Welcome again to Dateline Disney World! This week, we’re taking a look at some of the changes and construction at Downtown Disney as it continues its transformation into the new Disney Springs. Big changes are currently underway as part of the Disney Springs transformation including new buildings and shops, a permanent Food Truck Park, a major new parking structure and the addition of two new Starbucks Coffee locations. Let’s take a look…

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5207.jpg[/img]

In the parking lot in the back, this large building is going up.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5205.jpg[/img]

Mater and Lightning from Flower and Garden are now at the West Side.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5206.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5208.jpg[/img]

The Disney Food Trucks are currently scattered about Downtown until their permanent location opens sometime this year.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5209.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5210.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5211.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5212.jpg[/img]

Just in time for the World Cup, United World Soccer now has a shop here. Lots of Brazilian customers, for sure.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5213.jpg[/img]

The new and gigantic Starbucks is now open on the West Side.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5214.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5215.jpg[/img]

Really nice on the inside, and they have speciality coffees that can only be found at certain locations.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5216.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5217.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5218.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5219.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5220.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5221.jpg[/img]

There is also a moss wall outside that has a fireplace underneath it. Very nice location, and it is already a popular one.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5243.jpg[/img]

This sign probably won’t last too much longer.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5222.jpg[/img]

In front of the West Side, the humongous parking decks are being constructed.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5223.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5224.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5225.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5226.jpg[/img]

There is lots of concept art on the walkway over to the Marketplace area.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5227.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5228.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5229.jpg[/img]

As well as some new buildings going up.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5230.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5231.jpg[/img]

There are walls literally everywhere.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5232.jpg[/img]

The other Downtown Disney Starbucks is now also open, this one is just a walk up window though.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5233.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5234.jpg[/img]

Ghiradelli is now giving out caramel minis for free.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5235.jpg[/img]

More food trucks, this time on the Marketplace side.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5236.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5237.jpg[/img]

The new Marketplace Co-Op store is ‘opening soon’, and will be the place to go for the sort of merchandise that Disney geeks can get excited for.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5238.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5239.jpg[/img]

More walls.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5240.jpg[/img]

One last view of the construction on the lake.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5241.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld06012014-_DSC5242.jpg[/img]

As you can see, there is a ton going on over at Downtown. What are your thoughts? Would you enjoy visiting while the entire area is covered in walls? Let us know in the comments below!!

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If you enjoyed the column, especially the photos, and you want to check out more photos and tutorials on Disney photography, please check out my photo site, [URL=”http://www.DisneyPhotographyBlog.com”]Disney Photography Blog[/URL]. And if you like listening more than reading, you can hear us talk about Disney and photography on my podcast, [URL=”http://www.ISO5571.com”]ISO5571[/URL]

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Cory Disbrow
Cory likes Walt Disney World so much, he recently packed his bags and moved to Orlando. Cory is a photographer and writes MiceChat's Dateline Disney World columns every Friday.