Disney Springs is a favorite destination at Walt Disney World. But the area has changed so much over the years. If you haven’t been to Disney World in a while, you may be as surprised by what Disney Springs has to offer as the first time Disney goer.
Put simply, Disney Springs is a shopping and dining district. It’s an outdoor mall, but really there’s a lot more than that going on. Here’s why you should make sure you visit on your next Disney trip!
Shopping
The great thing about this shopping District is that it has a lot of Disney run, Disney IP stores, but it also has a lot of regular shopping locations that you’d find in any outdoor mall.
Toward the East End you will find a Disney Christmas shop, the Co-op Marketplace–full of unique Disney items, and the largest Disney Store on the planet. This is a great place to look for merchandise that you missed picking up in the parks, or to look for unique souvenirs.
Head West toward the center of Disney Springs and you’ll find more of your traditional shopping–Aeropostale, Kate Spade, Uniqlo, and Columbia, to name a few. I love looking through this area, because even though it’s normal stores and normal brands, it’s not the kind of stores you see near my small Iowa town. Instead it’s all the brands you see people talking about on social media, but I can only get online. It feels fun and fancy coming from the Midwest.
Dining
Disney Springs boasts some of the best restaurants at Disney World. The area is covered in dining options. Everything from snack kiosks to quick service to table service to fine dining. And some of the best bars and lounges I’ve ever been to.
This is another area where you won’t find your normal chain restaurants, so don’t come looking for Applebee’s or Olive Garden. There are a few local Orlando staples like Polite Pig and Gideon’s Bakehouse. And there are a few kiosks you’ll recognize like Wetzel’s Pretzels, Starbucks, and Earl of Sandwich.
Your table service restaurants here are all unique and excellent, so don’t go scared you’ll have a bad meal. Many restaurants in Disney Springs are owned and operated by celebrity and award winning chefs. Morimoto Asia, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, and Wolfgang Puck’s are just a few of the big name options. You also have great options for whatever kind of food you’re in the mood for. The Boathouse has great seafood plus and oyster bar. Jaleo serves amazing Spanish paella and tapas. Maria and Enzo’s is a cool Italian option.
Entertainment
The far West end of Disney Springs holds several entertainment venues. AMC theatres and Splitsville bowling, but the headliner over here is the Cirque du Solil theatre. Currently they are performing a show called Drawn to Life, based on Disney animation.
But the real joy of Disney Springs entertainment is at the smaller venues. There are several other stages scattered around the area that host everything from local college choral groups to Billy Joel cover bands to area Indie artists. These really are what gives the “Disney Springs vibe”. Add in wandering performers– musicians, jugglers, etc– and the whole area has a music festival vibe.
Pros and Cons
So, should you go to Disney Springs? There are certainly a lot of pros listed above, and I didn’t even give you the best one. In the world of rising prices on everything, there is no ticket or cover charge for Disney Springs. If you want to just walk around and enjoy the entertainment, it can be completely free. And it is a fantastic atmosphere for a free spot to hang out.
But on the con side, that means Disney Springs gets busy. There are overwhelming choke points and lines for stores. There are many restaurants you can’t get into without a reservation. But it’s not always that crazy. Day times before 4 are always a good time to visit. Week days are better than weekends. And of course Friday and Saturday evening is going to be crazy.
As with everything else, it helps to plan ahead and manage your expectations. We hope to keep sharing our experiences with you so that you know what’s coming, and giving you tips for having a great experience without a lot of planning!
