Does anyone remember that quaint, cute little shopping area once known as Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village? It was a quiet evening to stroll through the shops, have an ice cream cone, and look at Legos. My, how time has changed. In 1986, Disney built Pleasure Island to compete with downtown Orlando clubs, and later combined that with Lake Buena Vista to create Downtown Disney. Apparently, all of these shops, restaurants and other retailers have been a good thing for Disney. Guests at the parks are making time to do some shopping and relaxing there. Business has been so good, that Disney recently announce they would double the facility and rename it Disney Springs. There will be so much development that the lake will become a spring. There will be a Town Center with a mix of shopping and dining and a promenade; a commercial district called The Landing with dining and waterfront views; a family friendly Marketplace with an over-the-water pedestrian causeway and an expanded World of Disney store; and the West Side, with entertainment and shady elevated areas with overlooks.
We think this is great. The major parks have been making huge investments in their parks in the forms of rides, entertainment, and resorts. This has results many hundreds of millions of construction work in our area. All of that investment will attract more tourists which will only add to the region’s economy. Hats off to the “Mouse” for taking another big step and investment in Central Florida.