Was Magic Kingdom’s parking and transportation system a mistake?

["El Gran Magnifico"]

No. Not a mistake. When the park was built and throughout the 70's and 80's and even early-mid 90's it worked well.

The mistake is Disney not adapting to the additional crowd levels with additional options - for two decades. They just recently created the walkway - giving the option to those staying at the Poly and GF (and those parking in the TTC) to walk. They could probably create a couple of more options (walking via Contemp, tram, skyway, etc,) from TTC to the gate.

Getting there wasn't my problem. Getting out was.

 

[KaliSplash]

I think it is a Great system. It builds the excitement as you are removed from the real world along the main drive in from US 192. It then then builds as you ride a ferry boat across the Seven Seas Lagoon. (do you remember there were once water-skiing characters that went back and forth across the boat's path who waved to the people?. OR. Riding a monorail through a hotel? Then you arrive at the park. Another designed Step away from the real world.

Alas, most people don't come from the outside world anymore so the whole build the excitement approach turns into just another step, especially at the end of a long, wet day.

Also: the monorail doesn't work as well as it used to because of the lack of replacement/maintenance. The buses from everywhere else in the world dump you out, so you don't get that buildup that visitors coming from the outside world used to get.

And yes, I have been caught in that rainstorm coming out of the Magic Kingdom at night, knowing I need to try to ride the monorail or the ferry boat across the Seven Seas Lagoon to get the to bus back to the Dolphin. OR, take the route we chose, taking a bus to the Yacht Club and Then getting to walk in the rain over to the Dolphin.

The Dolphin in a nice, beautiful hotel that is not as expensive as Mickey's top-of-the-line hotels. But its transportation sucks mightily.

 

[lazyboy97o]

No, the mistake was dumping parking lots in front of the other parks even after this was being avoided elsewhere.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Tram part of show?????? it's not.

And one of those 3, the main one, has a horrific record of delay and breakdown.

Horrific? Really? I assume you are talking about the Monorail which almost never broke down. Even now when they have millions of miles on them, they hardly ever breakdown. I don't remember the ferry's or the trams breaking down at all. Perhaps the tram wasn't part of the show to you, but for those of us that have been going to WDW for 40 years it was as much a part of the atmosphere as the castle. You just need to park the your adult and let the inner child take over.

 

[mergatroid]

Look how many people visit the MK and love it, if it was a mistake that wouldn't be the case. For those who go a lot, it can be a hindrance to a degree. Part of me would love the ease of parking at the Studios and walking straight in, I never just pop in to the MK for 2 hours like the other parks because of the time taken getting in and out. However it helped create the original magical feel I got as a kid when visiting, so for this reason I find it hard to be critical too much.

But I do understand where the OP is coming from.

 

[flynnibus]

Just yet another version of 'impatience' being displayed.

 

[Robbiem]

Yes it was a mistake that’s why Disney never repeated that design elsewhere where they had a blank canvas design.

Walt’s original plans for an entry complex where you parked and then used public transport (monrail to key points changing to wedway if needed) throughout the resort was kinda implemented at Magic Kingdom but on a far reduced scale. It probably worked OK when the resort was Magic Kingdom but when it started expanding it lost its purpose, especially after they stopped expanding the monorail. Truth is the original idea would find it hard to cope with today’s crowds

For me the best resort layout is probably Hong Kong

 

[NelleBelle]

I'll say this, we were at EPCOT during a thunderstorm/torrential downpour with the rain blowing sideways and we were stuck waiting for the tram to take us to our car in the back 40 of the parking lot. We were absolutely soaked by the time we got to the car. I don't think it matters what park you're at, weather happens and there's always a wait. Could we have walked?? Not with two grandmothers with us and one using a wheelchair. Do I like the TTC? Not particularly, I'd much rather arrive by bus from the resort we're staying at (or walk over from CR). But this summer we'll have to suck it up and make do. There could be much worse things for our family to complain about (like not being at our favorite vacation spot)!

 

[Walt Disney1955]

I think it makes it unique. It creates excitement and suspense. I always loved taking the monorail going into the park and seeing things come up. I think that's the point. Taking the ferry on the way back is neat too. Okay, so if you have kids and they are tired then it isn't always the best, and your feet are killing you by then as well and you just want to sit down. But again, it is the whole experience of it. Our littlest one was under three the last time we went and a nice man gave me his seat because he saw me carrying her on the ferry. I'm a big man, but I have to admit, waiting in line for the ferry and holding a sleeping child at 10pm was a relief. So I'm alright with the way things are. The other parks don't have that sort of entry, but MK does and I think it sort of gives more of the illusion of separating real life from fantasy.

Also, just to put things into perspective, if you are in the normal parking lot in Universal you have a long walk to get to the entrance, and there isn't any mystique leading up to it or anything, just a normal walk.

 

[Twirlnhurl]

If Disney didn't think it was a mistake, they would have repeated it at Disneyland Paris, where no expense was spared.

I usually like it, but leaving the park is a much bigger hassle here than at the other parks.

 

[heapster411]

My impression is this; The parking lot is still in the real world. You park and journey to the mystical world of the Magic Kingdom. As if you leave your worries behind, you are transported " to this Magic Place, where Dreams come true!". To first time visitors it helps in the journey, to slowly make your way to the Quest, The Magic Kingdom. Remember the idea that they are "trying" to reimagine, Storytelling? Moving a lot of people isn't pretty. If you put the parking right by the gate, how is this any different than 6 Flags? This is my take on the original concept of it.

 

[Figgy1]

Getting there wasn't my problem. Getting out was.

That part is by design. More time to hit the gift shops

 

[flynnibus]

If Disney didn't think it was a mistake, they would have repeated it at Disneyland Paris, where no expense was spared.

No expense spared, but space is still sparse. And DLP did do their own version of the setback and reveal.... by bringing you to the shopping hub - not to the main gate like DL was originally built.

 

[marni1971]

No. It tells the story. It builds anticipation. It regulates flow.

The mistake is not keeping up with attendance.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Another problem is how the MK does a hard close now. They used to have electric parade, fireworks, 2nd electric parade. That spread out the crowds exiting the park.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Another facet to consider is that people today have the attention span of a gnat. That - and it’s all about instant gratification.

The extra 20 or so minutes is not comprehensible to them.

 

[Married5Times]

a hard close now.

very good description

nothing gradual, delicate and polite about it these days. An incremental closing with multiple night time shows like yesterday was the right way to get 58k guests out of the park.

incrementalism, please

 

[fgmnt]

Another problem is how the MK does a hard close now. They used to have electric parade, fireworks, 2nd electric parade. That spread out the crowds exiting the park.

This is pretty unequivocally the problem with egress now. More attendants than ever and less to do at night than 20 years ago. MK at peak summer crowds would, if I recall correctly, always run until 11pm-midnight. Spectromagic would run at 8 or 9, fireworks at 9 or 10, and then a squeeze in of a third Spectromagic at 10:30 if it all lined up. Now it's often fireworks -> end of show -> close in an hour. The park is not designed to get that many people out in an hour, but can handle it in 2 hours.

 

[castlecake2.0]

This is pretty unequivocally the problem with egress now. More attendants than ever and less to do at night than 20 years ago. MK at peak summer crowds would, if I recall correctly, always run until 11pm-midnight. Spectromagic would run at 8 or 9, fireworks at 9 or 10, and then a squeeze in of a third Spectromagic at 10:30 if it all lined up. Now it's often fireworks -> end of show -> close in an hour. The park is not designed to get that many people out in an hour, but can handle it in 2 hours.

Lately the fireworks are at 9 and park close at 11. Last week we left around 10 and got on the first monorail that pulled up.

 

[MissM]

Honestly, I always hated the effort it took to leave MK. You've been there all day in the heat and crowds and you're tired and you just want to go home. So then it's another hour or more shuffling in crowds and slow moving transport trying to get across the lake, then more crowds trying to get a tram, and (for me) then you still have another 90 minute drive back home to Tampa. It would always be such a long process and definitely a lot less magical then arriving.

* we were FL AP for a decade or so pre-pandemic but haven't been back in several years so this was my experience