Disney adds shops, restaurants to complex
The company hopes the additions will keep guests on resort property.


Scott Powers and Mark Chediak | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted May 10, 2006

Full story at : http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busin...orl-home-promo


No matter what Walt Disney does with its bar scene, shopping is driving most of the changes at Downtown Disney.

And Disney's not limiting changes to Pleasure Island.

The idea is to seduce people into spending extra time -- and more money -- at Downtown Disney by creating more things for them to do, making it easier for them to get around and adding restaurants that keep them there longer.

"Shopping is still our No. 1," said Djuan Rivers, vice president for Downtown Disney. "The majority of people here still come to shop."

To enliven the shopping experience, Pleasure Island has been opened up to shorten the walk between the main shopping districts -- Marketplace and West Side -- on either end of Downtown Disney. Disney also will add more water taxis and a dock at Pleasure Island, so people can travel by ferry.

Yet, even with foot traffic going through Pleasure Island instead of around it, Downtown Disney is a long walk, more than a half-mile from end to end -- all outdoors.