The transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs, a complex with double the capacity of shops and restaurants, is underway.

Visitors this fall to WDW will discover that the middle section of the overcrowded Downtown Disney parking lots are closed as parking garages go up. For several years the area once housing most of Pleasure Island has been fenced off for this huge project.

Popular spots like Raglan Road and Planet Hollywood will remain as The Landing, a waterfront restaurant center resembling Florida in the early 1900’s, and Town Center, an area mostly of shops, rise up. A new entranceway complete with water tower has started construction.

The West Side with the movies and Cirque du Soleil and the original Disney Marketplace will remain the bookends for the new area, but alternative routes will improve visitor connections to the four parts. In all, Disney Springs will increase to more than 150 shops and restaurants and employ nearly 4,000 new people.