If you haven’t been to Disney Springs lately (formerly known as Downtown Disney and Disney Village Marketplace in my younger years), you’re missing out. I always loved its predecessors, but the new and improved areas of this staple on Walt Disney World property are pretty spectacular. Not only are the shopping and dining options on a whole other level, there are also really unique experiences to have. It’s become a place where you can really spend an entire day.
What’s changed? There are MANY more stores and restaurants. Your old favorites (restaurants like Raglan Road and Rainforest Cafe, and shops like World of Disney, Basin, and The LEGO Store) are still there, but there are also some incredible new places to eat and shop that you have to check out. Because of all the new territory, it also feels a bit less crowded which is super nice on a hot summer day. I’m dividing this post into sections so you can sort through all of my favorites easily!
Parking
When you first arrive at Disney Springs, you’ll notice something really cool (aside from the free parking!): the parking garages are smart! They help you figure out what level has open spaces, and once you’re on that level you can actually see which spaces are open thanks to these lights that hang from the ceiling. I wish every parking garage had this feature!
Pro-tips:
- If you’ve got a stroller, try to park on the 2nd level of the Lime or Orange garage so you’ll only have to take one elevator ride to get to the shops and restaurants below.
- There are currently three garages for Disney Springs: Lime, Orange, and Grapefruit, so there is plenty of parking available and you don’t have to just duck in to the first garage you see.
Dining at Disney Springs
Y’all. The new dining options are to. die. for. We’ve tried most of the dining options at Disney Springs, but D-Luxe Burger (counter service), Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, The Edison, and Maria & Enzo’s (all sit-down) are our favorites. I can’t wait to try the new Jaleo by Jose Andres!
The burgers at D-Luxe Burger have really fun ingredients. I got the Southern Classic Burger which has pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes on it. SO good.
Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming is Florida themed and it’s perfect. I ordered shrimp and grits, Jon had fried chicken, and Graham had a (HUGE) kids meal with chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, and peas and carrots. There’s also a shine bar that we didn’t try, but it’s on our list!
Pro-tips:
- If you’re going for dinner, get there around 5:00 and you should be able to easily get a table at D-Luxe Burger and you might even be able to snag one at Homecomin’.
- Disney has added lots of quick service windows and food trucks as well, where you can get a full meal. These are great for eating on a budget or if you find yourself hungry during the lunch or dinner rush and can’t wait for a table.
Shopping at Disney Springs
There’s an amazing new crop of stores at Disney Springs. Many of them are relatively high-end, but there are also some more budget-friendly additions like UNIQLO and Alex and Ani.
The Coca-Cola Store is one of the coolest new shops. It’s got all sorts of Coke apparel as well as a tasting station on a rooftop patio.
Pro-Tip: If you’re looking for a low-priced souvenir, UNIQLO is definitely the place to go. They have Disney tee-shirts for less than $10!
Activities
There are always fun things to do at Disney Springs. Random performances, family-friendly contests, and DJs are all around the property throughout the day and evening.
We loved going bowling at Splitsville on our staycation at Disney and the new NBA experience is going to open up just a short walk away. In our sneak preview at the Disney Social Media Celebration it looks absolutely amazing!
The Lego Store has one of my favorite activities for kids and adults: Lego car racing. Kids can build their own cars and race them on a specially designed platform.
We also love that several of the stores have stations where you can build your own souvenir to take home like a gauntlet at Marvel Superhero HQ and a lightsaber at
Pro-Tip: There’s always a crowd at the Lego car racing station, so don’t be afraid to (politely) work your way in and get creative!
Have you been to Disney Springs? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Loved the Coca-cola store! DeLuxe burger had great food,and enough space for a family. Disney Springs is better than ever!
Totally agree, Jenny! It’s such a great place and a fun way to spend time outside of the parks.
Now I see what you’ve been trying to tell me about how different the area is! It’s nice to see that Disney has expanded their options for guests looking for a taste of the Disney experience beyond the walls of the parks. Is the Coca-Cola tasting like Club Cool at Epcot?
Also, the first picture in your post, the one with the fountain, looks remarkably similar to Downtown Disney at Disneyland. A taste of what to expect if/when you make it out there for a visit!
The Coca-Cola tasting is kind of like the Cool Club, except it’s not free and the samples are pre-poured. Kind of a bummer, but it is a really neat location so people who aren’t going to Epcot can have a similar experience.
And that’s really cool! I can’t wait to get out there. One of these days we’ll make it happen!