Planning where to stay in relation to where you will be spending the most time is one of the keys to planning a super successful Walt Disney World vacation. We will continue to drill down to more detail within the parks, but you are going to start to see a lot more information concerning rides and restaurants as we continue our posts.
In this set of blog posts we are going to outline the available Disney resort hotels in the area, transportation between the hotels and the highlighted area, and a quick breakdown of the of the the areas in Disney Springs.
Disney Springs has risen to almost be an attraction of it's own. From it's humble beginnings as Downtown Disney, this area has exploded to be a great relief from the park pace. It now offers an immense selection of dining and entertainment offerings, along with a full outdoor retail area. When you throw in the world's largest Disney store, an enormous pin store, and a PhotoPass Studio with virtual backdrops, it has all of the magic needed to be Disney.
Disney Springs Resort Hotels
Disney Springs lays on the easternmost point of the Walt Disney World property and to me is really the one time that you don't feel like you are at Walt Disney World. It's location is prime for the use of many of the non-Disney hotels in the area so much so that Disney has partnered with many in this area for the Good Neighbor affiliation (click link for more information). There are 2 DVC properties on the other side of the large drainage pond that are Disney owned and a couple of Moderate locations that we will discuss below.
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa -
This resort was inspired by the Saratoga Springs retreat area in New York and has some Victorian style to show off. It is set up like a moderate resort, but has deluxe accommodations ranging from Deluxe Studios to 3 Bedroom Grand Villas. For something outside the ordinary, check out the 3 Bedroom Treehouse Villas. These are tucked away in wooded area between Saratoga and Old Key West. This resort does offer multiple dining options and an award winning golf course that has hosted the PGA and LPGA tours. There are multiple bus stations throughout the resort that service all of the parks and Disney Springs. Some of the outlying buildings can use the buses to get to the main building.
Old Key West - This is the original Disney Vacation Club resort. It opened in 1991 and was renamed in 1996. It has the largest rooms of any of the DVC properties. It is located next to the Saratoga Springs property and has similar room varieties sans the Treehouse Villas. There is a table service and 2 counter service dining options. Although this resort does not have many extra recreational items, its proximity to Saratoga lets guests access all that it has to offer. This resort is also set up like a moderate resort in the sense that it has multiple bus stations throughout and some of the outer buildings may require transportation to the main building.
Port Orleans (Riverside/French Quarter) - This Moderate resort is split into 2 sections and each has its own registration, pool, and amenities. French Quarter has a Mardi Gras and almost a Value layout with one bus station. It does have a table service restaurant and a 2nd mode of transportation, even if the boat only goes to Disney Springs. Riverside has a old river town feel and is laid out more like a moderate resort with multiple bus stations through the property. Check out the Royal Guestroom for a highly themed, princess focused stay.
Transportation
Boats - Both resorts offer Boat service to Disney Springs only. This service does not get to any of the parks. Also, you are not able to get to the 4 theme parks from Disney Springs. This was done to discourage people from parking there and heading to the parks directly.
Buses - Bus service is available to all of the parks and Disney Springs through multiple stations throughout each resort. There is also an internal bus that will provide transportation through each of the resorts independently.
Disney Springs Areas
Town Center - This is the gateway to Disney Springs. The Disney bus stations are here and so is the Welcome Center. This is an upscale outdoor mall with many high end retail locations and acts as the access to the other areas. You can find shops from Vera Bradley, Tommy Bahama, and Coach and most, if not all of the shops, accept Disney gift cards and allow for charging through your magic band back to your Disney Resort room. Also, check out the spring located in this area. Disney is all about the story and this will give you the back story on why it is call Disney Springs.
West Side - To the west, or left, as you enter Town Center from the buses is the West Side. Consider this the Entertainment District of Disney Springs. This is where you will find AMC Theater, Splitsville Bowling Center, and the Cirque du Soleil Theater that will be home to the new "Drawn to Life" show. There are also multiple dining offerings including The House of Blues and Jaleo. This is also home to the NBA Experience interactive location.
The Landing - This area lies to the north of Town Center and has a mix of Dining and retail locations. Dining offerings include STK Orlando, RAGLAN ROAD, and Paddlefish. The restaurants can all be booked through the Advanced Dining windows based on your resort and most accept the Disney Dining Plans. Check the information page for each restaurant for confirmation.
Marketplace - The last area of Disney Springs is where you will find all of the Disney branded stores. Not to say you can't find the newest Disney print at Vera Bradley, but this area is home to World of Disney, Disney's Pin Traders, Tren-D, and Disney's Days of Christmas among others. Other Disney offerings include the virtual PhotoPass location and a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique location. There are a couple of restaurants in the area, including an active volcano Rainforest Cafe, but these take a back seat to the Disney retail locations.
Disney Springs is definitely a must do once you have experienced all of the parks, but does provide an excellent opportunity to fill your arrival or departure days. Its 191 shops, restaurants, and attractions are easily the most of any area in Walt Disney World, but this does not offer the "magic" of being inside one of the parks. This is a great place to end your day if you aren't into fireworks or want to do something after the parks close. Remember that buses do not run from Disney Springs to the parks (other than Typhoon Lagoon Water Park) , so make sure that your plan accounts for that.
Are you ready to take the next step? Fill out our information form on the Booking Your Trip page and let's talk about your Disney adventure. If you are looking for more information, the Disney Planning Insights Podcasts and Princesses and the Mouse Blogs provide more information to help you plan your next Disney vacation.
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