I wanna call it that too 😅 but then remember we still have Downtown Disney on the west coast!

Youngster. Will always be Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village to the OGs...

​@Jay I thought I was knowledgeable, but you just humbled me haha

Walt Disney World Village :)

Love your videos. I do long for the days Disney Corporation cared about it’s patrons…I no longer spend my money at Disney.

I think it's a good balance of both. I liked "Disney" during the Eisner era, as in using the Fab 5 as symbols for the company that cleverly made their way into a lot of stuff like The Contemporary, the TTC or Downtown Disney. It's different than "Disney" theming today, which just feels like cross promotion without any thematic thought behind it. Disney Springs seems to be a mix of the two, with the Marketplace still existing with a lot of that old Eisner era "Disney" theming. Otherwise, I do agree that the original story is really what Disney should be pursuing.

You have a great point about old Disney (Eisner era). To me, the waterparks are stuck in the 90's, in the best way possible. The theming is so engrossing compared to the newer stuff at Disney, as well.

I just wish there was more of it. They did a good job with what's there, but it could be a bit more prevalent throughout certain areas.

@@PoseidonEntertainment yea and I used to be kind of an oldhead not really liking the name change from downtown Disney, but this gave me some appreciation for it.

It's a great place and I like how accessible it is to everyone. I just think it could benefit from more entertainment though.

Last year, we only spent 3 days in Orlando, after a transatlantic cruise, as we didn't have the time nor the budget to visit any theme parks, we spent a day at Disney Springs to still get some Disney atmosphere into our visit. It was a nice relaxing day for us. As it was a weekday and we arrived there around 10AM, the area was really quiet. We enjoyed this very much.

I do find it odd that for how much backstory was built into it, Disney hasn't seemed to document it very well. Explanation of the theming is scattered among various Disney Parks Blog posts, but it's still difficult information to find.

I was surprised at how little information people knew. I went up to a lot of the hosts at the restaurants and they often didn't know much. I only found a lot of the information online or from Disney itself.

Yeah, having gone through location introduction tours at both Hollywood Studios and Blizzard Beach, they are decent but there is still a lot of lore that isn't introduced that I've learned through channels like yours, yesterland, expedition theme park, defunctland etc. This channel really needs 10x the subs you have, your content is really good.

@@PoseidonEntertainment former Disney employee. They really don't tell us shit other than when our shifts start. I would disappoint customers all the time not knowing random trivia about whatever ride I was working at lol

Yeah, they failed to share that when I went in lol. I'm disappointed to have missed it.

Did I miss anything important lol?

@@PoseidonEntertainment I added a comment about the themed sculpture inside Morimoto Asia. 😀

@@ugaldk31 Ah, I'm going through the comments oldest to newest and haven't gotten there yet

That initial decade/decade and a half seem to be the only really interesting era concerning the park. By Eisner the atmosphere and reason d’entre was all changed. Poseidon’s video histories are always fascinating though

@@pauldavidartistclub6723 I do think that the Eisner era changes to the park were interesting, even if extremely misguided. I would easily take Epcot in 2005 over the park today.

@@PoseidonEntertainment a big, perhaps biggest problem, is that the original Disney parks were designed in and for a time and place, which can’t last forever; and with billions of dollars in investments they can’t just come to a natural conclusion (or forced out by real estate development like with Palisades Amusement Park in NJ). Epcot was an attempt at salvaging something of Walt’s megalomaniac but startling vision, and at least had the Seattle, NYC and Montreal World Fairs in mind as a template. That idea had built-in problems but was again a concept for a much different (better in my opinion) era. But what’s been the point since then? Sure kids first encountering the parks in the late 80’s or 90’s have that as their gold standard, but kids growing up in those decades, or since, have a warped view of movies, music, comics, TV, books, etc, since they weren’t exposed to the good stuff which laid the foundation for what came afterwards. And unlike kids growing up in the 1950’s, 60’s or 70’s who had easy access to even older material before our time, they live in a ten to twenty year bubble (I work with numerous 20 and 30 somethings who have never seen an episode of I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, or The Odd Couple…if you don’t know the basics, don’t speak of what shows are “terrific” today). Disney parks, movies, and entertainment are now just running because of built up momentum of decades past, and there’s not much they or anyone else can do about it (unless dollars dry up completely)

Were you thinking of Videopolis East? I know that it opened with Pleasure Island but was removed quickly. I believe the Neon Armadillo was likely the country club.

@@PoseidonEntertainmentthanks! yes, videopolis east might have been the name of the teen/preteen club! In retrospect this kind of club doesn’t sound like such a great idea but at the time i read about it it just sounded like fun for my daughter. I’m sure you’re right about the neon armadillo! Great research! I would still love to know if those line dancers were regular patrons or people paid to liven up the atmosphere. It was just a very stilted scene and stands out in my memory 30 years later. Thanks for the trip in the “way back machine”

I wish the Cast Members I encountered had the knowledge you did. When I asked, very few of them really knew anything. I didn't know about Gideon's because it always seems like such a mess to get in there, but I'm glad to know that it works into the story too.

When I was little my family and I were watching the parade on Main Street and Goofy tried to say hi to me but he freaked me out so I turned and climbed up my dad like a tree to get away from him. Unfortunately I didn’t realize until I climbed all the way up that he wasn’t my dad so I screamed in some poor guys face while my dad was a couple of feet away cracking up.

I did see some old pics of Mickey meeting there, but I figured it was probably Mickey's Kitchen. It's cool that they had characters on the boat.

They started doing that in 2006

It would be interesting to see what a real team could do with it, but their new plans are not great. While Disney Springs has been criticized for being a bit generic, I think the aesthetic makes sense with the story they're telling. On the other hand, I don't trust the gutted Imagineering of today to produce anything interesting and it seems like they're converting Downtown Disney to generic retail simply because they're incapable of doing anything else.

It was definitely a different experience. Still, I think its evolution was overall a positive one.

I do agree that from the outside, the lack of visuals is a loss to an extent. I remember being a young kid and seeing it all from afar, especially Planet Hollywood, and wanting to go. That being said though, when I was sifting through old footage, I did see that the West Side was essentially covered behind an ugly industrial wall with signs on it.

@@PoseidonEntertainment The West Side "Weenies" during 2005 when I was a CP I recall from the road going to it was first Cirque du Soleil building (a strong start and visually strong architecture), then DisneyQuest with the Mickey Ears Quest design and lights. Then it got weaker with Virgin MegaStore gaint building and red neon sign. The back of the AMC building is the weakest part of the roadside visuals Weenies that to cover just seeing a blank uninteresting building some metal lifters was place to distracted from it, some lights, and billboards and other signs to advertise what's found within West Side. Then it got back to very strong with the Planet Hollywood Observatory building. From there Pleasure Island and Marketplace which had fitting outside visuals. The West Side due to that AMC wide stretch of a visually uninteresting building and no decorative aspects from that side was always it's weakest visual Weenie for it's time. While I didn't hate that at least informing new guests that never been to WDW coming from the road towards what was found within West Side with that outside section but I wished during then a giant beautiful mural with a theme/tone fitting for that area was made but I don't know what "Red Tapes" Disney has with that AMC.

The Lego Store used to be so much better lol. I still go often, but really only to buy specific sets.

Yeah, I definitely agree. I never got to experience it, but Disney Springs definitely needs more miscellaneous entertainment.

It definitely needs a bit more entertainment though. I understand why The Void was removed, but I'm disappointed to not have experienced it.

I was too young to experience Pleasure Island but it was a fantastic idea. I agree, and I miss the Eisner era where they really went all out on many of their projects.

I think it depends on what you're going for. The largest appeal for me is its restaurant selection, but I think it could use a lot more entertainment. I agree that it's not as exciting as Downtown Disney, though I think its changes were necessary.

I do agree that Disney Springs can be a bit confusing if you're not familiar with it. While the layout makes sense to me because I frequent it often, I do like how it can feel like you're meandering into different districts though. There's a sense of discovery that I think allows it to feel like an attraction itself.

There is no charge for parking. The garages are free.

Ironically PE is himself very prolific indeed

Ah, yes well that's embarrassing. Thanks for the correction lol.

Thank you for the correction. While the Village is fascinating, I did find information to be a bit difficult to come by.

They need to do something with the new building at least. I can't believe it's just sitting there with no purpose.

I've always considered them to be attractions as a joke. I've never been on them though. Perhaps it's time.

@@PoseidonEntertainment it’s always been a joke to me as well lol. I will eagerly await your review and thoughts on the theming (or lack thereof) of the Disney Springs flat rides in your next video 😂😂🤣

They took the worst parts of Town Center and doubled down on its problems.

@@PoseidonEntertainment I agree- Disneyland’s downtown Disney could really benefit by an actual theme and story.

Same. I was too young to experience Pleasure Island and never even walked through it.

That's odd

Odd lol

City Works is actually a great sports bar that's still open. I believe it's a franchise, but it's still a nice addition to the Springs that serves what I would describe as elevated bar food. They also have a really extensive beer selection and source from a lot of local breweries. The only thing I would avoid there is the pasta which is quite bland in comparison to their other menu items.

Long live Adventurers and mannequins.

I can't say that I find it boring, just different. It's largest issue is a lack of entertainment.

If I had a time machine, it's a place I would be curious to visit.

An updated version of Pleasure Island would be welcome. I miss when Disney attempted to try its hand at a variety of other industries and Disney Springs definitely needs more active nightlife.

I still haven't been to Gideon's because it always seems like a mess. The two mornings I went and "rope dropped" Disney Springs to get the video footage, the majority of people ran over to Gideon's and waited in line, seemingly angry that they all were not first and had to wait. I understand that there's a virtual queue, but it was still full of angry people in a line down to Morimoto Asia.

I do wish the Lego Store was more interesting though. Watching through old footage, I forgot how much more interesting and exciting it used to be. I do go there often, but only to pick stuff up and not really explore it.

​@@PoseidonEntertainment Yeah, the remodel kind of ruined it in addition to conforming to some of Disney's standards when it comes to the exterior paintjob. The Interior has a lot less visual flare than it once did, but it is easier to navigate when still crammed full of people unlike before. What I certainly miss most though is the removal of the window displays along the outside of the store. People's creations also used to be shared more, but that's a rarity these days. And of course the Pandemic really killed the play areas for the kids. Having once worked there (2017 Holiday Season), I was one of the few people that actually wanted to run the play area when some people would rather run the register all day, which I came to loathe because I was not at my best at the register. I was much happier walking around the store and helping guests, but the hour I got to run the play area was the best. It really refueled my own creativity seeing the kids design their cars for the races, and even though I was running things, it was more just an hour of fun that I was getting paid for than necessarily work. Last time I went there in January, everything was still all roped off, which is such a shame.

Watching through old footage, I will say that I think the old Lego Store was far more exciting. While I think Disney Springs is an improvement, Downtown Disney was still quintessentially "90s" in a way that I really appreciate.

It was called Characters in Flight and to my knowledge, was added sometime between 2013-2016. I just couldn't find a specific date or when it was rethemed to the Aerophile. It certainly could have been added earlier, but I did watch a news report stating that it was to be added as part as Disney Springs which is where I get the range of dates from. It's quite possible there was still a large balloon located around the area earlier though.

After Googling for a bit I'm pretty sure the balloon first opened in 2009. You can specifically find a video from Attractions Magazine that lists the opening date as April 21, 2009. Likewise, the retheming appears to have happened in 2017.

I can't tell if that's meant to be derogatory or not. I haven't eaten there.

Why would they have abandoned it? The current design seems very purpose built to only leave some remnants behind.

While I cross over a lot of ground with other channels, I try not to cover the same stuff too often. ReviewTyme already did an excellent video on those homes if you're interested: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o9p0dJhov8yofJs.html

Yup cuz Disney didn’t wanna share. They didn’t want Universal to benefit at all. Now Disney is totally out and Brightline is literally going to drop off right beside Epic Universe. I can’t wait to ride it up from West Palm and visit the park.

Disney is stupid to not want to share Brightline stations, especially since the "Universal" station isn't even on Universal property. I think it's interesting that a station is still being built close to Disney Springs, so Disney still manages to benefit, even if they don't play along.

From what I've heard Disney might have to run shuttle buses from one of the stations, although I don't know if it would be from the future convention center or I drive station. Still think its a shame because there are a few early renderings of what the convention center station could look like, and while not ugly iirc the station was supposedly going to go by the orange garage near the west side so it could of been really cool if the station shared the world fair theming. Although that might of been a long shot since I don't think the station at paris disneyland is that themed aside from a few towers at the entrance and I don't really see current management going above and beyond for something so minor.

Disneyland's DTD is a mess and is getting worse. I hate walking past the Jazz Kitchen and seeing what they're doing to it.