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Are you looking for a place to go that offers plenty of shopping, dining, and unique experiences but is also away from the Disney theme parks? Maybe you need to have a rest day from the parks? Disney Springs offers all this and more!
During one of our last vacations, my family and I visited Disney Springs. We went on our arrival day because we had just flown into Orlando and we had some time to spare before checking into our house offsite.
We were not quite ready to hit the parks yet but wanted to go somewhere to kick off our vacation, and I found Disney Springs to be a great place to do just that!
Here are just six reasons to visit Disney Springs on your next trip!
SHOPPING
If you want to shop until you drop, Disney Springs has over 150 different stores, including the World of Disney Store, which is also the largest Disney character store in the world. I could easily spend an entire day in this store alone!
Here is just a small listing of the various stores at Disney Springs:
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – Disney Springs
- ALEX AND ANI®
- The Art of Disney
- Build-A-Dino® by Build-A-Bear Workshop® at T-REXTM
- Coach
- Coca-Cola Store
- Disney’s Pin Traders
- Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
- Goofy’s Candy Company
- Havaianas
- Kate Spade New York
- The LEGO® Store
- Oakley
- PANDORA® Jewelry
- Star WarsTM Galactic Outpost
- Super Hero Headquarters
- Tommy Bahama
- UNIQLO
- Very Bradley
- World of Disney®
WOW! That’s a whole lot to choose from and that’s not even all of them!
DINING
There are many restaurants to choose from at Disney Springs, from quick treats like Ghiradelli to table-service meals like Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’. You will not go hungry during your visit to Disney Springs. Check out some of the food joints you can enjoy:
- AMC Disney Springs 24 Dine-In Theatres
- Ample Hills Creamery at Disney Springs – Coming Soon!
- Chicken Guy!
- City Works Eatery & Pour House – Coming Soon!
- Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar
- Earl of Sandwich®
- Ghirardelli® Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
- House of Blues Restaurant & Bar
- Joffrey’s Handcrafted Smoothies at Disney Springs Marketplace
- Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company®
- Paddlefish
- The Polite Pig
- Raglan RoadTM Irish Pub and Restaurant
- Rainforest Cafe® at Disney Springs Marketplace
- Splitsville Dining Room
- T-REXTM
- Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill
- M&M’s World – Coming Soon!
Advance dining reservations are highly recommended for many of the restaurants listed here. Reservations can be made online or in My Disney Experience.
My family and I went to T-REX, and my boys loved seeing all of the dinosaur displays everywhere in the restaurant. It was enough to keep them entertained and it was a fun atmosphere.
It was a little loud, so if that does not appeal to you, you might want to try something else. I would compare it to Rainforest Cafe because the atmospheres of each are very similar.
ENTERTAINMENT
Disney Springs offers a wide variety of entertainment, ranging from theatrical shows such as the upcoming Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil & Disney (arriving sometime this spring) to unique experiences like riding in a hot air balloon!
If you would rather stay on the ground like me, you also have the choice of enjoying a movie at the AMC Movies at Disney Springs 24. Did you know that you can enjoy a unique dining experience at one of their dine-in theatres?
Or, maybe you want to have your picture taken with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear at the Coca-Cola Store?
EXPERIENCES
There is also plenty of live entertainment available and other experiences available, such as the NBA Experience, bowling at Splitsville Luxury LanesTM or experiencing virtual reality at The VOID: Step Beyond Reality.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique also has a location in Disney Springs. If your little prince or princess wants a makeover before a day of shopping, dining, and taking in the experiences, you can start your day there. Or, maybe you couldn’t get a reservation at Magic Kingdom – you can reserve a makeover here and then head to Magic Kingdom to start your day. It’s located at the Once Upon a Toy store in the Disney Springs Marketplace.
Advance tickets and reservations for select experiences are highly recommended and more information and details can be found here.
HOLIDAYS
Do not forget about Disney Springs during the holidays, too! There is so much to do at Disney Springs during Christmastime, including the Christmas Tree Trail. A review can be found HERE. I would have loved to have seen these in person!
Stitch’s Holiday Hunt is another fun activity you can participate in during Christmas. It’s a free scavenger hunt where you search for Stitch throughout Disney Springs.
Several restaurants also offer seasonal food items during the holidays so it gives you the opportunity to experience food you may not otherwise have. You can check out our 2019 Disney Springs holiday foodie guide HERE.
If you missed this though and still yearn for the holidays, you can always visit the Disney’s Days of Christmas store in the Marketplace that celebrates the holiday season all year round. You can even get a personalized ornament as a souvenir!
HOTELS
Disney Springs also has a wide variety of hotels that are worth checking out if you prefer to stay around this area.
While they are not official Disney resorts, they do offer many of the same benefits as onsite hotels! That, in my opinion, is quite a perk. You can check out all the perks to staying at Disney Springs hotel HERE.
They just released a winter discount not too long ago, so make sure to check it out to see if it is something worth looking into for your vacation.
Food, shopping, and entertainment are all offered at Disney Springs! I feel like it’s a nice way to spend the day when you are not in one of the theme parks, BUT at the same time, it still feels like you are in the Disney bubble.
Have you visited Disney Springs before? What is your favorite shop or restaurant? Do you participate in any of the experiences or events? Tell us about it in the comments below or on Kenny the Pirate’s facebok page!
Maggie Baltz
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