Downtown Disney Transformation

Walt Disney World

Florida

Downtown Disney Springs to Life

The image to the left was taken during our National Conference last year.  It is one of the stores in The Marketplace, a popular shopping spot in the WDW Resort's Downtown Disney.


What does the Disney Imagineering team have in store for us?
More shopping, dining and entertainment amid beautiful open-air promenades, meandering springs and waterfront charm.

 

Four Neighborhoods

This area is about to undergo a multi-million dollar remake which will add 4,000 jobs when completed in 2016 and over 1,200 jobs during construction.  The project will be completed in phases with the area remaining open during the entire construction period.

For those who have visited Downtown Disney, you are aware of the water running through the complex. This will now become the focal point and is incorporated in the new name, Disney Springs. Perhaps borrowing on an idea started by Royal Caribbean on the Oasis-class ships, they will have 4 "neighborhoods": 

• Town Center - a Spanish Revival retail area & dining venue with a promenade
• The Landing - world-class dining with view of waterfront
• Marketplace - familiar family-friendly retail & dining with  over-the-water pedestrian causeway
• West Side - featuring an industrial building with a lounge area with lively entertainment

Watch the Announcement Live

On March 14, 2013, Walt Disney World announced Downtown Disney would be renamed to Disney Springs, nearly doubling the size with new shopping and dining to be completed by 2016. This digitally animated model was displayed to the press during the announcement, narrated by Walt Disney Imagineer Kathy Mangum and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs.

        Here is a video showing artist renderings of the new Disney Springs.

    Source: Official Disney Press Release & InsideTheMagic

Creating Magical Memories 2012

 Let The Memories Begin!

Each October, we attend our National Conference which is typically hosted by one of our partner cruise lines.  This year, Disney Destinations was our host.   Our conference began in Walt Disney World Resort and continued on Disney Dream.

As with any conference, there were general sessions, breakout meetings, opportunities to network, special events, and of course, opportunities to enjoy all the venue itself had to offer.   In the case of Disney Destinations, that is quite a lot.

Come along with us on a Magical Journey through Walt Disney World parks and then sail away with us to the Bahamas on Disney Dream.

Arriving for Conference

The closest airport to Walt Disney Worlds Resort is Orlando International Airport (MCO).  The airport is about 40 miles from the Disney resort.  Guests staying at Walt Disney Resort hotels can utilize Disney's Magical Express bus transportation from the airport to the hotel.   We didn't use their transportation because our son had driven to Florida and picked us up at the airport.

Coronado Springs Hotel & Conference Center

Once on Disney property, we headed towards our hotel to check in.  The conference headquarters hotel was Coronado Springs which also has conference facilities like many of the other hotels on Disney property.

Check in went smoothly as Disney is very organized.   The package we received at check in also included our cruise documents and baggage tags.   Next we stopped at the conference registration tables to get our badges, conference shirts, and other information before heading to our room.  (View more photos)

The first event for the conference would be in the evening.  Bus transportation was arranged to take us to Epcot Center for our private function (more on that in another article).

Meanwhile, we decided to get something to eat, so we headed to Downtown Disney to check out the restaurants there.  We selected one of their specialty pizzas with all the toppings.   We all enjoyed the pizza very much.