There’s MORE amazing stuff hiding in Disney World that goes beyond just Cinderella Castle and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But in order to FIND these marvelous things, we’re going to Disney Springs!

Today, we’re looking at ALL sorts of Disney Springs activities for ALL vacation types. Whether you’re looking for high end food or good food on the dime, the newest experiences or the classic must-sees, something to entertain the kiddos or something for a hot date night — you NAME it — there’s a little something for EVERYONE inside Disney Springs.

So let’s see if we can build a FULL Disney day for YOU inside this shopping district alone. 

A NEW Drone Show!

Look up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s…. A LOT of colorful drones, hovering above Lake Buena Vista! A new drone show “Disney Dreams That Soar” debuted on May 24th.

But here’s the catch — it’s only gonna be here for a limited time. So you’ll need to visit Disney’s shopping district by September 2nd if you don’t want to miss out on this exclusive experience!

The drone show is a late-night perk for those still hanging out at Disney Springs once the sun goes down, so if you’re gonna stick around Disney Springs LATE to catch “Disney Dreams That Soar,” plan your next park day accordingly (and consider hitting the snooze button the next morning to catch up on those zzzs).

Spin Art 

‘Round and around and around it GOES! The Art Corner is THE place to go if you want a unique Disney souvenir that’s completely tailored to your family. There are digital caricatures, hand-drawn name illustrations… OR if you wanna take those creative liberties into your OWN hands, you can make custom spin art — just by hopping onto one of the shop’s stationary bikes.

Sounds weird, I know — but it’s actually pretty easy to do! First, you’ll select up to four paint colors (whichever four colors you prefer). Then, you’ll get on one of the stationary bikes and start PEDALING AWAY to get the paint on your canvas SPINNING! By the end of your artistic journey/workout, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind canvas of art — created by YOU and YOU ALONE!

Just keep in mind that you will have to wait about 30 minutes before you can take your art with you — since it’s DEFINITELY gonna need to dry before it’s travel-ready. But after half an hour has passed, you can pick it up from the Art Corner and it should be good to go!

Cake Decorating Experience

Have you ever looked at a cutesy Disney dessert and thought, “Man, I wish I could learn how to decorate like that”? Well, now you CAN! Amorette’s Patisserie Cake Decorating Experience is a 90 minute class that lets you and another friend decorate your own character dome cake (while you sip on an assortment of refreshments).

This experience costs $199, but that price does cover the other person joining you, too— unless you wanna add a SECOND cake to your experience for an extra $50.

Depending on when you book this experience will determine the kind of dome cake you make. On Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, you can make a dome cake inspired by Mickey. And on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you can make one inspired by Minnie!

Mobile Ordering 

While we mobile order from the My Disney Experience App ALL the time when we’re trying to get a quick bite inside the parks, that’s not exactly the most common practice inside Disney Springs.

In fact, out of the many-many-MANY places to grab a bite on-the-go in this shopping district, the only Disney Springs restaurants (currently) that have a mobile service option via the MDE app are Amorette’s Patisserie, BB Wolf’s Sausage Co., Candy Cauldron, D-Luxe Burger, and Goofy’s Candy Co.

Everything else you’re just gonna have to stand in line for.

Or… WILL you? At select quick services — like The Polite Pig, Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew, Chicken Guy, Starbucks, and Earl of Sandwich — you can mobile order straight from the restaurant’s website or app. Each mobile order site works a little differently but, more than likely, you’ll choose what you want, pay for it online, and be given a rough estimate for when you can go back and pick it up.

Just keep in mind that if you’re wanting to enjoy one of the Polite Pig’s many bourbon options from their extensive Bourbon Bar, you WON’T be able to mobile order one of their spirits. So you’ll still have to wait in a standby for any and all alcohol orders.

Our ULTIMATE Guide to Disney Springs Restaurants

A Wine Bar George Date MINUS The Reservations

Whether you can’t find any last minute reservations for Wine Bar George OR you’re just looking for a more casual date day environment with similar Wine Bar George offerings, The Basket might be just the place you’re after.

The Basket is the Counter Service component to Wine Bar George, serving selections like sandwiches, small plates, and even Picnic Basket meals, as well as wines on tap. You’ll also find a fun variety of wine slushes, too — like the ever-so-popular Dole Whip Frozcato!

Overall, if you’re looking for a nice impromptu date night, The Basket’s a solid option thanks to its easily shareable dishes and intimate outdoor seating area.

An Entire Kiosk Dedicated To Left-Handed People

The fact that this kooky li’l kiosk has been a part of the Disney Springs scene for YEARS now cracks me up. I just love the specific novelty of it. Lefty’s is located in the Marketplace area of the shopping district and sells strictly items for left-handed folks. You might find left-handed scissors, or left-handed pens, or even shirts that REJOICE over the fact that you’re LEFT-HANDED and want the WORLD to know.

But this isn’t the only kitschy open-air shop you’re gonna find hanging out around Disney Springs. You can also find novelty item at OTHER kiosks:

• The eyCatchers cart sells laser-cut wind spinners that you can hang above your front porch
• The Happy Hound kiosks has lots of goodies to bring home to your four-legged friend (including bandanas with sassy phrases)
• And the Carved Ring cart is… exactly what it sounds like! You can get a ring that’s carved to show off the initials of your loved one!

Build Your Own Minifigure 

Everything is AWESOME at The LEGO Store in Disney Springs. Okay, that’s not entirely true. The cost for those major LEGO sets are so NOT awesome. BUT if you’re looking for a MUCH cheaper LEGO souvenir that also exercises the creative part of your brain, then be sure to check out the Build Your Own Minifigure Experience!

Over at the Minifigure Factory inside the store, you can customize a LEGO minifigure from its hair, to its face, to its accessory, to its pants. But the REAL creative stuff happens when you get on one of the Minifig Factory Tablets — where you’ll be able to customize the specific design that your LEGO person is gonna wear. You can pick from one of the factory’s dozens of default designs, OR you can get all artsy-fartsy and make your own design/picture/words/WHATEVER tickles your fancy!

After you get the front and back of the shirt designed just the way you want it, the LEGO Store will print your creation RIGHT there in the shop! And you can do this ALL for around $12 per minifigure!

WARNING: This experience is a pretty popular one amongst guests, so you may not just be able to waltz right up and make a minifig whenever the mood strikes ya (especially if you’re visiting in the evening when the store gets crowded). If you notice the Minifig Factory is bustling with activity during your visit, ask a LEGO cast member if you can be added to the factory waitlist. They’ll take your name and phone number and give you an estimated wait time. Then, you can go back out and explore Disney Springs some more as you wait for a text telling you to come on back!

Yeah, you can book online, but it’s usually just easier to go the day of and join the walk-up waitlist. Like you said, the minifig reservations usually book up and make it APPEAR like you won’t be able to do it during your visit — when in reality you’ll just have to join a virtual queue like you would if you were going up to get a Gideon’s cookie.

A GIANT Paella

If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE sharable entree to split with your WHOLE family (and maybe even the family sitting next to you, too), Jaleo has JUST the ticket. Jaleo’s Paella y Arroces (Paella and Rice) is a MASSIVE portion of paella for the entire table.

You’ve got a few different options to choose from — like the chicken, or veggie, or shrimp, or ribeye… But here’s the REAL kicker.

Because this dish is so LARGE and can serve 4-5+ guests easily, it takes a while to cook. So expect to wait 45+ minutes before you finally get to dig in (which is why we highly recommend putting in your order for this option shortly after you’re seated).

When your paella is ready, a whole spectacle takes place. A bell is rung and ALL the servers (not just your server, but ALL of them) shout, “PAELLA”.

This is a fun, unique, and super tasty option to try if you’re wanting a nice dinner to share with your group in Disney Springs, but the prices are a little… less fun. Paellas like this range between $130-$250. (But if you’re splitting the bill between multiple folks in your group, then it may be a little less of a sticker shock for ya.)

NEW Patios With AMAZING Views

We LOVE finding new places to dine in the Disney scene. But what makes a new dining experience even BETTER is when the restaurant has picture-perfect VIEWS to go along with the food. Which is why Summer House on the Lake has quickly become a new favorite stop for us.

Summer House on the Lake is a sit down restaurant that serves California-inspired bites, house-made rosés, Cali-Mexi Brunch on the weekends, and fresh-baked desserts (which you can ALSO pick up to-go over at their Cookie Bar).

If you decide you wanna dine at this restaurant, you’ll be able to enjoy your meal inside one of Summer House’s three expansive rooms. In the front of the restaurant, you’ll find an outdoor patio, sunroom with a few high-top tables, and one of the two bars. The main dining room is situated toward the back of the restaurant, and is not only laden with booths and tables, but is also decorated with lots of greenery and natural light. And finally, there’s the back porch — which definitely has the best views across the water!

More than likely, you’ll be able to request your seating preference, but keep in mind that there’s always the possibility that you’ll just have to take what you can get IF the restaurant winds up being uber busy on the day of your visit.

Secret Phrases That Unlock Limited Time Treats

Just how BADLY do you want a Gideon’s Bakehouse secret baked good that only LIMITED people will have access to ordering? Because they’re gonna make you WORK for it. Gideon’s Bakehouse sells an ASSORTMENT of cookies and cakes throughout the entire year. But, every now and then, they make a super limited batch of a specific flavor — and only those who know the secret password will actually be able to order that flavor (while supplies last).

More than likely, you’ll see this secret password featured somewhere on Gideon’s social media page — either as a specific post or hidden in their stories. So Gideon’s DOES reward their followers with the rare stuff for following their accounts!

This year, Gideon’s had a SECRET Fluffernutter cake released in mid-April that you could only order IF you said the secret phrase: “Fluffernutter, Fluffernutter, Fluffernutter.” (It’s like “Beetlejuice,” but instead of summoning a dead guy, you get to buy cake.)

AND on Valentine’s Day, you could order one of Gideon’s red velvet snack cakes by saying the phrase “I love you.” (Awww — I probably could’ve GUESSED that!)

So if you’re gonna be in Disney Springs in the future, it may be worth peeking at Gideon’s social pages — just in case a super-special treat releases while you’re there that YOU need the code for!

Make Advance Dining Reservations BEFORE 60 Days! 

Ready to CHEAT your way to Disney Dining victory? Here’s how to make it happen in Disney Springs:

Since most restaurants inside Disney Springs are not directly owned by Disney but, instead, are owned by a third-party company, the Disney World website isn’t the ONLY place you can book dining reservations for these experiences. You can ALSO book dining ressies for Disney Springs restaurants on opentable.com.

So…how early CAN you book? Well, it depends on the restaurant! For example, you might be able to reserve your table for Wine Bar George in Disney Springs up to a year in advance. (I don’t think you’ll NEED to worry about booking it THAT far in advance but, hey, it COULD be an option!)

A TON of other Disney Springs restaurants let you book between 60 days and 6 months out — such as Paddlefish, The Boathouse, The Edison, and Morimoto Asia.

And the BEST part about opentable? Even IF you’re not finding reservation availability on the My Disney Experience website, that doesn’t mean you won’t still find it on opentable. (So always check BOTH website, just to increase your chances of getting those reservations secured)

On-Site Repairs

If you purchase a shirt or pants or some other fashionable item from the Uniqlo store in Disney Springs — but said item experiences a wardrobe malfunction while you’re out and about — Uniqlo can actually give your poor threads a bit of a fixer-upper to make ‘em good as new again!

For $5, you can take your damaged Uniqlo-branded clothes to the shop for on-site repairs. According to the website, this includes “button replacement and other fixes for jeans, down jackets, shirts, and sweaters.”

A Taste Of Ireland

What you see inside the Raglan Road table service is basically a little slice of Ireland smack-dab in the sunshine-y state of Florida. And I mean that. This place is as legit as they come — not just because of the food, river dancing, and Guinness Beer, but because of the FURNITURE decorating the place, too.

Even if you don’t sit at one of the bars in this establishment, you’ll still wanna take a moment to appreciate the bars themselves. The bars lining the inside of Raglan Road are 130 years old and were brought to the U.S. straight from Ireland! (Doesn’t get much more authentic than THAT!)

Naan Bread Service

Bread is amazing, period. (No further questions, please.) And that’s why I’m ALWAYS down to split a bread service with someone — especially if it’s a NEW bread service, like the one you can order over at EET!

EET is a new Quick Service located in The Marketplace section, right next to the 12 Days of Christmas store and the back entrance to Disney Springs.

Here, you’ll be able to try Indian cuisine with a modern twist. And while this restaurant has quite a few options for you to choose from, you’ll wanna turn towards the shareables part of the menu if you wanna find the bread service option. This bread service comes with buttered naan, garlic naan, pimento whipped paneer cheese, masala vegetable sticks, Indian pickle, coriander honey, and various chutneys.

The full bread service is $20 — which (in my personal opinion), is a bit on the pricey side…especially since you only get two pieces of naan with that. BUT it IS really delicious, easy to split with someone else, and a great option for bread service fanatics! If you’re looking for a cheaper way to try at least one serving of naan (minus all the accompaniments) you can order single slices of the bread in a la carte fashion, instead, for around $5-$7.

So Many LOADED Fries

My love of bread AND loaded fries is immeasurable — so thank goodness Disney Springs provides them BOTH. So where can you find the BEST loaded fries inside this shopping district? I was literally MADE to answer this question!

Back at the new quick service, EET, you can order the Tandoori Poutine for $16 — which is made with chaat masala fries, tandoori chicken, white cheddar curds, and rich tomato butter sauce.

At The Daily Poutine kiosk (near Amorette’s Patisserie), you can grab a VARIETY of different loaded fry options all year round (including the classic beef and cheddar cheese curds poutine, as well as a few seasonal varieties, too) for just over $10.

BTW, many of y’all in the comments have declared Disney’s poutine as “FAUX”tine — since it’s not TRULY like the Canadain classic stuff at ALL… so I’ll respect your wishes and refer to it that way from here on out. JUST for you.

AND then there’s the Splitsville Luxury Lanes loaded fries that MANY of y’all are missing out on by SKIPPING the whole “dining and bowling experience.” The loaded fries here are $14 and come smothered with queso blanco, bacon, ranch, scallions, and “love.” (Hey — the Splitsville menu said it, not me. But… I wouldn’t necessarily disagree.) The Splitsville menu also says this loaded fry option does serve two or more people, so you’ll DEFINITELY have plenty of fries for EVERYONE in your group to try.

ALSO — keep in mind that you DON’T have to bowl in order to dine at Splitsville, and vice-versa. While many folks do come here to experience both, you can always make reservations for ONE experience instead if you’d rather just get the fries but skip out on knocking some pins down in the afternoon.

A PhotoPass Studio 

If you’ve purchased the Memory Maker add-on to your trip — and you’re trying to squeeze in as many PhotoPass Opportunities to get your money’s worth out of the service — then I need to tell you about the photopass spot you can find hiding over at Disney Springs, too!

The Disney PhotoPass Studio is located in the Marketplace area (sandwiched between Marketplace Co-Op and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain Chocolate Shop). It’s pretty easy to walk on past if you’re not looking for it — but when you DO find it, this is a little photo studio where you can choose your virtual backdrop, maybe a prop or two, and take a few family photos that you can access through your Memory Maker.

Just like a regular photopass stop in the parks, you don’t need a reservation for this studio (and, oftentimes, you won’t really have to worry about much of a wait, either). After you’re done with your session, you can see your pictures IMMEDIATELY at the viewing stations off to the side.

AND if you DIDN’T get the Memory Maker add-on, no worries! You can still purchase these photos at an individual price point once you get back home, OR you can buy and print them RIGHT there in the studio to take with ya!

An Allergy-Friendly Bakery

Just because your diet looks different from the diets of other folks in your group doesn’t mean you have to give up munching a delectable dessert during your Disney Springs shopping spree. Erin McKenna’s bakery won’t stand for that.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC is a fairly small quick-service that specializes in sweets and treats made to serve, “…the underserved people with gluten, dairy, egg, and soy sensitivities…” Their goal? To make “eating vegan and gluten-free fun and delicious.”

But the very best part about these desserts is that the recipes have been created to feel and taste like regular treats instead of treats modified to be “allergy friendly.” So go ahead! Choose a cupcake, whoopie pie, tea cake, cinnamon roll, cookie — whatever your heart desires (and do so worry-free)!

Jock Lindsey’s Knick-Knacks

If you’re someone who REALLY appreciates a dining establishment LACED with Imagineering, storytelling, AND lots of fun Easter Eggs, then you’ve GOTTA prioritize at least ONE visit to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar.

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, according to Imagineering Lore, is the waterfront property that belongs to Indiana Jones’ trusted pilot, Jock Lindsey. Apparently, Jock discovered this waterfront property in 1938 as he flew with Indiana over Florida on the hunt for the Fountain of Youth. He returned to the area in the 1940s to set up a small business — Jock Lindsey’s “Air Tours” — which offered scenic plane tours across the state.

And now? Well, NOW we’re left with the Hangar where Jock also used to host his Society of Explorers and Adventurers friends.

This Hangar Bar doesn’t take reservations, so seating is first-come, first served. But while you’re here, be sure to really appreciate all the DETAILS that highlight Jock’s aviation career over the years. Because there’s a WHOLE lot of ‘em! You’ll see his life’s story told through pictures, banners, trophies, newspaper clippings, hanging mechanical tools, and collected artifacts. AND — if you’re lucky — you might even be able to grab a seat inside the lounge’s DIVING BELL booth (IF it’s free and available during your visit).

Use Your Rewards Points

Inside the Disney Parks, all your built-up Starbucks rewards points aren’t gonna do you a lick of good (since these locations SELL Starbucks items but aren’t LEGIT Starbucks storefronts). BUT here’s the good news, all you Disney Springs shoppers!

Both Starbucks locations inside Disney Springs ARE legit storefronts — meaning you can use your Starbucks stars, refillable mugs, or any other Starbucks-app perks at either Disney Springs location!

(And you can MOBILE ORDER from these locations, too via the Starbucks App — unlike you can inside the Disney Parks.)

Finding Bathrooms (Outside Of The Restaurants)

If you’re on the hunt for a quick potty break WITHOUT having to go into a restaurant and pay for food to use one of theirs, HERE are a few places where you can find reliable facilities around the shopping district:

• In the Marketplace section, there’s restrooms (and companion restrooms) to the left of Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories shop (that’s the one attached to The Art of Disney Store)
• The BIG World of Disney has restrooms outside on the right-hand side of the shop (right across from Amorette’s Patisserie)
• If you walk to the backside of the Starbucks storefront over on the West Side of the shopping district, you’ll find bathrooms hiding out (which can be a good potty stop for anyone planning to eat at one of the food trucks in Exposition Park)
• And over in Town Center, inside the little alleyway leading up to the Disney bus stop, you’ll find some private restrooms tucked away, outta sight outta mind.

Again — these aren’t the ONLY restrooms inside the Disney Springs shopping district that aren’t directly linked to one of the restaurants here, so if you’re looking for more, check out the “Restrooms” page on the Disney World website.

An Ornament JUST For YOU!

It’s Christmas 365 days a year if you happen to visit the Disney Days of Christmas store at Disney Springs. But no matter what time of the year you visit during, you may wanna make a pilgrimage out this direction for one of my favorite souvenir options of all time — a personalized ornament!

For painted ornaments, you can get a name, year, OR number printed for an extra $5 — with $5 more for every word or art piece you choose to add on top of that. OR you can get the month, date, AND year of your trip visit, all for an additional $15. (You’ve also got a LOT of different shiny ink colors to choose from, too! So choose wisely!)

And it’s not just ornaments that the Disney Days of Christmas Store can personalize. They can also add some extra “bling” to select Mickey Ears styles AND celebration buttons, too!

Celebration buttons — for honeymoons, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, or just ANY sort of event you’re wanting to celebrate, really — can be picked up at the lobby of your resort OR at any of the guest relations buildings at the front of the parks. For absolutely 0 dollars and 0 cents.

But if you swing by the Disney Days of Christmas shop, they can style your button JUST like they would your ornament — for an extra $5.

Flavors Of Florida

This is seriously SUCH an underrated event is Disney Springs — BUT if you come here for it in the summer, it ALMOST makes enduring the Floridian heat worth it. (…Almost.) Flavors of Florida kicks off in Disney Springs every summer, bringing with it some fresh and citrusy seasonal eats to several restaurants around the shopping district.

This event usually starts up on July 1st and lasts until the end of August, and features HUNDREDS of limited time cuisine and sips, plus cooking demonstrations, and more. And NEW in 2024 are Flavors of Florida Pairing Events at beloved spots like Wine Bar George, The Edison, Paddlefish, and MORE!

Photo Ops With An Unexpected Character

It’s not Mickey Mouse. It’s not Minnie. It’s not Pluto or Daisy or Donald or really ANY Disney character, for that matter. No, at Disney Springs, you can meet and take pictures with… The Coca-Cola Polar Bear!

Over at the Coca Cola Store, you’ll find THREE floors completely dedicated to the carbonated beverage company. This means lots of souvenirs, a Rooftop Coca-Cola bar, AND a photo op with the 7-foot mascot himself. You can find the Polar Bear mascot photo op on the store’s second floor — BUT, just a heads up, he’s not ALWAYS out and available to take pictures with.

The Disney website encourages all guests who wanna know our arctic friend’s specific meet-and-greet hours of the day to call the store directly and ask about them at (407) 560-0107.

And SPEAKING of interesting meet and greets, did you know that you can typically meet an M&M over at the M&M’s Store, too? You can say “hello” to Yellow for me! Usually, the M&M characters greet guests every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-8PM.

Club Cool: Disney Springs Edition

If you’re a fan of the International drinks samples at Club Cool over in EPCOT, then I’ve got a FUN surprise for yooo-ooou… You can order FULL SIZES of your favorite Club Cool drinks, over at the Coca-Cola Rooftop Bar!

Unfortunately, you’re not gonna find free soda samples here like you will in EPCOT… HOWEVER, you can order several popular Club Cool soda flavors (for a price) in 16oz, 20oz, or 24oz cups!

Not EVERY Club Cool flavor may be available at the time of your visit, but most commonly you’ll find options like the VegitaBeta, the Sprite Cucumber, the Inca Cola, or — everyone’s FAAAAAVORITE — the BEVERLY. (Yeah, can you BELIEVE it? There are actually people out there who ENJOY Beverly enough to BUY it. If you’re one of those people, let me know in the comments. Because I KNOW y’all are hiding out there SOMEWHERE.)

Happy Hours!

What time is it? It’s HAPPY HOUR! (At least, it’s happy hour SOMEWHERE in Disney Springs. You just gotta know where to look!) Happy Hour offerings update pretty regularly, but here are just a couple of the happy hours you can find in the shopping district DAILY:

• Paradiso 37 has $8 house margaritas and $7 domestic draft beers from 11AM-4PM (AND 9PM-11PM); available at the bar or To Go only
• STK Orlando has happy hour at the bar, lounge, and patio every day from 2:30PM to 5:30 PM and Sunday through Thursday 10PM to Close. Offers vary.

We’ve got all the updated Happy Hours across the Springs featured in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining ebook, too — sooooo… that’s just another reason why you might wanna check it out while you’re over at dfbstore.com!

Custom Latte Art

Grabbing a Joffrey’s Coffee is already special to the Disney World scene. But if you wanna amp up your Joffrey’s coffee experience from “special” to “AMAZINGLY special,” then you might wanna consider splurging an extra 50 cents on some custom latte art!

At the flagship Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company store in The Landing Area of Disney Springs, you can get specialty foam art to jazz up any ol’ cappuccino or latte of your choice. There are TWO ways to go about this:

1) You can download the Ripples App and follow the step-by step instructions, or

2) You can use the Ripples App that’s already downloaded on the Joffrey’s store tablet and follow the prompts from there.

Seasonal Snacks

Disney Springs features NEW flavors inside their restaurants ALL THE TIME. Sometimes seasonally, sometimes monthly, sometimes even for one weekend only. So no matter WHEN you visit, you’re bound to run into a different offering than you experienced LAST time. Just to give you a FEW (VERY few) examples…

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar transforms into Jock Lindsey’s HOLIDAY bar toward the end of the year — bringing with it new festive drinks and eats.

Each month, we see NEW dessert flavors pop up for locations like Gideon’s Bakehouse, Salt and Straw, Swirls on the Water, and Sprinkles Cupcakes.

AND on Thanksgiving, certain restaurants — like Maria and Enzo’s, Homecomin’, Raglan Road, City Works Eatery and Pour House, Planet Hollywood, and Wine Bar George — will have ONE DAY ONLY Thanksgiving cuisine featured on the menu for any families looking to keep things semi-traditional during their Thanksgiving holiday in Disney World.

Follow The Parking Lights! 

Okay, this is just a silly little thing — but a NIFTY silly little thing, at that! When you’re parking in one of the Disney Springs parking garages, you won’t have to second guess whether a row inside the parking garage is completely filled or not. Each individual parking spot will have a light hanging up above it. If you see any of those lights are bright green instead of red, that means the space is free and yours for the taking!

Again — this ain’t just a Disney-specific invention, or anything; SEVERAL parking garages across the states have lights in their parking garages, too.

BUT it’s nice to know that when you are trying to park at Disney Springs, you don’t have to worry about it being a guessing game. Just be like a moth and FOLLOW THE LIGHTS!

A “Secret” Tunnel 

Okay, so maybe Enzo’s Hideaway isn’t as “secret” as the name suggests. But the concept of getting a drink inside a “secret tunnel” over at Disney Springs may STILL have flown under your radar. According to Imagineering Lore, Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar is located in “what were said to be rum-running tunnels,” just below the Italian restaurant, Maria and Enzo’s.

This so-called speakeasy is inspired by the aperitivo bars in Rome (and, better yet, also inspired by the true Florida history of rum-running).

Along with Enzo’s immersive theming (including graffiti on the walls and empty liquor bottles lining the shelves), the restaurant serves Prohibition-era style cocktails (ie: “Giggle Water”) along with a full menu of Roman dishes featuring pastas, paninis, and cured meat-and-cheese platters to share.

A Cupcake ATM

Now THIS is the sweetest transaction you’re ever gonna make! Disney Springs’ specialty cupcake shop, Sprinkles, has a Pepto Bismol-colored Cupcake ATM located right outside its building.

If you wanna make a cupcake purchase (without going in the shop and purchasing one the ol’ fashioned way), just choose your confections of choice on the ATM screen, choose your quantities, and then proceed to check out! It’s easy as pie! (Or, rather, easy as “cake,” in this case!)

Turkey Legs MINUS The Park Ticket

SO MANY FOLKS forget about the fact that you can, indeed, get a GIANT TURKEY LEG outside of the Disney parks…. Including US. We forget about that, too. But you most certainly CAN get one over at The Smokehouse quick service window, just outside of the House of Blues restaurant.

The Turkey Legs here are pretty much that same Ren-Faire style hunk of meat on the bone that most folks either love or hate. They’re GIANT, smoky, a little bit crispy, and a whole lotta salty.

Weekend Brunches!

I am in my BRUNCH ERA, y’all — so let’s talk about Disney Springs’ various brunch options! Several of Disney Springs’ table service restaurants host weekend brunches all year long. Here are a few of the shopping district’s ”best of” options that you might wanna add to your weekend vacation schedule:

• A Bayou Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays over at The House of Blues (with options like chicken and waffles and a made-to-order omelet station)
• A Rise ‘n Shine Brunch is served inside the Homecomin’ restaurant on Saturdays and Sunday (including items like the hushpuppy Benedict and southern poutine, topped with a fried egg)
• The Wine Country Brunch happens at Wine Bar George on Saturdays and Sundays — giving you the chance to pair your morning Dole Whip Frozcato with a fried chicken biscuit or steak and eggs
• STK Orlando is one of the FEW Disney brunch locations left that still has a bottomless mimosa/Bloody Mary option. But there are TWO rules you have to follow if you wanna parktake in that endless option. Rule #1: You MUST order an entree along with your mimosa/Mary. And Rule #2: You only have 90 minutes to enjoy those bottomless drinks before you’re gonna be cut off by your server.
• The Boathouse has a Captain’s Sing a Long Brunch on Sundays where dueling piano players will be tickling the ivories and taking requests while you chow down on a Biscoff Cookie Waffle or Avocado Toast!
• And — if you wanna check out my personal favorite brunch stop — Raglan Road has their Rollicking Raglan Brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays, featuring live music and specialty options such as (but not limited to) the ever-so-sweet pancakes diaspora (with creme fraiche, maple syrup, and mixed berry compote) as well as the ever-so-savory All This… And Eggs On Top (made with pulled slow-braised beef, potato hash with sautéed mushrooms, green onions, and mushroom ketchup, topped with two sunny-side up eggs)

Click here to see the ultimate guide to the best breakfast in Disney Springs.

Eat Signature Dining CHEAPER

Look, I love Morimoto Asia. I love its fancy vibes and expansive menu and wagyu beef. (I ESPECIALLY love its wagyu beef.) But realistically, I ain’t gonna be paying top dollar to sit down and eat a nice meal at Morimoto Asia each time I’m shopping around Disney Springs. Which is why I’m SO GLAD Morimoto Asia Street Food exists.

Morimoto Asia Street Food is on the patio of the main restaurant and features quick street food options such as Pork Egg Rolls, Ginger Chicken Ramen, Morimoto Baby Ribs, and other Morimoto selections that provide you with a similar tasting experience that you’d get if you were dining at the signature restaurant itself.

And the best part about this place? You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to munch here. Most of the street food on the menu ranges in price between $6-$14, depending on whatcha get.

Moonshine Cocktails 

I’m not always the biggest Moonshine fan, but Homecomin’ has found a way to convince me otherwise. Homecomin’ has five unique “Shines on Tap” (with an occasional extra shine cocktail thrown on the list every now and then for a limited time — depending on the season. )

But the MAIN shine players here typically include: The RumShine Punch, the Strawberry Lemonade, the Sweet Tea Shine, the Moonshine Margarita, and the Blue Hooch (aka: the strongest shine on the list — made with Blue Flame moonshine, lemon-infused moonshine, blue curacao, house-made simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a splash of Sprite).

Each Shine on Tap is gonna cost ya $15, but if you’re having a hard time narrowing down WHICH shine you wanna try, you can always order the Shine Flight instead for $36 to try a small pour of all five!

Exclusive Irish Parties

Raglan Road likes to keep the celebrations going ALL YEAR LONG. So if you’re planning on dining at this Irish pub during your next visit, be aware of THESE Raglan Road annual events:

During Labor Day weekend, Raglan Road holds their Great Irish Hooley Musical Festival — which is a filled with  lots of singing, dancing, entertainment, and limited time food and drink offerings.

Every St. Patrick’s Day, Raglan Road gets in touch with their green side by offering even MORE limited time food, drink, and performances — exclusive to the holiday. AND on World Whiskey Day (towards the end of May), Raglan Road likes to join in on the fun with their limited time whiskey deals (where you can typically  try a flight of four select whiskeys from around the world for $30!)

A Shop Full Of Cards

If you’re still a fan of snail mail and greeting cards (which you SHOULD be — those things are HEARTFELT, yo), then you’re REALLY gonna get a kick outta the Love Pop store front. The little store is in the Town Center area — located next to Ron Jon Surf Shop — and is a store completely dedicated to cutesy/crafty 3D pop up cards for any and every occasion.

But Lovepop doesn’t JUST sell cards. They also have these fun paper flower bouquets, too — which are the PERFECT gift for your partner who just can’t keep a houseplant alive no matter WHAT they do.

Karaoke! 

Forget about those private karaoke room experiences — It’s time to really SHOW OFF your VOICE to ALL the other Disney Springs guests who are gathered at Stargazers Bar!

Every Wednesday night, from 7-11PM, you can join in on an evening of karaoke sing-a-longs at Planet Hollywood’s attached outdoor bar. Stargazers is first come, first perform — so if you REALLY wanna do this and make your big Disney World debut, plan to get to the bar a little early so you can make sure you can sign up for a good karaoke time slot.

And if you stop by Stargazers on a Friday/Saturday evening instead, you can enjoy live PROFESSIONAL music.

Customizable Cases And MagicBands

Marketplace Co-Op is like a little shopping district all on its own, housing different shops and brands that rotate out on occasion to make room for something else. But what’s stood the test of time inside the Marketplace is the D-Tech on Demand area, located towards the front of the store (and to your left).

D-Tech on Demand gives YOU the chance to either purchase one of their pre-made tech accessories (like a phone case or magicband), OR customize your very own. Just station yourself at one of the many touchscreens, create a gadget or gizmo you can be proud of, then send it on its merry-little-way to be printed right there in the shop!

Usually, it takes these custom pieces around 30 minutes to finish printing, so make sure to keep hold of your receipt and hand it back to the D-Tech cast member once it’s time for you to return and pick your creation up!

Customizable Treats

Caramel Apples. Rice Krispy Treats. Marshmallows. Cake pops. What do each of these sweet treats have in common? You can make them into your very OWN creation over at Goofy’s Candy Company!

To do this, you’ll grab a customizable card, put your name at the top, then select your treat, your dipping flavor, and your topping. (You can also add extra toppings for a dollar each, if you’re having trouble deciding on just one.)

Soar Above The Springs

HELLO, DOWN THERE! The Disney Springs’ Aerophile is a tethered hot air balloon that lifts you up, up, UP above the shopping district for a unique point of view!

The entire ride is 8 minutes long and costs $30 for adults, and $25 for kiddos. (So for a family of four — with two adults, two kids — you’re talking about a $110 balloon ride… for eight minutes.)

Face Painting Kiosk

Lookie there! Just like how you can find face painting inside the Disney World parks for a more affordable makeover opportunity than what you’d find at, say, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Magic Kingdom,  you can also find a face-painting kiosk inside Disney Springs, too!

If you don’t want something painted on your face — but you still wanna partake in some artistic fun — the cast members at this face paint kiosk can also hook you up with a temporary tattoo or henna design. Just let ‘em know what you’re looking for!

This Disney Springs face painting kiosk is located right outside the Marketplace Co-Op area (to the left of the store).

Build-A-Dino

If you’ve ever wanted to be a proud parent of a stuffed prehistoric creature with beady black eyes, well…… Now’s your chance! Inside the T-Rex cafe and to your right, you’ll find a small Dino-centric gift shop where you can Build-A-Dino

(So basically it’s like build-a-bear back at your hometown mall, but all the animals you get to choose from are extinct IRL). You pick a Dino, stuff it up with fluff, get it a little outfit, and choose its name. It’s adorable.

You can also add fun little extras too — like give it a sound or add a SMELL. (Don’t worry. All good smells. Nothing like the infamous Figment skunk smell, or anything — though wouldn’t THAT be something?)

Nightly Fiestas 

Paradiso 37 isn’t exactly our #1 spot to dine in Disney Springs. (It might not even rank in our top 50, if I’m being honest with ya.) BUT that doesn’t mean Paradiso doesn’t know how to have a good time!

If you’re coming to Disney Springs to PARTY-HARTY, hit up the Paradiso 37 bar after the sun sets so you can listen to its live, high-energy Latin music! Once you order a spirit from the bar’s Wall of Tequila — featuring over 75 different tequila-types — you can start dancing the night away with your partner on the Paradiso dance floor!

Just keep in mind that if you’re NOT all about that nightlife entertainment, this party scene might start feeling a bit TOO lively for you. (Not, like, in an out-of-control type of way — because this is STILL Disney we’re talking about here — but more in a “loud-and-crowded” kind of way.)

High Roller Cocktails

There’s a SECRET rewards program that you can join over at The Edison. But you can’t join it officially until you’ve ordered your first High Roller Cocktail. High Roller Cocktails are these pricey specialty drinks (that’ll run you $32-$38 PER DRINK… because they’re BOUJEE, I guess).

But whenever you order one of these drinks, you’ll be given a high roller gold coin. And you can KEEP that li’l gold coin forever and ever, if you want to — BUT once you collect 4 gold coins, you can turn those in and get a fifth drink FREE! Yeah… it’s a pretty pricey investment for a single drink payoff. (BUT if you and your group are planning on ordering multiple high roller drinks anyways, you might be able to rack up enough gold coins for a FINAL high roller cocktail to share!)

Biggest. Drinks. EVER. 

And since we’re already AT The Edison, let’s talk about ANOTHER unique cocktail option you may wanna try (though you’re DEFINITELY gonna need some friends to help ya out with this one.)

The Edison brings the party straight to your table with their PUNCH BOWL option, where you can order select specialty cocktails as a WHOLE punch bowl — ladle and all — for $100 to share amongst your friends and family

Kiddie Rides

Wait… RIDES?? In DISNEY SPRINGS?? Aren’t those just reserved for the PARKS?? Well, to be fair, the rides here aren’t gonna be on par with Dumbo the Flying Elephant or Peter Pan’s Flight, or anything — BUT there are technically two rides over in The Marketplace section that your kiddos can try… for an extra fee.

The first is the Marketplace Carousel — which is just your classic, ornate carousel-style ride that plays Disney tunes while you spin. One ride will put ya back $5, but one adult may ride for free IF they’re accompanying a kid who’s under 42 inches tall.

And the second is the Marketplace Train Express — which is this little green-and-red locomotive that takes kids around a short railroad track loop right outside of the Pin Traders gift shop. Again, one ride = $5, but this time one adult may ride for free IF they’re accompanying a kid who’s under 36 inches tall.

Christmas Offerings!

Disney Springs is a GREAT spot to get a taste of Disney’s holiday season without paying a whole lotta money to do so. The shopping district has a lot in store for us throughout the merry months of November/December!

The Christmas Tree Stroll is a free activity where you can “stroll” around custom-decorated holiday, Disney-themed trees placed all throughout Disney Springs!

You can find Santa inside the Once Upon a Toy gift shop in the Disney Springs Marketplace! (A Virtual Queue is often used for this location — so just be aware that you might have to join it yourself to meet the jolly ol’ elf.)

There might also be opportunities where you can DINE with Santa at select Disney Springs restaurants — like Maria and Enzo’s and T-Rex.

As you continue to shop your way around Disney Springs, be on the lookout for various streetmosphere — like Toy Soldier stilt walkers, snowflake skaters, and tunes spun by DJs! And as the cherry on top of all this merriment and fun, from time to time in the evenings, magical Floridan “snow” falls upon the Town Center.

Quick note: While these holiday activities were available last year, they’re not guaranteed to happen THIS year too — so make sure to check back in with us when it gets closer to the season!

Douglas Fir

Douglas Fir is a little Christmas tree who likes to come out around the holiday season too. But he’s no ORDINARY Christmas tree. He’s a COOL Christmas tree. This li’l guy actually ROLLS around Disney Springs and TALKS to window shoppers.

So if you’re coming around the holidays, be on the lookout for Douglas Fir (or at least WATCH OUT for him — because he’s a speedy li’l guy who’s got places to BE.

Note: We also spotted the little guy dressed up with citrus ornaments during Flavors of Florida!

Discounted Amphicar Tours

It’s 50% boat, 50% car, and 100% a good time. You can take a 20 minute captain-guided amphicar ride out on Lake Buena Vista before or after your Boathouse meal. Okay, so you TECHNICALLY don’t have to eat at the Boathouse if you wanna ride in an amphicar — you can make reservations for this experience over at the Boathouse Boatique (which is the restaurant’s attached gift shop).

However, eating at the Boathouse may actually SAVE you money on your amphicar tour. Y’see, this retro-styled, aquatic cars are NOT cheap. A 20 minute ride will cost $125 per car (which can accommodate up to 3-4 people). If you’re planning on eating at The Boathouse BEFORE your ride, you can save $25 on your amphicar tour when you spend $50 or more at the restaurant (OR the Boutique gift shop, for that matter)! Just make sure to present your valid receipt to the Boatique to get those savings applied.

Art Walks!

As you make your way around all the different shops and restaurants lining Disney Springs, be sure to stop and appreciate the art you might find in the nooks and crannies along the way! Disney Springs is always showcasing local art, as well as artists from across the globe, through the various Disney Springs’ Art Walks.

These stories and vibrant pieces will be strewn all throughout the Town Square area — so be on the lookout for them (and keep those cameras at-the-ready)!

Boat Transportation

You know what Disney Springs is seriously lacking? A good beignet spot! Luckily, the shopping district can help lead us to one that’s not too terribly far away. You just gotta take a boat to get there! When you’re ready to head out of Disney Springs for a bit to track down some powdered-sugar and fried goodness, head to the Marketplace Dock and hop aboard one of the Riverboats for a complimentary ride over to Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter.

The boat ride is an attraction in and of itself. Not only will you get a lovely view across Lake Buena Vista (without having to pay $125 for an amphicar — no offense, amphicars), but you’ll also get to listen to piped in jazzy tunes.

For those fab beignets, jump out at the French Quarter dock and head into Scat Cat’s Club for a mix of beignet options — ranging from sweet to savory, and even BOOZY.

OR if you’re on the hunt for maybe a table service restaurant that specializes in Southern Louisiana favorites (like jambalaya and shrimp and grits), just keep taking that boat on down to the Riverside section of the Port Orleans resort area to dine at Boatwright’s Dining Hall for dinner!

There’s also boat transportation from Disney Springs and to the Old Key West/Saratoga Springs DVC resorts, too — so make sure you’re in the correct line for the correct resort boat when you’re planning on traveling over to one of these specific hotels.

Free Live Music

When you visit Disney Springs, you’ll more than likely hear live music or see a live performance happening SOMEWHERE around the shopping district. Oftentimes, you can catch live entertainment at the Disney Spring AdventHealth Waterside Stage (in front of the LARGE World of Disney store) as well as the Waterview Park Stage (near The BOATHOUSE) — but, really, musical acts pop up nearly ANYWHERE around the Springs.

We’ve seen rap battles, violinists, acoustic guitar players, even strolling piano performances. You’ve just gotta keep your ears open and let the music guide ya!

Disney Springs Kids Club 

SPEAKING of free entertainment over at the Waterview Park Stage, here’s an offering SPECIFICALLY for all you kiddos out there! Every Saturday (at 10:30 AM, 11:15 AM, and noon) families can take part in the Disney Springs Kids Club.

During this time, kids can directly interact with the entertainment taking place on the outdoor stage by participating in dance parties, creating music with bongos or maracas, playing games (like hula hoop or limbo), or just simply standing back and watching the excitement unfold around them — whatever they prefer!

An Animated Evening 

Drawn to Life is a separate-ticket stage show inside Disney Springs that combines Disney animation with the truly unique acrobatic performances of the Cirque du Soleil team.

This show REALLY tugs at your emotions. The story is heart-wrenching, the stunts are nail-biting, and the sets are mind-blowing. BUT unlike many shows that you’ll find scattered about the shopping district, this one will cost ya a pretty penny to see. Adult tickets range from $75 – $209 each, depending on your seats.

Now, if you REALLY wanna go all-out with your Drawn to Life show experience, you can invest in one of the animated evening prix-fixe dining packages, available at select Disney Springs restaurants. So here’s how this dining package works:

First, you’ll choose one out of the 13 participating Disney Springs restaurants to dine at 2 hours before or after the show. Then, you’ll pay either an extra $45 per ticket OR $65 per ticket (on top of that regular ticket price) to dine on a specialty Animated Evening prix-fixe menu.

Most of the restaurants on the list hit that $45 mark — including sit-down locations such as Jaleo, Raglan Road, and Terralina Crafted Italian.

But the three restaurants that’ll set ya back $65 instead are Paddlefish, The Edison, and Wolfgang Puck.

Even MORE Plant-Based Snacks And Treats

Erin McKenna’s Bakery may specialize in vegan treats, but all you plant-based eaters out there won’t be stuck just eating desserts and desserts alone during your Disney Springs day. There are LOTS of fast food and sit down restaurants in Disney Springs that are ready to cater to your specific dietary needs. And because these menus switch up often, you might find something new each time you visit!

So what are a few solid Disney Springs dining choices that you plant-based eaters out there might wanna try?

• Ironically enough, D-Luxe Burger could be a solid choice for you, thanks to their Plant-Based Burger with Plant-based Gouda, Pickles, Lettuce, and Tomato served on a Parker House Roll.
• ALSO ironically, The Polite Pig (which is usually most known for its smoked meats) has some AWESOME plant-based market sides that you could honestly make a whole meal out of — like the bbq cauliflower, the grilled street corn, and the crispy brussels sprouts.
• Raglan Road has a fun option (called The Shepherd Went Vegan) — which is basically a plant-based version of a shepherd’s pie.
• Even Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza has plant based pizza (thanks to their vegan cheese option)!

If you’re unsure whether or not a Disney Springs restaurant will have plant based options that you’re gonna enjoy, don’t be afraid to call the restaurant and ask ahead of time! The host at the front of the restaurant should also be able to help ya out, too (or at least be able to grab a server/manager inside the restaurant that can answer any dietary questions you need cleared up before you dine)!

Big-Name Concerts

House of Blues keeps the party pumpin’ at night LONG! There are TWO parts of this rustic-wooden restaurant. The first part is the main dining room area — where you’ll get to enjoy a nice sit down meal for lunch or dinner.

And the SECOND part is right NEXT to the main restaurant building, which is simply known as the “club.” This is where House of Blues puts on frequent ticketed music events for a rotating lineup of artists. You DON’T have to eat at House of Blues in order to see one of the shows — and vice-versa — but, man, they sure do pair well together!

You can find the restaurant’s full show schedule on the House of Blues website to see WHO will be playing here NEXT.

Can you believe there are even MORE things hiding out in the Disney Springs area that you’ve never even heard of? No joke — we’re only scratching the surface here, friends!

So stay tuned for even MORE fun surprises, hidden secrets, and recommendations to come! Before you click off to start planning a Disney Springs itinerary for yourself, don’t forget to grab our FREE Disney Springs quick guide over at disneyfoodblog.com/DISNEYSPRINGS!

What are your favorite activities at Disney Springs?

The post 50 Amazing Things You Never Knew Were In Disney Springs first appeared on the disney food blog.