No trip to Walt Disney World is complete without a trip over to Disney Springs. We take at least two or three trips to Disney Springs every time we take a Walt Disney World trip. It’s a great way to spend arrival and check out day.
What is Disney Springs?
Formally known as Downtown Disney, Disney Springs is Walt Disney World’s shopping and a dining center. It’s part outlet mall and part entertainment complex with a little or a lot of Disney magic thrown in. The best part, you don’t need a park ticket to enjoy Disney Springs.
If you stay at a Walt Disney World resort, you can take the bus or the boat to stay somewhere like Port Orleans French Quarter. The boat is my favorite way to get to Disney Springs.
If you aren’t staying on property, Disney Springs is located in the Lake Buena Vista area at 1486 Buena Vista Dr. follow the signs once you are on the property, and you can’t miss it. There is ample free parking. My favorite place to park is the Lime Garage. There is also valet parking available at the cost of $20, gratuity not included.
Now that you know what Disney Springs is and how to get there, you’re probably wondering what to do there? Here are some fun and cool ways to spend a Disney day at Disney Springs!
Eat
Some of the best food at Walt Disney World can be found at Disney Springs. With 64 locations to dine, there is something for everyone!
Our favorite place to grab a quick bite to eat is Cookes of Dublin. They have the BEST gluten-free onion rings in the world. The onion rings are a meal on their own. They also have fish and chips, burgers, and more.
D-Luxe Burger and Blaze pizza are also good for quick bites to eat. If a sit-down meal is more you thing then check out Boathouse or Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming.
If you are gluten free, you’ll love Erin Mckenna’s for a sweet treat! Also be sure to stop by Goofy’s Candy Shop for a chocolate covered apple! This is also a good place to use some of those left over snack credits.
Disney Springs does not lack dining options, so you’ll be able to find anything your heart desires here.
Shop
With over 90 places to shop, you can shop until you drop at Disney Springs. You will find everything from Disney merchandise you can’t find anywhere else to name brand outlets you love.
Our favorite place to shop is the World of Disney. Here you will find EVERYTHING Disney – Minnie Ears, plushies, clothes, accessories, and more.
If you’re into Disney Pin Trading, then you definitely want to stop by Disney Pin Traders.
I also love Basin! The smells are amazing.
My favorite thing to do is to just window shop through all the stores, especially the Art of Disney and Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers.
Play
Disney Springs is the place to PLAY!
Little kids will love playing at the LEGO Store! Big kids will love playing here too, building and racing LEGOs!
Kids and grown-ups will also love roaring with the Coca-Cola Bear at the Coca-Cola Store.
The whole family will love playing a game of bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes.
Ride
YES, Disney Springs even has rides. They aren’t like the rides you’ll find in the Disney Parks, but they are still rides!
For little ones, there is the Marketplace Carousel and the Marketplace Train Express. Both are $5 per person per ride, and children 42 inches and smaller must be accompanied by an adult (no additional charge for the adult).
For families to ride together, your choices are a hot air balloon ride or an amphicar.
Aerophile is the world’s largest hand-painted balloon and lets you enjoy an eight-minute hot air balloon adventure that flies you over Disney Springs. Don’t worry. It’s tethered, so you only go up! The cost is $25 for Disney adults (ages 10+) and $20 for children (ages 3-9). Children age 12 and older can ride alone.
The Vintage Amphicar is a rare amphibious vehicle that can drive on land and float on water. The 20-minute guided tour of the waters of Lake Buena Vista is $125 per car. Reservations can be made daily between the hours of 10 am and 10 pm, weather permitting, at the Boathouse Boutique.
See a Show
At night Disney Springs comes ALIVE with live entertainment around every corner from the Marketplace Stage to House of Blues to the Raglan Road Patio Stage. Here you’ll find all the live entertainment your heart desires.
If live music and entertainment aren’t your things, you can always catch a movie at the AMC Movies at Disney Springs 24.
And coming soon to Disney Springs is the new Cirque du Soleil show Drawn to Life, where the beauty of Disney Animation blends with the thrilling spectacle of Cirque du Soleil. Tickets start at $79 per person for this love letter to the Art of Disney Animation. You can purchase tickets online
What do you love to do at Disney Springs?
