Welcome to Disney Springs!

It’s official, Disney held a renaming christening party today for Disney Springs, the shopping and dining district formerly known as Downtown Disney!

9/29/15: Lunchtime crowd gathers at DTD for the name changing ceremony.

New signage went up at WDW last week for Disney Springs. They no longer say ‘Downtown Disney’.

Major construction continues at a fast pace from one end of Disney Springs to the other, and on all the roadways in-between!

Some concept art of what Disney Springs will look like in Spring 2016:

Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs.  Opened today.

9/29/15: Mickey at the grand opening of Morimoto Asia today.

Disney Springs Town Center (opening in 2016).

Marketplace, West Side

The Landing (formerly Pleasure Island).

Official Disney Springs logo

Video of the backstory of Disney Springs:  Disney Springs 2016  

What DTD will look like as Disney Springs in Spring 2016 (lake view).

We’re less than a year away from the final transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs by Spring 2016. The construction works continues at a fast pace, with new shops and restaurants opening weekly!

Personally, we’re very glad to see all the work being done to expand Buena Vista Blvd. and the opening of the two new parking garages (finally!).

Disney Springs is being expanded to include more than 150 shopping, dining and entertainment experiences.

It’s a 3 year construction project (2013-2016).

New Disney Springs signage everywhere.

Disney Springs logo.

They should have begun this expansion – especially the two new parking garages – back in 2000.  Parking’s been terrible at Downtown Disney for 10+ years and Lake Buena Vista hasn’t been able to handle the daily traffic loads for years.

Every CP we know, including us!, has sat on a bus in stopped traffic on Lake Buena Vista Drive going to and from work.

2016:  New I-4 interchange that will offer guests direct access to Disney Springs.

Summer 2016:  Widening Lake Buena Vista Drive from seven to ten lanes will finally be complete.

We can’t wait until it’s all finished!  We are definitely planning a trip in 2016 to see it all done!

Ariel view:  The Landing at Disney Springs shopping and dining district, Spring 2016

Disney Springs after dark.  Almost double the restaurants and shops are planned.

The official Disney Springs, Florida logo

Disney Springs Construction Work:

• Roadwork on Buena Vista Drive  Through Mar. 2016
  Due to heavy roadwork, expect delays on Buena Vista Drive. It is recommended that Guests use complimentary Walt Disney World Resort transportation from Parks and Resorts to Disney Springs and plan to arrive early for reserved dining and entertainment experiences.

• Parking Lots – Entrance 2 – Lots A-G  Dec. 1, 2014 – Aug. 1, 2016
  Loss of parking lot Entrance 2 to Guest/Cast traffic and associated lots A-G in preparation for the construction of Town Center and the East Garage.

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            by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins

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