Disney Springs
Formerly known as Downtown Disney, the 2015 rebrand to Disney Springs has gone from an afterthought to a must visit in just a few short years! With tons of shopping, restaurants, and entertainment, there is something for the whole family to enjoy. Be sure to set aside at least half of a day on your next trip to fully explore this area!
Getting to Disney Springs
Whether you are staying on property or off property, there are many ways to make your way over to Disney Springs. If you have a car, there is free parking available in 3 different parking garages and some surface lots. For those staying at a Disney resort, you are able to take specific Disney World buses from all of the resorts directly here. You can also take a bus from one of the Theme Parks after 4pm at the bus stops! And finally, there are a few good neighbor hotels and the Saratoga Springs and Old Key West resorts that guests can walk over to Disney Springs! However you make it there, remember that there are no busses that will go directly to the theme parks, so maybe try to end your day here!
Shopping
Disney Springs is home to over 100 different stores, including the largest Disney retail store. Everyone in the family will be able to find stores they enjoy here, from Under Armour, to Pandora, to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique! The real trick is going to be making sure you don’t buy more than you are able to fit into your suitcase on the trip home! On top of great retail stores and uniquely Disney stores, there are some world class places to buy dessert. Be sure to check out my personal favorite, Amorette’s Patisserie, for some awesome treats like those to the left!
Dining
After the rebrand to Disney Springs, one of the biggest areas of focus has been the dining. There are over 60 unique dining options ranging from food trucks to gourmet meals from the minds of world famous chefs. I have been able to eat at a number of these, and all of them have been fantastic. Chef Rick Bayless’s Frontrera Cocina has amazing Mexican food, Iron Chef Morimoto’s Morimoto Asia is the go to for sushi and Asian cuisine, and Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ has tons of great Southern Style cuisine!
Also, be sure to save room for a few beverages while at Disney Springs. The rooftop bar at the CocaCola store, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, and the Stargazers Bar at Planet Hollywood are great places to start!
Entertainment
With more that 10 uniquely Disney entertainment options, everyone from the family will be able to find something fun to do at Disney Springs! New in 2019, the NBA Experience will provide a unique look into the NBA. In the former location of DisneyQuest, guests will be able to play basketball along with other unique basketball related experiences! On top of this, be sure to check out the free concerts, bowling, hot air balloon, boat rides, and hopefully again soon, Cirque du Soleil!
My personal favorite entertainment option is the 3D reality experience, The VOID. The VOID features a Star Wars and a Wreck it Ralph version of the attraction, and with an awesome repeatability factor, this is a must visit for all guests! Be sure to reserve a time on your next trip, as this can fill up. Visit their website for more information or to get a reservation!
Be sure to check out the Disney Springs website to find out all of the shopping, dining, and entertainment options available for your next visit!
