Downtown Disney soon to become Disney Springs… update!
Earlier this week we paid another visit to Downtown Disney to check out the latest construction and give you an update.
The first thing to say is that the official renaming of Downtown Disney to Disney Springs is expected within the next month. Our sources tell us that everyone is waiting for the announcement that could come any day now.
Also, hot off the press is the fact that one of the five pedestrian bridges giving access to Disney Springs will be completed by September 8th. That’s the official date set for the first bridge to open. The second bridge will open later in the Fall.
We were also informed that the new neighborhood with some 60 shops will be opening next June. A lot of the flagship stores for some of the new tenants will also be offering something different to customers than the stores they may find elsewhere in the world.
The “Orange” car park is now fully functional and as you’ll see from the photos above and below, the new parking system indicating how many spaces are available on a given floor and the new green lights over an available space itself have been well received.
While there, we decided to take a look at The Boathouse. It was our first time dining there and we have to say the setting was magnificent. A lovely place to dine and enjoy some great food. The Boathouse is an upscale family friendly waterfront dining experience featuring some spectacular floating artwork and dream boats from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. It’s a neat setting as well as having three distinctive bars, the Captain’s Raw Bar, The Admiral’s Club Bar and The Dock Bar.
We did take a look at the Amphicar Tours but decided to skip the $125.00, 20 to 25 minute Captain’s guided tour of the landmarks of Downtown Disney. The tour is a little unique as only 3,878 amphicars were ever produced during the 1961 to 1968 period and Disney now lays claim to being the only place in the world that can give you a ride in one of these amazing machines.
We also popped into Starbucks to take a look at the relatively new 4,000 sq foot store that opened in May. The location is the first Starbucks Reserve® Store at the resort, offering rare and exquisite small-batch coffees from around the world. The store is equipped with the Clover® Brewing System and four Mistrena espresso machines. Elegant bar seating encourages interaction between Starbucks baristas and customers. The store also has a more expansive food case than most cafes, and 30 Starbucks partners per shift serving customers.
Also, the new store now serves beer and wine as part of its “Starbucks Evenings” program. The new beverage options are available after 4 p.m. daily and there are only 30 Starbucks locations nationwide that have these offerings. The Downtown Disney store is the only one with beer and wine in Florida with the next closest being in Atlanta.
Lots of other stores are now open at Downtown Disney and you can keep up to date with shopping and dining options at Disney’s web site.
When work is completed in 2016, Disney Springs will have expanded to more than 150 shopping, dining and entertainment venues. The area will include four distinct, outdoor neighborhoods with a high-quality, diverse mix of retailers – including premium, affordable luxury and fast fashion options – and sophisticated restaurants.
The whole area is coming on very nicely with such tenants as fashion retailers Uniqlo, Pandora, Zara, Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer to come on board. From a dining point of view, Edison, Sprinkles, Blaze Pizza, Vivoli Gelateria, Tea Traders by Joffrey’s Tea and Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bat are all in the later stages of development.
Finally, one last tidbit, it’s true… the Sprinkles store is getting an ATM machine….the world’s first cupcake ATM that actually dispenses freshly baked cupcakes and cookies 24/7!
So, if you’re in Central Florida or planning to visit soon, make sure you check out everything that is happening at Downtown Disney!
More photos at www.FloridaLeisurePhotography.com
