Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs)

By James | Last updated December 20, 2023

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Downtown Disney used to be called the Disney Village and today it consists of three separate areas, namely West Side, Pleasure Island (currently being redeveloped) and the Downtown Disney Marketplace stretching along the shores of Lake Buena Vista.

Disney Springs has now replaced Downtown Disney and this article is here purely for historical reference

In March 2013, Disney announced a major upgrade to the whole area under the new name of Disney Springs.

Downtown Disney provides day and night-time entertainment and is similar in concept to Universal Citywalk offering shopping, eating, nightclubs and live music.

The clubs on Pleasure Island are currently closed and it is currently being redeveloped as part of the Disney Springs project

General parking is free at Downtown Disney with the option of valet parking. Admission is free to the West Side and Marketplace (unless stated otherwise).

West Side

West Side is home to the Cirque du Soleilยฎ show La Noubaโ„ข as well as the DisneyQuestยฎ Indoor Interactive Theme Park, AMCยฎ Pleasure Island 24 Theatres Complex, House of Bluesยฎ concert hall and lots of other shops and restaurants.

The massive Virgin Megastore closed on May 31, 2009 and has now been replaced by Splitsville, a 50,000 square foot upscale entertainment centre combining ten-pin bowling with billiards, dining, music and nightlife.

There are separate admission charges for the Cirque du Soleilยฎ, DisneyQuestยฎ, AMCยฎ and House of Bluesยฎ. However, entry to DisneyQuestยฎ is free if you have an Ultimate Park Hopper or Premium Annual Pass Holder ticket.

One of the latest attractions to open on the West Side is Characters In Flight, a tethered balloon ride that takes you 400 feet up in the air over the waterfront giving you unparalleled views of the surrounding area.

The balloon is decorated with some of Disneyโ€™s flying characters and can carry up to 30 guests (including the pilot) at a time.

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pleasure Island

Pleasure Island used to open at 7p.m. every evening and was the ultimate party place with 8 nightclubs each with their own theme ranging from 1970โ€™s disco though country and western, jazz and top 40 music.
Under 18 year olds had to be accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older who has an acceptable form of identification.

You had to pay a separate admission fee to get into Pleasure Island unless you had an Ultimate Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus [ticket].

The clubs included the Adventurers Club, Comedy Warehouse, Mannequin Dance Palace, Club Motion, Rock โ€˜nโ€™ Roll Beach Club, 8 Trax Disco, BET Soundstage Club and Pleasure Island Jazz Club. You needed to be 18 to gain entry to most of the clubs except for Mannequins Dance Palace and BET SoundsStage Club Thursday through Saturday when you needed to be at least 21.

At midnight every night there was a New York style street party with countdown and fireworks.

Marketplace

The Downtown Disney Marketplace is a collection of shops and restaurants including the World Of Disney (largest Disney merchandise store on the planet), the Lego Imagination Center, Tren-D and Disneyโ€™s Days of Christmas.

Eating in Downtown Disney

Amongst the restaurants in Downtown Disney Marketplace is the Rainforest Cafรฉ, Fultons Crab House which is in a replica of a paddleboat and Wolfgang Puckโ€™s Express.

You are spoilt for choice at West Side where there is a Planet Hollywood, the Cuban/Latin Bongoโ€™s Cafe, the gourmet Wolfgang Puckโ€™s Cafe and the southern style House of Blues.

See also: Disney Springs

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