9 Things You’ve GOT to Do In Disney Springs
If you are wanting to mix it up from the parks, or maybe just want some extra fun, Disney Springs is a HUGE shopping and Entertainment center that doesn’t require a park ticket! This is a great place for guests, locals, and everyone in between. However, Disney Springs can be pretty overwhelming, so here are 9 of my MUST DO’S when visiting.
Eat Somewhere!
There are DOZENS of fantastic restaurants at a variety of price points, theme, and style of food. Since most all of these are 3rd party owned, you’ll find really unique dishes for both picky eaters and adventurous eaters alike! As locals, we’ve dined at quite a few, so here are some of my favorites:
Quick Service
Polite Pig - For my BBQ Fans, this is probably the BEST BBQ that you’ll find in Disney! The portions here are definitely shareable and it’s hard to resist when you smell the delicious smells going by.
Chicken Guy - This is great if you have picky eaters, but the flavors here are just unique enough that everyone will enjoy! There are Chicken tenders and sandwiches, delish mac & cheese, and you get quite a bit of food for the price!
D-Luxe Burger - These are my FAVORITE burgers on Disney property! They usually will have a seasonal burger that never disappoints, and I highly recommend grabbing some fries because they have a selection of house made sauces that are to DIE for (and they are free!). My favorites are the Truffle Aioli, the Stout BBQ Sauce, and the 1928 (which is like an herby ranch).
Earl of Sandwich - The sandwiches here are pretty affordable and really good! They have a great variety of hot and cold style sandwiches and they even have an amazing lavender lemonade.
EET by Maneet Chauhan - For my Indian food fans, or those that are wanting to give it a try for the first time, this place is perfect! It is an Indian/American fusion restaurant that has options like Tikka Masala Pizza, Bowls, and even a Tikka Poutine.
We recently did a full review of this restaurant over on our YouTube Channel!
Pizza Ponte - The pizza slices here are HUGE! Like bigger than my face huge and they are really good! Most slices are around $7-$9 for a slice (trust me, one slice is more than enough) so it’s a great inexpensive option.
Table Service - Reservations are highly encouraged for these restaurants, but you may be able to grab a walk-up reservation if it isn’t peak meal time.
Summer House on the Lake - This is a go-to favorite of mine! They feature a variety of locally sourced dishes and allergy friendly options like their Gluten Free Chicken Tenders (which we had no idea were gluten free till someone at another table was talking about it). My personal favs are the Potato Salad Deviled Eggs, the Ahi Tuna & Watermelon Tostadas, and the Rigatoni Alla Vodka! Don’t forget to check out the Cookie Bar for some delish cookie treats. They even have gluten free options and rice krispies that are INCREDIBLE! Check out our Full Review HERE.
Splittsville - Yes, this is a bowling alley, BUT they also surprisingly have some pretty great food. You’ve got some basics like loaded nachos and burgers, but the Sushi is the real star! I recently had the ‘Aloha’ Roll and it was really fresh and full of great flavor. This is also one that is usually super easy to get walk up reservations, especially around lunch.
Wine Bar George - If you are looking for something a little more elevated, Wine Bar George is perfect for a date night or girl’s night out. They have over 200+ wines that are sold by the ounce, so if you’ve always wanted to experiment and try something new, your servers are experts in offering suggestions. They also have some great food options like their ‘Big Board’ Charcuterie, Steak Frites, Mac & Cheese Bites, and more.
Maria & Enzo’s Hideaway - This is the speakeasy version of this restaruant located UNDER Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante. You don’t actually need a secret password but the food here feels like a hidden gem with how delicious it is! They offer various itallian style dishes that are packed full of flavor and of course you’ll also find loads of craft cocktails and adult beverages to enjoy.
Raglan Road - This one is fun for the whole family! This is an Irish style pub serving traditional Irish fare like Shepherd’s Pie, Scotch Eggs, and even a really fantastic brunch. While you dine, you can watch performers like musicians and dancers that will get everyone clapping and singing along. I do recommend requesting to sit in the main dining room for the best view!
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ - If souther comfort food is more your style, Homecomin’ is a classic! They have delicious fried chicken (of course) as well as amazing mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, and loads of other great sides. If you are moonshine fan, I highly recommend giving one of their drinks a try!
Other Fun Foodie Stops!
Jock Lindsey’s - This is my favorite bar at Disney Springs! The bar is themed after Jock Lindsey - the pilot from the Indiana Jones movies - so you’ll find loads of fun theming and easter eggs all around. You don’t need a reservation, but it’s usually a little less busy earlier in the evening. They serve drinks that pack a punch as well as heavier appetizers that can absolutely be a meal on their own. It’s also one of my favorites to visit during the holiday season as they add special theming and holiday inspired eats & drinks to celebrate! We did a video showcasing the holiday offerings HERE.
Gideon’s Bakehouse - This is probably the most popular thing to do in Disney Springs and for good reason! Gideon’s serves half pound - that’s right HALF POUND - cookies that are super rich and delicious. They will usually have a few special monthly offerings included in their cookies, cold brew, and cake slices. There is typically a pretty long line to get in, but don’t let that scare you. The line moves super fast and I’ve never waited more than 20 minutes. On particularly busy days, they may implement a virtual queue, so I do recommend visiting this one earlier in the day if you can!
Everglazed - If you want a fun breakfast (or sweet treat) Everglazed has over the top donuts and breakfast sandwiches! You can also find some pretty good coffee drinks and they do have a few savory options for lunch & dinner as well.
Sprinkles - This is a fun one to visit if you are celebrating! Sprinkles sells cupcakes in a bunch of different flavors and if you are signed up for their rewards, you can even get a FREE Cupcake for your Birthday! I have a whole post about Birthday Freebies you can find at Disney Springs that you can check out HERE.
Erin McKenna Bakery NYC - Speaking of sweet treats, if you are looking for Vegan or allergy friendly options, check out Erin Mckenna’s! They serve cookies, cupcakes, tea cakes, and more that are all allergy friendly.
The Daily Poutine - For my poutine fans, you can find some fun and unique takes on poutine over here! There is often seasonal or rotating specialty poutines as well as your traditional options. This is great if you are looking for a light snack that isn’t so sweet.
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop - I’ve got two ‘ice cream’ recommendations. First is Ghirardelli’s for some sweet sundaes! You can even purchase some Ghirardelli chocolates from the shop next door.
Swirls on the Water - And for my Dole Whip fans, you can actually get a Dole Whip flight at this location! The flavors will change out seasonally, but it’s a perfect stop on those hotter Disney days.
Shopping
Along with loads of restaurants, there is also a ton of shopping! You can shop for Disney merchandise and clothing at World of Disney - the largest Disney Store in the world - or at other locations like the Co-Op, D-Style, and Tren-D.
You can find luxury stores like Coach and Kate Spade as well as favorites like Kendra Scott, Lululemon, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Columbia, and Free People. Some of my other favorite specialty shops are the Spice & Tea Exchange, M&M Store, Basin, and Disney Traders which is the Pin Trading store.
These can be a great place to pick up your souvenirs or gifts as well as get a break in some A/C, but there is a little something for everyone!
Ok, now that we have the basics like shopping and food out of the way, let’s talk about some of the more unique things to see and do in Disney Springs!
Cirque Du Solei
This is a super popular circus type show featuring acrobatics, jugglers, dancers, and more. You can usually catch a matinee or evening show and tickets can be purchased ahead of time! If you are familiar with Cirque Du Solei, the one in Disney Springs is a little different - it is the only one that has a distinct storyline that was created in collaboration with Disney itself.
This is a really fun one that the entire family can appreciate, but even if you don’t want to see the show, they do have a gift shop with lots of cool Cirque Du Solei Merchandise that you can check out!
Coca Cola Store
This is SUCH a fun thing to do in Disney Springs! This three story building has loads of Coca Cola themed merchandise on the first and second floor, but that’s not all! You can meet the Coca Cola Bear and get some pictures with him or even head up to the third floor and check out the Coca Cola bar!
There are a huge selection of non-alcoholic specialty beverages you can purchase that feature Coke products. BUT you can also get the Drinks Around the World where you can try sodas from 16 different countries! Some are delicious…. and some not so much… are you brave enough to try?
I also love the views you get from up here and if you time it right, you can even see fireworks!
Amorette’s Patisserie
I know we talked a lot about sweet treats, but this one truly does deserve it’s own category! Amorette’s Patisserie serves top notch beautiful treats like mini cakes, mousses, canoli’s and more. Everything is beautifully crafted and you will definitely feel fancy when you eat these delectable delights!
They also serve a few savory options like light sandwiches and even freshly made crepes!
For some extra fun, you can book a special cake decorating class that happens before Disney Springs opens. This offering is for two and you’ll be taught step by step how to decorate one of the famous Mickey Dome Cakes that you can then take home! This does need booked ahead of time, so make sure to check into that beforehand. You can learn more information about that experience HERE.
See Live Entertainment
Disney Springs is FULL of live entertainment that happens every day from the strolling piano playing famous song covers to live bands in the evening near the Boathouse and in front of World of Disney. You may even find some local artists performing at various bars and restaurants around Disney Springs.
Take a Balloon Ride in the Aerophile
If you’ve ever seen that big ‘hot air’ balloon floating over Disney Springs, you can actually go up in it! Fun Fact, it actually isn’t a hot air balloon - it’s filled with Helium! You can float up above Disney Springs at 400 feet to get really stunning views of Disney Property.
This is a first come first serve basis and there may be days that it is not operating on the wind conditions, but if it is, it’s a super unique experience that isn’t too terrible in price either! At the time of writing this post it’s around $30 per adult and $25 per child (ages 3-9). You can learn more about this experience HERE.
Take some Fun Photos in the Photo Studio
If you have Memory Maker as part of your vacation package, you have GOT to take advantage of this! Over by the Ghirardelli shop you’ll find a photo studio with several different photo op’s. They will typically have a ‘green screen’ one where they will have you pose a certain way and then fill in the background with something fun as well as a seasonal one with a physical ‘set’.
Photopass Photographers will be there to take your pictures and you will be able to download those photos at no additional cost as part of your Memory Maker Package! You do have to have Memory Maker purchased in order to take advantage of this, but it’s just another reason that I think Memory Maker is totally worth it!
Don’t forget, Memory Maker is cheaper if you purchase ahead of time, so make sure that you have it included in your booked package before you arrive.
Watch Artisan’s at Work in Arribas Brothers
The Arribas Brothers shop is always really cool to visit. This is where you will find beautiful crystal and glass blown art of all kinds like cups, figurines, dishes, tiaras, and even a Swarovski crystal Cinderella Castle for the low low price of $158,000! lolz
One of the things I always love coming in here is that you can usually see artisans creating glass figurines or doing personalizations on the wine glasses and cups. It’s really amazing to see the talent that goes in to each and every piece!
Whatever you like to do, Disney Springs is super fun for the whole family and you’ll want to make sure that you carve out at least half a day, if not a full day to experience it all!
