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Credit: SJ Grant, FlickrFor over a decade, Walt Disney World Resort‘s free-to-enter outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment district has been known as Disney Springs. The lifestyle complex had been known as Downtown Disney since 1997, but underwent a three-year reimagining that officially ended in 2015. However, almost eleven years later, the Central Florida vacation destination has revived the Downtown Disney identity… in one place, at least.
Disney Springs Reimagining
In September 2015, the Downtown Disney District reopened as Disney Springs. The waterside shopping, dining, and entertainment district now features four distinct neighborhoods: Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center, and West Side.
Marketplace is home to most of the iconic Disney shops, like the World of Disney–the largest Disney Store on the planet. It’s also where guests can find more of the district’s family-friendly offerings, like the LEGO Store, Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex Cafe, and the carousel and train rides.
The Landing is Disney Springs’ marina area, featuring the Empress Lilly steamboat, currently home to Paddlefish Restaurant. This neighborhood is the former home of the iconic Pleasure Island, a nighttime entertainment district catered to adult Walt Disney World Resort guests.
Town Center features several third-party retailers, including UNIQLO, kate spade new york, and more. West Side is home to more interactive experiences, like Coca-Cola Orlando, AMC, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, and the House of Blues.
Although many Disney Parks fans are nostalgic for the Downtown Disney name, it’s actually not the lifestyle complex’s original name. The area originally opened as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, was renamed Walt Disney World Village in 1977, and simplified to Disney Village Marketplace in 1989 before becoming Downtown Disney in 1997.
Downtown Disney Name Returns
Over the weekend, Disney Parks fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) noticed that the @DisneySprings X account had been deleted. Walt Disney World Resort reactivated the @WDWDowntown account, where Disney used to post updates on Downtown Disney before its reimagining.
This is super weird. Disney changed their Twitter handle to WDWDowntown 👀👀 could be absolutely nothing but intriguing nonetheless
This is super weird. Disney changed their Twitter handle to WDWDowntown 👀👀 could be absolutely nothing but intriguing nonetheless https://t.co/3izGzfiY9g
— Shaun Ranks the Mouse (@rankingthemouse) May 3, 2026
Disney did change the account name to Disney Springs and linked the official website, but did not update the @WDWDowntown handle.
Walt Disney World Resort didn’t comment publicly on the social media switchup. The @DisneySprings account may have been unfairly suspended or hacked by a third party, or Disney may be rebranding its Florida shopping, dining, and entertainment district once again.
Do you prefer the name Disney Springs or Downtown Disney? Share your opinion with Inside the Magic in the comments!
