Disney World is truly huge. There are so many attractions, lands, shows, and parks to hop around that it can be quite exhausting. So, after a long day in the parks, you may be looking for a place to dine, drink, shop or relax. That’s where Disney Springs comes in handy.
Disney Springs is the go-to shopping and dining destination in Disney World. It’s a sort of village in itself, filled with various shops from jewelry stores, apparel stores, designer stores, and of course, Disney stores. So, what exactly is Disney Springs, and what can you do there?
What Is Disney Springs?
Disney Springs is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex in Lake Buena Vista, at Walt Disney World. Its original name, Downtown Disney or Disney Village, describes it perfectly – it’s a village with all you could need after a day in the Disney parks.
With over 150 stores and over 60 eateries and bars, this is the go-to place to listen to live music, have dinner, enjoy a few cocktails, or spend the rest of your Disney dollars (and real money, of course)!
While Disney Springs is a part of the Walt Disney Resort, it is free to enter for the public. With a neighborhood feel and plenty to see and do, it’s not only a place for Disney park goers but anyone in the Lake Buena Vista area.
Disney Springs is about 6.5 miles from the Magic Kingdom, and some buses and shuttles can take you straight from the parks to Disney Springs. Or there is ample parking at Disney Springs if you are driving.
Disney Springs Restaurants
There is an abundance of restaurants, bars, and eateries in Disney Springs, Orlando.
Quick Service/Snacks
- 4 Rivers Cantina Food Truck – Quick Service
- Amorette’s Patisserie
- The Basket at Wine Bar George
- BB Wolf’s Sausage Co
- Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza
- Chicken Guy
- Coca Cola Rooftop Beverage Bar
- Cookes Of Dublin
- The Daily Poutine
- Disney Food Trucks
- D-Luxe Burger
- Dockside Margaritas
- Earl Of Sandwich
- Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC
- Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew
- The Front Porch
- Gideon’s Bakehouse
- Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
- Local Green Orlando Food Truck
- MacGUFFINS
- Morimoto Asia Street Food
- Pepe By Jose Andres
- The Polite Pig
- Salt & Straw
- Starbucks
- Sunshine Churros
- Vivoli Gelato
- Wetzel’s Pretzels
- YeSake Kiosk
Dinner/Table Service
- AMC Disney Springs 24 Dine In Theatres – Dinner and a Show
- The Boathouse
- Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
- City Works Eatery & Pour House
- The Edison
- Enzo’s Hideaway
- Frontero Cocina
- House Of Blues
- Jaleo By Jose Andres
- Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
- Lava Lounge at Rainforest Cafe
- Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante
- Morimoto Asia
- Paddlefish
- Paradiso 37
- Planet Hollywood
- Raglan Road Irish Pub
- Rainforest Cafe
- Splitsville
- Stargazers Bar
- STK Orlando
- Terralina
- T-REX
- Wine Bar George
- Wolfgang Puck
Disney Springs Shopping
There are over 101 shops to peruse in Disney Springs; we’re not going to list them all, but here are some of the firm favorites among parkgoers.
- Alex & Ani – Apparel and accessories. Here you’ll find the famous Alex & Ani Disney bracelets everyone wants to get their hands on!
- Anthropologie – Home, apparel, and accessories.
- The Art Of Disney – our favorite for figurines, artwork, postcards, and limited edition items!
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – Get a makeover like a Disney Prince or Princess!
- Build A Dino at T-REX – Build A Bear Workshop inside the T-Rex restaurant.
- Coach – Where else will you find special edition Disney X Coach merchandise?
- Coca-Cola Store – Apparel and accessories
- Crystal Arts By Arribas Brothers – Beautiful crystal Disney sculptures.
- Disney PhotoPass Studio – Get your Disney pictures printed!
- Disney’s Candy Cauldron – Pick a sweet treat like the Mickey waffles or churro toffee!
- Disney’s Days Of Christmas – Christmas decor and baubles (see also, ‘When Does Disney Decorate for Halloween‘)
- Disney’s Pin Traders – Cart/Kiosk where you can buy and trade Disney Pins!
- Disney’s Wonderful World Of Memories – Pick up Mickey Ears, art, and collectibles.
- Disney Style – Apparel and Accessories
- Ever After Jewelry Co. – Art and Collectibles
- Goofy’s Candy Company – Housewares and sweet treats
- Kate Spade – Designer Disney collection accessories and apparel
- Silhouette Portraits Cart – Get your portrait done in 18th-century style silhouettes.
- Star Wars Galactic Outpost – Star Wars merchandise
- Super Hero Headquarters – Marvel merchandise
- World Of Disney – THE place to buy any Disney merchandise- a must see.
You’ve also got the usual places to shop in Disney Springs, like Lacoste, Levi’s, Free People, MAC, Oakley, Pandora, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Sephora, lululemon, and more.
What To Do In Disney Springs
There is so much to do at Disney Springs. We would recommend that you definitely head to World Of Disney, which is centrally located along the boardwalk.
It’s a huge store where you can pick up lots of Disney merchandise, from pins, Mickey ears, clothing, accessories, plush toys, and anything Disney you can think of. You will get lost in this store!
Disney Pin Trading
It’s a lot of fun if you have kids or are a big kid yourself to invest in lanyards and some pins. You’ll find pins in many stores in the parks, and in Disney Springs, there are special kiosks.
You can either collect them for yourself or trade them with cast members and parkgoers. Disney Pin Trading is a really fun activity!
We also recommend getting a silhouette done at Disney Springs. These 18th-century style portraits look great in the home, and it’s a little bit of Disney magic you can take home with you.
You can get multiple people’s side profiles in one portrait or a singular one, and you can purchase them in a signature vintage-style frame.
You can also purchase pre-made ones of your favorite characters! It’s widely regarded as the best Disney souvenir.
If you have kids (or a husband) that is obsessed with Star Wars and Marvel, then you have to visit the Galactic Outpost and Super Hero Headquarters. You can buy lightsabers and costumes; you name it!
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Another fantastic option is to go to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Here kids can get a full royal makeover, including makeup, costume, tiaras, and a commemorative photograph.
Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, you have to visit the Art Of Disney store. You will find one-of-a-kind artworks from hundreds to thousands of dollars, special edition accessories, postcards, prints, and even figurines and collectible items. This store is about finding incredible items and souvenirs from the Disney Parks and films.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try taking a vintage Amphicar tour or a hot air balloon ride on the West Side of the Springs!
There are also stages where small live shows and events take place throughout the year. For the big kids, Riverboat Square, Raglan Road, House of Blues, and Paradiso 37 have live entertainment and music.
Best Dining at Disney Springs
In terms of dining, if you have children, you must take them to T-REX, where there are dinosaur animatronics within an immersive atmosphere. Or visit the Rainforest Cafe at Disney Springs, where all animals come to life within a bubbling volcano!
For the best dining experience, you’ll want to head to The Edison, Wine Bar George for small plates and an extensive selection of premium wines, or the Boathouse for the best seafood.
Alternatively, head to the authentic Irish pub, the Raglan Road, for great drinks, music, and Irish food. The best thing about Disney Springs is that there are loads of stands, food trucks, and quick-service restaurants.
You can grab a Starbucks coffee on the go to walk around the village with, or grab a cookie from Gideon’s, donuts from Everglazed, or even some gravy-covered fries from The Daily Poutine, and enjoy a walk around the lake.
Summary
To summarize, Disney Springs is 100% worth a visit; you should even leave at least a half day free when planning your Disney World trip to visit this place.
If you’re not ready to leave all the Disney magic behind when the parks close for the day, head over to Disney Springs!
For more about family travel, check out these posts:
Which Disney World Park Is Best?
Disney World Itinerary Planning: What You Need to Know
Tips and Tricks for Disney World
Walt Disney World Vacation Planner
Games To Play In Line At Disney
