Disney Springs is one of many amazing areas you can visit at Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Florida. It used to be known as Downtown Disney. They have done an extensive amount of work to remodel some of it, build new places, and give it an overall overhaul.
Why You Should Visit Disney Springs
First of all, don’t worry that Disney Springs has lost some of the classics because mostly, it hasn’t. There is one whole section that has been mostly untouched, and it is the section that used to be the main entrance to the shops and restaurants to the left.
The World of Disney store, which is the largest one there, is exactly the same. It has multiple rooms in different themes with all the Disney merchandise we know and love and would expect to be able to get our hands on. They have changed out a couple of things as far as décor inside of it, but otherwise, it’s still the same and this is a good thing.
There are several other shops there too that are the same, like the Toy Story toy store and the pin trader’s area. They still have the train and carousel rides, and the Goofy’s candy shop. The Rainforest Café, Christmas shop, cooking store, and art and animation gallery are all in the same spot in the back corner, too.
One thing they did revamp is now called the Co-op, and it is a large store that has smaller shops inside. There is a variety of Disney items, but with a more modern feel to the layout and the items themselves.
So much of the new décor has a vintage feel, with wood and bricks, and lots of metals. The lighting that they have put in to replace the older is very cool. Some steampunk vibes are even there in some spots.
Now, instead of the parking lot they used to have that was very hard to navigate, it has been replaced with a huge parking garage that has multiple levels. It also has security cameras in each parking space and is easy to get in and out of.
They do still have some surface parking and valet, so if you are in a hurry to get to something, you have that option. The surface parking that is towards the right side of the place wraps around into the back. If you are visiting House of Blues or the AMC theatre, that is closer to that end for parking and it may be better for you if you’re running tight on time. This is also the area where the bus transportation drops and loads, and it is no longer in the middle and in the way of the cars trying to drive by. It is much more efficient of a system and takes that stress out of the day.
When you exit the parking garage and come into the main area now, it is completely new. There is a very pretty, modern style shopping area, with bright, white buildings, fountains and some two-story shops. It has the feel of a very upscale shopping mall.
There are a good variety of stores, too. From clothing to jewelry, to more unique places like Uniqlo, which is a two-story shop that sells all kinds of neat clothing with mixed in Disney items. The ceiling is covered in Asian lanterns when you walk in in a rainbow of colors and they have a really neat escalator area too. There are several popular name brand stores like Vera Bradley, Lucky Brand, Anthropologie, Pandora, and Lili Pulitzer for women. Several stores that the men in your life will love too such as Levi’s, Volcom, Tommy Bahama, and more.
There are some really neat details worked into the whole space now that tie in with the “springs” theme. They have multiple places to sit by fountains, a really cool water pulley that you can crank yourself, some neat little bridges that take you from one section to another, and in the water areas, they have these beautiful glass bulbs floating that have lights in them that are fun to see when it gets dark.
They have put in a slew of new places to eat too. There are several new sit-down places, like Morimoto’s, Frontera Cocina, The Boathouse, Paddlefish, and a ton of smaller spots too. There is a chocolatery, a patisserie, Erin McKenna’s Bakery which carries gluten-free baked goodies, several tea & coffee spots and an area with food trucks.
There are multiple walk-up places to eat now too, which wasn’t as common before. The Polite Pig is a brand-new barbeque place, and there is also Aristocrepes & the Daily Poutine. One thing that I find amazing is the variety of foods they now have. There is plenty of American food, but you can find just about any other kind as well, and they have kept all the good eateries they had before too. Many places are very kid-friendly too and if your family has any type of food allergies or sensitivities, they all are wonderful to work with you on it and don’t act like you are a burden.
A couple of places I have to mention are the newly- remodeled Planet Hollywood which is spectacular inside now, with a fun theme that ties in the future with a little Steampunk and the new menu is really great. Just the fries alone are worth going for.
The Coca-Cola store is right next to it and is very cool, too. They have a top deck where you can order drinks, and two floors of merchandise. You can also get your photo with the classic Coke Polar Bear.
There is so much to stop and check out as you walk around. Multiple kiosks are throughout the place and there is a good variety of them. From home décor to kid’s items, like the yo-yo stand, there’s plenty to browse.
Take your kids to the Lego store on your visit. It was there before, but it has been remodeled a bit too. They are constantly changing out the Lego displays and they also have the area out under the shade where your kids can build and race cars. They do a monthly build that you can sign up for ahead of time, and your kids get to keep the Lego creation they make.
I do love that they have placed lots of seating around now. There are rocking chairs, benches and lots of places you can just sit and take a break.
They do have so much entertainment too. If you check the schedule, there are performances during the day and into the night. There is plenty of live music, just walking around you can listen and dance to. House of Blues holds great concerts. Also, Splitsville is a bowling alley with food, and it is next to the movie theatre.
Overall, between the eating places, the shops, movies, bowling, concerts you can attend, and just the general Disney vibe that is always happening, you can easily spend more than a day at Disney Springs and have a wonderful time.
This information has only given you a glimpse into Disney Springs, barely scratching the surface.
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