Disney Springs – Entertainment, Shopping and Dining

Disney Springs has been undergoing a million changes the last few years as many parts have been transformed and lots of things added, so it’s overwhelming to figure out what to do once you get there. If you can get a good feel for the options available, you can map out your Disney Springs time.

This guide to Disney Springs should come in handy to help you make the most of your experience.

Let’s take a look..

What is Disney Springs?

Disney Springs (which was known as Downtown Disney up until September of 2015) is a shopping and entertainment area that’s free for anybody to enter.  Disney Springs is divided into 4 main areas, each with its own unique style, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment offerings.

THE LANDING

The area now known as The Landing was formerly called Pleasure Island and used to be a great spot for adults to go to visit really fun places like a comedy club and the super unique Adventurer’s Club.  Those locations and much of this area were closed as Downtown Disney began the transition into Disney Springs.

The Landing now houses several new restaurants with beautiful waterfront views and a handful of new buildings that have been creatively Imagineered to look like they’ve been there for years.

The Town Center

Town Center (a new area which was not a part of Downtown Disney) is themed after Florida’s turn-of-the-century waterfront towns and includes over 30 shops and a variety of dining options.

The Marketplace

This family-friendly area (which existed as a part of Downtown Disney) is home to many of the most popular shops at Disney Springs.

With the transition, an expansion of The World of Disney store has been completed to this section as well as a new “Village Causeway” which is a bridge that connects the area around The Lego Store across the water to nearby The Rainforest Cafe.

The West Side

This area was part of Downtown Disney and also a part of Disney Springs. The newly re-imagined West Side has a more industrial aspect to it and includes several popular restaurants and entertainment offerings including a bowling alley and movie theater.

Suggested Touring Plans for Disney Springs

Most people visit Disney Springs in the evening due to cooler temps and more events taking place. If you do visit in the evening, just be aware that there will be more crowds but avoiding the brutal daytime heat (especially in the summer) might make that worth it.

The parks have touring plans, so why not Disney Springs? There’s SO much to do that it might be helpful to have your options narrowed down.

Here’s one way to spend a fun time in Disney Springs.

• Make an early dinner reservation at a fun restaurant like Planet Hollywood (has become a fave since it reopened, and it’s conveniently located right by the Disney World bus stop) or T-Rex Cafe. Traveling with older kids or adults? Consider a reservation at The Boathouse.
• Head to the Lego Store which is fun to look at even if you don’t buy.
• Look for the Living Statues who appear in the evenings in this area.
• Look for Live Entertainment that appears throughout the park, on stage, or at some of the outdoor and indoor pubs.
• Do some souvenir shopping at World of Disney (warning: this place is huge and under refurbishment in 2018!).
• Visit the PhotoPass Studio to get some pics taken that can be added to your PhotoPass account. Have Memory Maker or an Annual Pass? The pics are included!
• Drop by the Ghirardelli shop for a free sample of chocolate.
• Have little ones? Take a ride on the Marketplace Train and stop in the Once Upon a Toy shop.
• Don’t have little ones? Stop by the Marketplace Co-Op (best place to shop in Disney Springs) instead.
• Customize a treat at Goofy’s Candy Company. Pick your treat (apples, gingerbread cookies, marshmallows, or Rice Krispies) and then choose your toppings. It’s a snack credit if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan too!
• Walk the Marketplace bridge to get back toward the middle of Disney Springs.
• Want cute but inexpensive Disney shirts? Head into Uniqlo to shop.
• Stop by the Coca-Cola Store before heading out. Meet the Coca-Cola Bear on the second floor (pic can be added to your PhotoPass account), and then head to the top for a rooftop view of Disney Springs. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic treats are available, but no purchase is required to visit this area.

The Void: Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire

The VOID’s is a new, groundbreaking hyper-reality experience that opened at the end of 2017 at Disney Springs.

Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire will transport you to a galaxy far, far away where you’ll be able to engage with friends, family and Star Wars characters through sight, sound, touch, smell, and motion. It evens allow environmental effects to be felt using Haptic feedback – melding the physical and digital worlds together. So, you don’t just see the Star Wars universe, you’re part of it.  This new Disney Springs experience was completed by THE VOID, an entertainment company that combines the magic of illusions and advanced technology to create immersive social experiences that take visitors to new worlds. Lucasfilm and ILMxLab also collaborated to help develop this one-of-a-kind experience at  Disney Springs.

The price of this experience is $29.95 each.  Six people work in collaboration together with the experience and it takes 30 minutes to complete.  Tickets can be purchased on The Void Website.

Disney Springs Entertainment

There are numerous entertainment options at Disney Springs.  Go to the Walt Disney World official website to see what the latest options are and performance times.

The Town Center

Shopping At Disney Springs

Shop hands free! At participating Disney Springs locations, you can request that purchased items be taken to the Disney Springs Welcome Center. You’ll be given a tag to retrieve your items by 11 p.m., allowing you to shop without worrying about your bags

The West Side Shops

• Bongos Cuban Cafe™ Souvenir and Gift Shop – Fun, Cuban-inspired keepsakes including CDs autographed by Gloria Estefan
• Build-A-Dino® by Build-A-Bear Workshop® at T-REX™ – Dinosaur version of the popular Build-A-Bear workshop
• Curl® by Sammy Duvall – Sammy Duvall themed swimwear apparel and surf, ski, and skate gear
• Disney’s Candy Cauldron – Gourmet treats, some with a Disney theme
• Fit2Run – Custom fit athletic footwear
• House of Blues Gear Shop – Exclusive House of Blues themed clothing, glassware, hot sauces, collectibles, and art
• Memory Lanes – Bowling-themed apparel, socks, and souvenirs
• Orlando Harley-Davidson® – Harely-Davidson®-themed shirts, gifts, and collectables
• Pelé Soccer – Unique soccer gear & cleats, and official club soccer jerseys from around the world
• Pop Gallery – Modern art gallery
• Something Silver® – Eclectic jewelry boutique
• Sosa Family Cigars – Hand-rolled, long-leaf cigars
• Star Wars Galactic Outpost™ – Star Wars-themed toys, apparel, and collectibles
• Sunglass Icon® – Designer shades and sunglasses

The Landing Shops

• Art of Shaving – High-end grooming essentials for men. Haircuts and shaves are also available here.
• The BOATHOUSE BOATIQUE® – Nautical themed gifts, jewelry, and apparel
• Chapel Hats – Every kind of headwear you can imagine including both adults and kid sizes
• Erwin Pearl – Unique, handcrafted fashion jewelry
• eyCatchers – Kiosk location selling decorative wind spinners
• Filthy Rich – Kiosk/booth with celebrity-inspired jewelry and accessories
• The Ganachery – Gourmet chocolates
• Havaianas – Flip-flops and sandals for every occasion
• Sanuk – Creatively designed footwear constructed from non-traditional materials like yoga mats
• Savannah Bee Company – Eco-friendly honeybee-inspired gifts
• Shop for Ireland – Irish-themed gifts
• Sublime Gifts and Finds – Candles, ceramics, and other treasures for the home
• Swings N’ Things – The Hammock Experts – Kiosk/booth with high-quality hammocks and porch swings