Over the course of its 50+ year history, the area currently known as Disney Springs has been no stranger to change. Beginning as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, the area has seen the addition of Pleasure Island, the Downtown Disney expansion, and its final transformation into the current upscale shopping area.
Disney Springs
That tradition of change has carried into 2026, as new openings, major rule changes, and the closure of a longtime staple have continued transforming Disney Springs.
LEVEL99
Back in June, LEVEL99 opened at the former DisneyQuest/NBA Experience location. The interactive adult playground features “real-world, challenge-based, social entertainment.” The Disney Springs location is home to 63 life-sized mini-games and challenges.
LEVEL99 in Disney Springs
There are tons of puzzles, games, and challenges to take on with groups of 2-6 players, and the restaurant’s menu includes handcrafted cocktails, local beers, and bar-style bites, including Detroit-style pizza. Guests can buy tickets in advance of their visit at level99.com, starting at $29.99 per player for intervals of 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Detroit Style Pizza
Level99’s operating hours are as follows:
- Monday–Thursday: 11 AM – 11 PM
- Friday: 11 AM – 11:30 PM
- Saturday: 10 AM – 11:30 PM
- Sunday: 10 AM – 11 PM
LEVEL99
Six Ravens
From the same team behind the popular Gideon’s Bakehouse, Six Ravens is a new establishment offering a menu of Coffyns, AKA handheld yeast rolls stuffed with different fillings. Some of those offerings include:
- The Villain of Valentina — Collaborating with Pizza BRUNO — House Basil Pesto Chicken, Balsamic Tomatoes, and all the Kingdom’s Garlic, trapped in a Herb Panko-splashed Coffyn. Pairing: Bruno’s Garlic Knot Juice ($10.99)
- The Imperial Idol — Collaborating with Red Panda Noodle — Mildly Spicy Chicken with Potato & Carrot Coconut Curry, in a Fried Garlic-covered Coffyn, harmonizes to create this flavorful offering. Pairing: Red Panda’s Dipping Sauce ($10.99)
- The Forager’s Find — Spiced Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Black Bean Corn Salsa, Crushed Pepitas, and Queso Cotija in a Pumpkin Seed-topped Coffyn. Pairing: Tropic of Mango Aioli Dip ($10.99)
- The Peasant’s Patty — Collaborating with The Pink Salamander — A Classic Cheeseburger topped with American Cheese, Dill Pickle Bits, encased in a Sesame Seed-sprinkled Coffyn. Pairing: Pink Salamander Dipping Sauce ($10.99)
- The Wizard’s Wonder — Collaborating with Smoke & Donuts BBQ — Mac & Cheese with Pickled Poblano Peppers, Pulled Pork, BBQ-seasoned Panko Crumbs shrouded in a BBQ Crumb-covered Coffyn. Pairing: Prince Donut’s Smoke & Cherry BBQ Sauce ($10.99)
- The Moreish Monk — Middle Ages Grilled Cheese using Vermont White Cheddar, Havarti cheese, and House Tomato Jam wrapped in a Parmesan-smothered Coffyn. Pairing: Wolf Peach Dipping Sauce ($10.99)
The Forager’s Find
In addition, Six Ravens — which has a medieval theme — offers a side option, desserts, and a selection of local craft beers.
©Six Ravens
A Downtown Disney Day One Staple Has Closed
After nearly 30 years as a dining cornerstone of both the Downtown Disney and Disney Springs versions of the area, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill had its final day of operation on September 13th. The loss of the moderately priced restaurant is a loss for Disney Springs, and we’ll miss some of our go-to items, including the Bruschetta, the Traditional Fettuccine Alfredo, and the Giant Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill
Disney Springs Is Enforcing Transportation Rules…
This past June saw a major change in how guests can ride transportation at Disney Springs. Guests now have to show a valid hotel or dining reservation to be granted access to the Disney buses or boats leaving Disney Springs. This rule has been enacted before during busy times of the year but now has become permanent. Disney has not shared the official reason for this rule change, although we can surmise that it is because too many non-resort guests were using the buses to get around and resort-hop between hotels they weren’t staying at, which in turn was making the wait too long for the guests paying to stay at these hotels.
Disney Springs transportation rules.
… And Parking Restrictions
In addition to transportation changes, Disney is also cracking down on fans waiting HOURS for the newest pin drop. New pins are often released on Tuesdays, and hardcore collectors will often arrive at Disney Springs early to grab them in person. Now, those early birds will need to change their parking plan, as Disney Springs’ parking garages and rideshare loops will not open to guests until 7 AM on special event merchandise days. This is an attempt to curb people from parking in the garages overnight, and yes, it includes Tuesdays for new pin drops. Of course, this also means that those planning to arrive at Disney Springs early for another reason on Tuesdays, or on a day that also happens to be a large merchandise drop, won’t be able to enter until 7 AM. Those who arrive in their vehicle or a rideshare before 7 AM will be asked to leave and return at 7 AM.
Parking lot at Disney Springs
Sunshine Churros Has Permanently Closed
Finally, another eatery in the shopping, dining, and entertainment district has closed permanently. Sunshine Churros had its final day of operation on September 5th. This spot was known for churros with a unique twist, like fun flavors! Instead of churros with a traditional cinnamon sugar topping, these desserts are topped with Pop Rocks, Dubai chocolate, Fruity Pebbles, and others! We’re definitely going to miss their rotating Churro of the Month!
Strawberry Dubai Chocolate Churro
Disney Springs has seen some major changes in 2026 as the area continues to evolve. Stay tuned to DFB for more on changes coming to Disney World!
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I miss everything about Disney Springs, or rather Downtown Disney aka Disney Marketplace. In other words, before they demolished Pleasure Island. It was a great size to walk without getting exhausted in the hot sun, it had fun shops and places to eat. Getting rid of Adventurers Club was a very bad decision. Even the early days of Disney Springs were nice. I’d say things started going downhill when the Ugg store left. Since then changes are happening too fast and what’s replacing the stores and restaurants has been less than great imo.
My biggest disappointment is Six Ravens. I was so excited for it but that’s what I get for getting my hopes up! Love the theming but once inside it’s extremely dark. I expected a traditional, handheld, medieval Scottish meat pie to be front and center on the menu but no. In fact, there’s nothing on the menu that is edible for me. All kinds of weird ingredients and combinations. So disappointing….but indicative of the direction most wdw menus are going.
We’ve been going since Day One when you could park in the lot just near World of Disney (the lot is no longer) and there was a gorgeous, huge garden of flowers and water with Disney statuary surrounded by stone…I have pictures… leading you into the shopping area which pretty much stopped after Lego. Then you entered Pleasure Island which was mostly closed during the day bc its mission was to celebrate New Years Eve every night and was for adults. Disney Springs has had many name changes through the decades. Imo this is not a fifth park but it’s grown to nearly the size of one! It’s exhausting to navigate and the stores and restaurants are changing much too quickly for our taste. There is little theming imo except specifically in World of Disney though a very few shops near there sell some nice Disney things. Fyi World of Disney doesn’t sell everything found elsewhere at Wdw though it sells a lot but it’s always extremely crowded mostly with very rude adults and children running you over and acting like it’s a playground. As for the ‘newer’ section down by Planet Hollywood, built after they destroyed Pleasure Island, it’s nothing that says Disney, is really only for adults, and the boat dock is closed so wear comfy clothes and shoes bc you’ll have to walk the entire Springs to get to buses or the other boat dock! There are almost no benches for sitting. This place is almost also crowded by rude people for most of the afternoon and evenings and definitely on the weekends. If being shoved and stepped on or you like waiting 60-90 minutes in a restaurant so noisy you can’t hear your tablemate to place an order and then get served cold, overpriced food is your thing, then you’ll enjoy Disney Springs. As with every park and resort at Wdw, Disney has also ruined Disney Springs to the point that you can’t even walk to its far end to take a relaxing boat ride to Port Orleans for beignets or Old Key West for key lime pie which we always enjoyed. Good luck trying to find either at Disney Springs!! We used to love it here but don’t any longer. Sigh.