Downtown Disney to Become Disney Springs

Walt Disney World Resort’s shopping, dining and entertainment district — Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — is getting a makeover.

To be known henceforth as Disney Springs, the revamped and re-imagined area will have double the number of shops, restaurants and other venues — more than 150 establishments in total — not to mention new private event options for meetings and incentives.

Inspired by Florida’s waterfront towns, Disney Springs will encompass four outdoor “neighborhoods” interconnected by a spring and lakefront: the Town Center, featuring shopping, dining and a promenade; the Landing, a commercial district with waterfront views; the Marketplace, which will include an over-water pedestrian causeway and an expanded World of Disney Store; and the West Side, Disney Springs’ entertainment district.

“Disney Springs will be a timeless, vibrant place where Walt Disney World guests and local residents can relax, shop, dine and be entertained in an imaginative setting where they’ll instantly feel at home,” Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs said in a statement. “Featuring distinctive brands, world-class restaurants and unforgettable entertainment, Disney Springs will be brought to life with the same focus on storytelling and attention to detail that goes into our theme parks, resorts and cruise ships, resulting in a welcoming space that only Disney could create.”

Construction on Disney Springs is expected to start next month and will be completed in 2016, with new areas opening in phases.