Even for us well-traveled frogs, the rigors of the theme parks—early openings, waiting in line, heat and tired feet—can slow our roll (or hop, as the case may be). There comes a moment in every theme park vacation when we hit a wall and just need a break. With water parks, golf courses and amazing resort hotel pools, there's no shortage of off-day activities at Disney World. But our very favorite Disney World non-theme park activity is Disney Springs.
Disney Springs is Disney World's shopping, dining and entertainment mecca. It was previously known as Downtown Disney or Disney Village Marketplace and held Disney's nightclub area— Pleasure Island. Completely re-themed and roughly doubled in size with new stores, restaurants, lounges and other amenities, Disney Springs is everything from a brief visit to a full day—and well into the evening— experience. It's a fun break from the parks, and there's enough going on to please shopaholics, foodies and picky children. Best of all, you don't need theme park admission! Here are a few Disney Springs tips for your visit to this downtime destination.
Disney Springs Tips for Your Trip!
1. Plan Your Visit
Wait, plan your visit to a shopping destination? Absolutely. You'll save tons of time by understanding how Disney Springs is set up, and knowing where your must-visit shops and dining destinations are located. Disney Springs is divided into four unique neighborhoods—West Side, The Landing, Town Center and The Marketplace. Identifying key landmarks you may want to visit (World of Disney, Planet Hollywood Observatory or Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar, for example) will help you map out your day. Planning doesn't have to take out the spontaneity. You may discover something wandering around that didn't seem interesting on the map. Leap over to the Disney Springs website and start looking.
2. Schedule Around Entertainment
If you've landed seats for La Nouba by Cirque Du Soleil, a movie at AMC Disney Springs 24 or a show at The House of Blues, plan your visit around that event. That must-visit shop you want to see may be closed when your concert ends. On the other side, you may be able to grab a drink at Bongos Cuban Café after your show if you can't fit it in before. Arrive with PLENTY of time, at least two hours before your event, longer if you don't have dinner reservations.
3. Plan for Rain
Florida Rain + Outdoor Mall = Potential Drenching. While you can always duck inside the shops and restaurants, there isn't much in the way of shade or an overhead roof in Disney Springs (Town Center does have a covered section). Walking across the entire entertainment area will expose you to the elements. Make sure the ponchos or umbrella are ready. On the other side, hats and sunscreen are necessary on sunny days.
4. Park Near Your Last Stop
With two garages, two surface lots and valet stations, you have multiple parking options at Disney Springs. Your tired feet will LOVE YOU LONG TIME if you consider parking where you plan on ending up. If you have evening-ending entertainment plans, park at the lot or garage closest to them. Wrapping up your visit at West Side then trekking back to your valet in Marketplace can be a "sole" crushing experience.
5. Know the Shortcuts
We love the new parking garages that keep you in the center of things, but our favorite parking spot is down on the West Side past Cirque du Soleil La Nouba. We park there and walk the length of Disney Springs. After we've seen and done it all, we hop on the boat at the Marketplace to save our frog legs and take us back to our starting place. There is another boat route that takes you between West Side and The Landing Dock, and The Landing Dock and Marketplace Dock. There is also now a helpful pedestrian bridge that connects near Rainforest Cafe in the Marketplace and Paddlefish in The Landing.
6. Follow the Parking Lights
Who doesn't love driving up and down the rows of a parking garage looking for that empty spot ... ONLY TO FIND IT AW YEAH ... but no, it's occupied by the tiny car you couldn't see? The parking garages at Disney Springs use a smart system to reduce this game. First, there is an electronic sign at the entrance to each row that identifies how many spots in the row are open. There is a sensor above each parking spot. Green light? Open spot. Light off? Spot occupied. GENIUS. The green lights do have trouble with small cars and motorcycles, but it's a better system than most.
7. See "History" at the Visitor's Center
One of the hidden gems in Disney Springs is located inside the Visitor's Center in Town Square. As you know, Disney always comes up with a story for its attractions, shows and even their restaurants. Paintings inside the Visitors Center tell the story of Disney Springs. Walt Disney Imagineering came up with a storyline of a settlement that started around natural Florida springs. As Florida grew, so did the town. All of the paintings reflect this history and connect all of the unique neighborhoods.
8. Make Reservations
You can grab a reservation to many of the most popular restaurants at Disney Springs, such as The BOATHOUSE, Morimoto Asia and Raglan Road, through Disney's Advance Dining Reservation System. Also, select restaurants offer additional reservation times on Open Table. So one of our best Disney Springs tips is to try Open Table if you can't snag an ADR or the time you want isn't available.
9. Eat Off Hours
Just as we suggest with dining inside a theme park, consider dining off-hours at Disney Springs. While 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. may be a hard time to get a spot for hot locations such as Chef Art Smith's Homecoming, getting a seat at 9:00 p.m. may be easier.
10. Ask about Discounts
Many of the stores and restaurants at Disney Springs offer discounts for Disney Visa card holders, Disney annual passholders and Disney Vacation Club members, but cashiers and servers sometimes don't ask if you have them. You can save big if you follow this Disney Springs tip!
11. Find the Unique Spots
While Disney Springs is filled with distinctive shopping and dining places such as The Art of Disney, STK Orlando and Paddlefish, you'll notice some familiar names. Focus your experience on visiting those unique places that are not at your local mall. For example, we LOVE Sprinkles cupcakes, but we have one just up the road from our lily pad. We don't have The Ganachery, however, which stocks exotic chocolates. It's a must-see. And purchase. And indulge. OK, you get it.
12. Get it personalized.
Disney Springs is truly one of my favorite places to shop for gifts because there are so many unique items and speciality stores. At Disney's Wonderful World of Memories, there's a "Create Your Own Ears Hat" boutique, where you can craft a custom hat out of snap-on ears, letters and stickers plus monogramming. At Days of Christmas, you can personalize a variety of ornaments as well as a number of other keepsakes.
13. Plan Some Fun Times for Tadpoles
If you're worried that your kids will be bored with shopping that isn't for them, you have nothing to fear. The same family-focus you see inside the parks is present throughout Disney Springs. Shops such as Once Upon A Toy and The LEGO store are built (see what I did there) for kids. World of Disney won't disappoint and your princess can have her royal day of beauty at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. As for dining, Rainforest Cafe and T-REX will keep your kids entertained and fed. If you're not into dining with DINOS (it's too easy sometimes) you will find kid-friendly selections and menus at every restaurant at Disney Springs. Kiddos can also take a spin on at the Marketplace Carousel, a pleasant Venetian carousel.
14. Keep an eye on the little ones.
If you’re visiting during busy times—holidays, weekends and evenings—expect crowds. Many of Lily's Top 10 DON'Ts for Getting Lost at the Theme Parks apply here. If you'd rather avoid crowds at Disney Springs, the best time to visit is in the morning.
15. Get Up and Away or Hit the Water
If unique views from vehicles are your thing, there are two fun options at Disney Springs. Characters in Flight, located in the West Side section, will give you a 360-degree view of the area from 400 feet in the air. These unique helium balloons send you soaring for an 8-10 minute experience. For a look at our land-water lifestyle, climb aboard the Amphibicars. Docked next to The BOATHOUSE, these aquatic automobiles are cruises around the water with your personal Car Captain.
16. Enjoy the Entertainment
As we said earlier, Disney Springs is a break from the break-neck pace of the theme park. For your day of downtime, there are family entertainment options to consider. The cool seats and big-screen thrills of movies await you at AMC Disney Springs 24. "Strike" up some family conversations during bowling at Splitsville. Enjoy the final few days of indoor interactive theme park experiences at Disney Quest, which is closing permanently July 2. Not all of the Disney Springs fun requires admission. Snap a selfie with the famous Coca-Cola Polar Bear or catch a performance at the Marketplace Stage.
17. Set a Budget
Our general theme-park wisdom on souvenir shopping applies here too. It can get crazy temping at select Disney Springs locations—I'm talking directly to you, Marketplace Co-Op. Crafting a budget for everyone in your family will prevent things from getting out of hand.
18. Like it? Buy it
Disney Springs offers merchandise that you may not find anywhere else at Disney World. Keeping in check with the budget tip above, make the purchase if it's something you find irresistible. While you may see some items at Candy Cauldron, Art of Disney and World of Disney at theme park or hotel resort shops, some things are only found here. There's always the option of leaving a few hours of last-minute Disney Springs shopping available on your last day of vacation.
Have you made the most of an off-day at Disney Springs? Do you have any other Disney Springs tips to share? Hop down to the comments and let us know!
Related: Disney World Shopping: The Top 5 Places (And Then Some)
Hoppy planning!
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