A social media switch-up over the weekend has Disney Parks fans wondering if the Downtown Disney name is making a comeback for Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.
A Deleted Account and a Familiar Handle
The @DisneySprings account on X (formerly Twitter) disappeared over the weekend, and in its place, the @WDWDowntown handle — previously used to post updates on Downtown Disney before its 2015 reimagining — was reactivated.
This is super weird. Disney changed their Twitter handle to WDWDowntown 👀👀 could be absolutely nothing but intriguing nonetheless.
This is super weird. Disney changed their Twitter handle to WDWDowntown 👀👀 could be absolutely nothing but intriguing nonetheless https://t.co/3izGzfiY9g
— Shaun Ranks the Mouse (@rankingthemouse) May 3, 2026
Disney did update the account name to Disney Springs and linked the official website, but left the @WDWDowntown handle intact rather than switching it back.
Walt Disney World Resort has not commented publicly on the change, leaving open whether the @DisneySprings account was suspended or compromised by a third party, or whether an intentional rebranding is behind the move.
A Shopping District With a Long History
Disney Springs has carried several identities over its decades-long history. The complex originally opened as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, became Walt Disney World Village in 1977, simplified to Disney Village Marketplace in 1989, and then became Downtown Disney in 1997. The current Disney Springs name has only been in place since September 2015, when a three-year reimagining of the district officially concluded and introduced four distinct neighborhoods: Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center, and West Side.
Marketplace is the most family-focused of the four, anchored by the World of Disney — the largest Disney Store on the planet — alongside the LEGO Store, Rainforest Cafe, and T-Rex Cafe. The Landing centers on the waterfront and the Empress Lilly steamboat, now home to Paddlefish Restaurant. It occupies the former footprint of Pleasure Island, the beloved adult nightlife district that closed in 2008.
Town Center houses a mix of third-party retailers, including Sephora and kate spade new york, while West Side offers more experiential options, such as Coca-Cola Orlando, AMC, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, and House of Blues.
Should Walt Disney World Resort officially transform Disney Springs back into Downtown Disney? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments!
