BREAKING NEWS
The long awaited expansion of Indiana Jones' presence in Walt Disney World has finally been fulfilled with the open of Jock Lindsey's Hanger Bar. Jock Lindsey of course being a freelance pilot often hired by Indy to fly to remote parts of the world.
Oh, that's just my pet snake Reggie
-Jock Lindsey
You might be thinking that this feels like an obscure reference to Indiana Jones. Maybe even a little stretch to include in the new Disney Springs area. However, it actually fits in nicely with the direction Disney Springs is taking. Remember, in the movie we first meet Jock fishing off of his sea plane while Indy is being chased by natives. Simply based on this you knew Disney could link the 2 concepts together. Disney Springs is being manicured into a water front town complete with boating, docks, and a visually appealing shoreline. The idea is to transform this area into a lake front city you would vacation to with your family in the summer. Why does this sound like the town from Dirty Dancing?
I for one was disappointed when I first heard the idea, but I must say that the idea and concept are growing on me. Downtown Disney needed a drastic revamp from its 90's expansion which included Pleasure Island, Planet Hollywood and West Side. It was promoted as a nightlife area. Disney got what it asked for and that idea came with its own set of problems. Soon people started avoiding it all together and eventually Pleasure Island closed its doors as 'mini theme park' requiring admission after certain hours. The stores remained open and most of the area was converted to retail space. Walking through the area always had an odd feel to it, like it didn't flow with the rest of Downtown Disney. Recently we visited the area and I'm happy to report that it has been improved. It does have that "lake town" feel. The Boat House Restaurant is lovely and the docs stretch far into the water allowing you to explore. You can even take in the view of Jock Lindsey's Hanger Bar from the stern.
The Hanger itself is decked out with all sorts of items, trinkets, maps, and theming. Its looks to me like the ride queue from Jungle Cruise, but with an George Lucas twist. There are enough seats for 155 pilots to throw back a few before they take off on their next adventure. The menu is creative and well thought out. A lot of puns and play on words to make you chuckle as you read. However, don't expect to have a full meal here... This is more of a lounge than a restaurant. A place to have a drink and a unique appetizer to instagram.