Dirk Wallen’s 2/10/15 Disney Springs & Flamingo Crossings Photo Report

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney (Disney Springs) and the future site of Flamingo Crossings this week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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Signage is up for Sanuk in The Landing

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Signage up for Sound Lion as well

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Ape by Sunglass Hut has already opened

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The store specializes in sunglasses that are sportswear related

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A new section of pier being constructed in the Marketplace

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Construction has begun on the Town Center area

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The view of the construction from the Orange parking structure

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The first structure rising appears to be a pedestrian walkway over Buena Vista Drive

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The two hotels under construction at Flaming Crossings are coming up quickly

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Both hotels will open in 2016

PHOTOS: The Village Causeway (Marketplace Bridge) Finally Opens at Disney Springs/Downtown Disney

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

We’ve been watching construction for what seems like forever, but the Village Causeway, the bridge across the Marketplace section of what will be Disney Springs, opened to guests today with some small merchandise stands (Photos by WDWNT Reporter Jose Castillo):

Some really great details to be found on the bridge

Florida Both Co. sells specialty soaps

Kate and Leo doesn’t seem to be Titanic related…

They sell toys

Icon Jewelry

Flour and Sugar is operated by Basin

They have Florida inspired cookies

Different areas of Florida are represented, tying into the Disney Springs story

The store is pretty much operated on an iPad

Looking out from the Village Causeway

Some really nice views

The bridge itself is a nice architectural piece

You can now get from Rainforest Cafe to the LEGO Store in record time

The new marina is still being constructed

Brian Carey’s 2/17/15 Disney Springs/Downtown Disney Photo Report

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

One of our newest WDWNT reporters, Brian Carey, brings us his very first report today, taking a look that all that is new at Disney Springs/Downtown Disney:

The decorative panels on the outside of parking structure have started going up

What’s New? signs can now be found, helping guests find the newer additions

Sound Lion is now open

A look inside Sanuk

The Art of Shaving (not shown) and Apex (shown above) are now open as well.

Havaianas will be going in this location. For those unfamiliar, Havaianas sells flip flops and sandals from Brazil.

Chapel Hats is open

And of course the stands on the bridge (Village Causeway) are open

GHOSTS!

A look at the bridge from afar

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC is still not open

Probably a lot of furnishing left to do based on this shot

The former Pleasure Island dead zone is now coming to life as The Landing

Still no details on Disney’s Hangar restaurant, which will be a table service location

The bar is located on a boat on the side of the building

The dock at the Boathouse is nearly complete

Back over to The Landing, inside the Art of Shaving

Shaving is expensive…

Thanks for the report Brian and welcome to the team!

WonderGround Art Gallery to Expand in Marketplace Co-Op This March, The Sign Shop Being Added

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

Last summer, the Marketplace Co-Op opened at Downtown Disney Marketplace in Florida. This flexible space location serves as a testing ground for new retail shop concepts, products and guest experiences. Shortly after it opened in June 2014, a small fixture was added that featured products from the WonderGround Gallery at Downtown Disney District in California. The WonderGround Gallerysectio of the store will be expanding beginning in early March 2015, into the space that formerly belonged to Beautifully Disney.

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To celebrate this newest addition, you’re invited to attend a grand opening event on March 6-7. A few artists will be making appearances both days including Jasmine Beckett Griffith, Robert Jimenez and Jerrod Maruyama.

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Moving into WonderGround Gallery’s former space is The Sign Shop, which will carry an assortment of Disney Parks-inspired signs similar to ones offered at Disney Centerpiece and at select Art of Disney locations. Some new items will be released including a Hollywood Tower Hotel sign by Disney Design Group Artist Richard Terpstra, a mermaid image by Tony Harris, and some unique photography pieces by Michael Lewis Glover (he will also be attending the grand opening weekend).

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Make it to the Grand Opening event on March 6-7 if you can!

1/6/15 Aerial Construction Photos of Downtown Disney Conversion to Disney Springs

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

WDWNT’s own Nick LoCicero took a trip high above Downtown Disney this week and has some great aerial photos of the on-going work to share with us today:

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Even though it has opened, work continues on the Orange parking structure

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The top level appears to be far from ready

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Work has begun on the Town Center, the former parking lot for Pleasure Island

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Some new facades can already be found on this side of The Landing, the large Bottling Co. building will be home to the Morimoto restaurant

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We can see work progressing on the Boathouse, as well as the still unannounced hangar restaurant

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The Town Center will be completed by 2016

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First-Ever food Truck Takeover Happening This Weekend at Downtown Disney

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

During the first-ever “food truck takeover” January 16-18 at Exposition Park at Downtown Disney, visitors will experience a fun way to get a taste of the new Trattoria al Forno menu.

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Superstar Catering food truck, which usually features tastes of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, will be the makeshift kitchen for the Trattoria chefs to serve three of the restaurant’s most popular dishes: an oversized beef and spinach meatball in a sourdough bread bowl (inspired by the restaurant’s Polpetta Gigante) with housemade “Sunday gravy” ($12.25); lasagna ($10.75), and tiramisu ($6). They’ll also be pouring Sogno d’Italia Chianti from Tuscany, representing the restaurant’s all-Italian wine list and a perfect pairing for the lasagna and meatball.

Exposition Park hours are noon-11 p.m., weather permitting. More Disney restaurants will showcase menu favorites with upcoming food truck takeovers.

If a taste at Exposition Park should leave you wanting more, Trattoria al Forno on Disney’s BoardWalk is open 7:30-11 a.m. for breakfast, 5-10 p.m. for dinner.

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

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