The Best Things to Do in Disney Springs

Disney Springs is a huge shopping and dining complex in Walt Disney World. Its basically an outdoor shopping mall filled with over 100 retailers and more than 60 restaurants. You can go to Disney Springs for all your needs when at Walt Disney World. Its also quite scenic, being on the edge of a large lake. Disney Springs originally opened as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village in 1975, and has gone through a number of phases since. The most recent refurbishment commenced in 2013 and saw the then Downtown Disney repurposed into the complex we know today.

A lot of Disney guests rave about Disney Springs. Believe it or not, until my latest Disney trip, I hadn’t been. Deciding to change that, I got on the bus to Disney Springs as soon as I checked into my hotel this time around. Having now been, I wouldn’t say Disney Springs is a must-do on a Disney trip. It is good for an arrival day or rest day activity though, if you’re looking to get away from your resort.

For a long time, I didn’t know what to expect when it came to Disney Springs. If you’re in that same boat, hopefully this post will change that as I give a brief overview of this retail district.

• For an overview on Walt Disney World, check out my post covering the basics HERE.

Disney Springs – The Basics

• Where? 1486 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista,Florida
• When? Disney Springs in general is open from 10.00am – 11.00pm Sunday to Thursday, and 10.00am – 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday. Trading hours of specific retailers and restaurants will vary.
• How much? Admission to Disney Springs is free.
• How to get there: If you’re staying at a Disney resort, the bus service will link you to Disney Springs. (you’ll be dropped off just outside the Town Center area). Certain resorts nearby (Port Orleans, Old Key West and Saratoga Springs) are also connected by a ferry boat across the lake. If you’re driving, parking is free at Disney Springs (a Disney World rarity).
• Website: https://www.disneysprings.com/

Layout of Disney Springs

Disney Springs is made up of 4 distinct areas. If, like me, you’re arriving by bus, the first area you’ll enter is the Town Center. This completely new part of Disney Springs is themed as an old waterfront Florida town and is filled with traditional retailers. Its the part of the complex that most resembles a traditional high end shopping district. There’s over 30 shops and a plethora of restaurants here.

To the left (looking towards the lake) of the Town Center is the West Side. This reimagined area of the old Downtown Disney has taken on an industrialised theming and is basically the main entertainment zone. Its the largest part of the complex, covering over 340,000 square feet. There’s plenty of options to keep you entertained here – ranging from a bowling alley (Splitsville Luxury Lane), a cinema (AMC) and even a Cirque du Soleil show (Drawn to Life).

At the opposite end (to the right) of Town Center, is the Marketplace. This is the most quintessentially Disney part of the complex and is the area I spent the most time in on my visit. Major shopping destinations have you covered with merchandise here. The World of Disney store is actually the largest Disney retailer in the world! There’s also an assortment of kid friendly rides (think a carousel and mini-train), and a volcano that you can watch erupt regularly (the inside of which houses the Rainforest Cafe).

Finally, you’ve got the Landing. The former Pleasure Island is filled with waterfront dining and is just a great area to chill out. There’s often buskers and street performers adding to the ambience, and there’s 2 really unique attractions here as well (which I’ll touch on below).

Popular Shops

With over 100 shops in Disney Springs, there was no way I was going to stop by all of them. I did spend most of my time in the area checking out some of the more well known retailers though, mostly throughout the Marketplace. The World of Disney store that I’ve already mentioned was the first place I visited. Now let me just say, this place is HUGE. Covering over 50,000 square feet alone, this store spans across 12 rooms and is packed to the brim with pretty much any Disney related merchandise you can think of. Its so easy to get lost in here while wandering through. I was overwhelmed, not knowing where to start.

My personal favourite shop was a little further into the Marketplace. The appropriately named Marketplace Co-op is comprised of a number of “pop-up” type stalls each offering different types of custom products. In particular, I loved the Disney artwork available for purchase at the WonderGround Gallery (and naturally grabbed an original postcard for my growing collection!).

If you’re travelling with kids, they’ll be sure to love Once Upon a Toy and the LEGO Store. I didn’t go into either (there was actually a line if you wanted to go inside the latter). However, I did take some time checking out the life-sized LEGO creations of Disney characters outside. They were really cool!

Where to Eat

At over 60 venues, there’s so many food options in Disney Springs. Needless to say, I have not tried them all (or anywhere near them all). One of the most popular though (which I did stop by for dinner) is Planet Hollywood. Located in the West Side, its housed inside a old-fashioned observatory dome. The menu is loaded with delicious American cuisine (think burgers, steaks, sandwiches and more) and there’s clips of various Hollywood blockbusters playing while you dine. Even if you don’t plan on eating here, you should stop by to check out the memorabilia displayed throughout the restaurant.

Another popular restaurant is the Boathouse. Its on the waterfront in the Landing area. I didn’t eat here, but its Florida surf n turf style. I did make my way down this way after dinner however and soaked in the atmosphere, while stopping at a nearby bar for a cocktail or two.

While the Rainforest Cafe is cool due to being inside the functioning volcano, I’ve heard the food isn’t that great.

If you’re planning on dining at one of the more popular restaurants in Disney Springs, you should book in advance. If you don’t have a reservation, don’t worry, there’s tons of counter service options throughout the complex. You definitely won’t go hungry here.

Other Cool Things to Do

In addition to the abundance of bars and entertainment venues in Disney Springs, there were two attractions in particular that drew my attention. The first of these are the Amphicar Tours, which depart from the Landing, near the Boathouse. Amphicars are incredibly rare vehicles (this is the only place that I have seen them) – they start out as a car, but start floating once they hit the water. If you choose to book a tour, you’ll take a 20 minute ride across Lake Buena Vista, with your guide and skipper pointing out the key landmarks throughout Disney Springs. The tours are expensive, at $125 USD per car and are available on a first come, first served basis. They generally run from 10am-10pm daily.

A (surprisingly) cheaper way to see the area is by taking a hot air balloon ride. The Aerophile experience sees guests board a custom made helium filled balloon. On board, you’ll ascend 400 feet into the sky and be rewarded with views all over Walt Disney World – you can even see the landmarks in the theme parks! Pricing is a reasonable $25 USD per adult, though you are in the air for only 8 minutes. The balloons operate daily from 9.00am – 11.00pm (subject to weather conditions). Sadly, the weather had put a stop on the balloons on the afternoon I visited. I definitely would have done this!

Disney Springs isn’t the must-do that some would lead you to believe, but as something to do on my arrival day, I enjoyed spending a little time here. This post has only touched on some of the things to do at the complex and I encourage you to explore it to find a place to eat that suits you. I’m sure I’ve missed lots of places, so tell me about your favourite spot to check out in Disney Springs.