Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort is an area in transition.
The entertainment complex is being re-imagined under a new name — Disney Springs — which will feature a plethora of new shopping, dining and entertainment options for guests.
The new incarnation, planned for completion in 2016, will have the feel of a small Florida town in the early 1900s and will feature four distinct areas — Town Center, The Landing, Marketplace and West Side.
The first phase of the transition is a lakefront shopping and dining area called The Landing, which is set to open in 2015.
Here is what we already know about Disney Springs.
Accessibility: In November, the first of several transportation improvements tied to the Disney Springs transition opened to the public — a five-level parking garage with 4,000 spaces.
A second garage, a new ramp from Interstate 4, a widened Buena Vista Drive with 10 lanes and two pedestrian bridges are also in the plans for a project that won’t be complete until late 2016. The extension of an I-4 off ramp into the new garage is waiting federal approval.
Morimoto Asia: Set to open this summer, Morimoto Asia will be one of two restaurants in the area formerly known as Pleasure Island.
“Iron Chef” star Masaharu Morimoto is teaming up with Patina Restaurant Group for the Pan-Asian eatery, which will be in a 36-foot tall, two-story layout in the remodeled structure once known as Mannequins Dance Palace.
The Boathouse: The other restaurant coming to the former Pleasure Island area, The Boathouse will open in the spring and will be operated by the Gibons Restaurant Group. The nautical-themed, waterfront restaurant will feature dream boats from the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, along with a menu of steak, seafood and a raw bar.
Springs Bottling Co. Marquee: Now a permanent fixture in the Downtown Disney skyline, the Springs Bottling Co. Marquee sits on top of Morimoto Asia and helps tell the story of Disney Springs, as the marquee signifies what is suppose to be the former bottling company of the town.
New BabyCakes: A new bakery from the folks behind vegan sweet shop BabyCakes NYC will open at Disney Springs.
Called Erin McKenna’s Bakery Valentine, the bakery will fill the void left after McKenna’s BabyCakes NYC closed in Downtown Disney.
STK: The latest announcement for Disney Springs is STK steakhouse, which will be within The Landing area at the re-imagined complex. STK will have two dining floors, including the only rooftop dining venue in Disney Springs. ONE Group Hospitality owns and operates eight STK restaurants.
