Downtown Disney Brings New Experiences to Life for Guests with Splitsville and Others

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., July 12, 2011 — In November, Walt Disney World Resort shared plans to re-imagine Pleasure Island and bring other new and compelling experiences to life at Downtown Disney. Today, Keith Bradford, vice president of Downtown Disney, shared an update on its progress.

“Many of the experiences we announced have already become guest favorites, such as the newly expanded LEGO Imagination Center and AMC’s first Dine-In Theatres in Florida. The great news is more is on the way,” he said.

Recently, Orlando Harley-Davidson opened its newly expanded 3,635-square-foot store at Downtown Disney West Side. The largest and most interactive Harley merchandise store of its kind, it draws guests in with a 40-foot tower and massive LCD/LED screens showing specially produced footage of motorcycles in action. Guests are also able to see and sit on some of the latest Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and a brand new production studio lets guests be pictured in their favorite riding spot or transformed into real bikers. Guests can even design biker vests of their own.

Later this summer, Apricot Lane Boutique, a specialty retail store that offers celebrity-inspired branded apparel, affordable fashion jewelry, handbags and accessories, will open in the space the Harley-Davidson store previously occupied on Pleasure Island.

This fall, construction will begin on Splitsville, a 50,000-square-foot upscale entertainment center that combines bowling with billiards, dining, music and nightlife. To make way for this experience, RIDEMAKERZ, currently located on the West Side, will move to the Marketplace.

Over on Pleasure Island, some of the buildings that aren’t part of our future plans have been removed. “During the course of this site work, we identified opportunities to further refine our master plan and are pausing to evaluate them,” added Bradford. “While we’re moving quickly, it will admittedly cause a delay in construction. But we’re willing to bet that any delay will be worth the wait once we’re able to share details about the exciting work we’ve been doing.”