Skip to content

downtown disney

Splitsville facade

Splitsville Construction and Downtown Disney Update

Splitsville facade

I was at Downtown Disney last night to catch the latest James Bond flick (finally, the reboot the franchise deserved) and was impressed with the progress made on Splitsville in the last week or so. The tarps are down from the facade and the bowling lanes have been installed. But there are many areas where walls need to be finished, railings added in, not to mention furniture loaded in and the kitchen finished and tested.

Workers were still going at it at 9:30pm when I left last night. That tells me they’re working in overdrive to get the place open as soon as they can. I just doubt they’ll make the early December date they had originally projected. I’d love to be proven wrong though.

Splitsville Progress

Read More »Splitsville Construction and Downtown Disney Update

Splitsville construction Nov 2012

Downtown Disney Orlando – Photo Update

Splitsville construction Nov 2012

While at the Festival of the Masters last weekend, I took some photos of changes at Downtown Disney Orlando. Alas, I had to shoot around the artist booths a bit, but there are still a few major projects underway that we need to check in with.

Up first is Splitsville. It’s scheduled to be open in less than a month, but the exterior looks a long ways off to me.

Here’s a quick preview video for the location:

You may have heard that the Seven Dwarfs are getting a new mountain in New Fantasyland, but that’s not the only mountain being added to Walt Disney World. Rainforest Cafe has replaced their volcano with a new version that the promise will be very exciting. After a long wait, they’ve even started adding rock work to the steel skeleton of the mountain.Read More »Downtown Disney Orlando – Photo Update

Disney News Round-Up!

There have been a lot of random Disney news stories appearing recently, so I thought I would bunch them all together so you don’t have to go searching! This will cover Parks, ABC, Disney Channel, Consumer Products…and MORE! (I realize I sound like a Ronco Rotisserie ad…after you read this you can set it…and forget it!)

  • Electric Holiday– This has become one of my “I am the only Disney fan that is SUPER EXCITED for this” moments (along the same lines as the Hercules 15th Anniversary Pin and the unveiling of the new Disney Parks promotion “Limited-Time Magic”). If you are unfamiliar…Barney’s NYC partnered with Disney this year for their annual holiday window display. This year follows Minnie and other Disney characters as they get ready to hit the runway wearing some of Barney’s most popular designers. This did get some controversy when the concept art was released and it revealed Disney characters in stereotypical super skinny model bodies. Personally, I feel like since this is animation, there is no argument (everything in animation is over-the-top anyways…), but it still sprouted over the interwebs. The teaser looks wonderful and I am overall excited to see the products and the full short!
    Read More »Disney News Round-Up!
3D Chalk Art

Highlights from the 2012 Festival of the Masters

The Festival of the Masters event at Downtown Disney is often thought of the cream of the crop for artists on the art show circuit. You have to have won a prize at one of the other shows in order to secure an invitation for… Read More »Highlights from the 2012 Festival of the Masters

Ear of Sandwich - Downtown Disney Anaheim

Earl of Sandwich brings special brand of eats to Disneyland’s Downtown Disney

I’m a fan of the Earl of Sandwich shops, although I admit I don’t eat there very often. The reason is the long lines of others enjoying the tasty handheld lovelies. I’ve often maintained that they could open a second location at Downtown Disney and still have lines out the doors. They finally did open a 2nd Downtown Disney location, only this one is in Anaheim, so it won’t help the lines here in Orlando.

Ear of Sandwich - Downtown Disney Anaheim

A special grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, November 2nd welcomed Earl of Sandwich, created by the direct descendent of John Montagu, the Earl who invented the sandwich in 1762 to Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort. Present were “Extra” star Mario Lopez, Earl of Sandwich co-founder Robert Earl, Downtown Disney General Manager Janet Knox, and the big cheese himself Mickey Mouse.
Read More »Earl of Sandwich brings special brand of eats to Disneyland’s Downtown Disney

Living Statue

Living Statues attract Crowds at Downtown Disney

With all the clubs in Pleasure Island shuttered, Disney has moved the nightly entertainment out onto the sidewalks with bands, magicians, and even living statues. Turns out, the living statues are pretty popular. Families stop and watch as the statue comes to life to interact… Read More »Living Statues attract Crowds at Downtown Disney

Festival of the Masters at Dowtown Disney

Festival of the Masters Returns to Downtown Disney Nov. 9-11

The Festival of the Masters art show is one event I look forward to every year. Downtown Disney takes on a special vibe as the prestigious open-air fine arts festival features nearly 150 award-winning artists, sidewalk chalk art, limited-edition fine art, photography, sculpture, jewelry, glass… Read More »Festival of the Masters Returns to Downtown Disney Nov. 9-11

Characters In Flight Returns to Downtown Disney with New Balloon and New Look

After an accident with a similar balloon in Hong Kong, the Downtown Disney Characters in Flight Balloon ride closed on July 1st of this year. The balloon had been scheduled for replacement soon, but they just took it off line out of precaution earlier. This… Read More »Characters In Flight Returns to Downtown Disney with New Balloon and New Look