Disney announced today that it has redesigned and soon will begin to refurbish these retail locations. The construction will begin in mid-February, though Disney is planning to do the work in phases so that the stores will remain open to shoppers.
"When the interior redesign work is completed, guests will discover the products they love from Disney Parks in a dynamic and distinctly Disney retail environment," Disney said in a statement.
In addition to the changes at the World of Disney stores, which will continue through 2018, Disney is opening a Disney Home store next month in the former D-Street location at Disneyland's Downtown Disney. February also is the month when Disney is slated to begin work on the transformation of the western side of the resort, starting with building a new parking structure on the Pinocchio lot and eventually resulting in the construction of a fourth hotel at the Disneyland Resort, which will lead to the closure of several locations on the western end of Downtown Disney, including the AMC movie theaters, Earl of Sandwich, the ESPN Zone, and Rainforest Cafe.
To help balance the loss of those locations, Disney soon will open a Splitsville restaurant and bowling lanes on the former House of Blues site at Downtown Disney and also has announced plans for a Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer restaurant where Build-A-Bear has been.
In Florida, this is just the latest in the ongoing changes and expansions in Walt Disney World's shopping and dining district. Anyone who hasn't visited Disney World in a few years likely would be shocked at all the new stores and restaurants in what was formerly also known as Downtown Disney and is now Disney Springs. Heck, anyone who hasn't visited in just a month or so will find something new, with three new restaurants opening last week.
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