The best way to picture, and think about Disney Springs is as Walt Disney World’s chill-out zone. It’s a place where you can combine a little retail therapy with one-of-a-kind experiences and some of the best food and drink in the whole state. There is a lot to do at Disney Springs and you can do it at a slower pace than the Disney World parks.
Disney Springs – A Great Escape from The Theme Parks
The best “unofficial” park in Walt Disney World, Disney Springs (or Downtown Disney as it was called when I first started spending the odd afternoon there), is where you can take your foot off the gas and do things at your own pace without having to worry about rushing around in a vain attempt to try and do and see everything that you possibly can in a single day.
But, if you are going to spend an afternoon or an evening in Disney Springs, and let’s face it if you’re heading to Disney World for a week you’ll probably need to in order to catch your breath between park visits, there are some things that you really should do when you get there.
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10 Fun Things To Do at Disney Springs
Disney Springs isn’t like all of the other Disney Parks, you don’t need a book in advance (unless you want to eat at a specific restaurant, in which case it’s advisable to make sure that you do, as you might not be able to get a table if you just turn up) or buy a ticket to get in, you can just roll up whenever you want and do whatever you feel like doing when you get there.
And to help you decide what you might, or might not want to do while you’re in Disney Springs I’ve put together a list of all of the things that I like to do whenever I’m there, which may or may not help to decide how to spend your time at Disney Springs…
1. Drawn To Life Presented By Cirque Du Soleil And Disney
The absolute must-do hot ticket at Disney Springs is Drawn To Life.
Drawn To Life is a brand new show created by one of the premier circuses in Europe that is dedicated to, and built around, all things Disney.
And the only place you can see this show is in Disney Springs, and as it’s one of the must-see and do events there. If you are planning on seeing the show I would advise you to book your tickets in advance and maybe plan the rest of your afternoon or evening at the Springs around the show.
It will sell out, and you won’t be able to get a walk-up, so make sure you do the sensible thing and book your seats before you show up.
2. Aerophile – The Real Life Soaring at Disney Springs
A lot of locals and return visitors still insists on calling Aerophile the Characters In Flight balloon and if you’ve been wowed by Soarin’ in EPCOT and you fancy experiencing what it’s like to fly high above Disney Springs in the real world, then you need to take a ride in this hand-painted, helium balloon that’s a tribute, and a testament to the Montgolfier brothers, the world’s first aeronauts.
It operates on a first-come, first-served basis so there’s no need to book your tickets in advance, and if it does get a little too windy, there’s a good chance that the pilot will cancel the day’s flight or at least postpone them until the rain has eased off.
Which in Florida usually means that if you wait for five minutes, the sun will come out and the Aerophile will take to the skies again.
3. Is It A Car? Is It A Boat? No, It’s Both
Disney Springs sits on Lake Buena Vista, and it would be a shame to visit and not spend a little bit of time on the lake. And the best way to do that is on a guided tour as a passenger in a vintage amphicar.
Built during the nineteen sixties, Quandt, the company who designed the amphicar, only built 3,900 of these odd little vehicles and two of the only remaining working examples are in Disney Springs.
It’s one of those things that you won’t be able to anywhere else in the world, and while it’s a little pricey to take the trip, it is fun and if the weather is good (which it usually is), there’s no better way to just let the stress and strain of a couple of days spent running around the parks slowly disappear than sailing slowly around Lake Buena Vista in the back of an amphicar.
4. It’s Showtime – Live Entertainment
The House of Blues at Disney Springs is a world-famous concert venue, and most of the traveling bands that roll through Orlando end up playing here, so whatever your taste in music is, there should be at least one show there during your stay at Disney World that’ll make you tap your feet, clap your hands and sing-a-long with the band.
But, the biggest and best secret of the House of Blues is the Sunday Gospel Brunch. Every Sunday, a local gospel choir shows up to sing, and the in-house restaurant offers an all-you-eat brunch buffet which is one of the best meals that I’ve ever had.
It isn’t cheap, but for a buffet and entertainment, it isn’t expensive either. Again it’s incredibly popular, so if you want a guaranteed seat at the table, you’ll have to book in advance.
5. Meet The Bear, Try A Coke at The Coca-Cola Store
Everyone I know loves the Coca-Cola store in Disney Springs, and for two very good reasons. The first, and the best, in my opinion, is that if you head to the roof, you can sample up to five different varieties of Coke, or mix your very own from nearly one hundred flavors from all over the world, for free in the Freestyle Experience.
I’m not saying that it’s an incredibly affordable way to actually enjoy a cold soda on a hot Florida afternoon or balmy evening or encouraging you to take advantage of Coke’s hospitality, but if they’re giving the soda away, why not make the most of it?
The other reason people love this store is that it has its very own character meet and greet on the first floor, and as long as you find out what the schedule is, you can have your photo taken with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear. And even if you don’t like it, your kids will absolutely adore it.
6. AMC Disney Springs
Disney doesn’t do things the way other companies do, and the AMC cinema in the Springs just reinforces the difference between the Disney philosophy and the hymn sheet that the rest of the world sings from.
There’s a total of, wait for it, twenty-four different movie screens and theatres in the building with an array of different concession stands that you choose your snack and treats from.
But it doesn’t end there, as six of the theatres include AMC and Disney’s dine in service which delivers a unique selection of handcrafted food and drinks to your seat. You order it, and they deliver it just before the movie starts.
I know, you thought the cool, dark sanctuary offered by a movie theatre was a great way to spend some quality alone time, but this is Disney, and in Disney Springs even the movie theatres deliver an extra little bit of magic.
7. Marketplace Carousel And Train Express
There’s a pretty good chance that if you are heading to Disney Springs for an afternoon, you’ll probably have your kids with you and you’ll need to find something to occupy them and put a smile back on their faces.
And the good news is, Disney Springs has that covered, as there are two rides that your little ones will adore, and that should provide you with a couple of minutes of peace and quiet as they ride, and you get to soak up, and revel in, the relative peace and quiet.
The Carousel is a vintage style merry-go-round that’s like a smaller, less frantic version of the Prince Charming Regal Carousel in the Magic Kingdom. It won’t take anywhere near as long for your kids to get on and ride it and it’s just like its bigger cousin, but with a much less painful wait time.
And then there’s the Train Express which is just a tiny train that travels around a looped track, but for some reason, my kids love it, and just can’t seem to stop riding it. And I’ll bet you a bottomless cup of coffee that your kids will love it too.
8. Let’s Head To Splitsville Luxury Lanes!
Imagine a bowling alley where all the infinitely cool retro styling of the fifties collided head-on with the technological sophistication and ease of the twenty-first century. That image that’s popped into your minds-eye won’t be even half as awesome as Splitsville is.
It’s a multi-floor bowling alley that offers just about every twist on the multi-lane game that there is and a few more that you didn’t even know existed.
But the thing that I love most about this place, the thing that no one else will tell you is that it’s a craft beer and cocktail goldmine and offers some of the best suds and strangest alcoholic concoctions that you’ll sample in all of Walt Disney World.
And the food menu? That’s actually really good too, and there’s something on it for everyone. It’s a great way to spend some quality family time at Disney without even having to enter the parks.
9. Dining In Disney Springs
There are sixty different dining establishments to choose from in Disney Springs, but as you’re probably going to be heading there with your family, you’ll want to go the whole hog (and talking of hogs, if you don’t want to do the sit-down family meal and you just want to a quick service eat and go light lunch, you have to try the Polite Pig, it serves the kind of culinary delights that dreams are made of), and experience the themed dining that are the specialties of both Planet Hollywood and The Rainforest Cafe.
While it’s difficult to choose between the two if you want a quieter, more involving, and wonderfully unique dining experience that you and your family will remember forever, then I’d recommend booking a table in the Rainforest Cafe, as Planet Hollywood can be incredibly loud.
But whichever restaurant you choose, remember to book in advance as they’re both popular and they’re always incredibly busy.
10. And I Didn’t Even Get To The Shopping at Disney Springs…
Those are just some of the things that make Disney Springs such a great place to hang out, enjoy yourself and relax in, and I didn’t even get a chance to mention the mind-boggling array of shops that sell everything from jewelry to Marvel merchandise and bespoke furniture to sports apparel.
When you visit Disney Springs you’ll find some great shops such as:
World of Disney – One of the largest Disney store’s you will ever experience believe me.
The Lego Store – A huge Lego store full of great Lego displays and of course lego sets to buy and take home.
Goofy’s Candy Co – A Goofy themed candy store with lots of candy and sweet treats.
Disney Style – Disney fashion that you won’t find anywhere else at WDW.
Star Wars Trading Post – Lots of merchandise and gifts for Star Wars fans.
Days of Christmas – The Christmas store that is open all year round.
Gideon’s Bakehouse – You have to try the delicious cookies here. They are unbelievable.
There’s so much more to Disney Springs than meets the eye and once you’ve experienced it for yourself, you’ll probably never want to leave.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Darren
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