Thursday October 13th 2016

This afternoon I went east to Disney Springs. This shopping and entertainment center formally known as Downtown Disney has opened a new section called Town Center since I was here last winter. It was about 25 miles through construction and heavy traffic.

Disney Springs is decorated for Halloween.

My first observation is that the road construction on Disney property continues. New bridges and access ramps for Epcot Center Drive inbound from I-4 over Buena Vista Drive are much closer to completion, but I’d guess they have a few months more until they are completed. New road construction has been started over near Hollywood studios. They are building a pedestrian bridge over World Drive. It looks like cast member parking is moving to the other side of the highway.

At Disney Springs my first observation is that the second parking garage called “Lime” to go with the previously finished “Orange” has opened. Between the two garages a massive Disney transportation hub has been opened. The completed landscaping around the bus loading areas looks nothing like the muddy construction site of last winter.

One of many mosquito kiosks.

As you enter the Springs from the parking garage, you’re meet by the first of many opportunities to fight back against the mighty mosquito. Disney has established kiosks with information pamphlets and bug repellent. I’m not sure if this is just PR to help with tourism in light of the Zeka virus or if it has an actual positive impact. I saw 5 or 6 stations at Disney Springs none of which were getting any business.

Remodeling of the Planet Hollywood restaurant into the Hollywood Observatory is almost finished. A brick entry building has been created and the outside has been almost completely wrapped in futuristic gray vinyl or fabric. It closed at the end of last year and is scheduled to reopen in the fall of 2016. It looks like they may keep to the schedule.

The new Hollywood Observatory restaurant looks almost ready to open.

The center section of the globe is ready for its gray wrapper.

The new Town Center section is separated from the Landings section by a river with a blue painted bottom. The river is filled with lamps and multicolored globes. I imagine it looks very nice at night. The shops and restaurants in the Town Center area in brick and stucco buildings are more upscale than the other areas of the Springs.

Water area that separates the Landings from the Town Center section of Disney Springs. The objects in the water are “floating” lamps.

Closeup of one of the lamps in the river.

In the other sections of the park work has begun on updating some of the older venues. The former Fultons Crab House is being changed into The Paddlefish restaurant. It looks like it was stripped to the studs and re-assembled. All of the insulation and interior wall board is currently visible.

The new Paddlefish restaurant under construction.

Tomorrow I’m moving to the Tropical Palms RV resort. This is right in the middle of the action on highway 192. I’ll be able to visit Disney Springs and the other parts of Disney with less travel than today.