Today we have a big update from the last part of December focusing on Downtown Disney. It is now just a few months away from opening the first locations in “The Landing” and being renamed as Disney Springs. As you can see above, Disney Springs now appears to have an official seal. It’s on the boards that cover a few of the windows in “The Landing.” Elsewhere in The Landing, a lot of work has been done on The Boathouse restaurant.
Construction of the second garage is now underway. That also means all of the surface parking from on the Marketplace side is now closed. So after 5pm or on weekends park across the street at Team Disney. The surface lot behind Cirque Du Soliel is also open, but the new Parking Garage appears to be the best bet for easy and close parking to the Westside.
More than 20 photos from the most recent update below:
We can add one more restaurant to the list of new dining experiences officially announced for Disney Springs. STK will open in The Landing area of the shopping, dining, and entertainment complex soon to be formerly known as Downtown Disney. The Landing is expected to… Read More »STK, high concept steakhouse, coming to Disney Springs
We have a really big update from Downtown Disney for you today. There’s a whole raft of updates to report as the popular shopping, dining, and entertainment district prepares to become Disney Springs.
The entrance to Downtown Disney is forever changed as a giant parking structure now occupies the former main parking lot for the westside. There’s still plenty of working going on, even on the parking garage itself. Eventually two walk-ways will connect the garage with Disney Springs. For now, there’s some extra construction walls to help corral pedestrian traffic into the West Side.
The biggest change is the re-opening of the walk-way through the former Pleasure Island area. This area will soon be known as “The Landing.” But for now, it’s still a mess of walls and storefronts that aren’t quite ready to open. You’ll note that they added some fake trolley tracks to the ground at the top of the hill and some concept art to show what that area will look like when finished.
There’s also been quite a lot of work on The Hanger and The Boathouse, two of the first dining experiences expected to open in The Landing.
Behind the Landing is “The Springs” and work is going on there too, with what looks like some of the first vertical structures being erected already.
It was not too many months ago that Disney had just started experimenting by inviting one or two food trucks to park at Downtown Disney and augment the food selection there. Then there was a very successful Food Truck Bazaar event and the addition of four ‘official’ Disney food trucks. Well those trucks now have an official home inside the future Disney Springs shopping, dining, and entertainment complex.
Officially known as “Exposition Park,” the addition is located on the Westside between the new Starbucks and Bongo’s, and conveniently close to the restrooms, the Food Truck park offers guests places to sit and enjoy the delicious food treats in a nice garden-like setting.
The area is currently decorated for Christmas. It has soft yellow lighting that turns on a dusk, a very lush feel with the ‘Elevated train’ platform acting as a divider from the hustle of the main walk-way and the food truck park.
On the night we visited, there was even a non-Disney food truck in residence. The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck, which recently changed ownership, was there to sell some of the most delicious treat in town.
It makes me very happy to see Disney is continuing it’s support of local food trucks. I hope it will continue to support the scene by inviting back the Food Truck Bazaar for a larger event, perhaps once the holidays are over and the parking garage is 100% open.
Speaking of the parking garage, come back tomorrow when we have a larger update of changes at Downtown Disney as it completes its transformation into Disney Springs.
More photos of the new Exposition Park location are available below:
Construction on the garage is still going on, but enough of the parking structure was ready for guests that Disney decided to open it to help alleviate some of the holiday shopping crush. Like the Mickey and Friends garage at Disneyland, the ground floor is… Read More »Disney’s Westside Garage Opens
When Disney Springs opens next year, a new sign will light up the night on top of what will soon be Morimoto Asia. The “Springs Bottling Co.” marquee was recently installed. Meant to inspire memories of Florida’s waterfront towns from the turn-of-the-century (last century, not… Read More »Disney Springs gets more opening dates and new sign
Despite the closure of Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney isn’t completely devoid of nightlife. In fact, it has one of the world’s best shows playing nearly every night. La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil is exclusive to Walt Disney World too, you can’t find these acts… Read More »Fall Deal Announced for La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil