The long-awaited extension to Floridian Way north of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is set to open next week. On July 10th, guests looking to traverse past the northern edge of Walt Disney World will no longer have to pass through backstage roadways.
Currently, guests have to drive through two lane backstage roads that are often congested at peak hours. In fact, Floridian Way, the backstage roadway north of Magic Kingdom, is shut down during many fireworks shows due to pyrotechnic launches.
Floridian Place will be a four-lane, two-way road to connect Floridian Way just north of the Grand Floridian and Reams Road by Disney University.
A little surprised they wanted people driving around up there. They used to be so big on “not ruining the magic”, surprised they’d want people seeing those areas.
I took the Steam Train tour and we couldn’t take pictures, but you can drive right past that and take pictures.
I think that roadway is needed when it comes to getting guests out of the area quickly when the park closes for the night. But…how do in-coming guests get into the MK parking lot? Floridian Place is four lanes until it merges in Floridian Way when it narrows to two lanes. By looking at Google Maps, there is no way for those guests to get into the parking lot. Floridian Way continues past the Grand Floridian Resort &Spa and the Polynesian Village Resort and then past the parking lot and Car Care Center before emptying out onto World Drive. But how do the guests go through the Magic Kingdom Toll Plaza? I see how they get to the Contemporary Resort and Wildness Lodge Resort via Seven Seas Drive. With all the recent construction around the toll plaza, it looks like they didn’t think that one through.