entrance to the bypass at Magic Kingdom.

View attachment 90451

Nice looking.

I think what is more interesting are the large trees that now appear behind the gate.

 

[DGracey]

Photo update as of Tuesday, April 21. Perhaps noted previously by others....."billboard" advertisements now cover the gates at the Main Street entrance to the bypass at Magic Kingdom. The trees behind the gate attempt to hide part of the Tomorrowland buildings that were visible from Main Street.

View attachment 90451

Great photo. Better than before that's for sure. But considering Disneyland just built a whole new building and facade on their Main St. specifically for their bypass, it's clear this could be done so much better at MK.

See attached pic of Disneyland's. Why can't we have nice things? We deserve it ...

 

[ABQ]

Great photo. Better than before that's for sure. But considering Disneyland just built a whole new building and facade on their Main St. specifically for their bypass, it's clear this could be done so much better at MK.

See attached pic of Disneyland's. Why can't we have nice things? We deserve it ...

The one and only legitimate excuse I can make would be vehicular access. Specifically large vehicles. But I'm sure that could be accommodated via other access points.

 

[halltd]

Great photo. Better than before that's for sure. But considering Disneyland just built a whole new building and facade on their Main St. specifically for their bypass, it's clear this could be done so much better at MK.

See attached pic of Disneyland's. Why can't we have nice things? We deserve it ...

Have you seen pictures of their actual bypass, though? It's essentially permanent plywood construction walls with some trellis structures overhead. It's not anything to write home about by any means. Ours is at least shaping up to potentially resemble a park like in the new hub with foliage and low rails, etc...

What we have now for the gate is essentially what's always been there (now that the advertisements have been added). The best photo I could find was only from 2010, but this is how I always remember it, too. Maybe it used to be green back in the day, but I could be wrong.

 

[Victor Kelly]

As plain as it may be, I want to see it. I's like to see how Disney does plain and uninteresting. I mean true we could go to Imagination, but I want to see Exit Alley.