Disney has been testing some new entertainment options at Downtown Disney for the past few weeks. It seems the Celebrate Tonight show in Pleasure Island which featured DJs and stilt walkers is no longer running. There are some new entertainment options in the area. During a trip to Pleasure Island last night, many different acts [...]

It was a grand opening befitting Disney’s new D Street store at Downtown Disney mixing music, art and pyro. Disney describes D Street as where urban-inspired product “intersects” with a Disney creative edge. The store’s main focus is on the collectable Mickey Mouse Vinylmation figures. First up, speed painter Rock Demarco created his version of [...]

The serious collectors were out to get their goods as a special passholder preview was held Saturday morning for D Street, a new store in Downtown Disney West Side. There was a long line as the doors opened at 8:30 a.m. More guest dwindled in as the morning went on. (The store is located in [...]

Fun shifted into overdrive when Ridemakerz, the first-ever car customizing experience for kids and kids at heart, opened yesterday for a limited engagement at Downtown Disney West Side. This opening follows the October 2009 launch of a Ridemakerz shop in Downtown Disney in Anaheim, Calif. Ridemakerz invites guests into a car customizing shop where they [...]

By Jackie and Matt Roseboom A brand new Holiday Inn recently opened on Disney property. The 14-story, 323-room hotel, located near Downtown Disney on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, opened in the spot formerly occupied by a Marriott Courtyard. The Courtyard closed about five years ago after it sustained damage during a bad hurricane season. The hurricanes [...]

Downtown Disney will welcome several additions in the coming months. Look for two new stores, a quick-service restaurant and 3D technology at the AMC Pleasure Island 24 movie theater. “We’re excited to build upon our existing portfolio of unique offerings and are committed to bringing guests even more interactive experiences,” said Downtown Disney Vice President [...]

Editor’s Note: We print Letters to the Editor in our print version, but that allows us only limited space. So from time to time, when we receive letters that are too long and have too much information to edit down, we’ll be posting them here as guest editorials. These letters are the opinions of the [...]

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the McDonald’s at Downtown Disney will be closing on April 30. From the Orlando Sentinel: Representatives for Disney World and McDonald’s said the exit stems from a 2004 decision to end a 10-year exclusive sponsorship agreement between McDonald’s Corp. and Walt Disney Co. The Downtown Disney restaurant was included [...]

Planet Hollywood has closed one of their retail stores at Downtown Disney. The Planet Hollywood On Location store in Downtown Disney’s West Side is closed as of today. The store was located next to the recently opened LittleMissmatched store. Even though it was their largest store in Disney World, they’re still selling Planet Hollywood merchandise [...]

La Nouba, the Cirque du Soleil show at Downtown Disney, is getting a new act featuring world-renowned juggler Anthony Gatto. Gatto will be added permanently to the 90-minute spectacle beginning Feb. 5. Anthony Gatto comes to La Nouba from the tour of KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil and holds 11 world records in …

Last week we told you about a new hand art vendor that opened in one of the stands at the Downtown Disney Marketplace. We also mentioned that a wood carving store had closed down, with its stand remaining empty. Well it’s no longer empty. Lefty’s has opened in a stand near the lake, just down [...]

A new vendor has opened up in the Downtown Disney Marketplace. Located near Disney’s Pin Traders, Hand Art Memories lets customers place their handprint on paper, then an artist transforms the handprint into a picture. For example, your fingers may turn into a pirate’s beard or a princess dress, but they don’t offer official Disney [...]

The NFFC (National Fantasy Fan Club) is holding their All Disneyana Show and Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009. The Regal Sun Resort will become the place to be for Disneyana collectors, autograph seekers, and the just plain Disney crazed, as Disneyana memorabilia vendors and dealers from all over [...]

The 34th annual Festival of the Masters was held this past weekend at Downtown Disney. The West Side featured more than 150 award-winning artists – jewelry artists, painters, photographers, sculptors and more. The Marketplace featured the Central Florida Chalk Artists Association, and family fun could be found all around. Thanks to Bret Roseboom for providing [...]

More than 150 award-winning artists who work in media from clay to wood, metal and mixed media to oils and watercolors – jewelry artists, painters, photographers, sculptors and more – will show off their works Nov. 13-15, 2009 at Downtown Disney during one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded juried art festivals, Festival of the [...]

A LittleMissMatched store is set to open on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 at Downtown Disney. The mismatched socks clothing store will open at Downtown Disney West Side in the space formerly occupied by Starabilias. LittleMissMatched began with the idea to sell colorful missmatched socks in odd numbers. They quickly discovered that girls want to have [...]

You only have a few more weeks to see the Princess Diana exhibit at Downtown Disney. The showcase of artifacts and information about the life of Princess Diana will be closing at the end of November. Diana – The People’s Princess features a sampling of the royal dresses she chose to auction for charity and [...]

We had a chance to go up in a helicopter today during the grand opening of the Waldorf Astoria and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. The property the two hotels sit on is surrounded by Disney World on three sides. So in addition to giving us a birds-eye view of the hotel property, we were able [...]

The Starabilias memorabilia store at Downtown Disney West Side recently closed their doors for good. The long-time tenant was rumored to be possibly closing because of the many sales they’ve been having. The Starabilias Web site is still active and still lists its Orlando location. Calls and e-mails to the company have gone unanswered. Starabilias [...]

Hundreds of royal artifacts are on view in “DIANA – The People’s Princess,” a limited-time experience showcasing the life and story of Diana, Princess of Wales – open now at Downtown Disney West Side. The exhibition, in the former Virgin Megastore location, includes royal dresses Diana chose to auction for charity, photos and personal effects. [...]