New Disney Springs Concept Art Released, Restaurant Opening Dates Updated

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

Disney recently made some brand new concept art (and some we’ve seen before) for Disney Springs available to the public, so let’s take a look and see what’s on the way:

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This is the former site of Comedy Warehouse

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The former BET Soundstage and Adventurer’s Club

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The bridge that connects Town Center to The Landing, heading towards Morimoto Asia

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Inside of The Landing between BOATHOUSE and Morimoto Asia, facing the latter

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Inside fo the Town Center, facing towards The Landing

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The main avenue of The Landing, including Paradiso 37

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The new shops across from the park in The Landing

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The still unannounced “hangar” restaurant with a boat shaped outdoor seating area, across from Paradiso 37

As well, Disney updated some of the opening dates for the three announced restaurants in The Landing:

  • The BOATHOUSE – Spring 2015
  • Morimoto Asia – Summer 2015
  • STK Orlando – 2015

BREAKING: New Shops Confirmed for Disney Springs at Walt Disney World

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

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The first new shops coming to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World, specifically in The Landing later this year, have been formally announced by Disney:

  • APEX by Sunglass Hut – offering the latest in sports and activewear sunglasses.
  • Havaianas – specializing in a wide array of flip-flops, including a station where Guests can create their own flip-flops.
  • Art of Shaving – premium shaving shop offering grooming essentials.
  • Sanuk – creatively inspired and distinctively designed footwear.
  • Chapel Hats – specializing in hats and headwear.
  • Sound Lion – offering the latest technology in headphones, ear buds, speakers, wireless music players and other digital sound and music products.
  • Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC – gluten-free, vegan bakery.

Dirk Wallen’s 1/26/15 Disney Springs Photo Report (BOATHOUSE Construction, Signs Go Up, ETC.)

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney over the weekend and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on the Marketplace bridge

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Some new pins were released this week, including Mardi Gras…

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President’s Day…

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And Valentine’s Day

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Signs on the shops around the Landing have indeed started to go up, beginning with Chapel Hats

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Scaffolding has come down at the BOATHOUSE

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Work is wrapping up out by the dock for BOATHOUSE as well

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The “hangar” restaurant is still unannounced

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But we can see there is an outdoor seating area disguised as a suspended boat

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Work on the shores of the West Side continue, just across from Starbucks and Harley Davidson

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From upstairs at Planet Hollywood, we can get a good look at the work on the Town Center and the finishing touches for the Orange parking structure

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By 2016, the Town Center will be standing in this space

“STK Steakhouse Orlando” Coming to The Landing in Disney Springs

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

NEW YORK, NY – Dec. 17, 2014 — The ONE Group Hospitality, Inc. (“The ONE Group”) (OTCQB:STKS), known for developing upscale, high-energy restaurants, today announced plans to open a STK in Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. STK Orlando is expected to open in The Landing at Disney Springs in 2015, with the full completion of Disney Springs expected in 2016.

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The new STK will be located within the waterfront setting of The Landing at Disney Springs, a completely re-imagined shopping, dining and entertainment complex that will double the number of shops and restaurants currently found at Downtown Disney. The Landing is the first phase of Disney Springs and will be home to unique and memorable dining experiences such as STK, Morimoto Asia and The BOATHOUSE, plus a number of still-to-be-announced innovative restaurants and boutique shops.

STK’s unique ambiance blends the elements of a modern steakhouse with a sleek lounge, including a DJ, emphasizing a social, fun environment. At approximately 14,000 square feet, the Orlando outpost will be one of the largest STK locations. STK Orlando will have two dining floors—including a main level and the only rooftop dining venue in Disney Springs.

“We are thrilled to join the Disney Springs family with the launch of STK Orlando,” said Jonathan Segal, CEO of The ONE Group. “The combination of an innovative menu and high-energy atmosphere has driven the success of STK, and we believe it will be an ideal addition to Disney Springs, and will help further cement its status as a place for friends and family to gather for fine dining and entertainment.”

Segal added, “Our entrance into the Orlando market represents another example of our continued growth strategy. We remain on track with our expansion plans for 2015 and hope to continue to partner with exciting world-class brands like Walt Disney Parks and Resorts moving forward.”

“STK Orlando is a welcome new addition to Disney Springs.  With its innovative, high-energy atmosphere, STK is the perfect complement to our growing array of dining, entertainment and shopping offerings,” said George A. Kalogridis, president, Walt Disney World Resort.

Tom Corless’ 12/23/14 Disney Springs Photo Report (Parking Structure, New Restrooms, New Babycakes Location, & More)

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

This weekend, I took a trip to Downtown Disney (Disney Springs), so let’s take a look at what’s new and exciting:

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For the first time, I parked at the new parking structure, still an active construction zone for the most part…

This is the Orange garage

A non-Disney food truck at Exposition Park

More Wonderground Gallery merchandise popping up at D Street

STK Steakhouse is either going in the former Adventurer’s Club building or BET Soundstage

This facade we thought might be a restaurant is actually restrooms and they are open now

Very nice, no mirrors yet though

Any doors or windows that are boarded up in the area now have these Disney Springs signs

The building that looks like an airplane hangar is pretty small, may just be a bar or a counter service location

Work has begun on the Town Center

Another look at the airplane hangar

Siding has now been placed on The Boathouse building

Another new restroom near Portobello and some soon-to-open new shops

The new Babycakes location should be going in this building

It should see a lot of traffic here on the main path and not inside a Pollo Campero

The Marketplace bridge should open any day now

The new park area in front of T-Rex

Some new artwork featuring Mickey Mouse and the gang that will soon appear inside the expanded World of Disney store is now on the construction walls

Some new iPhone cases

Another look at the bridge

A look inside the new restroom by Raglan Road

Back to the parking garage

Some really great views can be found from the garage

This pedestrian walkway will open in a few months, temporary paths are in place now

This back of house area will soon be made to look a lot nicer

Work has begun on the Town Center area

PHOTOS: Food Truck Park Opens at the West Side in Disney Springs

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

After months of delay, Food Truck Park on the West Side at Disney Springs finally opened to guests today. The area offers a permanent home to the Food Trucks at Downtown Disney and to some live entertainment space along the water:

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Walls came down around Food Truck (or Exposition) Park today, located between Bongo’s and Starbucks on the West Side

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As reported, the Sunshine Highline is not accessible

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There is no more grass, just pavement and planters around the Food Trucks

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Live entertainment in the park

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Live entertainment in the park

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This is where the elevator would have gone to get up to the Sunshine Highline

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Another look

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Instead of ordering at the truck, there are now podiums at the Food Truck

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Signs tell guests to order at the kiosk

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Nearby, walls have also come down around the Harley-Davidson store

PHOTOS: Walls Come Down and Walkways Open in Disney Springs, Revealing “The Landing”

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

Walls came down around the former Pleasure Island bridge area (near the Adventurer’s Club site) over the Thanksgiving weekend, revealing new facades, concept art, and more for The Landing, the replacement land for PI courtesy of the Disney Springs makeover project of Downtown Disney. Let’s see what’s new and exciting:

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Walls came down on the former Pleasure Island bridge connecting to the West Side last week, just in time for the heavy crowds

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It has been closed for quite a while, well over a year

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This area underneath the Restrooms next door to the former BET Soundstage seems to have been cleaned up

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The large open space is where the Comedy Warehouse used to be

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New lamps

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Continuing the story of the abandoned railroad, there are train tracks in the pavment

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Train tracks

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Train tracks

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One of the new facades, not sure if this is a shop or restaurant

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Looking down the main street of The Landing towards Paradiso 37

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Another look at this large facade

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Sign is up, but nothing is on it…

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As much as there have been complaints that the Town Center looks fairly bland, the Landing has some really pretty elements

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The former home of the Adventurer’s Club will become a restaurant

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Some small store facades in The Landing

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Some small store facades in The Landing

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Some small store facades in The Landing

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The former home of Mannequin’s is transforming in Morimoto’s

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Another new facade

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Originally meant for just dining, The Landing now includes several store spaces

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Some new concept art for The Landing

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Looking towards Paradiso 37 and the West Side from the new park area

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Concept art showing the Landing, including another look at the yet-to-be-named restaurant in an airplane hangar…

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The frame of the airplane hangar building is up

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Another beautiful piece of concept art showing what will become of the Adventurer’s Club and BET Soundstage

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Here’s what it looks like now

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The Landing will open in the Spring, but I can’t imagine these facades will be changed by then

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Another new piece of concept art

The Landing neighborhood in Disney Springs will open Spring 2015, although the area will likely not be finished by that time.

Morimoto Asia, BOATHOUSE Dining Experiences Coming to Disney Springs in 2015

WDWNT on November 25, 2014

Posted today on the Disney Parks Blog:

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It was just announced that Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who many of you know from his appearances on Iron Chef America, is opening a one-of-a-kind dining experience in the heart of Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Approved Rendering Morimoto Asia Interior

Morimoto Asia will be the Japanese master chef’s first-ever pan-Asian restaurant featuring flavors from across the continent. This Disney Springs dining destination will include unique exhibition kitchens showcasing traditions like Peking duck carving, and dim sum.

“I’m very excited to bring this new concept to Disney, something I’ve always dreamed of,” said Chef Morimoto. “It’s a wonderful chance to share some of my favorite foods from across the Asian continent.”

The two-story restaurant is scheduled to open in the Summer 2015 at The Landing (formerly Pleasure Island) in Disney Springs. Morimoto Asia will feature waterside seating, terraces, a grand hall and a cocktail lounge.

Approved Rendering THE BOATHOUSE Bar Exterior 3
Also today, another new concept dining experience, The BOATHOUSE, was announced for The Landing in Disney Springs.

The BOATHOUSE will be an upscale, waterfront dining experience that’ll immerse guests both on land and on water with live music, guided tours aboard the Captain’s piloted 40-foot Italian Water Taxi with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries and guided Amphicar rides that launch from land, enter the water, and take guests on a 20-minute tour of the landmarks of Disney Springs.

“We are very excited that the BOATHOUSE is joining the Walt Disney World family at Disney Springs,” says creator Steven Schussler. “Walt Disney Imagineering has created a wonderful, interactive, culinary and entertainment experience at Disney Springs. We are proud to be part of this magical experience.”

Approved Rendering THE BOATHOUSE Waterfront View 1

The BOATHOUSE will open in the Spring of 2015 in Disney Springs. The restaurant’s gourmet menu (served daily until 2 a.m.) will feature steaks, chops, seafood and a raw bar. The BOATHOUSE is the latest project of Schussler Creative, the creators of Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex and Yak & Yeti at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney Springs Parking Structure Opening Date Revealed, Surface Lots to Close

WDWNT on November 25, 2014

The first parking garage at Disney Springs is essentially complete, and will open for “Cast Member previews” beginning on November 2nd, ahead of the “Early 2015” date Disney started to publicize a few months back when the project seemed behind schedule.

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The structure will first open to the public on November 20th. Floors 1 through 4 will be fully open by December 1st. The top floor will open at a later date.

With the opening of the parking structure comes the closure of Downtown Disney surface parking lots A-G on December 1st.

Work will begin on the second parking structure for Disney Springs and the new Town Center district on December 1st as well.

Dirk Wallen’s 11/3/14 WDW Photo Report (Walls Down at Disney Springs, New Concept Art, Big Hero 6, Christmas Merch, ETC)

WDWNT on November 25, 2014

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Disney Springs, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot this week and he has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us in this HUGE photo report, so let’s get started:

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Plenty of roadwork still to be done for Disney Springs

A new piece of elevated track is rising on the West Side, between Splitsville and Wolfgang Puck

We now know this large building with be the Boathouse

Disney announced this new restaurant concept last week

They wasted no time in adding ads to the walls for the restaurant

Concept art for the façade of the Boathouse

The small waterside park in The Landing opened this weekend

A nice little area for relaxing and live entertainment

Some of the buildings are out from behind construction walls in The Landing

New concept art for the area now on construction walls

There is a giant inflatable Baymax from Big Hero 6 on the West Side…

These storefronts in The Landing are just about done

The bridge in the Marketplace is also nearing completion

Two small, temporary stores operated by Something Silver opened by Fulton’s recently

The Marketplace bridge with the Rainforest Café façade refurbishment in the background

Shifting gears, Christmas merchandise has invaded the resort

Ornaments

Some Star Wars holiday pins were released

Plenty of Big Hero 6 merchandise is available around the resort

2015 calendars available

New “I Conquered” shirt

Iron Man and Captain America shirts

New Star Wars character glasses

New Darth Vader t-shirt

Some new merchandise was released at the Art of Animation Resort

Over at Epcot, walls finally came down around the area that was closed when a water main was hit after the Flower and Garden Festival

No visible progress at Norway’s Frozen attraction

We tweeted these weeks ago, but if you haven’t seen, some new retro EPCOT Center merchandise has been released

A quick stop at Animal Kingdom reveals work walls near Pangani Forest and Kilimanjaro Safaris

No visible changes at AVATAR, it’s impossible to see from inside the park

Moving to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, work continues on Starbucks and the Trolley Car Café

Nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey…

Big Hero 6 merchandise carts replace the Frozen carts

Banners up in the Animation Courtyard

Work has finally begun on the Big Hero 6 meet and greet inside The Magic of Disney Animation

Big Hero 6 billboard by The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

Let’s journey inside the new Wandering Oaken’s

Purchase with purchase Frozen bag available

Jim Shore has released some Frozen statues

Osborne Lights are ready to go

No more Backlot Tour…