Disney Answer: Yes

Welcome to Disney Springs—a truly amazing place featuring an eclectic mix of unique boutiques, one-of-a-kind eateries and jaw-dropping entertainment that will have you wondering where the day went.

Disney Springs has actually had several different names over the years, Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, Walt Disney World Village, Disney Village Market Place, Downtown Disney, and of course, Disney Springs. In 2013, Walt Disney World announced that Downtown Disney would be expanded and rebranded into Disney Springs. On September 29, 2015, Walt Disney World officially dropped the Downtown Disney name and Disney Springs was born. The new Disney Springs is now almost twice the size of the old Downtown Disney, and features 150 new tenants, two new parking structures and a much improved bus terminal. Disney even found a way to instal an exit ramp on I-4 that goes directly into Disney Springs.

Please note: Downtown Disney still exists, but at Disneyland. The Downtown Disney District is Disneyland’s pedestrian outdoor shopping area located between the Disneyland Hotel and the theme parks, and is quite a bit smaller than Disney Springs. 

Disney Answer: Yes

UPDATE: As of January 1, 2022, Walt Disney World no longer offers the Magical Express, it has been discontinued.

Disney’s Magical Express is Walt Disney World’s free transportation service that runs from MCO (Orlando International) to all Walt Disney World resorts. The round trip is free as long as you are staying in a Walt Disney World Resort. Please note that stays at the Swan, Dolphin, Shades of Green or any other non-Disney hotel DO NOT include the Magical Express. In order to book your Magical Express transportation, you must make a reservation in advance. You can make a reservation several different ways.

1. You can add your flight information directly to your Disney World reservation either by calling Disney directly (if you booked directly with Disney) or by giving the info to your travel agent and have them add it for you.
2. You can make your reservations online, regardless of who you used to book your trip. There is an online form that will ask for your Disney hotel reservation information, your name and address and your flight info, it only takes a few minutes to fill out. Once completed, Disney will mail your yellow Magical Express luggage tags directly to you home.

Walt Disney World Magical Express Reservations Website: Magical Express Reservation

If you are going for a convention, there is a different form you will need to use: Magical Express Convention Reservation

Disney Answer: See Below

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, located at Walt Disney World, is Disney’s most prestigious resort, and definitely the “fanciest”. If you are considering staying at the Grand Floridian, you may see some of the rooms labeled as “Outer Building” and others labeled as “Main Building”. At the Grand Floridian, there is one Main Building, that is where the monorail stop is, most of the restaurants, lobby, front desk, concierge and other services are located, it is the hub of the resort. Built around the main building are 5 outer buildings:

Grand Floridian Outer Buildings

1. Sago Cay
2. Conch Key
3. Sugarloaf
4. Boca Chica
5. Big Pine Key

Most likely, if you stay at the Grand Floridian, your room will be in one of these outer buildings, there are very few rooms actually located in the Main Building. In fact, the only rooms located in the main building are some of the concierge rooms (there are concierge rooms in the outer buildings too).

So, while Outer Building doesn’t really sound all that glamorous, just think of them as the Grand Floridan wings where all the rooms are located. You can see in the image below the 5 smaller outer buildings and the one large main building.

Disney Answer: Yes

For years, Port Orleans Riverside was Disney’s only moderate resort that slept 5 in a room (there were no value resort options either). Recently, during the remodel at Caribbean Beach, Disney added quite a few rooms there that also sleep 5, so now there are 2 moderate resort options available to families of 5. The rooms at Port Orleans Riverside that sleep 5 have 2 queen beds and a smaller fold down murphy bed. They used to offer trundle beds, but that was changed a few years ago to a better option, the mattress is now in a fold down part of a bench in the room. Please note that the extra bed is small, and meant for kids under 9, or really small teens/adults. If you are traveling with 5 people that need a normal size bed, then I would not look at Port Orleans Riverside as an option.

Please note: The only rooms that sleep 5 at Port Orleans Riverside are in the Alligator Bayou section of the resort, so if you are planing on staying in Magnolia Bend (where the new Royal Guest Rooms are located), you will be out of luck. 

Disney Answer: Yes

Walt Disney World’s Art of Animation Resort is Disney World’s newest value resort, and features two completely different types of resort rooms, a standard Little Mermaid theme room that is very similar in size to the rooms at Disney’s Pop Century next door, and a two room family suite that is themed after the Lion King, Finding Nemo or Cars.

As with other value resorts, the standard Little Mermaid rooms do offer connecting rooms. However, none of the family suites offer connecting rooms, you cannot connect one suite to another. Please note as with all other resorts that offer connecting rooms, you connecting room request will only be guaranteed if your family is required to be in more than one room due to size (ie. 2 adults and 3+ kids). If you just want connecting rooms with a family you are traveling with, then it is just a request, and Disney will do their best to get you connecting rooms, but there isn’t any way to guarantee it.

Please note: to Disney, adjoining and connecting ARE NOT the same thing. Adjoining means next door to each other with no connecting door. Connecting means that the rooms are next to each other with an interior connecting door. If you want connecting, you must request connecting, not adjoining.