A waterfront district filled with signature restaurants, lively bars, and rich Disney Springs history.
This lively waterfront district offers some of Disney Springs’ best dining, bars, and entertainment—perfect for military families looking for a relaxing, ticket-free evening filled with great food and unforgettable atmosphere.
Location Within Disney Springs
Disney Springs is divided into 4 areas: The Marketplace, Town Center, The Landing, and The West Side.
The Landing occupies the central waterfront of Disney Springs. It sits directly west of the Marketplace, east of the West Side, and north of Town Center, serving as the physical and visual connector between all four sections.
Because it runs along the water and connects the eastern and western ends of Disney Springs, The Landing is often passed through, no matter where your visit begins.
Transportation & Arrival
- Disney’s Disney Springs Buses & Minnie Vans: Drop off at the Town Center bus loop in Town Center. From there, The Landing is a short walk towards the water.
- Shades of Green Disney Springs buses: Drop at the West Side bus stop, making The Landing a longer walk.
- Boat transportation: Docks are located outside the Marketplace. From the dock, The Landing is a moderate walk west along the water.
- Walking paths: Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa has a walking path to Disney Springs, which enters at the far east end of the Marketplace. It’s a moderate walk from there to the Landing.
- Ride-share: Drops you off at the Disney Springs ride-share zone, adjacent to the Marketplace, with a moderate walk to The Landing.
- Parking Garages: The Lime Garage is the closest, with its entrance in Town Center, and the Orange Garage is further, with its entrance in the West Side.
Look & Feel
The Landing is designed to feel like a historic waterfront neighborhood—part industrial, part nautical, part vintage Florida. As you walk the boardwalk pathways, you’ll notice brick buildings, warm wood accents, fishing wharf details, repurposed shipyard-style structures, and beautiful views across Lake Buena Vista.
This is the most atmospheric zone of Disney Springs. Live music often drifts from nearby restaurants or the outdoor stage, waterfront seating areas provide spectacular sunset views, and the area has a lively, energetic vibe without feeling chaotic. Daytime is relaxed and scenic, while evenings come alive with crowds visiting the bars, lounges, and signature dining locations.
What The Landing Offers
The Landing is widely considered the dining capital of Disney Springs. Many of Disney Springs’ most popular restaurants and lounges are located here, making it the go-to destination for adults and families alike.
Dining Highlights
The Landing features several of the most in-demand restaurants at Walt Disney World, including:
- Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant – Live Irish music, multiple outdoor bar experiences, hearty meals, and a 10% military discount.
- The BOATHOUSE – A waterfront steak and seafood house with Amphicar tours.
- Wine Bar George – Master Sommelier–led wine program with excellent small plates.
- Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar – Indiana Jones–themed bar with detailed storytelling.
- STK Orlando – Modern steakhouse with a DJ-driven vibe.
There are also several outdoor walk-up bars, cocktail patios, and dessert stops spread throughout this section.
Entertainment & Experiences
- The Boathouse Amphicars (paid experience)
- Live outdoor music in various spots around the waterfront
- Scenic boardwalk pathways with waterfront seating and excellent sunset views
- Aerophile balloon close by at the edge of The Landing/West Side border
Planning a Disney Vacation?
Military Disney discounts can save families a significant amount of money, but figuring out eligibility, tickets, resorts, transportation, and Lightning Lane strategies can get confusing quickly. These guides are a great place to start.
- Back to Basics Posts – Start here for beginner-friendly Disney planning topics.
- Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
- Disney Military Tickets – Your Start-to-Finish Guide
- Disney Armed Forces Salute Guide
- Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide
- Disney Packing Checklist
More Planning Resources:
Shopping Highlights
While The Landing is dining-heavy, it offers unique boutiques such as:
- Art and home décor locations
- Apparel and accessories shops
- Wine, spirits, and specialty food stores
The retail mix here skews more boutique and specialty compared to the larger, more traditional stores in the Marketplace.
History of The Landing
The Landing occupies what was historically the undeveloped western edge of the Disney Village Marketplace. While nearby areas evolved over time, this specific footprint remained largely untouched until the Pleasure Island project broke ground in the late 1980s. Its transformation from empty land to nightlife district—and finally into the dining-heavy Landing—makes it one of the most dramatically changed areas in Disney Springs.
1975–1989: Pre–Pleasure Island (Undeveloped Waterfront With One Exception)
When Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village (later Disney Village Marketplace) opened in 1975, the area that would become The Landing did not contain shops, dining, or entertainment.
Only one thing was located in the area, The Empress Lilly (1977) — a stationary paddle-wheeler restaurant docked on the water’s edge, which would later become Fulton’s Crab House and today’s Paddlefish.
Beyond that point, the land to the west was unoccupied, with no structures, restaurants, or development until Pleasure Island was approved in the late 1980s.
1989–2008: Pleasure Island
The undeveloped land became part of Pleasure Island, Disney’s dedicated nighttime entertainment district. This era brought dramatic construction to the western waterfront and introduced themed industrial architecture, bridges, and nightlife venues.
Pleasure Island was a self contained area with an admission fee required for entrance. Several of the clubs also had cover charges!
Major clubs and locations built within or adjacent to what is now The Landing included:
- Adventurers Club
- Comedy Warehouse
- 8Trax
- Mannequins Dance Palace
- Motion
- BET Soundstage Club
For nearly two decades, Pleasure Island was the centerpiece of adult nightlife at Walt Disney World, famous for its nightly New Year’s Eve countdown.
2008–2015: Post-Club Transition Era
The Pleasure Island clubs closed in 2008 as Disney shifted its focus away from adult nightlife, partly due to declining attendance. The area entered a transitional phase with temporary shops, limited dining, and large sections of the land walled off for redevelopment.
This “quiet period” lasted several years as Disney planned the large-scale transformation into Disney Springs.
2015–Present: The Landing (Part of the Disney Springs Reimagining)
With the 2015 debut of Disney Springs, the western waterfront was reborn as The Landing—a dining-focused district with a maritime, industrial, and vintage Florida aesthetic. Some former Pleasure Island structures were creatively repurposed, while others were replaced entirely.
Today, The Landing is known for:
- Signature restaurants and lounges
- Themed bars and outdoor patios
- Waterfront promenades
- Live entertainment
- Unique boutique shopping
It is one of the most atmospheric and foundational sections of Disney Springs.
Wrap-Up
The Landing is where Disney Springs truly comes alive. With incredible restaurants, waterfront pathways, live entertainment, specialty bars, and one of the richest histories of any part of the resort, it’s a must-visit for military families looking to enjoy a relaxing off-park evening. Whether you come for the food, the views, the nightlife, or just a scenic stroll, The Landing always delivers something memorable.
This article was written by Steve Bell, founder of Military Disney Tips.
Steve is a retired U.S. military member who has been visiting the Disney Parks since 1971 and writing about Disney military discounts and vacations for the military community for over 18 years.
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