Disney Springs is a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination at Walt Disney World Resort with restaurants, shops, live music, attractions, and waterfront areas to explore. Admission is free, making it an easy place to visit for dinner, shopping, or an evening out without a theme park ticket.
The large outdoor complex is divided into four neighborhoods. You can browse Disney merchandise and major retail brands, see a Cirque du Soleil show, go bowling, take a balloon flight, catch live music, or simply walk the waterfront and stop for a meal or drink.
Disney Springs Quick Facts
- Location: Walt Disney World Resort
- Admission: Free
- Parking: Free standard self-parking
- Layout: Four neighborhoods
The Four Disney Springs Neighborhoods
Disney Springs is divided into four connected neighborhoods: Town Center, The Landing, Marketplace, and West Side, each with a different mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
- Town Center – A major shopping area with national retailers, restaurants, and walkways surrounding the springs.
- The Landing – A waterfront area known for restaurants, bars, and dining with views of Lake Buena Vista.
- Marketplace – Home to many of the destination’s Disney-focused shops and family-friendly experiences, including World of Disney and The LEGO Store.
- West Side – The entertainment-heavy end of Disney Springs, with Cirque du Soleil, House of Blues, Splitsville, AMC, LEVEL99, and other attractions.
Things to Do at Disney Springs
Entertainment ranges from major ticketed experiences to activities you can add while exploring Disney Springs.
- Drawn to Life – See the Cirque du Soleil and Disney production combining acrobatics, stagecraft, and Disney animation.
- Aerophile – Take a tethered balloon flight for elevated views over Disney Springs and the surrounding resort area.
- Vintage Amphicar Tours – Ride in an Amphicar that drives from land directly into Lake Buena Vista for a guided tour.
- Splitsville Luxury Lanes – Go bowling or stop for food and drinks at this large entertainment venue.
- AMC Movies at Disney Springs 24 – Catch a movie, including dine-in theater options.
- LEVEL99 – Take on dozens of physical, mental, and skill-based challenge rooms and games.
- Live Entertainment – Find musicians and performers at outdoor stages and entertainment locations throughout Disney Springs.
Disney Springs is also home to House of Blues Orlando, which hosts touring artists, concerts, and other live events on the West Side.
Dining at Disney Springs
Dining is one of the biggest reasons to visit Disney Springs, with options ranging from quick-service meals and bakeries to waterfront restaurants, celebrity-chef concepts, bars, and signature dining.
Popular choices include The BOATHOUSE, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Morimoto Asia, Wine Bar George, and T-REX. You’ll also find plenty of options for desserts, snacks, coffee, and drinks if you aren’t planning a full meal.
Popular restaurants can book well in advance, especially during busy travel periods. Make reservations early if there’s a particular restaurant you don’t want to miss.
Shopping at Disney Springs
Disney Springs combines Disney-focused stores with fashion, specialty retailers, and major national brands. World of Disney is the centerpiece for Disney merchandise, while other popular stops include The LEGO Store, DisneyStyle, UNIQLO, M&M’S, and Ron Jon Surf Shop.
When to Visit Disney Springs
Disney Springs can be visited throughout the day, but late afternoon into evening is an especially good time to explore. Restaurants and entertainment become a bigger part of the experience after dark, and it’s easy to combine shopping with dinner, drinks, live music, or a show.
Evenings, weekends, and holidays can also bring larger crowds, so allow extra time if you have a dining reservation or ticketed event.
Parking & Getting There
Standard self-parking is complimentary in the Disney Springs garages and surface lots. Multiple parking areas serve different parts of the complex, so it helps to know where your restaurant, shop, or entertainment venue is located before arriving.
Disney recommends arriving at least 60 minutes before a dining reservation, show, or scheduled event to allow time for traffic, parking, and walking to your destination.
Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels can also use complimentary Disney transportation to reach Disney Springs. Depending on the resort, transportation may include buses or boat service.
Pair Disney Springs With a Theme Park Day
Because Disney Springs doesn’t require admission, it’s an easy place to visit for dinner, shopping, or entertainment after spending the day at a Walt Disney World theme park. It’s especially useful when you want to continue your evening without committing to another ticketed attraction.
Nearby Things to Do
Disney Springs is surrounded by Walt Disney World attractions. Nearby options include Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park.
Disney Springs Images
