When was the last time you visited Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World? Even if its been only a few weeks or months, you might be surprised about all the changes taking place. New shops and restaurants are opening, like the Marketplace Co-Op and The Boathouse, while some old favorites, like the World of Disney store and Paradiso 37, are expanding.
Many more changes are coming, which is one reason why Disney is rebranding Downtown Disney into ‘Disney Springs.’ By the time all the changes are scheduled to be completed in 2016, the new Disney Springs will be almost twice the size of its former self.
With so many additions, its been necessary for Disney to make major changes to the traffic flow in and around Downtown Disney. New parking garages are being added, including the Orange Garage which opened late last year.
Lake Buena Vista Drive, which passes directly south of Downtown Disney, is being widened and new turn lanes are being added. Access ramps between I-4 and Downtown Disney will allow traffic to flow more easily in and out of the parking garages. In addition, pedestrian bridges will let guests and Cast Members cross Lake Buena Vista Drive.
A new footbridge connecting Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa with the east end of Downtown Disney opened last year, and recently another footbridge opened connecting the Rainforest Cafe area with the area around Fulton’s Crab House.
Here are some photos taken during our recent visit to Downtown Disney in mid-June 2015. The aerial photos were taken from the Characters in Flight Balloon. The Disney Springs name and logo are starting to appear at Downtown Disney. This seal appears on pillars on the new Marketplace walkway bridge that recently opened.
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Lake Buena Vista Drive is undergoing a major transformation with construction occurring from Hotel Row on the east to west of Typhoon Lagoon. This photo shows one of the overpasses and ramps that will funnel traffic from I-4 directly to Downtown Disney. The Orange parking garage is in the left center of the photo and Splitsville is in the lower right of the photo.
It appears that overflow parking lots for employees and guests will be south of Lake Buena Vista Drive. This is one of the pedestrian bridges being built over the street.
Another set of pedestrian bridges are being constructed at the intersection of Hotel Row and Lake Buena Vista Drive. This photo was taken from the Disney Bus Loop at the east end of Downtown Disney.
The Orange Parking Garage, which opened in December 2015, is adjacent to the AMC Theater.
A new walkway bridge spans Village Lake from the Rainforest Cafe area to the Fulton’s Crab House area. This bridge allows pedestrians to bypass the area in front of the World of Disney store.
Several new establishments have opened in Downtown Disney in the last few months. One of the newest is The Boathouse restaurant. Besides offering steaks and seafood, The Boathouse rents amphicars that sail around Village Lake. The cost is a mere $125 for a 25-minute cruise. The amphicars can hold three adults and a skipper.
The amphicars were built in Germany and The Boathouse owns nine of them. Here is a closeup of one of cars and a photo of one cruising past Saratoga SpringsResort.
Splitsville Luxury Lanes opened last year and offers bowling and a place for a quick drink or a bite to eat.
The Hanger is another new dining establishment that will be opening soon. Like many things Disney, The Hanger has a backstory: It belongs to Jock Lindsey, the pilot we saw in the opening scenes of “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” No word if we will see Jock’s pet snake Reggie at The Hanger.
With all the changes going on at Downtown Disney, there are many construction fences. But fortunately, they don’t detract much from getting around Downtown Disney, nor are they much of an eyesore. The first photo shows construction walls near the Raglan Road restaurant. The second photo shows a drawing of what Disney Springs will look like when its transformation is complete.
From street level, its difficult to appreciate the size of the changes that are occurring at Downtown Disney. But from 300 feet up in the air while riding the Characters in Flight balloon, the magnitude of the changes still to come become apparent. This photo looks east toward Fulton’s Crab House and the white-roofed T-Rex Restaurant. The area to the right, which is now a large construction zone, use to be Downtown Disney’s east parking lot.
This aerial view looks south toward the Planet Hollywood restaurant, which is still open. The Orange parking garage is to the right and one of the pedestrian bridges being constructed over Lake Buena Vista Drive can be seen in the upper center of the photo.
Wil Lovato is a contributor to DVCNews.com and has been a Disney Vacation Club owner since 2009. His DVC Home Resorts include Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Villas, and Aulani. He can be found posting on many Disney discussion forums under the username of “wdrl”.
