Why I Think Disney Springs is a Downgrade of Downtown Disney

When Downtown Disney was rebranded as Disney Springs after a renovation and expansion in the mid-2010s, it receive praise for its new dining and shopping opportunities. However, since I grew up living an hour and a half away and was as a frequent visitor, I was very disappointed with the area’s rebranding. That was my reaction upon my initial visit to the rebrand, but the disappointment has only continued with subsequent visits to the place that was my favorite day trip as a kid. As a possible outlier with this opinion, I would like to express why Disney Springs falls short of its predecessor.

First, in the interest of full disclosure, I must confess a couple of things. I never actually went to West Side until after the expansion, so I cannot judge the changes there. I only occasionally went onto Pleasure Island, which is now The Landing (Town Center was added as part of the expansion), but only to go to Shop for Ireland, the store next to Cookes of Dublin and Raglan Road. Also, I cannot be a fair judge of dining options, since I did not eat at many restaurants either before or after the makeover. My comparison will therefore be limited to the shopping and general atmosphere of the Marketplace.

The best part about Downtown Disney was that it was the closest thing to a Disney experience and that it was free, outside of gas money to get there, having a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere and shopping opportunities. The only rides in the Marketplace are a train ride for kids that I enjoyed as a child, as well as a carousel. However, the problem with Disney Springs is that it’s a revamp that has stripped the area of much of its Disney charm. As a result, it feels less like Disney World, and more like a regular strip mall, something that Orlando already has plenty of, which lessens its general selling point.

The Mickey Mouse topiary that stands by the old parking lot.

View from the Lime Garage, near the Landing and Marketplace

The crowds are also much greater now than when the area was Downtown Disney. Parking never used to be a problem, but with the new gigantic (and frankly, unremarkably looking) garages, navigating the place has become difficult, especially during the pandemic. The garages also exit at a very specific place, which is not always ideal, whereas the earlier surface parking lots allowed you to choose where to enter, including by an awesome Mickey-shaped topiary and fountain that has suddenly become so obsolete that I don’t know if it’s still there. Also, the old version used to have Disney songs playing non-stop for outdoor, ambient noise, which was always a nice touch. But on my last visit, the airwaves featured some awful remixes that barely resembled the originals they replaced, as well as a lot of normal, everyday pop songs.

The non-Disneyfication of the area has also affected its stores, which in a way is surprising, considering how IP-focused the parks have become. According to the official map in December 2020, my last visit, out of the 85 listed stores, only 36 are designated as presenting “Distinctly Disney Offerings.” That’s less than half, and frankly, some of those probably shouldn’t have it, such as Vera Bradley, Basin, and the Coca-Cola store. They may have Disney offerings, but they aren’t Disney enough for that distinction, in my opinion. Another huge disappointment was the revamp of the World of Disney store. Its elaborate decorations were delightful to behold, especially as a child. Statues of favorite Disney characters flying near the ceiling and in front of the entrance, made the experience feel like more than just a store. But the renovation removed all of this, relegating it to an everyday store that happens to sell Disney merchandise, like most malls. For a brand of parks so well known for its theming, this is a huge downgrade. The second best store, Once Upon a Toy, which used to be basically World of Disney 2.0, has been horribly downgraded. It used to feature several rooms (five, if I remember correctly), but is now only one room, and that one doesn’t even include the awesome make-your-own Mr. Potato Head station they used to have. In short, the two best stores have lost their Disney magic. On top of that, another great Disney store, Mickey’s Pantry, is gone altogether.

Decorations that used to adorn the ceiling of the World of Disney

Old decor for the Princess section of World of Disney.

The Princess Section as of 2019.

The only figurine remaining outside of the store, with Stitch still squirting water at guests.

Missing room of Once Upon a Toy that included a lightsaber making station.

Putting aside my disagreement with many of these changes, is there anything good about the revamp? I’ll admit the bridge linking the Rainforest Café to the area near the Lego Store is charming and long overdue, allowing for better flow of foot traffic. I also like the clear stream dividing Town Center and the Landing. I don’t miss the store Pooh Corner, which had a really odd smell that was unbearable, though that may have closed long before the revamp (I couldn’t find a closing date online).

Bridge added as part of Disney Springs

River dividing the Landing and Town Center.

If you are planning a visit, there are still stores remaining from Downtown Disney and that have not undergone big changes and maintain some of their magic. These include Disney’s Days of Christmas, which has kept its great character-themed decorations in both in the store and in the display windows (be on the lookout for their own version of the twelve days of Christmas sprinkled throughout), Disney Pin Traders, Goofy’s Candy Company, Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop (not Disney-related, but they almost always give away free samples, which is something their store on Hollywood Boulevard doesn’t do), and the Lego Store. I am glad they haven’t dismantled the Lego sea serpent (a replica of which is actually featured in the Disneyland Lego Store). Overall though, despite the space’s expanded footprint, increased shopping and dining options and it being more popular, Disney Springs unfortunately lacks the magic of its predecessor, the magic we have come to expect from any project associated with Disney, and is just a shell of what Downtown Disney used to be.

The decorations in the Disney Day’s of Christmas store still remain as of 2020.

Updated Lego statues in front of the Lego Store, as of early 2021.

The famous Lego sea serpent still remains.