Disney Springs construction begins

GrumpyFan

GrumpyFan

Well-Known Member
By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel
6:12 p.m. EDT, October 23, 2013

Walt Disney World and its government district plan to build as many as three pedestrian bridges as part of the resort's sweeping redevelopment of Downtown Disney.

Officials with the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the Disney-controlled governing agency that serves the vast resort, said Wednesday that Disney recently decided to add the bridges to the Downtown Disney makeover.

Disney instructed Reedy Creek to find money for the bridges from the roughly $360 million the district already had budgeted for transportation improvements — including two new parking garages — that are being made as part of the project.

Reedy Creek's Disney-elected board of supervisors on Wednesday awarded a $246,000 contract to Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock Architects Inc. to design up to three bridges spanning Buena Vista Drive, the chronically congested road that runs alongside Downtown Disney. Though the contract calls for the design of as many as three bridges, Reedy Creek ultimately might build just two.
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See the full article, here.

I don't disagree with this, but why not build something like an automated transportation system, like the Peoplemover that was originally conceptualized for this area.
 
Disney_Musketeer

Disney_Musketeer

New Member
Considering the lack of parking because of the construction of the garages, Disney has now opened up the parking lots of the casting center and Team DIsney. They offer buses to transport from those lots to Downtown Disney. The pedstrian bridges are another way for people to cross until the garages are built, att which point they may no longer need them (or the buses transporting from the two parking lots).
 
GrumpyFan

GrumpyFan

Well-Known Member
Disney_Musketeer said:
Considering the lack of parking because of the construction of the garages, Disney has now opened up the parking lots of the casting center and Team DIsney. They offer buses to transport from those lots to Downtown Disney. The pedstrian bridges are another way for people to cross until the garages are built, att which point they may no longer need them (or the buses transporting from the two parking lots).
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The article didn't really indicate whether they were temporary or permanent. My assumption would be they are more permanent installations.
 
Unplugged

Unplugged

Well-Known Member
GrumpyFan said:
See the full article, here.

I don't disagree with this, but why not build something like an automated transportation system, like the Peoplemover that was originally conceptualized for this area.
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Cost. For either pedestrian or a people mover, you need the bridge. However, people can walk it far cheaper then it would cost to install a people mover. Plus the people mover would need an entire elevated system. I know how cool it would be and sure, I'd love to see such a thing, but it just isn't cost effective. The best you'd get are the moving walkways ala the airport or Universal (assuming they still have them in their garage system).
 
xdan0920

xdan0920

Think for yourselfer
Unplugged said:
Cost. For either pedestrian or a people mover, you need the bridge. However, people can walk it far cheaper then it would cost to install a people mover. Plus the people mover would need an entire elevated system. I know how cool it would be and sure, I'd love to see such a thing, but it just isn't cost effective. The best you'd get are the moving walkways ala the airport or Universal (assuming they still have them in their garage system).
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This post made me sad.
 
The Sorcerers Aprentice

The Sorcerers Aprentice

Active Member
Just a small observation but the Market Place has a new music loop. It is still Disney music but with a lot more jazz. I can't figure out if it's brand new or just temporary. It might give a glimpse of Disney Springs and how it will feel.
 
71jason

71jason

Well-Known Member
Walked the overpass bridge/boardwalk last night, tho but for one small sign you wouldn't have known it was open. Really nice, especially with the crowds not knowing about it yet--feels permanent.
 
G00fyDad

G00fyDad

Well-Known Member
I would just love to be able to drive both directions between parking and DTD. It is so dang annoying to always have to turn left and head toward Marketplace for a spot if you did not find one in the lot you were in. And what's with all the "lot full" signs? Bull. We passed a lot with one of these signs and while walking to the shops I counted 16 open spaces in that lot alone.
 
71jason

71jason

Well-Known Member
zulemara said:
I know it's been said but I'll repeat it again
"feels permanent"
yeah, about 9 years too late!
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As we walked along it, my friend put it best: this proves someone really wanted those clubs closed. You could have vendors along the boardwalk easily (not sure why they don't yet), made money off it and kept PI gated.
 
T

techgeek

Well-Known Member
The Sorcerers Aprentice said:
Just a small observation but the Market Place has a new music loop. It is still Disney music but with a lot more jazz. I can't figure out if it's brand new or just temporary. It might give a glimpse of Disney Springs and how it will feel.
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I was under the impression that the 'jazz' loop was because of the Festival of the Masters art show running this weekend. Otherwise, I presume that we'd be deep into a holiday loop by now (Ghirardelli had Christmas music playing when we stopped in for shake this afternoon).
 

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