diff --git a/src/e3/aws/troposphere/apigateway/__init__.py b/src/e3/aws/troposphere/apigateway/__init__.py
index af0b9e9..1bb77db 100644
--- a/src/e3/aws/troposphere/apigateway/__init__.py
+++ b/src/e3/aws/troposphere/apigateway/__init__.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 from troposphere import AWSObject
 from troposphere.certificatemanager import Certificate, DomainValidationOption
 import json
-import re
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from e3.aws.troposphere import Stack
@@ -195,6 +194,9 @@ class _AliasTargetAttributes(TypedDict):
             DNSName: str
             HostedZoneId: str
 
+    # The default stage name
+    DEFAULT_STAGE_NAME = "$default"
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         name: str,
@@ -240,7 +242,9 @@ def __init__(
         self.authorizers: dict[str, Any] = {}
         # By default, make sure to have a $default stage
         self.stages_config = (
-            stages_config if stages_config else [StageConfiguration("$default")]
+            stages_config
+            if stages_config
+            else [StageConfiguration(self.DEFAULT_STAGE_NAME)]
         )
 
     @cached_property
@@ -697,6 +701,9 @@ def resources(self, stack: Stack) -> list[AWSObject]:
 class RestApi(Api):
     """Rest API support."""
 
+    # Apigateway v1 only allows a-zA-Z0-9_
+    DEFAULT_STAGE_NAME = "default"
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         name: str,
@@ -878,8 +885,7 @@ def declare_stage(
                 DeploymentId=Ref(deployment_name),
                 Description=f"stage {stage_name}",
                 MethodSettings=[method_settings],
-                # Stage name only allows a-zA-Z0-9_
-                StageName=re.sub("[^a-zA-Z0-9_]", "", stage_name),
+                StageName=stage_name,
                 **parameters,
             )
         )
@@ -948,12 +954,7 @@ def _declare_method(
         for config in self.stages_config:
             result.append(
                 awslambda.Permission(
-                    # Retain old behavior for the $default stage
-                    name_to_id(
-                        "{}-{}LambdaPermission".format(
-                            id_prefix, "" if config.name == "$default" else config.name
-                        )
-                    ),
+                    name_to_id(f"{id_prefix}-{config.name}LambdaPermission"),
                     Action="lambda:InvokeFunction",
                     FunctionName=lambda_arn,
                     Principal="apigateway.amazonaws.com",
@@ -1006,11 +1007,7 @@ def _declare_api_mapping(
                 apigateway.BasePathMapping(
                     # Retain old behavior for the $default stage
                     name_to_id(
-                        "{}{}-{}BasePathMapping".format(
-                            self.name,
-                            domain_name.DomainName,
-                            "" if config.name == "$default" else config.name,
-                        )
+                        f"{self.name}{domain_name.DomainName}-{config.name}BasePathMapping"
                     ),
                     **mapping_params,
                 )
diff --git a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigateway_test.py b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigateway_test.py
index 2584e56..5a94dbe 100644
--- a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigateway_test.py
+++ b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigateway_test.py
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ def test_rest_api_stages(stack: Stack, lambda_fun: PyFunction) -> None:
             Method("ANY"),
         ],
         stages_config=[
-            StageConfiguration("$default"),
+            StageConfiguration("default"),
             StageConfiguration(
                 "beta", api_mapping_key="beta", variables={"somevar": "somevalue"}
             ),
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ def test_rest_api_lambda_alias(stack: Stack, lambda_fun: PyFunction) -> None:
         ],
         stages_config=[
             StageConfiguration(
-                "$default",
+                "default",
                 lambda_arn_permission=lambda_aliases.blue.ref,
                 variables={"lambdaAlias": lambda_aliases.blue.name},
             ),
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ def test_rest_api_custom_domain_stages(stack: Stack, lambda_fun: PyFunction) ->
             Method("ANY", authorizer_name="testauthorizer"),
         ],
         stages_config=[
-            StageConfiguration("$default"),
+            StageConfiguration("default"),
             StageConfiguration(
                 "beta", api_mapping_key="beta", variables={"somevar": "somevalue"}
             ),
diff --git a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test.json b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test.json
index 0926f11..16abfb8 100644
--- a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test.json
+++ b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test.json
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
     },
     "TestapiDefaultDeployment": {
         "Properties": {
-            "Description": "Deployment resource of $default stage",
+            "Description": "Deployment resource of default stage",
             "RestApiId": {
                 "Ref": "Testapi"
             }
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
             "DeploymentId": {
                 "Ref": "TestapiDefaultDeployment"
             },
-            "Description": "stage $default",
+            "Description": "stage default",
             "MethodSettings": [
                 {
                     "ResourcePath": "/*",
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Method"
     },
-    "TestapiANYLambdaPermission": {
+    "TestapiANYDefaultLambdaPermission": {
         "Properties": {
             "Action": "lambda:InvokeFunction",
             "FunctionName": {
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
             "Principal": "apigateway.amazonaws.com",
             "SourceArn": {
                 "Fn::Sub": [
-                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/$default/${method}/*",
+                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/default/${method}/*",
                     {
                         "api": {
                             "Ref": "Testapi"
diff --git a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_custom_domain.json b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_custom_domain.json
index 5d4cf0f..4a4c7a2 100644
--- a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_custom_domain.json
+++ b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_custom_domain.json
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
     },
     "TestapiDefaultDeployment": {
         "Properties": {
-            "Description": "Deployment resource of $default stage",
+            "Description": "Deployment resource of default stage",
             "RestApiId": {
                 "Ref": "Testapi"
             }
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
             "DeploymentId": {
                 "Ref": "TestapiDefaultDeployment"
             },
-            "Description": "stage $default",
+            "Description": "stage default",
             "MethodSettings": [
                 {
                     "ResourcePath": "/*",
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Method"
     },
-    "TestapiANYLambdaPermission": {
+    "TestapiANYDefaultLambdaPermission": {
         "Properties": {
             "Action": "lambda:InvokeFunction",
             "FunctionName": {
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@
             "Principal": "apigateway.amazonaws.com",
             "SourceArn": {
                 "Fn::Sub": [
-                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/$default/${method}/*",
+                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/default/${method}/*",
                     {
                         "api": {
                             "Ref": "Testapi"
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::ApiGateway::DomainName"
     },
-    "TestapiapiexamplecomBasePathMapping": {
+    "TestapiapiexamplecomDefaultBasePathMapping": {
         "Properties": {
             "DomainName": {
                 "Ref": "TestapiapiexamplecomDomain"
diff --git a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_custom_domain_stages.json b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_custom_domain_stages.json
index 3e6bba8..a09c883 100644
--- a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_custom_domain_stages.json
+++ b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_custom_domain_stages.json
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
     },
     "TestapiDefaultDeployment": {
         "Properties": {
-            "Description": "Deployment resource of $default stage",
+            "Description": "Deployment resource of default stage",
             "RestApiId": {
                 "Ref": "Testapi"
             }
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
             "DeploymentId": {
                 "Ref": "TestapiDefaultDeployment"
             },
-            "Description": "stage $default",
+            "Description": "stage default",
             "MethodSettings": [
                 {
                     "ResourcePath": "/*",
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::Lambda::Permission"
     },
-    "TestapiANYLambdaPermission": {
+    "TestapiANYDefaultLambdaPermission": {
         "Properties": {
             "Action": "lambda:InvokeFunction",
             "FunctionName": {
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@
             "Principal": "apigateway.amazonaws.com",
             "SourceArn": {
                 "Fn::Sub": [
-                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/$default/${method}/*",
+                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/default/${method}/*",
                     {
                         "api": {
                             "Ref": "Testapi"
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::ApiGateway::DomainName"
     },
-    "TestapiapiexamplecomBasePathMapping": {
+    "TestapiapiexamplecomDefaultBasePathMapping": {
         "Properties": {
             "DomainName": {
                 "Ref": "TestapiapiexamplecomDomain"
diff --git a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_lambda_alias.json b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_lambda_alias.json
index 3bb7d4f..ac18d39 100644
--- a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_lambda_alias.json
+++ b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_lambda_alias.json
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
     },
     "TestapiDefaultDeployment": {
         "Properties": {
-            "Description": "Deployment resource of $default stage",
+            "Description": "Deployment resource of default stage",
             "RestApiId": {
                 "Ref": "Testapi"
             }
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
             "DeploymentId": {
                 "Ref": "TestapiDefaultDeployment"
             },
-            "Description": "stage $default",
+            "Description": "stage default",
             "MethodSettings": [
                 {
                     "ResourcePath": "/*",
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::Lambda::Permission"
     },
-    "TestapiANYLambdaPermission": {
+    "TestapiANYDefaultLambdaPermission": {
         "Properties": {
             "Action": "lambda:InvokeFunction",
             "FunctionName": {
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
             "Principal": "apigateway.amazonaws.com",
             "SourceArn": {
                 "Fn::Sub": [
-                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/$default/${method}/*",
+                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/default/${method}/*",
                     {
                         "api": {
                             "Ref": "Testapi"
diff --git a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_nested_resources.json b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_nested_resources.json
index 00efe7d..99b437d 100644
--- a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_nested_resources.json
+++ b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_nested_resources.json
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
     },
     "TestapiDefaultDeployment": {
         "Properties": {
-            "Description": "Deployment resource of $default stage",
+            "Description": "Deployment resource of default stage",
             "RestApiId": {
                 "Ref": "Testapi"
             }
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
             "DeploymentId": {
                 "Ref": "TestapiDefaultDeployment"
             },
-            "Description": "stage $default",
+            "Description": "stage default",
             "MethodSettings": [
                 {
                     "ResourcePath": "/*",
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Method"
     },
-    "TestapiAccountsANYLambdaPermission": {
+    "TestapiAccountsANYDefaultLambdaPermission": {
         "Properties": {
             "Action": "lambda:InvokeFunction",
             "FunctionName": {
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@
             "Principal": "apigateway.amazonaws.com",
             "SourceArn": {
                 "Fn::Sub": [
-                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/$default/${method}/accounts",
+                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/default/${method}/accounts",
                     {
                         "api": {
                             "Ref": "Testapi"
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::Lambda::Permission"
     },
-    "TestapiProductsANYLambdaPermission": {
+    "TestapiProductsANYDefaultLambdaPermission": {
         "Properties": {
             "Action": "lambda:InvokeFunction",
             "FunctionName": {
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
             "Principal": "apigateway.amazonaws.com",
             "SourceArn": {
                 "Fn::Sub": [
-                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/$default/${method}/products",
+                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/default/${method}/products",
                     {
                         "api": {
                             "Ref": "Testapi"
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::Lambda::Permission"
     },
-    "TestapiProductsAbcdANYLambdaPermission": {
+    "TestapiProductsAbcdANYDefaultLambdaPermission": {
         "Properties": {
             "Action": "lambda:InvokeFunction",
             "FunctionName": {
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@
             "Principal": "apigateway.amazonaws.com",
             "SourceArn": {
                 "Fn::Sub": [
-                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/$default/${method}/products/abcd",
+                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/default/${method}/products/abcd",
                     {
                         "api": {
                             "Ref": "Testapi"
diff --git a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_stages.json b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_stages.json
index ea08f6d..1335b15 100644
--- a/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_stages.json
+++ b/tests/tests_e3_aws/troposphere/apigateway/apigatewayv1_test_stages.json
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
     },
     "TestapiDefaultDeployment": {
         "Properties": {
-            "Description": "Deployment resource of $default stage",
+            "Description": "Deployment resource of default stage",
             "RestApiId": {
                 "Ref": "Testapi"
             }
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
             "DeploymentId": {
                 "Ref": "TestapiDefaultDeployment"
             },
-            "Description": "stage $default",
+            "Description": "stage default",
             "MethodSettings": [
                 {
                     "ResourcePath": "/*",
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@
         },
         "Type": "AWS::Lambda::Permission"
     },
-    "TestapiANYLambdaPermission": {
+    "TestapiANYDefaultLambdaPermission": {
         "Properties": {
             "Action": "lambda:InvokeFunction",
             "FunctionName": {
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
             "Principal": "apigateway.amazonaws.com",
             "SourceArn": {
                 "Fn::Sub": [
-                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/$default/${method}/*",
+                    "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${api}/default/${method}/*",
                     {
                         "api": {
                             "Ref": "Testapi"