I just spent a week at the Disney World Resort and in all of the years I have been traveling there I have never seen so many different construction projects going on at one time. There was once a time that most refurbishments took place well out of the public eye and almost under the cloak of darkness. That is certainly no longer the case.
Downtown Disney continues to work on a complete rejuvenation of the entire complex. The new reimagined Disney Springs has most of what is now West Side, Pleasure Island and the Marketplace a maze of plywood walls and detoured walkways. Gone is the Pleasure Island signage atop the structure that housed Mannequin’s Dance Palace. The bridge connecting the area where Rainforest Café and the Lego store is just about complete. They were installing lights the day I visited.
Speaking of lights, new pole fixtures with a gold patina and the new Disney Springs insignia (very reminiscent of the River Country Logo) are sprouting up throughout the property and some facades have been completed on new structures as well as existing ones. The color scheme is very “earthy” with soft landscaping and dry stack rock work. Plantings are more from a suburban- Midwest look rather than tropical. Think Evergreen Colorado if you’ve ever been there. The lines are clean, inviting and walkways are wider than before.
Many of the original structures have been razed but some that have been the topic of many articles in the past remain. Namely the Adventurer’s Club building and former Mannequin’s building. Downtown Disney is in desperate need of something to offer adults after hours and I am really hoping these venues will be redeveloped while keeping something in the line that they once offered.
The scrims surrounding the lagoon at Disney’s Animal Kingdom remain up as well as the walls hiding the work on Pandora. Most of the parking lot resurfacing and expansion have been completed.
The Magic Kingdom hub still remains walled off on either side with only hints of new planter areas and light fixtures in place. This has been going on for quite some time (my last three visits spanning 6 months) and looks like it will continue for a long while.
Work also continues at the Polynesian Village Resort around the main pool deck. The volcano structure has been stripped to the steel skeleton and “rock” work is being done on it as well as surrounding the pool area. Light poles and other uprights were laying on the beach awaiting installation, too. The Polynesian villas and bungalows on the water look really cool. I can imagine sitting on the deck over the water and watching the water pageant and nightly fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.
Inside the Polynesian, the pole and drape remains surrounding what was once the central water feature in the lobby. Rumor has it this renovation is close to completion and will be revealed soon. Outside the lobby adjacent to the monorail and check in area, the reflection pools have been drained and some of the heavy tropical plants have been removed.
Meanwhile at the Wilderness Lodge, a large section of their pool area has been closed off for the addition of a kid play area featuring interactive water features and climbing structures. The entire pool itself has seen the addition of a fence with gates and new seating areas.
The back side of Wilderness Lodge was covered in scaffolding and debris net for painting and woodwork maintenance while the entire beach area was walled off with those familiar plywood panels. I’m not sure what they have going on there.
The Back Lot Studio Tour which closed in September at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been shuttered. The former entrance has been cleared of any remnants of the attraction and now just has a closed garage door. Also boarded up is the American Idol Experience. In case you were wondering, the “hat” is still there but its removal is coming soon to make way for the Great Movie Ride’s update by the folks over at Turner’s American Movie Classics, et al. I like the structure of the hat, just not the location they put it.
On a side note: one of the holiday drinks offered throughout the parks is called a Gumdrop. While it tasted pretty good, I made a slight adjustment to kick up the spice element. Enjoy one of these at your holiday get together. And the gingerbread white mocha latte at the Joffrey’s Coffee kiosks is amazing!
For the Holiday Gumdrop:
¾ C ice
2 oz Stoli Raz (or any raspberry flavored vodka)
1 oz Chambord or similar
1 oz After Shock or cinnamon schnapps
2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz lemon lime soda
Shake (hold tight or the top will blow off) and pour into glass. Serve skewer of spice gumdrops across the foam of the beverage. Cheers! (please note this is my take on the recipe, not Disney’s but uses the same ingredients with the addition of After Shock)
Epcot/World Showcase, with the exception of the closed Maelstrom remains fairly intact. By far the most unique of the holiday overlays, World Showcase had it’s usually offerings of holiday drinks and treats. Each country also offered a telling of yuletide traditions unique to its land and Illuminations never disappoints with the addition of the Peace on Earth ending.
Happy holidays to everyone near and far, and a very prosperous and healthy New Year, too!
