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

[Next Big Thing]

Hopefully, once guests become aware of the existence of the bypass on the east side of Main Street, it will become something that they build into their touring plan.

If it is open at a set time each night from now on it will become something that people just use when it is useful to them.

I think part of the problem has been due to the hub being so congested that people leaving from the Adventureland side couldn't get to the bypass in any case, but once the hub has been finished it should make that a much lesser issue.

It was a much improved situation in March from what it was like last June.

I wish Disney would put into the times guide what time the bypass is open each night. The only reason not to is because hours can vary depending on crowds, but very rarely actually do.

Pretty much every day, it's open 1 hour before the first MSEP until 1 hour after Wishes (when the second MSEP usually is starting). Normal hours are 8-11.

 

[IMFearless]

Have they found a way to add it to the park map?

I think if they alerted guests entering the park it would help.

With My Magic Plus it should be possible to send people a text message as soon as they use their ticket to enter the park.

It could read... "Hi there Pal, welcome to the Magic Kingdom, for your safety and convenience if you're heading to the other end of Main Street, you can now do so via our beautiful alternate walkway. Ask any of our friendly cast members."

 

[IMFearless]

I would imagine 95% of guests have no idea it is there yet.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Have they found a way to add it to the park map?

No, because it is still a CM only area for the majority of the day. Putting it on the map will possibly cause confusion and unnecessary added stress of having to keep stopping guests who want to come through there.

It's only open 3 hours out of a typical 14 to sometimes 18 hour operating day. The only times it will be open longer is on extremely crowded days. There is signs in the new hub however that light up at night that say "exit" and point to the bypass.

 

[halltd]

There is signs in the new hub however that light up at night that say "exit" and point to the bypass.

Any pics of this? I haven't seen this yet.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Any pics of this? I haven't seen this yet.

They've been there since the new hub opened back in late February, most people don't notice them though. I wouldn't even know where to go to find pics. They are themed similar to the light poles, except instead of a light at the top, it's a light up themed signage that reads "Exit -->".

They have flaps on them so they are closed when the bypass isn't open, which also makes them hard to see. It's up to the cast running the bypass to turn them on individually, so sometimes they don't even get turned on unfortunately.

 

[halltd]

They've been there since the new hub opened back in late February, most people don't notice them though. I wouldn't even know where to go to find pics. They are themed similar to the light poles, except instead of a light at the top, it's a light up themed signage that reads "Exit -->".

They have flaps on them so they are closed when the bypass isn't open, which also makes them hard to see. It's up to the cast running the bypass to turn them on individually, so sometimes they don't even get turned on unfortunately.

That's a pretty cool feature to not have had anyone photo it and comment on it before. Now I want to see it even more! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Next Big Thing]

That's a pretty cool feature to not have had anyone photo it and comment on it before. Now I want to see it even more! Thanks for the heads up!

I'll try to see if I can find a pic, but I haven't seen any of them around.

 

[Next Big Thing]

I'll try to see if I can find a pic, but I haven't seen any of them around.

Found one @halltd . Those themed parts open up and from this sign would direct guests left (<-- Exit) to converge with the CMs who will direct you down the bypass. There's about 3-4 signs around this area.

 

[Bolt]

He's still at it - longer than I had guessed.

 

[halltd]

Found one @halltd . Those themed parts open up and from this sign would direct guests left (<-- Exit) to converge with the CMs who will direct you down the bypass. There's about 3-4 signs around this area.

Awesome! Thanks for going on that scavenger hunt for me. I had seen these before, but never knew what they were for. It's unlike me not to ask, too. LOL!! I'll have to keep an eye out for them in use now. Thanks again!

 

[Figment2005]

But cramming the park so full is driven by profit to some extent.

I would love to see the people mover upgraded to make it more than a ride, perhaps extending the route out of the park, behind Space Mountain and giving people the opportunity to exit the ride, and leave the park via a one-way speed ramp (think Space Mountain exit). It could bring guests right down towards the buses.

They almost need ways to get people out from the other areas of the park without going through Main Street.

The "park" can handle the capacity. Main Street cannot handle that capacity all at once. Hence, the bypass.

 

[Cesar R M]

From this very thread:

It's not quite finished towards the end.

still looks thousand times better than before?

where it was there.. it was just empty walls, no lamps.. no plants..

 

[Cesar R M]

The bypass has nothing to do with how many people are crammed into the park but it does help get them out faster and does not allow them to spend any more money.


Exactly what the bypass does. You bypass Main Street.

until they fill the bypass with small vendor carts.

 

[NormC]

until they fill the bypass with small vendor carts.

Defeats the purpose of a bypass: FAST egress not loitering.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

So sad to hear this.

Again it seems like putting "efficiency" firmly before "show".

No. It's putting Safety firmly before any of the other Keys, which is how it has always been.

 

[IMFearless]

No. It's putting Safety firmly before any of the other Keys, which is how it has always been.

I agree that safety is the first key, it gets put before all else, that is the way it has always been.

Presumably management would issue instructions to cast members when they felt safety was threatened by overcrowding on Main Street, with cast members on the ground reporting back to ensure management were aware of particular issues, with the backstage bypass area being used to ensure safety.

However, once you have addressed the "safety" issue by using the bypass, the "safety" issue is then presumably addressed.

My point is: With the safety issue addressed, to then go on using an unthemed, backstage parking lot area, routinely for many years IS putting "efficiency" before "show". It is clearly more convenient to Disney to use the unthemed backstage area to address the safety issue, than to change the area to what we now have.

 

[Next Big Thing]

My point is: With the safety issue addressed, to then go on using an unthemed, backstage parking lot area, routinely for many years IS putting "efficiency" before "show". It is clearly more convenient to Disney to use the unthemed backstage area to address the safety issue, than to change the area to what we now have.

It's still arguably putting safety before show. If they don't open that side on some days, even with the bypass, there can be very large backups on main street.

It's better to open an additional way to pass crowds and relieve crowding if management thinks crowding may become an issue in any way rather than to wait until an accident occurs.

 

[IMFearless]

All I'm saying is, I don't think it would have flown so easily in Walt's days.

Either reduce the capacity of the park to a point that is manageable, restructure the backstage area to ensure that it is show-ready, or alter the way the park is operated to address the safety concerns.

It's fine to use the "safety" thing once, but if the situation is not addressed and the same thing reoccurs over and over then a longer term solution should be found. I'm glad the bypass is going a long way to addressing this.

However, if backstage west of Main St is now being used also, what are guests supposed to think?
Or is it ultimately something guests should just accept now?

1. Areas of the park will be full to bursting
2. Management are already expecting this
3. Management will therefore make sure there are plenty of crowd control cast members available
4. Crowd control cast members will herd guests out via backstage if necessary
5. Guests should be okay with this because it's "to keep us safe"

If there's a statement there that isn't true, let me know which one.

 

[daisyduckie]

The capacity of the park is manageable. It is just that everyone crams on to Main Street to see the fireworks or parade, and that area can become congested. And yes, I think guests should "accept" (which is a strange word to use) a themed walk through that takes them away from the congestion if they chose to go that way, instead of forcing them to push through the temporary crowded Main Street.

I honestly don't think any of us knows for sure What Walt Would Do, and that is is pretentious to think that we do. If someone has an opinion on something, they should be able to back it up without having to use Walt as some sort of shield, or to hold him up as some icon who only did everything perfectly.