Originally Posted By dagobert Screamscape.com has posted an article from ParkRumours that talks about the expansion of Downtown Disney. <a href="http://screamscape.com/html/walt_disney_world_resort.htm#DisneySprings" target="_blank">http://screamscape.com/html/wa...ySprings</a> <a href="http://parkrumors.com/major-facelift-for-planned-downtown-disney/" target="_blank">http://parkrumors.com/major-fa...-disney/</a> It looks very interesting and it seems DTD will be renamed Disney Spings.
Originally Posted By dagobert It seems Planet Hollywood will stay, but transformed into an observatory. <a href="http://screamscape.com/html/walt_disney_world_resort.htm#DisneySprings" target="_blank">http://screamscape.com/html/wa...ySprings</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Wow, that's one heck of a rumor (this is my first time reading the stuff from post #1 as well), but I doubt it's entirely true. As it is now, it seems like more than half of the retailers are Disney-owned, which makes me doubt they'd want to do a huge expansion like this. Disney makes more money off of leasing space than running it themselves, and several of their shops have opened simply because no other retailer could be found. If there's such a great demand to sell stuff in DTD, I would think that we would see a lot more variety in what's available, rather than more of the same junk you find in the parks. Also, I think most guests would find the half dozen themed areas really confusing. Most people (myself included) have a tough time differentiating between the Marketplace and West Side (which is really to the north, no?), so I think that adding in even more themes would just make it even more confusing. Then again, if they clearly delineate the boundaries and give each are a more distinct personality, it could really help DTD out, and make it feel like a real destination. What does seem quite possible, however, is the 5 story parking structure. DTD has needed this for years, and it's been rumored for at least as long. Perhaps the only way to get the parking structure approved is to expand the shopping areas (into former parking lots), so I see this as the item that is driving the remodel.
Originally Posted By dagobert I'm not sure if this rumour is totally false, because I just came a ccross a huge thread on WDWMagic.com that talks about Disney Springs. I haven't read through it yet, so I don't know what the members over there are talking about.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper It's a legit project that I have more faith in happening than anything big that's rumored for the parks. Let's all go to the mall, everyone!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Why are they expanding DTD into a shopping centre? >> To try and keep foreign guests from going to Mall of Millenia.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>To try and keep foreign guests from going to Mall of Millenia.<<< DTD should be revamped, but not a shopping mall. I don't mind to see chain restaurants at DTD, but shops which I can find everywhere should not be part of it. I don't know how the parks look like, but no matter which forum I'm reading, everywhere is mentioned that the parks need improvements. Sometimes I get the feeling WDW got as bad as DLP.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper IMO, WDW is run worse. At least DLP has had excuses for why they haven't improved the parks due to debt. WDW certainly doesn't have any of those problems. Only problem that resort has is complacent management.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>IMO, WDW is run worse.<<< That's surprising. Is there really such a big market to justify that Disney Springs project. I hope that it will have at least a nice theming. DV in Paris looks really bad and could also need an improvement.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<That's surprising.>> Again, I'm mostly basing this off of the fact that WDW has no reason not to add things or evolve their entertainment. They just think there is no reason to do such things/ <<Is there really such a big market to justify that Disney Springs project. I hope that it will have at least a nice theming. DV in Paris looks really bad and could also need an improvement.>> I think the area will look nice if it is what they end up doing. Lots of water is always a good thing.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I think the area will look nice if it is what they end up doing. Lots of water is always a good thing.<<< Have you already seen some plans? >>>Again, I'm mostly basing this off of the fact that WDW has no reason not to add things or evolve their entertainment. They just think there is no reason to do such things/<<< At least the parks are clean and maintained.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Have you already seen some plans? >> Just the art that WDWNT posted. <<At least the parks are clean and maintained.>> Not like they used to be. I'll be honest, I saw very little difference between DLP and the MK in terms of cleanliness and maintenance last year.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I agree that DLP really wasn't in too bad of shape when I was there last spring. I didn't have high expectations, but I didn't see anything that was too awful, with a handful of exceptions (mold on the roof of the Big Thunder queue, lighting levels in Phantom Manor, wet bathroom floors everywhere). WDW does just fine, and keeps things going, but seems to be morally opposed to adding new things. DLP has a well-known excuse with the financial issues, yet manages to use their limited budget effectively. WDW seems to squander the money they have on projects like NextGen and Sorcers of the Magic Kingdom, at the expense of adding meaningful experiences to their parks.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Thanks to Dagobert's posts, I've seen lots of capital improvements to DLP over the past five years or so. When I was there last (2005?) the place was literally falling apart, with mold visible from the Hub growing on the castle.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Again, I'm mostly basing this off of the fact that WDW has no reason not to add things or evolve their entertainment. They just think there is no reason to do such things>> WDW needs new attractions, but then so does Disneyland Park. How many new attractions have opened there in the past 10 years? They re-themed the old subs and did a nice refurb of Space Mountain. But is there anything other than that?
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Thanks to Dagobert's posts, I've seen lots of capital improvements to DLP over the past five years or so. When I was there last (2005?) the place was literally falling apart, with mold visible from the Hub growing on the castle.<<< In the years before the 15th anniversary DLP was in the worst state. Then they finally started to fix the main problems. Unfortunately the castle had to wait until 2011 to get fixed.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>But is there anything other than that?<< DL's version of Winnie the Pooh opened in 2003, Buzz Lightyear opened in 2005 (or was it 04?), a rather extensive pirate-themed redo of Tom Sawyer Island in 2007, and the castle walkthrough in 2009. Since 2003, they've also seen 3 new parades, with Parade of Dreams, Celebrate! A Street Party, and Soundsational. And that's not to mention all of the smaller entertainment offerings (seasonal or yearround) that have popped up in that time to help keep things fresh. Plus there's that pesky little park across the Esplanade that added Tower of Terror, Monsters Inc, 2 different overlays to the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, Block Party Bash, Pixar Play Parade, GlowFest, ElecTRONica, Mad T Party, and a seemingly revolving door of entertainment. Plus that whole $1.2+ billion dollar redo that added Carsland and Buena Vista Street, redid several areas of the park, created World of Color, and just generally changed the overall vibe of the park in almost every way imaginable. DLR has kept up with the changes pretty well. DL itself could certainly use a big attraction or two, since it hasn't had something truly new in nearly a decade, but compared to the additions to WDW in that sime timeframe, they've done pretty darn good
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^Agreed. DL also got Star Tours, and is heavily refurbishing old classics like Matterhorn and Big Thunder Mountain. And they just opened Fantasy Fair, which isn't a huge deal, but it's better than the one WDW is getting. DL can probably use a new attraction in Tomorrowland. I've been told that the TL on each coast may be getting heavily altered after Shanghai opens, so maybe it's coming.
