Just because it doesn’t have rides, that doesn’t mean Disney Springs should be overlooked on your big Orlando holiday. If you enjoy some genuine retail therapy, good food and live entertainment, this huge complex is definitely for you!
In fact, we would go as far as saying it is an essential place to visit, as it both provides a break from the non-stop frenzy and queues of the theme parks and offers a full day’s entertainment without requiring a ticket of any sort (OK, that’s not strictly true, but we’ll come to that later).
The simple fact is that Disney Springs is designed and created by the same people who put all the creative architectural touches into the likes of the Magic Kingdom, and it definitely has the feel of the same kind of Disney “Pixie Dust.”
Then, when you add in some truly outstanding shows and other live performances, you have a well-rounded package of activities, events and restaurants that deliver full value for your time here. With that in mind, we thought we’d set out a full plan for spending a day at the Springs:
Morning
Arriving by 10am will give you the pick of the places to park – and there are quite a few – so our recommendation is to head for the Lime Garage (one of the three huge multi-storey car parks). This puts you pretty much in the heart of things and well placed for all four sections of Disney Springs – The Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center and West Side.
If you’re looking for breakfast, avoid the over-priced offerings of the ubiquitous Starbucks and instead head for Earl of Sandwich, where hot sandwiches are served from 9-11am, along with tea and coffee. Or, for a wonderful brunch choice, head for the fab Irish-themed Raglan Road on Saturday or Sunday (10am-3pm). Just need coffee and a pastry? Any of Everglazed, Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company, Vivoli il Gelato and Erin McKenna’s Bakery will be able to oblige.
The shops of Disney Springs open from 10am, and the morning is the ideal time to go looking for those essential souvenirs and big-name brands, even if you’re only window shopping. As well as the designer labels from the likes of Anthropologie, Coach, Jo Malone, Kate Spade, Lily Pulitzer, Uniqlo, Sephora and Superdry, you’ll find World of Disney, the largest Disney shop on the planet, in the Marketplace section and the unique Coca-Cola Store in Town Center.
For one-of-a-kind gifts and collectibles, check out the Art of Disney store and Arribas Brothers, with their fabulous crystal and glass-blown ornaments, both in the Marketplace section. In all, there are fully 95 shops, kiosks and boutiques to browse through and enjoy.
Afternoon
When you’re ready for lunch, Blaze Pizza is another good choice that won’t break the bank, while The Polite Pig is our go-to for a counter-service choice with all the flavour you could want of succulent barbecue. Another quick, value-for-money choice is Cooke’s of Dublin (next to Raglan Road), especially their delicious sandwiches, which can easily be big enough for two.
Just want a quick sweet treat? Head for Amorette’s Patisserie, Sprinkles or the iconic Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop – pricey but well worth the splurge. And, if you don’t mind a bit of a queue, Gideon’s Bakehouse is the new trendy hang-out for some of the best cookies and coffee drinks you’ll find anywhere.
After lunch, seek out a chill-out option like the multiplex cinema of the AMC Dine-In, where the latest movies are 20-25 per cent off before 4pm and you can see the latest films in high-tech comfort. Alternatively, you could try your hand at classic 10-pin bowling at Splitsville, where you can save $5/person before 4pm.
Another signature opportunity at Disney Springs is the chance to see it from on high – like, 400ft high! The Aerophile tethered balloon is a truly jaw-dropping way to see quite a bit of Walt Disney World (weather permitting), with eight-minute flights daily from 9.30am-11pm. The balloon’s basket holds up to 29 people and you can see a good 10 miles in each direction, which makes for great photos and video.
Evening
Arguably the best time of the day at Disney Springs is as the sun goes down and all the live entertainment kicks in. You’ll find the whole vibe becomes livelier and more party-like, and the options for food and drinks are virtually everywhere, including the Food Trucks at Exposition Park in the West Side area, which provide excellent value and terrific tastes, notably at the 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa truck.
You are spoiled for choice for memorable bars, like the Indiana Jones-themed Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar, the awesome boardwalk bar at The Boathouse, the outdoor Dockside Margaritas and the upper deck at Paddlefish, with great views over the Springs. In all, there are a whopping 27 out-and-out bars to provide a holiday libation or three, in addition to the 22 table service restaurants, so you should never be short of somewhere to try. Our favourites include Stargazer’s Bar underneath Planet Hollywood (with Happy Hour daily from 4-7pm), the Front Porch bar at House of Blues, with live music each evening, and City Works for its stunning array of beers on tap (and outdoor bar).
Live music is a key feature of Disney Springs at night, with five separate stages and areas where bands and other performers can strut their stuff. Look out in particular for the Waterside Stage in the Marketplace and Waterview Park in The Landing, in addition to places like Raglan Road, Paradiso 37 and Splitsville that have their own entertainment.
For big-name concerts, House of Blues is the obvious choice, while The Edison is a compelling combination of bar, nightclub and performance venue with their burlesque-style dancers, live band and aerialists, especially good for late-night cocktails.
Finally, for THE big entertainment option, we think Drawn to Life at the one-of-a-kind Cirque du Soleil theatre is simply one of the best you will see anywhere in the world. Its breathtaking acrobatics, dancers, gymnasts, aerialists and other performers, plus live music, make for an enthralling 90-minute show that is packed with eye-popping stunts and graceful artists who make this story of animation come to vivid life. It has two shows per night (Wed-Sun) and, while it is an expensive ticket (from $75/person), we think it is totally worth it.
What’s YOUR favourite Disney Springs hang-out? Tell us about it on the friendly AttractionTickets.com Community Facebook page, on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.
