Walt Disney World Resort unveiled a new vision for Downtown Disney

Walt Disney World Resort unveiled a new vision for Downtown Disney, with new shopping, dining and other experiences including a completely re-imagined Pleasure Island. Also planned are numerous enhancements to Downtown Disney locations, as well as additional theming and storytelling brought to life by Walt Disney Imagineers. Over the next year, the 120-acre entertainment-shopping-dining complex will add a number of one-of-a-kind, immersive experiences for clients. Downtown Disney will even get its own iconic attraction, in the form of a giant, tethered balloon that will take guests 300 feet into the air to view Walt Disney World Resort. Other new experiences include: T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, a dinosaur-themed family eatery to debut this fall. Also this fall, a design-your-own t-shirt store from Hanes will add to the growing collection of merchandise clients can personalize at Downtown Disney. E-brands Restaurants, an Orlando-based, multi-concept restaurant group, will premier its newest concept at Downtown Disney in spring 2009. The casual eatery will feature authentic Central and South American cuisine, specialty drinks and live music along the waterfront. To make way for the new offerings, the last day of operation for all of the clubs currently on Pleasure Island will be Sept. 27. Other locations on Pleasure Island, including Raglan Road, Fuego by Sosa Cigars, Curl by Sammy Duval, Orlando Harley-Davidson and outdoor food and beverage locations will remain open during the transition.

To complement these new experiences, many popular Downtown Disney locations will undergo enhancements. Beginning this summer, Portobello Yacht Club will be transformed into a Tuscan Country Trattoria. This fall, Goofy's Candy Company will add a special new room that will enable families to host one-of-a-kind birthday parties at Downtown Disney. The Marketplace Stage will be completely replaced with a larger, covered stage this fall to welcome even more entertainment to Downtown Disney and serve as a new premier venue for Disney Magic Music Days. Fulton's Crab House will update its interior fixtures and furnishings and exterior in spring 2009. Next year, Wolfgang Puck Café will update its interior fixtures and furnishings and enclose its patio with glass to enable guests to enjoy the outdoors year-round.