Disney Springs is not, nor does it pretend to be a theme park. But fun, oh yes it is! Disney vibe is plentiful, particularly in the Marketplace end. I love being able to shop there and find nearly everything that is to be found in WDW, so I end up picking up pretty much all my souvenirs here.
It's an experience, and one I found enjoyable enough to repeat 3 times on my last (8-day) trip. DD and I never had a TS meal, nor an adult beverage, and our purchases were limited to a few select Christmas gifts for children but we absolutely loved the attractive landscape and building designs, both of which are a pleasure to behold in daylight and after dark. We snacked and enjoyed coffee each visit, and it seemed that there was entertainment around every corner. The entertainment was not hidden, but performed on open air patios, stages, in nooks and crannies, and small plaza areas where everyone could stop for a while to enjoy it. And it was good, too! Best of all, there was NO cover charge, admission, or parking costs!!!
I still miss Pleasure Island's Adventurers Club and Comedy Warehouse, but after a couple visits, they started to wear thin. We didn't see/hear the same entertainers twice in our 3 evenings at DS. Not to say they weren't there... but my point is that our random wandering never coincided with a repeat performance. Funny thing, we would not have minded a bit.
We also found a different shopping vibe here. Keep in mind that we were window shoppers only, but we encountered the friendliest staff there and spent more time than you could imagine chatting in stores that caught our interest. It was a lot of fun for two woman, and we appreciated it on so many levels. It will be a very different visit this fall, when our DHs and my 2 DGSs are with us but both of us are really looking forward to going back.
