Today we will be taking a break from the parks and enjoying a leisurely visit to Disney Springs. That’s right folks, two visits to Disney Springs in one trip. You know we’re here for a long time!
The new Disney Springs, very luxe.
If I hadn’t already mentioned it, the weather during this entire trip was absolutely perfect. It was in the eighties and sunny without one drop of rain for nine days! We’ve had such a good run these last couple of trips, we’re running up against the odds for our next visit for sure. Today we had a task at hand; finding something to bring back home for my mom. I had a pretty good idea of what to get. There’s a new shop in the Town Center area called The Ganachery that I’ve been hearing great things about.
There it is!
This tiny bôite is dedicated to making the finest squares of chocolate ganache. You will find a few bars and pops on the shelves, but ganache is the main event here, as indicated by the name.
Cute Shelving and displays.
A bundle of copper pots fashioned as a chandelier.
Open display kitchen. This guy is so over it.
Even the floors look delicious.
Every flavor one can imagine.
I couldn’t decide, so one of everything it was! With our shopping taken care of, it was getting on time for some lunch! There are literally dozens and dozens of choices at Disney springs. Everything from walk-up poutine to $100 steaks. One place that has gotten a fair amount of praise is Iron Chef Morimoto’s newest venture, Morimoto Asia.
Stunning Dining Room
Though the prices here are pretty reasonable, we were thinking a bit more casual today. Luckily, the Iron Chef has us covered. Right around the corner is a walk-up spot called Morimoto Street Food.
Morimoto on the go.
Chilled Sesame Lo-Mein Noodle
Takoyaki
Jeff did the ordering, which is to say, I told him what to order, and I found us a seat with primo people watching potential.
The views in the new areas are lovely.
The goods.
These are the chilled noodle pictured above, dressed in peanut sauce.
Pork Bao – Spicy mayo, cucumber, lettuce, soft steamed bao buns.
Takoyaki – Octopus fritter, nori, pickled ginger, okonomi sauce
The winner here was the Pork Bao. The soft buns and crispy pork paired with the crunchy cucumber were a perfect bite. Loved it. The noodles worked on paper, but there was something about them that I didn’t love. I don’t quite remember. Too vinegary maybe? The Octopus was interesting. I had seen these fritters in a blog about a visit to Tokyo. The flavors were excellent. The texture was not what I was expecting. I thought they would be more like a doughnut with octopus inside, but they were almost gelatinous. I enjoyed trying them, but probably wouldn’t get them again.
We spent a good amount of time just strolling around and taking in this glorious day. We headed toward the MarketPlace side of Disney Springs, which is essentially the original section.
Sprinkles is a new venue. The lines were crazy long when the first opened. The hoopla has died down. They’re just cupcakes, people.
The former Planet Hollywood is getting a makeover to look like an observatory.
Lookin’ good.
Covered shops
We took a rest in this small seating area. It’s so unusual to be able to sit outdoors without shade or AC in Orlando!
View of Saratoga Springs resort.
Things in Disney are constantly changing, usually for the better. Some of us can get pretty nostalgic about silly little things. When we honeymooned here way back in 1989 we had a “fancy dinner” on the Empress Lilly. This was a riverboat (really just a standing restaurant) named after Walt’s wife Lillian. It was festooned with delicate gingerbread details and had a huge red paddle wheel that constantly turned. Years later, the restaurant turned over and became Fulton’s Crab House but the outside mostly stayed the same. Now, it is changing yet again but with this next phase they have totally stripped the boat of any resemblance to a N’awlins steam boat.
Empress Lilli circa 1990
Soon to be Paddle Fish. Looking pretty blahso.
I get that they want to pull this into the overall theme, but it does make ma a bit sad to see it stripped of its former glory. Moving on!
Goofy’s Candy Store. OG Disney.
Once Upon a Toy. Same.
We looped back around to the Boathouse where, dear readers, you may remember we had lunch with Sam and Ashley on day one. This time cocktails were in order.
The back side of the BoatHouse.
I hadn’t noticed on the first visit that there was this delightful outdoor bar around the rear.
BoatHouse Al Fresco
We snagged a table along the perimeter of the bar, which afforded us a perfect view of the goings on on the lake.
Amphicars taking folks on tour.
Coming in for a landing. You know I waved at every single car.
Jeff had an Old Fashioned with a tremendously large ice sphere.
Gin and Tonic with curly cucumber for the Mrs.
We really had no business ordering food, but the shrimp Sam and Ashley had last time we visited looked so dang good!
Firecracker Shrimp – Sriracha mayo, serrano chili and sweet peppers
They tasted just as good as they looked. After a couple of additional beers we were perfectly poised to get napped up and ready for our an evening of old-time food, fun and song at the Hoop Dee Doo Review!
Bye, Disney Springs!!!!