Disney Springs is a great day/ afternoon/ evening out for everyone on their Disney Florida holidays – the brilliance of this complex is that it can be what you make it – those just looking for dinner or those wanting to shop until they drop will all find fun at Disney Springs!
One of my absolute favourite restaurants to visit at Disney Springs is the T-REX™ restaurant, while the food may not be gourmet the décor certainly makes up for it! The restaurant is split into sections that are Dino-themed from the Jurassic era to the Ice-Age with a huge T-REX animatronic at the entrance of the restaurant. Plus, every hour there is a meteorite shower throughout the restaurant! This really is an immersive dining experience that will transport you 200 million years into the past!
Coca-Cola fans will also love Disney Springs as they can visit the huge Coca-Cola store and sample flavours from around the world! The store is packed with Coca-Cola merchandise but also a roof top bar where you can choose from a selection of Coca-Cola flavours – some you will certainly never have even heard of before!
The shopping at Disney Spring is endless and you’ll encounter big names like Zara, Anthropologie, Coach, Kate Spade, Under Armour, Free People, Havaianas, Lacoste, Sephora and so much more! Disney Springs is also known for its speciality stores where you can pick up one-of-a-kind souvenirs; Disney Springs is home to the LEGO® store where you can play and create with real LEGO, Star Wars™ Galactic Outpost where you can make your very own Lightsabre to take home and keep forever, the World of Disney® store is a fantastic place to purchase any Disney gift or souvenirs and there is even an M&M world where you can fulfil your chocolate cravings!
Disney Springs is also a great location to visit when it (inevitably) rains during your Orlando Summer holiday as they have many amazing indoor experiences! Splitsville Luxury Lanes is one of my personal favourite indoor experiences as it is a 2-storey retro bowling alley with gourmet food options and 2 sushi bars! This is a great way to entertain the whole family when the Florida heavens open or even a great way to finish the day by playing a couple of games and then having some delicious food! Another indoor experience that is beloved by sports fans (and non-sports fans alike) is the NBA experience. The NBA experience is in the old Disney Quest building and offers 13 unique games and basketball-related activities - from dunking and dribbling to playing classic arcade games!
There are other outdoor attractions at Disney Springs too – Characters in Flight is a fan favourite at Disney Springs as you can soar 400ft in the air in the world’s largest tethered helium balloon! This is an experience you won’t forget and will allow you to see across all of Orlando and Walt Disney World! Another great Disney Springs attraction is the boat ride tour of Lake Buena Vista aboard a fully restored retro Amphicar - a rare amphibious vehicle that can drive on land and float on water! This is the perfect opportunity to take a totally unique photo for your Instagram or just for your Walt Disney World memories!
Dessert lovers are also in for a treat at Disney Springs as there is an abundance of sweet-treat shops to choose from! Sprinkles is famous for its cupcake ATMs and the Disney Springs shop does not disappoint! You can get a cupcake or cookie from the ATM or order a delicious cupcake from over the counter! AristoCrêpes is another favourite of mine as they serve fabulous French style Crêpes and waffle cones – make sure you pair it with a frozen lava colada or lemonade to top the dining experience off! Adults can also enjoy their crêpes / cupcakes water side with a Margarita at Dockside Margarita, which is themed after a 1960s Florida produce stand!
Our favourite place to drink, chill out and spend an evening at Disney Springs is the Irish Pub, the Rollicking Raglan. This Irish pub is always teeming with energy and music and if you’re feeling peckish, they also have a range of pub specialities (think fish and chips!). Like many of the Disney Springs restaurants/ bars this place can get full quickly so if you are planning on attending at peak times you might want to reserve a table – even if it is just for drinks!
Making a Reservation is a top tip for all the eateries in Disney Springs as my family have been known to wait at least 2 hours for a place at the popular restaurants before (particularly If your group is over 4)! This is fine if you are in no hurry, but it is best to make an online reservation beforehand to make sure you can eat when you want!
Lastly, many people do not know that you can have a much more budget-friendly and a relaxed Character Dining experience at Disney Springs. Just over the road from Disney Springs is the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during breakfast you can enjoy a Character Dining experience in the restaurant that I personally found much more relaxing and enjoyable than other Character Dining experiences I have had in the parks!
All in all, Disney Springs is a fabulous day out for both children and adults and there is no shortage of things to do, see and eat!!