Originally Posted By magic0214 <<-A walkway bridge will be constructed from the Rainforest Cafe to the TREX area to improve guest flow.>> This is the only part that kind of confuses me. So, will this bridge go behind the ampitheatre? This is the only thing I can't visualize.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm also very confused by the bridge from Rainforest to T-Rex. That's a rather long stretch across the water, and not really one that seems all that ripe for a bridge. I'm hoping it will get cleared up once there's an official announcement (hopefully with some sort of concept art). I also don't understand the new name. I guess I can sympathize with wanting a fresh name, to reflect all the changes that they're going to have, but "Disney Springs" tells me nothing about the area. IMO, Downtown Disney is a much more descriptive name, and makes sense as a shopping and dining district; Disney Springs not so much. I'm also concerned that it will create a lot of confusion among guests, who could easily confuse it for Saratoga Springs or Coronado Springs (since they require "Disney" be placed before every hotel on property) or even Teamboat Springs at Blizzard Beach (though this one seems much less likely) That said, I am excited to see what they can do with the area. The 'old Florida' concept is interesting to me, and makes a lot of sense with the structures they already have in the Marketplace area. The West Side area isn't particularly attractive or memorable, and Pleasure Island is a ghosttown, so there's a lot they could do to spruce it all up. >>-World of Disney will be expanded.<< Of course it will. Clearly, it's not nearly big enough as it is, since Disney sells the same stuff out of half a dozen other stores in DTD. Hopefully the other shops can be returned to outside vendors, who can sell things that are actually unique within WDW (aka not just more generic Disney/WDW merchandise)
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt The good: -The theming will be that of a beautiful lush, old Florida feel, featuring lots of new water ways, water features, and shade. Sounds nice as long as they keep it classy and steer away from thematic kitsch ala Las Vegas. The bad: -The name of the new Downtown Disney will be Disney Springs. Why change the name? I'm sure there's a reason for rebranding, but this strikes me as one of instances where they are over-thinking things.
Originally Posted By magic0214 <<<The good: -The theming will be that of a beautiful lush, old Florida feel, featuring lots of new water ways, water features, and shade. Sounds nice as long as they keep it classy and steer away from thematic kitsch ala Las Vegas.>>> Totally agree. I am the biggest lover of water features at Disney (The geyser at Wilderness and the pool area in front of Universe of Energy being two of my favorites) so hopefully this will add some sophisticated aspects to the non-sophisticated areas (I'm looking at you West Side).
Originally Posted By sjhym333 So what they are doing is basically going back to the old Disney Village concept. A more relaxed shopping, dining place.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^We'll see. The main point behind the change of direction is to corral all the Brazilians and other foreigners that leave property to go to Mall of Millenia.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Why would they want to do that? >> Because they're taking their money to Mall of Millenia/Florida Mall and not keeping it on Disney property.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Why would they want to do that? <<< Do you mean the tourists leaving the property for shopping? Well, because it's very cheap for us shopping in the US. You have lower taxes than we have and the exchange rate Dollar - Euro is also very good for us Europeans. When I lived in the US I bought many things over there, despite the fact I had to pay importation sales tay. It was still cheaper than buying it here.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt <<Why would they want to do that? >> "Because they're taking their money to Mall of Millenia/Florida Mall and not keeping it on Disney property." Sorry, I thought you were saying that Disney WANTED them to leave and go off property. Silly me.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "Why change the name? I'm sure there's a reason for rebranding, but this strikes me as one of instances where they are over-thinking things." If there are springs that are going to be a central piece, I'm OK with it.
Originally Posted By dagobert Here it is. <a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/03/announcing-disney-springs-at-walt-disney-world-resort/" target="_blank">http://disneyparks.disney.go.c...-resort/</a>
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper No new info really. The place will look nice, but until we hear about what's actually going in here, I can't care much at all.
Originally Posted By dagobert I have to say that Disney Springs looks really nice. However at the end of the day it's just a nicely themed mall. I would have prefered to keep the Downtown Disney name.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 Looks nice, and it will be nice to have soem new shops and restaurants to explore. I was getting a little tired of what's there now, so any change that adds more is welcome!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I've been told something "Trader Sam's-esque" will be coming to the new area, in what I assume will be "The Landing" area.
