I spent my second morning at Disney Springs. Disney Springs was not always called as such, it went through quite a revision process.
It first started as a small village shopping centre called Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village. A small, new England seaside village was its model. Currently named Market Place, this section of Disney Springs has been open since 1975. This is where you will find shops like the Lego store, some of the more popular chain restaurants like Blaze Pizza and Rainforest Cafe, and The World of Disney. And don’t forget about the famous Dole Whip from Market Place Snacks! They have a few flavours that are allergy-friendly. The vanilla has casein and is dispensed from the same machine as the pineapple, so be sure to ask for a pure pineapple or one of the other flavours.
Next up: the Disney Village Market Place (1980s) complete with Pleasure Island. Pleasure Island enjoyed approximately a 20-year lifespan before closing its nightclubs in 2008 while keeping the restaurants and cafes. This area became known as The Landing in the final revamp of 2016.
In 1997 the next phase was what many of us still call it to this day, Downtown Disney. This is when the West Side opened and became the wine & dine destination with the Market Place and Pleasure Island.
The final phase was the 2016 revamp to Disney Springs. Did you know that Disney Springs is centred around natural springs? They’re beautiful and dare I say a bit magical.
Quick tip: Tired of waiting for the bus to stop at all of the villages at Caribbean Beach before setting off en route? Hop on the Skyliner to Epcot. Turn right and walk down to Beach Club. Beach Club’s bus stop is just through the main lobby. Follow the path on the right and it’s about a two-minute walk if that. This is generally faster (and far more pleasant in my opinion).
Stay tuned for more details on the Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Boardwalk Resorts!
