DTD - Will they, have they ever expanded?

[Peteyi]

Hello,

Does any one know if there are plans to expand DTD. More food, more shops? Is there room to expand?

When was the last time this happened?


Thanks,
Peter

 

[MELSMICE]

They added the whole West Side a few years ago. Downtown Disney has changed over the years. I'm not sure of specifics, but they have added restaurants & shops.

 

[Margie J]

I'm not sure there is any room to expand the current site. It now stretches from the edge of OKW to SSR. If there are required boundries between Resorts &/or entertainment areas they may be at their max now.

In addition to the previous West Side expansion, last year the Marketplace area had some reconstruction done.

There are probably other parcels of land that could be developed though.

 

[wtpclc]

If I reacll correctly, it started just as Pleasure Island. Then they added the Market Place. Sometime between '96 and '00 they added West SIde (Cirque, DQ, etc..)

Plans for More? No idea.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Ah, memories.

Back when the earth's crust was still cooling, they had the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village. It was an eclectic little clump of stores - even had a pet shop. Somewhere along the way it became the Disney Village Marketplace, and a lot of the stores started selling Disney merchandise.

Then they added the Empress Lily, which held, as I recall, the Fisherman's Deck, the Steerman's Quarters, and the Empress Room - three different restaurants. Now it's all Fulton's.

Next was Pleasure Island. Then came Planet Hollywood.

Lastly came West Side. As with all things Disney, there have been many closings, openings, renamings, retheming, etc. Any geezers out there remember Heidelburger's Deli? Or when the Village Restaurant became Chef Mickey's, which moved to the CR? How 'bout the Lake Buena Vista Club, a fine upscale restaurant. And the Fireworks Factory at Pleasure Island?

Seems that I heard somewhere that there were some issues about further developing that area, that perhaps the land was too marshy to provide sufficient foundation for building. Did I just make that up?

 

[spiceycat]

hey if WDW really wanted to develop it further and with the crowds that are going to DD - that is always a possible - they could easily go up - also lots of place sell stuff on the water - and that would make use of all that water that surrounds the DD.....


Oh DD is getting a NEW pet store - I read it some place this week - it is definitely on my list - it will sell most Disney stuff for pets....

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Then they added the Empress Lily, which held, as I recall, the Fisherman's Deck, the Steerman's Quarters, and the Empress Room - three different restaurants

We used to love to eat there. I was very sorry to see it change to Fultons. It is still a very beautiful site from the other side of the water to see the Empress Lilly all lit up at night. Guess I will always call her that. She was named after Walt's wife.

 

[slimplaw]

We went to our first character breakfast on the Empress Lilly in 1994. We had to walk through a lot of construction going on for Pleasure Island. The area certainly has changed a lot since then.

 

[Micca]

We used to visit the shopping village in the late 70's. There was only MK at that time. It was a nice experience. Some of those shops on the east end are some of the original buildings(I think!)

 

[sters]

Originally posted by Dreamfinder2

Then they added the Empress Lily, which held, as I recall, the Fisherman's Deck, the Steerman's Quarters, and the Empress Room - three different restaurants. Now it's all Fulton's.

I sure miss the Empress Lilly. I only got to eat there once. When we returned it was Fulton's and it lost a lot of its ambience and service. And, the food at Fulton's is overprised even for Disney.

This area has seen a lot of expansion over the years. I wouldn't mind seeing some street entertainment in this area, you know... like roving bands and musicians, jugglers etc. Much more fun for the kids.

 

[crow11ad]

Don't forget they just added the new store next to Pooh's corner...called Disney Tails..A store for your pets needs...

We can't wait.

 

[lucky_bunni]

I kinda wish that Disney would bring some more "non-Disney" stores into DTD.. perhaps H&M? Hehe, that's my wish at least.

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by lucky_bunni
I kinda wish that Disney would bring some more "non-Disney" stores into DTD.. perhaps H&M? Hehe, that's my wish at least.

What's H & M?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by MELSMICE
What's H & M?

An inexpensive trendy clothing store.

We have tons of them in MA. I don't really like it. But maybe I'm just too old to care about fashion.

DBF's 16 yo neice could literally live at H&M.

 

[Joyciemc]

Hearing DD called "Village Marketplace" brings back so many good memories! My family went in 1992 for 2 weeks (I was 12), and we spent quite a bit of time just strolling around, renting water mice and hanging out there. Especially after I developed swimmer's ear- my mom brought me here while dad and brother went to Typhoon Lagoon. My first two character meals were there- Empress Lily and Chef Mickey's. I still remember the really yummy 'mixed drink' they had for kids at Chef Mickey's, and Daisy Duck stepping on my foot at Empress Lily's (it hurt!).

So 12 years isn't THAT long ago, but I really liked the laid back atmosphere the Village Marketplace had. Going to DD now is more hectic (at least the West Side- I don't enjoy the atmosphere there).

 

[BethC1952]

Any geezers out there remember Heidelburger's Deli?

I guess that makes me officially a geezer! It was one of my favorite restaurants (of course, back then the number of restaurants and parks was smaller, too). I still miss it! Dinner there, although simple -- a knockwurst sandwich and a beer or some such items-- was a treat for us back then since we were tent campers at Fort Wilderness and this was one meal that I didn't have to cook over charcoal!

Beth

 

[laurajetter]

Originally posted by Dreamfinder2
Ah, memories.

Back when the earth's crust was still cooling, they had the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village. It was an eclectic little clump of stores - even had a pet shop. Somewhere along the way it became the Disney Village Marketplace, and a lot of the stores started selling Disney merchandise.

Then they added the Empress Lily, which held, as I recall, the Fisherman's Deck, the Steerman's Quarters, and the Empress Room - three different restaurants. Now it's all Fulton's.

Next was Pleasure Island. Then came Planet Hollywood.

Lastly came West Side. As with all things Disney, there have been many closings, openings, renamings, retheming, etc. Any geezers out there remember Heidelburger's Deli? Or when the Village Restaurant became Chef Mickey's, which moved to the CR? How 'bout the Lake Buena Vista Club, a fine upscale restaurant. And the Fireworks Factory at Pleasure Island?

Seems that I heard somewhere that there were some issues about further developing that area, that perhaps the land was too marshy to provide sufficient foundation for building. Did I just make that up?

Wow! Thanks for clearing up my confusion about the Disney Village Marketplace! I've always wondered whether my parents just made up that name or if it really existed! I sort of assumed it changed into DTD, but wasn't sure.

And I forgot all about the Empress Lily! Now that you bring it up, it brings back memories of being little and hearing my parents always talk about going there.

-Laura