Downtown Disney Rennovations

[rf53]

I don't know if this has been discussed here before, but last month we visited WDW for a few days and we learned that Downtown Disney had initiated a two-year renovation project. The information we were given is that a new multi-level parking facility is being erected and a large portion of the current surface parking area will be developed into more stores and restaurants. While I did see the new parking lot announced in the closings and rehabs section of this site, I have seen nothing about the types of stores and restaurants that are planned (not that I have looked very hard).

Does anyone have info on what stores and restaurants are coming to the new DTD area?

 

[staceyrhood]

It is going to be called Disney Springs, a HUGE project. Lots of new shops and restaurants. It will double the size of DTD.

 

[rteetz]

I don't know if this has been discussed here before, but last month we visited WDW for a few days and we learned that Downtown Disney had initiated a two-year renovation project. The information we were given is that a new multi-level parking facility is being erected and a large portion of the current surface parking area will be developed into more stores and restaurants. While I did see the new parking lot announced in the closings and rehabs section of this site, I have seen nothing about the types of stores and restaurants that are planned (not that I have looked very hard). Does anyone have info on what stores and restaurants are coming to the new DTD area?

no new restaurants have been announced at his time. The only things that have been announced is the parking garage, two Starbucks locations. Pleasure island is getting torn down, a pedestrian bridge is being built, and a new marketplace co op will take over team mickey. No official statements have explained what specifically is coming. The project is set to be complete in 2016. It's much more than a renovations is a revisioning of DTD hence the new name disney springs. It's supposed to represent the turn of the century Florida style homes.

 

[DanBoris]

Here are some info on one of the new restaurants:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...nt-attraction-is-coming-to-disney-springs.htm

 

[rf53]

Here are some info on one of the new restaurants:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...nt-attraction-is-coming-to-disney-springs.htm

Thanks. It seems this restaurant is planned for the other side of DTD near the theater and will open at the end of this year (?). The person who advised us about the renovations said that most of the construction related to the new two-year project would take place at the other end of DTD somewhere in the area of parking lots A through G (maybe that was bad info). We saw the initial construction of the multi-level parking area that is going up on the old surface parking lots beyond G. It is well under way.

 

[DanBoris]

Thanks. It seems this restaurant is planned for the other side of DTD near the theater and will open at the end of this year (?). The person who advised us about the renovations said that most of the construction related to the new two-year project would take place at the other end of DTD somewhere in the area of parking lots A through G (maybe that was bad info). We saw the initial construction of the multi-level parking area that is going up on the old surface parking lots beyond G. It is well under way.

This is actually going on the former Pleasure Island over by Fultons. The permit expires in one year so it will likely open within a year. Yes, that majority of the work is taking place on and around pleasure island. There will be a second garage built at that end, as well as the one currently being build on the old H, I, J,K lots. Some of the surface parking between them will eventually become a new section of shops/resturants. You can see some good pictures of the model of what is being built here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneybymark/9532908398/in/photostream/

and concept art here:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/disney-springs/gallery/14mar2013-disney-springs-concept-art/18432.htm

 

[Tardisblue]

Yet still no Adventurer's Club. . .

 

[yitbos96bb]

Yet still no Adventurer's Club. . .

As much as I hate to say it, it sounds like most if not all are going to be third-party operated by groups like Landry's. I'm hoping the concepts will at least be unique (Paradiso 37 or Yak and Yeti) and not chain themes (like Trex/Rainforest or worse like Chilis or Fridays).

 

[yitbos96bb]

So will this be a Landry's Restaurant? I don't know the guy, but the restaurants mentioned are all Landry's owned

Here are some info on one of the new restaurants:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...nt-attraction-is-coming-to-disney-springs.htm

 

[TheNovice]

It is going to be called Disney Springs, a HUGE project. Lots of new shops and restaurants. It will double the size of DTD.

Double! WOWZERS. Perhaps having Saratoga Springs as our DVC home resort will become more valuable than we had ever imagined

 

[beer dave]

Double! WOWZERS. Perhaps having Saratoga Springs as our DVC home resort will become more valuable than we had ever imagined

Hopefully it will change SSR from being the resort of last booking to a more desired location-- freeing up some of the other more desirable locations. The problem is that no matter how big they make DTD, without an adult entertainment area, it is just glorified shopping.

 

[Jake]

How many more restaurants do we need? How many more run of the mill corporation type restaurants can we take. They all look the same and the food is all the same. more or less. Disney answer to what do we do? it is Restaurants and stores

 

[DisDream09]

Hopefully it will change SSR from being the resort of last booking to a more desired location-- freeing up some of the other more desirable locations. The problem is that no matter how big they make DTD, without an adult entertainment area, it is just glorified shopping.

Not necessarily a bad thing. Last trip I found it VERY inconvenient to get to DTD from the parks. Had to get to a resort first then get a bus to DTD. If I were staying this close to DTD I would have done more shopping and eating there.

 

[TuneTownMagic]

I am hoping this expansion/rennovation concerning Disney Springs will not disappoint! I am looking forward to more shops. Although a store like World of Disney has an enormous variety of Disney merchandise, I hope the update will include uniquely themed shops like TrenD, at which you can purchase merchandise not found at other stores around DTD or at the parks. I also hope new restaurants would mean a wider variety of cuisine, AKA, different ethnic cuisines that haven't been featured at DTD yet. Of course, YMMV.

 

[sandybeach14]

Not necessarily a bad thing. Last trip I found it VERY inconvenient to get to DTD from the parks. Had to get to a resort first then get a bus to DTD. If I were staying this close to DTD I would have done more shopping and eating there.

There is a reason for this. If the buses ran from DTD to and from the parks non resort guest would park (for free) or walk from area hotels and then take the buses to the parks and Disney doesn't want non resort guest using the bus system this way. We found taking a taxi was the easiest/quickest way to deal with getting to DTD from the parks or taking a bus to Pop Century (bc it only has one stop) and then to DTD

 

[rteetz]

I am hoping this expansion/rennovation concerning Disney Springs will not disappoint! I am looking forward to more shops. Although a store like World of Disney has an enormous variety of Disney merchandise, I hope the update will include uniquely themed shops like TrenD, at which you can purchase merchandise not found at other stores around DTD or at the parks. I also hope new restaurants would mean a wider variety of cuisine, AKA, different ethnic cuisines that haven't been featured at DTD yet. Of course, YMMV.

They are supposed to have some new trenD stuff in the new marketplace co op. Also in there they will have a create your own cell phone case type thing.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Yet still no Adventurer's Club. . .

I want my adventurers Club BACK!

AKK

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I want my adventurers Club BACK!

AKK

You know that ship is gone over the horizon by now

 

[TuneTownMagic]

They are supposed to have some new trenD stuff in the new marketplace co op. Also in there they will have a create your own cell phone case type thing.

Very interesting! I look forward to it.

 

[Kimmers127]

Any updates about Disney Springs?