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This past spring, Disney announced what is perhaps the biggest expansion ever to Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World: Disney Springs. This new creation will double the shopping, dining, and entertainment offerings already available to guests. With construction and openings occuring in phases between now and 2016, Disney Springs is expected to feature four outdoor neighborhoods connected by a flowing spring and nearby lakefront:
- Town Center – offering a sophisticated mix of shopping and dining, plus an all new promenade. From ground up, this is the newest addition, being added largely in the parking area that sits in front of what is now Pleasure Island.
- The Landing – a thriving commercial district with inspired cuisine and beautiful waterfront views. This is what is now known largely as Pleasure Island. It also includes the area that was intended to be known as Hyperion Wharf.
- Marketplace – a family-friendly district that adds an over-the-water pedestrian causeway to connect both ends of its crescent shaped design. This will include a much larger World of Disney store.
- West Side – the current West Side as we know, this will include a series of elevated spaces provding shade and an overlook to activity below.
Perhaps equally as challenging but "oh, so needed" is the development of two parking garages to hold around 6,000 vehicles. If you always visit Downtown Disney via a Disney bus or boat, you probably are not aware of the huge number of cars that come in and out of Downtown Disney. So more car parking is needed. The first of these to be constructed fronts the AMC theaters. The latter will be more toward the Marketplace side. Hopefully both will create access to and from I-4.
Originally named the Lake Buena Vista Village, the entire sprawl of activity that grew to include Pleasure Island and the West Side is a story any mall developer would be proud of. On the one hand, Disney should be embarrassed that it's having to spend money to create parking garages when it owns property twice the size of the Island of Manhattan. But frankly, who would have guessed this sprawling shopping district would be so successful? Even since the end of the club years of Pleasure Island, there are more people visiting than ever before. Any local who drives a car and parks there knows that on a Friday or Saturday evening, you can expect to spend half an hour just trying to find a parking space. The crowds are simply crazy. Lake Buena Vista intersections nearby around I-4 and the Crossroads can be stop and go.
And now much of the parking will be under re-construction. So how do you manage visiting Downtown Disney during this period? This article offer some important suggestions for you to consider.
Enjoy Earlier Than Later
If as a tourist you've used Downtown Disney as a bookend to your trip, consider using it as a bookend on the morning you leave, as opposed to the night you arrive. The morning hours are simply much easier to get in and out of. You can do everything you want in probably half the time that it would take in the evening. At the time I was preparing this article, Disney's Magical Express was testing doing guest pickup at Downtown Disney--thus promoting spending time there earlier in the day. If that's a service you use while staying at Walt Disney World, check it out.
If you have a car, do the same. This is especially true of the entertainment available. Splitsville offers a lower price during the day than during the evening. A movie at AMC before noon is almost half the price than during the evening hours. Crowds at DisneyQuest are smaller. And the hot air balloon is often more reliable weather-wise in the morning than in the evening. You may fare better going earlier than later. You also won't have as many crowds when it comes to shopping, and in many restaurants you can practically walk right in. It really is a more manageable experience.
Park Afar
The area north and west of Cirque du Soleil is really the best location to park. There are usually more spaces available there than anywhere else. And since the marina exists close to House of Blues, you can walk from one end to the other, then return using the boat shuttle from the Marketplace marina near the Rainforest Cafe. No matter what time of day, this is probably your best choice when parking at Downtown Disney, and when wanting to walk the length of the experience.
From the water you get a view of changes coming to Downtown Disney. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Another new option is being put in place is parking at Team Disney, across from the Pleasure Island area. This involves a little more of a walk than ever before. But it will probably be faster than trying to find a parking space in the areas closer to the shops and restaurants.
Park and Boat
Speaking of marinas at Downtown Disney, shuttle service runs from Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside throughout the day. This is a nice way to head over to Downtown Disney. And if going to this place is a key part of your vacation experience, consider even staying at these locations. Just note the hours of operation and frequency, as earlier times in the day are slower. There can also be long lines of guests waiting to board later in the evening. Time your travel carefully so that you get the best experience possible, then sit back and enjoy the ride.
Here the boats head from Port Orleans down the bayou to Downtown Disney. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Go Elsewhere
I used to tell people to save their time at the parks for enjoying attractions and then spend their time at Downtown Disney on their last day doing shopping. I'm not so sure that's a good idea anymore. Honestly, the Emporium on Main Street U.S.A. is really easier to get in and out of than World of Disney, which is ground zero for being busy and crazy all at once. I can't really think of any product available at the Disney stores in the Marketplace that you can't get in the parks. It may be better to get it there, and if you're staying at the resort, having it shipped to your room.
With all of this construction, I might just add that it may be a better idea to consider going somewhere else to spend your evening. The Boardwalk is one idea. It certainly has a more casual attitude. But I would also consider grabbing a bite to eat at Old Key West, or finding a hammock at nearby Caribbean Beach Resort, or watching the Electrical Water Pageant along the shores of Fort Wilderness after taking in the Hoop de Doo. Remember, many of you are on vacation, and it's not worth it if you're stuck in traffic and crowds in order to enjoy your evening.
Don't Go Elsewhere
Thinking you might go to one of the major malls in the Orlando area. Know that the two outlet malls and the Florida mall are some of the biggest and busiest malls in the industry. They have huge offerings, but they also have big crowds. Mall at Millennia is also busy. If you think getting in and out of Downtown Disney is bad, you should try navigating the traffic at the Lake Buena Vista factory stores—especially around Saturday evening mass where crowds are getting in and out of Mary, Queen of the Universe next door. And the Florida Mall off of OBT isn't much better. If you are from out of the country and want to make purchases you can't get at home, go for it. But if you live in the United States, I would think carefully before going to these shopping destinations, as they really offer most of the same retail outlets you get at your mall back home. And while a premium factory outlet sounds like a good deal—believe me, it really isn't.
Be Patient
No matter when you go, be ready to sit back and relax. Be patient with crowds and long lines. Know that Downtown Disney is working hard to monitor traffic in the parking lots and are doing their best to make this as safe and workable as possible.
How do you manage the crowds and the parking at Downtown Disney? Share with us your ideas. Do you plan to check it out during the construction phase? Tell us what you're looking forward to.
Comments
Going to Downtown Disney early in the day is really the best advice there is. If you go at night, you deal with problems everywhere -- hard-to-find parking spaces, long waits at the bus stops, or long waits for the boats. This is doubly true on weekends; we generally avoid weekends altogether, unless we're going in the morning.
I will admit that, even when we stay at Old Key West, we usually drive to Downtown Disney, just because the boat trip can be VERY long. It's not so bad from Saratoga Springs, and I'll definitely welcome a walkway from Saratoga Springs, but it can still be a fairly long trip depending on time of day and how long you have to wait for a boat.
I don't understand your advice to not go elsewhere. You're not going to find many deals/bargains at Downtown Disney. You're also won't find as much variety at Downtown Disney. The only thing they have in common is the crowds. All things being equal, letting your dollar go farther should be the goals.
I see Downtown Disney as a tourist trap. It is mostly an entertainment zone. The shopping should be secondary. Thus, your advice about going in the mornings doesn't make sense. You don't go there merely for shopping as that activity is a waste of time. You already said the theme parks offer the same merchandise. It is better to buy merchandise as you see it and NOT delay it as the final activity before you leave the parks.
Despite the bad parking, I think Downtown Disney or the "New Disney Springs" should be enjoyed as a place to have dinner and a good show like "Nouba". The best way to get a parking space is during the gap between lunch and dinner at 2 to 4 pm. Get a early dinner at 5pm. Go to the Nouba show or some other activity later where you already had a reservation.
When you go so early, the shopping areas are still asleep. It is largely a waste of time.
Whether it's Downtown Disney or Disney Springs, it still doesn't have much appeal to me. I AM interested in knowing what some of the new dining options might be......I'd love to see an Indian, Thai or Spanish restaurant.....but other than that, I'll continue to spend most of my time at the parks or hotels.
I would agree that Downtown Disney is NOT the place for shopping. You can get pretty much what you want elsewhere at Disney. And what you can't get you can pretty much get at your local mall back home. That said, I do agree also that it is an entertainment zone. It's a great place to do dinner and Cirque. But it's also a great place for an afternoon matinee, or lunch and a balloon ride. For that reason, I think it can still be fairly enjoyed during the day--whether or not the shops are open.
Why I said to not go elsewhere is because you will NOT find bargains at any of the malls or premium outlets in Orlando. The premium outlets are by and large as expensive as any other store you might visit elsewhere. It's not a great deal.
Thanks to all for your responses. Jeff
We visit DTD each time we are in Florida. I like just walking around and soaking up the atmosphere. We enjoyed the Candy Store and Ghiradellis when we can get in. When we do, we usually share. We look at the art store and just kind of soak it up.
However, parking has gotten horrible and the addition of garages will be a blessing. DisneyQuest needs a total re-do from what friends have said and I hope someday that is next on the list.
We also once last summer visited the outlets out of necessity as my dear hubby was roasting in regular tees in the June heat. We actually got a great deal on 3 Nike wicking tee shirts from the Nike outlet. They were $9.99 or something small like that. Usually we don't visit those places on vacation but if you need something like that, then braving the outlets can save a vacation.
There are lots of reasons to shop at DTD.
Disney Design-A-Tee. T-Rex. Magnetron. LEGO Imagination Store. Little Miss Matched. Planet Hollywood. Sosa Family Cigars.
See? Even discounting Disney's Days of Christmas (since there are Christmas stores at the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios) and World of Disney, there are unique shops at DTD that sell stuff not sold in the parks, and that most of us don't have back home.
Powers &8^]
My apologies to the good folks from the UK and elsewhere internationally. I wrote this article with U.S. audiences in mind, thinking about malls they have back in their home towns. In truth, the malls here in Orlando are great places to shop if you're coming from afar. My daughter worked for many months in Carters at the premium outlet, and absolutely enjoyed visiting with international guests. They were the best part of her job, and she often came home sharing her joy in serving them.