4 Top Secret Shortcuts at Disney Springs

The area currently known as Disney Springs has changed A LOT over the years, evolving from the Village Marketplace to Downtown Disney to Disney Springs, with additions like Pleasure Island, the West Side, and The Landing coming and going.

Disney Springs

Through all that development and the changing architectural landscape, numerous shortcuts to get around the property have developed…if you know where to look for them!

The Walking Path from Saratoga Springs

Did you know that some of the buildings that make up Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort are among the oldest Disney-built structures on property? Originally planned as the site of permanent homes — the Lake Buena Vista Residential Community adjacent to the Lake Buena Vista Village shopping center (now the Marketplace portion of Disney Springs), 60 villas were constructed in the 1970s. However, Disney abandoned the residential aspect of the property at this time, mainly due to voting rights and taxation issues, and eventually repurposed the homes into The Village Resort in 1985. Just over a decade later, the hotel — by then known as The Disney Village Resort — was closed and transformed into the Disney Institute. The resort, based on a camp Michael Eisner had often visited early in life, was a “hands-on” experience where guests would choose to participate in an array of over 80 programs. These programs were under categories such as Animation, Culinary, Gardening, The Great Outdoors, Photography, Television, and Youth. Despite being somewhat acclaimed for its courses, the Disney Institute was never a huge success and closed in the early 2000s to be transformed into Saratoga Springs.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

Today, a walking path links Saratoga Springs with Disney Springs, providing a leisurely path for the hotel’s guests to access the shopping village. The 10-15 minute path runs between the hotel’s Congress Park area and the Marketplace section of Disney Springs. It’s open to guests during the shopping district’s operating hours.

The Sassagoula Boats

Speaking of hotels situated near Disney Springs, people staying at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, both the French Quarter and Riverside sections of the Port Orleans Resort, and the aforementioned Saratoga Springs Resort can travel to and from Disney Springs on the Sassagoula River Cruise.

Sassagoula Boats

The boats, which generally operate from 10 AM to 11 PM, can be distinguished by colorful flags. Purple & yellow flags run between Port Orleans Resorts and Disney Springs, blue flags run between Saratoga Springs and Disney Springs, and green Flags run between Old Key West and Disney Springs.

Sassagoula boat

Raglan Road Bridge

Once you’ve reached the property, you can cut across a bridge to the back side of Disney Springs that brings you out by Raglan Road.

Raglan Road

Otherwise, you might find yourself walking all the way down to the other bridge next to Starbucks on the West Side, which could take you out of your way. This is the best way to get to Gideon’s Bakehouse, too.

Raglan Road Bridge

Art Walk Alley

Located in the Town Center, this path features “murals bursting with color, emotion, and the spirit of (the artist’s cultures)” painted by local and international artisans.