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The curse of trying to cover all of Walt Disney World (WDW) with only once-a-week updates is that
I inevitably leave stuff behind. There are a few things in each park by the time
I rotate back to it, most of them small and not worthy of their own
articles, but added together, they really give a sense that Disney really does
continue to touch things up, change, and evolve.
Case in point: Downtown Disney. You might think the newest thing here is
T-Rex (now several months old, and still frequently busy, but lacking the
around-the-corner lines on my last two daytime visits). But in point of fact, a
lot of changes are afoot.
Clubbed...
Over in the Westside, the Cheesecake Factory has ended its sponsorship and
left the building. That facility in the fourth floor is now a Disney-owned,
generic fast food menu. The side by side fifth floor eateries are undergoing
changes of their own; the one closest to Buzz Lightyear remains behind a
construction curtain.
Though the top floor eateries were always run by Disney, they served no
alcohol. And yet now that Disney took over the fourth floor, they finally
offered beer for sale in the former Cheesecake Factory location. I'm not sure of
the reasoning here, or even the significance, but for those who desire some suds
with their pixels, it's game on now.
At the cusp to Pleasure Island (and over by the alternate AMC entrance), a
place called Mickey's Groove caught my eye. Was it always here? A quick check
with the CMs inside confirmed it was. It also told me that I have discovered the
holy grail of useless Disney stores. This place was packed with HSM and Hanna
Montana stuff, with a few leftover Pirates things for good measure. It was like
the local Character Warehouse outlet, without any of the discount. I skedaddled
about as fast as I could. Not everything I think is new is actually new, and
sometimes even the old stuff is frightening boring.
Across the way, the Guest Relations kiosk has been painted red and boarded
up.
The new Guest Relations is by DisneyQuest.
Next to it is a sign that proclaims that Spring 2009 will be the debut of
"Characters in Flight," the imported pay-to-play attraction from Disneyland
Paris. The idea is a big balloon that takes you up, and
stays tethered to the launch pad so it doesn't float away. Then you come back
down. The Paris one, PanoraMagique, opened in 2005, costs 12 euros per adult (6
per child), and takes you up 300 feet, so we can expect something similar here.
The pier for the gondola is star-shaped.
Slipping into Pleasure Island, we pass by the closed-up Adventurer's Club.
But in case you haven't heard, I should mention that they do open it up sometimes, on some nights, and for some people. Don't
get your hopes up: it's not business as usual so much as it is for a
private party, with none of the normal entertainment and actors of the
AC, but at least you can reserve the venue, if the price is right.
"All this can be yours, if the price is right."
Or maybe do
get your hopes up after all: a late-breaking rumor suggests Disney may start
auditioning dozens of actors for roles that call for comedy and singing
together. Is it Adventurer's Club again? Comedy Warehouse? No clues yet, if
indeed the upcoming call is real.
The other clubs in the area have had their marquees
removed or painted over.
The former 8-Trax.
The former Motion.
I wonder if they sold off those funky Mannequins signs? Rumor has it that the Disneyland Resort placed the Blue Fairy float from
the Electrical Parade near the dumpsters -- to be just thrown away? In
this era of eBay and liquidator re-sellers? I hope not. Ditto for the Mannequins
signs. And perhaps even the creepy mannequins themselves on the wall.
The former Mannequins.
Halfway down PI, a construction wall hides one former shop (and future
restaurant, if the nearby sign is to be believed), and covers up the area once
home to a stage.
Food, coming soon?
There's a fair amount of space to expand in PI, and I'm glad they are using
at least some of it. We passed by here on a Sunday in the early afternoon, and
darned if the foot traffic wasn't hopping. This is prime real estate. Now they
just need to find the right vendors, the right restaurants, and the right
entertainment to keep folks from merely walking through.
Just past Raglan Road, we transition to the Marketplace. But was this
stage always here? I think not.
You're new, right?
It's a minor stage occupying the central area bordered by Fulton's Crab House
and the Portobello Yacht Club (itself rather sparkling after an expansion, a
paint job, and a menu makeover that surprisingly did not yield much in the way
of price increases).
Nor is this the only new stage. A much more high-profile, high-volume, and
high-powered stage now dominates the center of the Marketplace waterfront.
There's a lot of seating available, actually.
We saw signs proclaiming Disney's Performing Arts, a series of amateur talent
for such things as ballet and dance. Interesting. As we parked, we had seen
signs for "Disney's Magic Music Days," a term I normally associate with marching
bands and Main Street. Disney's website appears to claim that this is a subset
of Disney's youth programs, and aims to let local talent train with the Disney
professionals. Here's one example:
"Disney Dancin' - Young Performer Edition" Allows your young
performer to experience the life of a Disney dancer. In a fun, upbeat, and
positive atmosphere, your students will learn to examine memorable Disney
dancing on film, practice a simulated "rehearsal" of a Disney show, and then
culminate their experience to create a very special mock performance
incorporating all the necessary elements of creating a "Disney Magical
Moment!" For dance studios, dance teams, show choirs, drill teams, and color
guards, ages 6-10. Workshop includes up to 21 participants. Additional
performers may participate for an additional fee."
I found that the performances added some sparkle and pizzazz to the
Marketplace atmosphere, so I guess that makes me a fan of the idea. Not that I'd
stick around long to watch them myself, but oddly, their mere presence made the
place seem more lively. I know, I know. The Marketplace is already horribly
crowded sometimes, but I can't help but feel that this addition will be welcome.
An overcrowded outdoor mall is just a mall, but with entertainment it feels more
like "Disney," you know?
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