If you haven’t visited Disney Springs in a few months, prepare for a surprise.
While Walt Disney World fans often focus on what’s changing inside the theme parks, Disney Springs has quietly entered a major transition period of its own. Several familiar locations have already disappeared, construction projects are reshaping portions of the shopping district, and one iconic destination is preparing to leave its longtime home.
None of these changes involve a new land or blockbuster attraction.
Instead, they’re affecting the everyday experiences many guests have built into their Disney Springs routines for years.
That may be exactly why people are noticing.
By the end of the summer, five different Disney Springs locations will either be gone, partially inaccessible, or operating somewhere else entirely.
Three Familiar Dining Options Have Already Vanished
The most visible changes are happening on the West Side.
For more than a decade, Exposition Park offered something many Disney Springs visitors appreciated: quick meals without reservations, long waits, or premium pricing.
The area’s trio of food trucks gave guests alternatives to the district’s growing collection of table-service restaurants.
Now all three are gone.
Cilantro Urban Eatery, 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa, and GoJuice have officially been removed from Disney Springs.
The closures happened over several days, but the result is the same. What was once a compact dining area now serves primarily as additional seating space.
For guests who frequently stopped for tacos, sandwiches, smoothies, or quick snacks before heading back to their resort, the change is impossible to miss.
Marketplace Co-Op Is Changing Too
The closures don’t stop with dining.
Marketplace Co-Op is currently undergoing a large refurbishment project that has taken a major portion of the store offline.
Construction curtains now divide the space, creating a noticeably different shopping experience than guests may remember.
While the store remains open, portions of the interior are inaccessible.
Disney has remained quiet about what exactly is being built or reimagined behind the walls. As a result, fans are left speculating about what the future version of Marketplace Co-Op might look like.
The refurbishment serves as another reminder that Disney Springs remains a work in progress.
A Nearly 30-Year Tradition Is About To Move
Perhaps the most significant change involves one of Disney Springs’ most recognizable names.
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop has announced plans to temporarily relocate from its Marketplace location later this summer.
The move marks the first time since 1996 that the business will not operate from its longtime home.
That’s a big deal for Disney Springs regulars.
Over the years, countless vacations have included a stop at Ghirardelli. Some guests visit for the free chocolate sample. Others come for sundaes or specialty desserts. Many simply associate the smell of chocolate drifting through Marketplace with the Disney Springs experience itself.
Soon, visitors will need to look elsewhere.
What Happens Next for Ghirardelli
The relocation is only temporary.
While Disney has not provided an exact timeline, Ghirardelli is expected to move into a temporary Town Center location while renovations take place.
The project is expected to be extensive.
When completed, the updated Marketplace location will feature expanded seating and operational improvements designed to better handle the crowds that regularly fill the shop.
The renovated location is expected to debut in spring 2027.
Until then, guests may need to adjust some of their usual Disney Springs traditions.
A Different Disney Springs Experience Awaits
Change has always been part of Disney Springs.
The district has transformed dramatically since its Downtown Disney days, and Disney continues investing in updates designed to keep the destination relevant for future generations of visitors.
Still, it’s rare to see so many noticeable changes happen at once.
Three dining locations are already gone. A major retail destination is partially unavailable. One of Disney Springs’ oldest businesses is preparing to relocate.
Taken together, those changes create a very different atmosphere than the one guests experienced at the beginning of the year.
For some visitors, the changes may be disappointing. For others, they’re simply another sign that Disney Springs continues to grow and evolve.
Either way, guests arriving this summer should expect a district that feels a little different than the one they remember.
And with additional projects still underway, this likely won’t be the last wave of changes Disney Springs sees before the year is over.
