21 Fun Things to do in Disney Springs
Are you looking for fun things to do in Orlando, Florida? Disney Springs is one of the most sought-after places to visit! Disney Springs is perfect if you love to shop at specialty stores and enjoy live entertainment!
Luckily, if you visit Orlando just for the iconic Disney Experience, you will find everything you need, even if you spend just an afternoon at Disney Springs.
What is Disney Springs known for?
Formerly known as downtown Disney, Disney Springs is a massive entertainment complex that offers a vast selection of shopping and dining. It’s located a few miles south of the best theme parks in Orlando. It features four distinct neighborhoods: The Landing, Town Center, Marketplace, and West Side.
- The Landing is the port district and features waterfront dining and shopping, including The BOATHOUSE, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, and Morimoto Asia.
- Town Center is the central shopping district and features Apple, Zara, Nike, and Under Armour flagship stores.
- The Marketplace is an outdoor-style marketplace with food trucks and kiosks.
- West Side is a nightlife and entertainment district with bars, restaurants, and live music venues.
Fun Things to do at Disney Springs
Here is a list of the best things to do at Disney Springs that you’ll love! Whether you’re visiting for a day on vacation, having a date night, or a day out with the kids, you’ll find plenty to do here.
Shopping at Disney Springs
1) Lego Store
The Lego Store at Disney Springs is an amazing place for Lego fans. They have a huge selection of sets, including the giant Hogwarts castle and the Collector’s Edition of the Millennium Falcon. One of the features we love is the Pick-a-Brick wall, where you can fill up a container with any bricks that fit for one price.
2) Disney’s Days of Christmas
This is such a lovely little Christmas shop! Inside the store, it is always Christmas 365 days a year. This is because combining two of people’s favorite things, Christmas and Disney, results in brilliance. There are so many different ornaments to choose from, and you can add your own personal touch to some of them.
The store is decorated beautifully too. You can see oversized ornaments and Disney characters hanging from the Christmas tree ceiling to give you the feeling that you are under a Christmas tree. In addition, there is a cozy fireplace covered in 101 Dalmatians in the corner of the store.
3) World of Disney® Gift Shop
If you want to go shopping for Disney merchandise, this is the place to be! This store has everything you can imagine, from Mickey Mouse ears, kitchen supplies, collectible pins, candy and treats to plush toys of all your favorite Disney characters. You can purchase special holiday merchandise for Halloween and Christmas too!
Unique Experiences
4) Hot Air Balloon Ride
The Aerophile is a hot air balloon that takes guests 400 ft above Disney Springs. It’s perfect for watching the park from a new perspective, and it’s also great for taking photos or selfies from high up! This 8-minute flight is $20 for adults (over 10) and $15 for kids 3-9 years old.
5) Splitsville Luxury Lanes™
Located on the West Side of Disney Springs, this is a really fun bowling alley to enjoy on a date night or with your kids! There are also pool tables so it’s a great place to hang out for several hours. If you’re hungry, you can order dinner here too. Everyone raves about the sushi and hand-tossed pizzas! Talk about your bowler’s paradise.
6) Coca-Cola Store
On the roof of the Coca-Cola Store, you can find a rooftop bar with views of Disney Springs and nearby Lake Buena Vista. There are also alcoholic beverages available.
7) Disney PhotoPass Studio
Take a short time out of your trip to visit Disney Springs and the Disney PhotoPass Studio. A photographer can set your family up with various backdrops to take the perfect vacation photo. This service is free; you can purchase the photos at the studio or through your My Disney Experience app.
8) Vintage Amphicar Tours
Want to go on a car ride across the water? With the Vintage Amphicar Tours, you can do just that!
Places to Eat at Disney Springs
The dining options in Disney Springs are endless. One of the advantages of visiting Disney Springs is that there are more than 50 restaurants, bars, lounges, and snack stands available. This makes it easy to find a place to have a drink or some snacks. There are many different cuisines and prices to choose from!
Enjoy a delicious meal or sweet treat at one of the many restaurants in Disney Springs. From classic American fare to international cuisine, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
9) House of Blues Restaurant and Bar
House of Blues is one of the most popular restaurants and bars in Orlando Springs. It offers a unique dining experience that combines Southern cuisine with live music. The restaurant is also known for its signature cocktails and extensive wine list.
House of Blues is the perfect place to enjoy a meal with friends or the whole family. The restaurant offers something for everyone, including appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and entrees. The bar is also a great place to relax and enjoy a drink. House of Blues has something for everyone, so be sure to check it out when you’re in Orlando Springs!
10) The Boathouse Restaurant
If you’re looking for a fantastic waterfront dining experience, The Boathouse Restaurant in Orlando is worth checking out. This award-winning establishment offers stunning views of Lake Buena Vista, delicious cuisine, and attentive service. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or want to treat yourself to a lovely evening out, The Boathouse Restaurant is a go-to restaurant!
11) Raglan Road Irish Pub
Disney’s prices can be a bit high, but Raglan Road Irish Pub performances make up for it. The pub features talented fiddlers, step dancers, singers, and more who will amaze you with their quality and variety. It was a lot of fun!
The restaurant is exquisitely designed, and the food is top-notch as well. You will not be disappointed with your experience here! The brown bread was especially delicious. They had a variety of exciting flights of beers and whiskeys to try, as well as friendly and efficient service.
12) Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe
Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe is located in Orlando, Florida. The restaurant offers American and international cuisine in a comfortable setting. Wolfgang Puck is the celebrity chef behind the restaurant and has become known for his signature dishes like pizzas and salads.
13) Wine Bar George
If you’re looking for a delicious way to spend an afternoon or evening, Wine Bar George is the perfect spot. The restaurant has an extensive wine list, cocktails, and a full bar – so you can order anything your heart desires! Plus, their charcuterie board is delightful and will really complement your wine.
If at any point you need to take a break from sampling wines and food (or vice versa), their upstairs table by the windows offers great views of Disney Springs at dusk.
14) Rainforest Cafe
It’s so much fun to eat at the Rainforest Cafe! There are lots of animatronic animals moving around and making animal sounds. There is also an aquarium with tropical fish and a gift shop.
15) Earl of Sandwich
Earl of Sandwich serves the best sandwiches ever! The food is always delicious and of high quality, and it helps to stay within budget. The tomato soup is a must, as is the tuna melt sandwich. You’ll walk away wishing there was a franchise location near you!
16) T-Rex Cafe
This place is really cool! The dinosaur theme is really fun, and kids enjoy the moving dinosaurs. Every 20 minutes, a meteor shower illuminates the ceiling and makes all the dinosaurs in the restaurant more active. The food at the restaurant is some of the best around, and you can buy drinks in souvenir cups too.
The aquariums featured different kinds of fish, and there were information packets about the fish available for visitors to peruse. The restrooms had fossil replicas all over the walls! This is definitely a fun dining experience at Disney Springs.
17) Gideon’s Bakehouse
Gideon’s Bakehouse is known for its enormous half-pound cookies, but they also serve coffee and other baked goods. It is so popular that the shop uses a virtual queue on most days because the line can be more than an hour long. The bakehouse itself is also tastefully decorated with Victorian-themed decor. The chocolate chip cookies are loaded with chips, so be sure to have a glass of milk ready to drink! Fans particularly love the Peanut Butter Cold Brew Cookie and the Cookies & Cream.
18) Amorette’s Patisserie
Amorette’s is a modern bakery specializing in French éclairs, miniature cakes, cookies, and macarons. You can order the most adorable Mickey Mouse dessert here! It is a chocolate chiffon cake filled with dark chocolate and white chocolate mousse and then topped beautifully with red coloring and mickey ears!
19) Swirls on the Water
Dole Whip is one of the most iconic Disney snacks. You can enjoy it at Disney Springs at the Swirls on the Water stand. Try different flavors and presentations, including a rum topper for your DOLE Whip! You can also order bubble waffles and crepes – yum!
20) Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew
There are plenty of great places to get donuts in Orlando and Everglazed Donuts is on the list! Everglazed is a donut shop that provides classic and gourmet options and cold brew coffee. It offers unique beverage combinations, such as the Cinnamon Bun and Strawberry Mocha. Sandwiches are available throughout the day and night if you’re looking for some delicious bites.
21) Marketplace Snacks
Marketplace Snacks serves sundaes that will make your Instagram feed look amazing! You can choose from various delectable creations inspired by beloved Disney characters. The one pictured here is the Mickey Waffle Cookie Sundae with Oreo Cookies! It includes vanilla soft-serve ice cream and other fun toppings for a tasty treat.
Where to Stay near Disney Springs
Disney Spring is home to many fun and unique hotels. We have listed our favorite hotels and resorts for you to choose from. The benefit of staying in a resort in Disney Springs is that you will also get access to discounts for all Disney theme parks.
Here are our top choices in Disney Springs:
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is a resort located in the Walt Disney World Resort, in Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
This resort is a blast because it offers something for everyone. There are amazing restaurants, fun pool areas, and great bars. You can also find plenty of activities to keep you busy, such as golf, tennis, and bike rentals. The resort is located close to many Disney attractions, so it’s easy for you to spend the day at the parks and be back in time for dinner.
The rooms at this hotel are luxurious. You will sleep like a queen (or king) on their comfortable beds with plush pillows and coverlets. Each room has free WiFi access, so you can occasionally check in with the outside world. The rooms also come equipped with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and microwaves, so you never have to worry about staying hungry during your stay.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin feature two award-winning restaurants for guests to enjoy. These unique eateries offer delicious cuisine in an otherworldly setting.
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
The Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista is a Walt Disney World Resort hotel that offers various services and facilities, including a spa, fitness center, and pool. It’s home to three restaurants, including an all-day dining option and two lounges.
This luxurious hotel is located in the heart of Walt Disney World Resort. The hotel offers guests convenient access to all the magic and excitement this world-famous attraction offers. Guests can enjoy amazing views of the Disney Springs area from the comfort of their rooms. The hotel also features a variety of on-site dining options, a heated pool, and a lazy river.
The Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista features delicious restaurants. Their award-winning restaurants offer guests various delicious meals and incredible views. The hotel features suites that add to the already luxurious experience at this WDW resort hotel.
The Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista offers guests a convenient stay in an exciting locale. The Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista has everything you need to make your vacation magical, with countless dining options, award-winning restaurants, and luxurious rooms.
The Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista and The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort’s location give guests access to all of the excitement at Walt Disney World Resort. Guests can easily access the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. A variety of dining options are available through the hotel.
Bottom Line
Here are some things to do in Disney Springs that will give you a little bit of everything. If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy some delicious food, head to the food court and try out some restaurants there. If you’re looking for something more active, take a walk through the shopping district or check out one of the many attractions. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to have fun!
