Disney Springs is a large outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment area with free entrance. It has gone through many changes since its opening in 1975 to get to where it is today.
Now, Disney Springs has 4 unique neighborhoods, named: The Landing, Marketplace, West Side and Town Center. Learn the history of Disney Springs with the timeline below. Read the Timeline below of Disney Springs History, which name was it under when you first visited?
Timeline:
- 1975 – Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village opened as an outdoor shopping area.
- 1977 – Name changed to Walt Disney World Village.
- 1989 – Name changed to Disney Village Marketplace and Pleasure Island opens (closed in 2008). Pleasure Island had various nightclubs for guests, charging a cover fee in the evening.
- 1997 – Name changed to Downtown Disney. West Side was added bringing restaurants such as House of Blues & Planet Hollywood and bringing more entertainment such as AMC Disney Springs 24.
- 2008 – Marketplace was added bringing new stores such as the Lego Store plus an expanded World of Disney and new restaurants. Pleasure Island also closed this year.
- 2015 – Name changed to Disney Springs. Former Pleasure Island is now known as The Landing.
- 2016 – Expansion is complete, Town Center Opens with a focus on retail stores. Bringing stores such as: Alexi and Ani, Kate spade new York, Sephora, Ugg and more. Town Center also brought us restaurants such as: D-Luxe Burger, Sprinkles and the reimagined Paddlefish at Disney Springs opens for guests, once named Fulton’s Crab House.
- 2017 – DisneyQuest closes to make room for The NBA Experience coming. New retailers include: Bowes Signature Soy Candles, Swings N’ Things, Savannah Bee, Coach and rinse bath & body co. Plus new Italian restaurants: Maria & Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway and Pizza Ponte.
Learn more tips and tricks for your next Walt Disney World vacation. Destinations in Florida can also help you add tips and tricks to your next vacation.
Monty says
Rainforest Cafe was there way before 2008