Ever since it’s rebrand, Disney Springs has become a must see destination at Walt Disney World. On this episode of Disney Deciphered we discussed what to do at Disney Springs, what to eat at Disney Springs, and why Disney Springs helps you extend your Disney vacation. Listen above or read below and let us know your thoughts on Disney Springs in the comments!
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What is Disney Springs?
Formerly known as Downtown Disney, Disney Springs is a large outdoor space filled with shopping, dining, entertainment, and more. You can spend an evening or even a whole day wandering around the various pathways in Disney Springs, window shopping, checking out the gigantic World of Disney store, or grabbing a nice meal.
Why visit Disney Springs?
Disney Springs can be a great break from the theme parks on your Disney vacation. We like to visit Disney Springs either on the day we arrive or if we need some time off from waiting on lines for attractions. It still captures that Disney feel and magic, without requiring you to pay admission. It’s also a beautiful space filled with many wonderful things to do.
Shopping at Disney Springs
The shopping highlight of Disney Springs definitely is the World of Disney store, the largest Disney store in the world. We’ve spent countless hours just browsing there (and may have walked away with a souvenir or two).
Disney Springs also boasts a large number of clothing and jewelry stores, which tend to cater to tastes a bit more upscale than our own. However, it’s good to note that you don’t pay a Disney premium on prices, in our experience the prices in the stores at Disney Springs are comparable to those of equivalent stores outside of Disney.
One store we do enjoy shopping at is Uniqlo, which has featured great Disney, Star Wars, and Lego gear in the past.
Dining at Disney Springs
Dining at Disney Springs caters to any and all tastes. For something quick, easy, and less expensive, check out Earl of Sandwich or the stand outside of Morimoto Asia. If you’re looking for a lively bar atmosphere, check out the Irish dancers at the pub Raglan Road.
Disney Springs also has no shortage of upscale dining options. Aside from Morimoto, we enjoy the Boathouse. You can eat on a large paddleboat at Paddlefish or check out Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’.
For kids, there is the kid friendly Rainforest Cafe, though you can find that in many malls around the country so we don’t recommend it. T-Rex is a restaurant featuring a large animatronic T-Rex, which is a lot of fun for kids who aren’t scared by such things.
Do note that dining, unlike shopping, DOES feel more expensive at Disney Springs than it does outside of Disney. Expect to pay a little bit more than you would for equivalent food.
Entertainment at Disney Springs
If you’re not into shopping or eating, there’s still plenty to do at Disney Springs. You can catch a movie or go bowling, which we found surprisingly fun!
At the top of almost everyone’s list these days is checking out the VR experience Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire located at The Void at Disney Springs. This VR experience, starting at $30, offers up to four guests the chance to step into an immersive Star Wars experience. We’ve heard that it’s amazing and you feel like you’re really in the story. Can’t wait to try it.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Disney Springs is a great place to spend your evenings or to spend a day off from the parks. There’s plenty to see, do, and eat, so make some time out of your Disney vacation. Remember, the Disney Springs hotels now offer extra magic hours and 60 day Fastpass+ reservations, so you could stay at one of those and walk over to enjoy Disney Springs in the evening.
What do you enjoy about Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments!
Episode Description
In this episode, we discuss how to enjoy Disney fun without paying for theme park tickets by visiting Disney Springs. We cover good times to visit Disney Springs as well as what to see and eat there. Disney Springs also has tons of entertainment so we take a look at some of the best options.
If you like what you hear, please share the podcast with others you think might enjoy it. Also, we’d appreciate if you subscribed on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google Play (please leave a positive review if you’re enjoying the show), liked our Facebook page, or followed us on Twitter!
You can also e-mail us at disneydeciphered AT gmail DOT com. Connect with Leslie @TripswithTykes on social media and Joe @asthejoeflies.
Episode Notes
0:00 – What is Disney Springs and why is it worth a visit?
6:28 – Shopping at Disney Springs
9:24 – Dining at Disney Springs
12:04 – Entertainment at Disney Springs and the new Star Wars experience
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