Last month when I was out at the D23 EXPO, longtime
Imagineer Doug Hartwell was nice enough to give me a brief tour of the
“Journey into Imagineering pavilion.
Doug Hartwell and Jim Hill
stand in front of the Disney Springs model.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
As part of that tour, we stopped in front of the model for the Disney Springs
project. Which is this multi-year, five phase, umpteen million dollar reimaging
of WDW‘s Downtown Disney retail, dining and entertainment complex.
Disney Springs model. Photo by Nancy Stadler
And as you looked at this model, you couldn’t help but notice the two enormous
parking garages that will be a key feature of this project. There’s supposed to
be a four story one built right in front of the World of Disney store that will
hold 4,000 cars …
Photo by Nancy Stadler
… and a three story one that will be built alongside Disney’s West
Side that will reportedly hold an additional 2000 cars.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
These two enormous structures (which will reportedly cost $85 million to build)
are a key component of Disney Springs. They are — in essence — the first
domino that has to fall before the rest of this 38 year-old dining, retail and
entertainment venue can then be overhauled.
Mind you, there’s been work going on in and around Pleasure
Island for the past year or so.
With first the old Fireworks Factory building getting torn down …
Photo by Jim Hill
… and just last month, the Comedy Warehouse finally got pulled down.
Photo by Jim Hill
But it’s those two giant parking garages that are really driving the bus here.
Once Disney begins working on those two elements, you know that they’re finally
getting serious about the whole Disney Springs project.
And based on the fact that there are now construction trailers in the old
Planet Hollywood parking lot …
Photo by Jim Hill
… not to mention the miles of construction fence that now ring Downtown
Disney’s old J & K parking areas …
Photo by Jim Hill
… or the fact that — if you can somehow peer over this construction fence —
you can see that the bulk of the West Side’s old parking area has already had
its light poles removed & its asphalt ripped up.
Photo by Jim Hill
So just to be clear here, folks: This is not Hyperion Wharf 2. Disney Springs
really is happening. The Walt Disney Company is already deep into the
construction phase of a series of waterside walkways …
Photo by Jim Hill
… which will allow WDW Guests to walk around all of the work that’s about to
begin in and around Downtown Disney’s old nightclub district.
Photo by Jim Hill
And speaking of Pleasure Island … Last night, I did one final walk-thru of
this six acre complex.
Photo by Jim Hill
And I have to admit that it was sad to see the few remaining
clubs standing dark & empty …
Photo by Jim Hill
… with their marquees torn off.
Photo by Jim Hill
Yep. It’s now really finally the end of the line for Pleasure
Island. And one wonders about the
impact that all of this construction is going to have on the AMC Downtown
Disney 24 as well as the other businesses in this portion of Downtown Disney …
Photo by Jim Hill
… given that it’s supposedly going to be 15 months before the West
Side finally gets its parking area back.
Photo by Jim Hill
Yeah, it’s going to be a tough couple of years for the folks who work in and
around Downtown Disney. But in the end, once these two huge new parking garages
are in place (not to mention all of those new shops, stores and restaurants),
the Disney Springs project should re-energize & revitalize this entire
corner of WDW property.
Photo by Jim Hill
But that’s a few years from now … In the meantime, if you’re planning on
catching a movie as part of your WDW vacation over the next year and a half or
so, be sure to arrive at least a half hour earlier than you used to. Because
the old Planet Hollywood / AMC Downtown Disney 24 parking area is now gone. And
these days, it’s a bit of a hike from the parking that is still available over
by the Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant.
Photo by Jim Hill
Your thoughts?