Best of Disney Springs?

Frontera Cocina! Best mashed potatoes ever

We really like UNI QLO, the store is amazing in itself and the prices are great. The Disney shirts are quite unique!!!

We enjoy off the the live performers that are scattered all around.

The Welcome Center is great but they really need a better system calling guests to the desk. You check in at either entrance then when a CM is free they just call your name from the desk. If you don't hear them, they then start walking around looking for the guest they are calling.

I'm not a big fan of the high end stores. If I can't find it at Target, I don't need it. Except for Pandora charms of course lol

All in all, I still like DS, it's a first day tradition for us since we normally arrive late in the afternoon when we drive in.

I don't like the new bus drop off point- I want to see Disney as soon as I step off the bus, not high end stores. I also think the walk back to the bus stop is inconvenient. I won't be happy getting caught in a storm while running a mile to the bus stop.

Other than the minor bus issue, I really like all of the new dining options, tons of great places to try. I also like the beautiful bridges and the "bubbling springs". The new design is beautiful, I loved strolling around the water. And my favorite Disney stores are still there, so I'm happy. I'll just bypass the high end stores and head directly to food and to Disney shops! It's still a favorite place for me.

I haven't spent a ton of time at Disney Springs during my last couple of trips. I have to say my favorite new thing are the deviled eggs at Art Smith's Homecoming.

I like that the current bus stop is centrally located instead of beyond the Marketplace section, but I think it would be more convenient if they had two stops, one near each end of the complex.

I don't like losing DisneyQuest at all and have absolutely no interest in NBA anything.

The new shopping venues don't appeal to me at all.

I like that the shops up at the Marketplace end are largely the same. I'll probably do most or all of my shopping in this section.

I love many of the new restaurants. I've only eaten at Blaze Pizza so far (awesome), but several other new places appeal to me and are on my short list. In terms of dining, Disney Springs is a definite improvement over Downtown Disney.

I wish they had included something like Pleasure Island in the redesign. I'd walked through when it was still open but never got around to spending an evening - the one time we had it in our schedule we had to skip it last minute, and the next time we went to WDW it was gone. I really wanted to experience the Adventurers' Club.

In summary, there is nothing in the redesigned Disney Springs that will entice me to spend more time there than I used to spend at Downtown Disney - in fact with the loss of DisneyQuest I will probably spend less time there. Stop by, eat somewhere, hit the World of Disney, Ghirardelli, the pin kiosk, and one or two other shops, maybe get a drink somewhere, and then back to the bus stop. Probably two hours, three if I get that drink.

I really enjoyed the dining options and how beautiful it is there. We didn't use the buses too much when we went because we got the boat to POR. But I definitely agree some of the shops seemed like over kill but then on the other hand we enjoyed most of the shops as we had never had the chance to go in before.

Love Homecoming, Jock Lindsey's, and Uniqlo. Love that I still have a TON of restaurants to try there! I love just walking around by the water and hearing the jazz style Disney music playing. It just puts me in a relaxed mood that is completely different then the rest of my Disney vacation. Makes a perfect "mid trip" break to give us a chill day to recoup before hitting the parks again.

Though we spent two weeks staying across the water from Disney Springs, we only managed to make it there a couple of time (wish it had been more).

Our first visit coincided with our first night and was our introduction to the dining plan (we weren't that sure what we would get on the quick-service meal). To ensure that the younger members of our party would eat something we chose D-Luxe Burger and were blown away by the array of burgers on offer, and when we received them we were amazed at how good they were.

Our second pick and I know this has been there since the days of West Side, Downtown Disney, is House of Blues. We went here on one of the few date nights we were able to do while on holiday, and we found the food (and drink, hic) amazing, and the friendly atmosphere awesome.

We always enjoy House of Blues. I know a lot of people poo poo it but not us. The portions are huge, the food is good (just give me that jalapeno cornbread and maple butter) and the atmosphere is fun!

McKenna's bakery is amazing. I can't eay dairy but love desserts, and everything is vegan there. Best vegan desserts ever, by far. Cupcake toppers are fantastic (mint-frosted/chocolate-brownie rules, and I can't wait to try lemon next time). Soft-serve is really good too, also vegan. Prices are really reasonable as well.

Wife loves Uni Qlo, especially the unique Disney t-shirts that are surprisingly low-priced by Disney standards.

Blaze Pizza was better than expected.

The Coke Rooftop bar was pretty cool. Kids loved it with so much selection!!

Love seeing the various bands at nighttime, choruses and other musical performances during the day, etc. Also eager to try Splitsville if we ever get a rainy day at WDW, and see the drone light show at night (not sure if it's still running).

You can put me in the "I liked it better before" group. We spent our first afternoon/evening at DS and the afternoon the last day as well. We enjoyed Jock Lindsey's, Raglans, Bongo's and some of the shops. Pleasure Island was a lot more fun and carefree to me. It seems to be missing something to me, I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe I'm just getting old, and being a little nostalgic. I can certainly see a need for some change, but I honestly preferred it the way it was. When we go back, I may go to Jock's again other than that I can't think of anything I have to see again.

"I wish they had included something like Pleasure Island in the redesign. I'd walked through when it was still open but never got around to spending an evening - the one time we had it in our schedule we had to skip it last minute, and the next time we went to WDW it was gone. I really wanted to experience the Adventurers' Club."-crazycatperson

If you never had the chance to visit the AC, you missed out on one the best Disney experiences ever. I spent more than my fair share of time there every trip during the '80-'90's. I know I've said this before, but it's worth repeating, the AC was the best blending of theme, animatronics and live performers (oh yeah and booze) ever executed. I really feel sorry for all those that have missed out on that experience. I found my adventurers club canteen in the attic a few weeks ago. I put with my other Disney trip memorabilia displayed in my office, I think I got it in 1989.

DITTO

Things I LOVE - Vivoli Il Gelato (all of the flavors, but most of all, the rice pudding), The Coca-Cola rooftop bar (you can get a flight or rooter floats made with all different types of soda. It is heaven.), the fact that they left Marketplace alone as this always was my favorite area, New restaurants to try (only tried Homecoming so far and liked it, but I anticipate that I will prefer others), the overall look and feel with more bridges and water features, the entertainment--in particular, the parades and the roving piano player.

Things I LIKE - the redesigned Characters in Flight balloon, the fact that La Nouba is (at least temporarily) being replaced with some sort of new cirque experience, ease of using the new parking garage and it's proximity to Vivoli Il Gelato, the AMC theater-I know it's not "new", but I like that it exists because it means that I don't have to time our vacations around Star Wars releases.

Things I DISLIKE - the demise of DisneyQuest. It is rundown and in need of repair, but the concept is so awesome. I'm really sorry to see this go--especially (as CCP said) to make way for anything NBA. Blech. I'm also disappointed at the price point for Splitsville. I would stop in for a game or two, but $22pp per hour? I can do Lightning Bowl at our local alley, which is VERY nice for 2 1/2 hours for $17 including shoes. I think a game at home is like $4 at regular price. I expect to pay a premium at Disney, but much like tea a Grand Floridian, paying more than double for the same or lesser experience than I can get at home is not my idea of a good value for my vacation dollars. Lastly, the "in your face" high end shopping (why do we think that the bust stop moved ) Stores like these are no better than the markets in the cruise port cities in Mexico snd the Caribbean. People are so desperate to make sales that they follow you around and want to "help" you with everything. I find it very stressful to try to shop that way and won't even set foot into a store again after I've been hovered over on a previous visit.

Overall, I'm a fan of the changes. The new bar/ restaurant scene seems more accessible to me than it did with the Pleasure Island iteration. I really love the new venues that we've tried and I look forward to trying more. I give it an A-

I have mixed feelings. While I like the new selection of places to eat, it feels a lot less Disney than before. Used to be you would walk around DTD and see lots of happy folks with their ears and lanyards, etc., but there seems to be a lot less of that and more just "people". Outside of food, there's nothing I would really buy there, or really even window shop.

That being said, we had some phenomenal food this past October at DS!

Morimotos was a last minute ADR and turned out to be one of our favorite meals of the trip. Great atmosphere and the ribs and bao were to die for.

Blaze Pizza was another big happy surprise. Make your own pizza that is fresh and hot? Oh yeah. We made it a point to go back again just for that.

Deluxe Burger was also on our list and did not disappoint. Very tasty and great fries.

Amorette's really surprised us. I'm so used to froo-froo looking foods having not so great taste, but their stuff looked great and tasted amazing!

Parking is a lot easier with the garages too.

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JEFF! JEFF! is that REALLY You? Welcome back! How have you been my friend? Good to hear from you after all this time.

HI Jeff!!! So nice to see you.

Hi Bob and JoAnn C, and everyone else it's me. My short little hiatus from postings turned into a few years. Oops

Doing well. Joe and I moved to Phoenix a year and a half ago (remember when it was "our last move!" 6 moves ago? Uh-huh....) and are both doing well.

We did a trip last October and found the weather much better for us than mid-September. For something different were heading to Maui in a few months.

Hi to Michele as well

Hey Jeff ! Nice to hear from you. You were probably in WDW when we were and we didn't even know it. Don't be such a stranger. Is joe still doing all his baking?

Hi Mark and Judy! That would have been funny to run into you guys. We went the 3rd week in October.

Joe's still baking, indeed! We've been doing the local farmers market and he's got some of his goods in a few local tea shops.

Seriously!? A bunch of us from here were there at that time. Some of us went on a cruise together (10/17 - 10/21) and were in the parks before and after. A few did parks only.

Seriously?? Apparently we are kindred spirits regardless! I believe we arrived on Oct 18 and were there through the 25th. Too funny. Wish I was paying attention and knew - would have been fun to meet up.

Ok, Kristen, sorry to have hijacked your thread

Hi Jeff! Glad to hear you and Joe are doing well! That food from Morimoto looks amazing! I really need to get over there sometime soon!

Hey Jeff!!!! Welcome back!

Hi Allie. Yes, you really do need to get to Morimotos!

Hi JMed and thank you! It may have been a while but it feels like I never left and am right at home like it was yesterday

We love the variety of shops and food that there are around Disney Springs. We TOTALLY love Raglan Road Irish Pub and D-Luxe Burgers.

Raglan Road Irish Pub is one of the best Irish pubs outside of Ireland and we have tried many from ones in New York City to Chicago to San Diego and have been multiple times to Ireland. This is a pub where you can sit for hours, share drinks and enjoy the music as we have done that mannnyyyy times!!!

D-Luxe Burger has burgers big enough to share between the two of us and they are cooked perfect.