During the Disney Decade, a program was offered that you could purchase a hexagonal brick paver to be placed around the Seven Seas Lagoon, creating a walking path starting at the Magic Kingdom and closely following the monorail route. Obviously, there are some inlets that would need to be crossed as well as the holding area for the Electrical Water Pageant. Not to mention some roads, a waterway and a lot of marshland.
The plan never panned out and Disney stopped halfway to the Grand Floridian. There are bricks at the Transportation and Ticket Center, the Contemporary and at the Polynesian.
Depending what the letter is on the brick, it could be in one of five places:
W: West of the Magic Kingdom towards the Grand Floridian
E: East of the Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary
C: The Contemporary
H: The Transportation and Ticket Center
P: The Polynesian
I don’t have a confirmation if they sold them by the Grand Floridian, yet. Nothing that I’ve read points to a finished path, though. Anyone have a paver at the Grand Floridian?
Two different types of pavers were sold until the year 2000: a traditional brick paver ($85 – $125) and larger gray ones ($250). No one really knows why Disney stopped selling them, but the most prevalent thought is that it was competing with the Leave a Legacy program at Epcot. Occasionally, more bricks have been sold (some in 2006), but they are for special occasion or sold only on a first-come, first-served basis outside of the Magic Kingdom.
As a surprise, my wife bought this one for us after our 1994 trip. The date on our certificate is from July 31, 1996. It was even signed by Roy E. Disney…or a reasonable facsimile! We have only visited our paver once–during our 1997 trip.
The next time you step off the monorail at the Magic Kingdom or find yourself walking from the TTC to the Polynesian, make sure you take a look down. Occasionally, you can find pavers for celebrities. Whoopi Goldberg has one not too far away from ours!
It’s all about the details!
http://www.imaginerding.com
There was always something at that spot on the corner at what is now the west end of the walkway. This is what it looked like in 1973…
Joe…
Awesome photo!
Do you mind if I snag it and add it to the post? I will link to your Picassa Album.
I know the end of the GF walkway very well. Many years ago my wife and I mistakenly followed this path thinking we could walk to the GF. It was a pleasant stroll along the “beach” until we ran out of walkway and realized we had to turn around and head back. How embarrashking!
I must have been one of the early ones. My block is 12 blocks East of the “castle” layout just past the Magic Kingdom security check. I see it every time I go in. Foreman