Downtown Disney

It was, you know, that area might define my living in Orlando.

Downtown Disney a little bit before, you know, where the AMC and...

The Virgin Megastore and the House of Blues, that whole side of the Disney Village Marketplace was a very iconic area during my living days there.

So it's hard in that sense – It makes a little more sense.

[laughs]

Um, no, 'cause she w- she wanted to take me to either, um, [smacks lips] a CityWalk at Universal or Downtown Disney to see a movie.

Um, 'cause she'd be like, "We used to do this all the time.

It's really fun." Um, I was like, "It's a movie theater." Like, it's different if you go to the, you know, one of the parks and see a movie, and we were gonna see Resident Evil.

September 29, 2015.

Back in Florida, Downtown Disney officially transitions its name and brand to Disney Springs.

The multi-year overhaul introduced theme districts inspired by turn-of-the-century coastal Florida towns alongside major new dining and retail offerings.

And that's what I have for this week in Disney history.

Now, preface, we have walked to Disneyland 35 or 40 times in my life, so I thought I knew everything.

And yeah, so again, he's like, "Where in Disney World?" I'm like, "Disney Springs." Or it was Downtown Disney at the time.

And he's like, "You guys should get in." He's like-

Yes

They're just in Disney Springs.

Yeah, Downtown Disney has decent options.

Uh, that's not called Downtown Disney anymore, sir.

It's Disney Springs.

Oh, sorry.

I mean, so this isn't just a restaurant changing its menu.

It's literally the end of an era for a chef whose name has been, you know, associated with Disney Springs and its predecessor, Downtown Disney, for decades.

Right.

As long as I can think about it.

No reason for the closure has been given yet.

So it kind of leaves us kind of wondering, you know, what's next? I mean, yeah, sure, Disney Springs has changed dramatically over the years.

We watched, you know, downtown Disney become Disney Springs.

We watched restaurants come and go.

A great addition to that area over by Epcot on the boardwalk there.

You also get some stuff at Downtown Disney.

You get World of Disney Store, which opened in October, which is now huge.

I mean, that's where everyone goes for their...

These animals are being so well taken care of, and to get a chance to interact and experience them is fantastic.

100%.

We also, on June 19th, 1998, Mikey, we get something really innovative at the time, but when you look back at it now, it didn't make a lot of sense long-term, and that is Disney Quest, this five-story indoor interactive entertainment pavilion that was built down at Downtown Disney, which had virtual reality attractions, Cyberspace Mountain.

I remember doing that where you designed a roller coaster and then rode in the simulator pod.

Yeah, but...

Downtown Disney.

Yeah.

And remember when they used to have the arcade?