Hey there Ben, it's great to have you back once again at planDisney!
As someone who absolutely enjoys
taking a leisurely ride on the water as my preferred mode of transportation at Walt Disney World Resort, I do miss that internal route that took guests from behind
House of Blues Restaurant & Bar, departing the West Side to drift past The Landing and the lights shining up on
the decks of Paddlefish to the
Marketplace docks.
As
Disney Springs continues to change over time, there just seem to be a few things that appear less and less likely to make a comeback. As we sailed past the old docks now seemingly abandoned and taken over by the various ibis and anhinga populations along the waterfront, the Cast Members remarked how they didn't foresee the route returning in the future - especially if newer members of the crew weren't being trained on it. I asked and they said there was no word as to what plans may be in place for the ramps or the docks at the current time. For the foreseeable future, all that continues to be currently offered is the
complimentary boat transportation between Disney Springs and Disney's Port Orleans Resort, Disney's Old Key West Resort and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.
That said, guests could just as easily be surprised as offerings are subject to change without prior notice. For example, this summer saw a significant spike of activity come to the West Side with the debut of
Disney Dreams That Soar, which came with a lot of crowd control and rerouting as well as a reduction in boat transportation operations in preparation for the shows each evening. When we watched the show recently, the West Side docks were completely blocked off as it was right within the designated viewing area - and considering how tightly controlled this area was even leading up to showtime I can't imagine how it could be utilized if drone shows continue to be a regular occurrence in the future.
As always,
stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for any updates or official announcements that may come up, and we'll be sure to keep a watchful eye on any developments along the water. In the meantime, we'll just have to continue to make that walk through Disney Springs to and from the Marketplace in order to board those boats - with all of the tantalizing snacks along the way!
Here's to breezy Disney boat rides in your future Ben!
Prince