Subsonic Radio

I was unable to find a thread that contained news and info on Disney Springs, or as we all call it Downtown Disney. This thread can be used to update recent construction updates and closures in Downtown Disney.

Today it was announced that the walkway that links Disney's Saratoga Springs to Downtown Disney Marketplace will be closing on July 8 2013. This will allow for an expansion of the Village Lake area of Disney Springs. On completion of the Disney Springs project there will be a new sidewalk connecting Saratoga Springs and Disney Springs. The sidewalk from Saratoga Springs to the West Side remains open, and guests can also use boat or bus transportation to get to Downtown Disney.

Wow... so it's REALLY real!! I kept seeing artist renderings, and wasn't sure if it was every really going to happen.

Very exciting! It makes me wish we would have bought SSR instead of AKV.

Has there been any kind of overall timeline for the project, or is it just being announced in terms of constituent changes to the area?

The project is suppose to be completed by 2016. The expansion will approximately double the number of shops and restaurants at Downtown Disney. World of Disney will be expanded as well.

The new areas include:
The Town Center, which offers a sophisticated mix of shopping and dining along with a promenade where guests can relax, refresh and reconnect.
A colorful and thriving commercial district called The Landing with inspired dining and beautiful waterfront views.

The family-friendly Marketplace that will continue to delight guests of all ages by combining new experiences, such as an over-the-water pedestrian causeway, along with classic Disney favorites, including an expanded World of Disney store.

A West Side that provides an exuberant atmosphere with lively entertainment, along with a series of new elevated spaces that provide both shade and an overlook to the activity below.

The Marketplace and West Side will remain, Pleasure Island will become 'The Landing'. 'The Town Center' area will be completely new, built on former parking areas. The Marketplace will be updated, and will feature a new bridge connecting the Rainforest Cafe area to the TREX area. The West Side will have new elevated spaces above the current area.

I feel like I read about this awhile ago. Didn't we have a post about it? Something with a title to the tune of updates or whatever to Downtown Disney? I'm having this incredible sense of de ja vu.

There is, but it was made before the new name was announced, it's DTD renovations or something. Though it is not as regularly updated as the DLR thread since no one pays as close attention to it.

The Pleasure Island area now has a lot of construction walls up:

I'd say that's a Disney quarantine I could appreciate. Interesting to see how this develops!

Construction walls are now up next to Characters in Flight at Downtown Disney to begin work on a new temporary bridge.The walkway bridge along the lake shoreline will be used to bypass Pleasure Island for foot traffic to allow Disney Springs construction work on the Island.

Has anyone heard anything on the new stores yet? I'd love to see a small grocery store, but I don't think it would draw too many people. Wonder if we'll see some Star Wars or Marvel stores.

lmnissen wrote:Has anyone heard anything on the new stores yet? I'd love to see a small grocery store, but I don't think it would draw too many people. Wonder if we'll see some Star Wars or Marvel stores.

There hasn't been an announcement yet on the new stores coming to Downtown Disney. DStreet on the West side does sell Marvel merchandise and is one of the only stores that does right now.

I thought they sell marvel Merchandise all over now. Even in the parks.

At DLR they can do that but supposedly part of the deal was that the marvel stuff cannot appear in the parks at WDW. At least for now.

Marvel characters and rides cannot appear that are already in the universal parks, but I am 100% positive they sell merchandise. I have already bought some of it. lol

I know it's a sore subject, but I would hope that they would bring back the Adventurer's Club in some capacity. There's been such an outcry from people... maybe now that they are rebuilding?