Free Disney Bus Transporation
Everyone who has spent any time at any of the Disney resorts is already aware that they have free Disney bus transportation to and from the parks. But they also have busses that run to and from Disney Springs which makes this one of the best freebies because you can go for free to other resorts and back to Disney Springs without worry. If youve always had a resort you wanted to check out, this is a great way to do it.
Some Of Our Favorite Disney Springs Restaurants
Besides shopping, theres plenty of great restaurants at Disney Springs for kids. Since Disney World seems to put a hole in my wallet, we tend to stick to casual and quick service restaurants when we visit Disney Springs. Heres the whole list of restaurants at Disney Springs.
- Homecomin Brunch is the most popular, but the food here is Southern home cookin with fantastic drinks
- Wolfgang Puck Express our go-to place for delicious pizza, butternut squash soup, pasta, and sandwiches.
- Polite Pig some pretty good barbeque and plenty of options
- Earl of Sandwich another one of our go-to places for a great sandwich
- Disney Food Trucks always a great option, there are many
Race Lego Cars At The Lego Imagination Center
Join the fun and build your very own speedster from among the thousands of bricks provided and then race opponents on a unique race track to see who can create the fastest, most creative vehicle! With bins of bricks and a full area to build in, young and old can let their imagination run wild in the well shaded areas outside of the Lego retail store. Be sure to stroll through the store to see the incredible Lego builds and one of a kind displays, there are tons of great photo opps!
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Build A Lego Creation
Disney has a full LEGO store right near the World of Disney, as well as some fantastic LEGO creations around Disney Springs including the magic dragon in the water.
Step inside the LEGO store and you can build your own LEGO creation and take turns playing with some car racing tracks and other LEGO world items to pass the time.
Of course, the idea is that the kids ask you to buy them all things LEGO, but you dont need to spend any money to spend a few minutes embracing your creativity in here.
Shop Your Favorite Disney Merchandise
You can do so much shopping in Disney Springs, its unreal.
You could go only for the shopping and not run out of places to see for the whole day.
If you want your favorite Disney merchandise, though, I suggest heading to the World of Disney.
This is the largest Disney store in the world and you genuinely need to keep an eye on your family because getting separated is super easy and it may takes you quite a while to find them again!
Theyve got everything from kitchen items to clothing to books to games to socks to toys to Disney pet supplies.
If you want something Disney-branded, youll find it there.
Youve also got some great Disney shopping options elsewhere in Disney Springs, like in the Disney Springs marketplace which has an entire store dedicated to Disney apparel for men, a Disney store for travel items, a trendy clothing store for teens called Tren-D and much more.
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Shop For Disney Souvenirs At World Of Disney
Every Disney fanatic must plan for a stop at this large Downtown Disney souvenir shop. Everything you could possibly want to add to your Disney collection can be found here clothing, Mickey ears, home decor, toys, stuffed animals, and much more! World of Disney is a fantastic place to stock up for early Christmas gifts for any Disney fans on your list!
Have you visited any of the above mentioned Downtown Disney attractions? What are some of your favorite things to do at Downtown Disney?
Shopping At Downtown Disney
Most of the stores at Downtown Disney are open. You may see a few modifications. The Star Wars Trading Post has moved to the old Rainforest Cafe location. Many more Star Wars items have been brought over from Galaxy’s Edge to the much larger new location. You can purchase toys, clothing, legacy lightsabers and other items usually found only in Batuu, as well as other Star Wars merchandise. That move means the WonderGround Gallery has reopened. The LEGO Store no longer has play or self-serve areas to minimize contact. You can take a closer look at all of the retail therapy available right now in our Ultimate Guide to Downtown Disney at Disneyland.
Be prepared to show your Magic Key on your phone to get discounts for food and merchandise at select Downtown Disney and Buena Vista Street locations.
Mobile Checkout
World of Disney has been testing a new Mobile Checkout system via the Disneyland app. To use it, grab a Mobile Checkout shopping bag. Scan items with your phone as you add them to the bag. Tap Check Out when finished to pay on your phone. Show your QR Code to a cast member as you exit!
Limited Shopping Events
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Character Dining Outside The Parks
For a low stress, budget-friendly character dining option, make the short walk over from Disney Springs to the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, dine with classic Disney characters during breakfast hours in the gorgeous Lakeview Restaurant.
When I visited, the food was excellent, and the dining room was not crowded. The character interaction experience felt much less rushed and much more enjoyable than traditional character dining options.
Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen
If youd like dinner and a show, head to Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen. They offer live jazz music every night, plus they have authentic New Orleans style Creole food and a fantastic cocktail menu.
You can enjoy lunch or dinner here. They even have a nice kids menu with food your kids will actually eat.
They also have Jazz Kitchen Express, which offers a smaller menu. This is perfect for families with little kids who dont want a full restaurant experience. Or you can just grab a bag of beignets to eat as you explore Downtown Disney!
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Try Not To Get Eaten At T
T-REX is another themed restaurant like Rainforest Cafe, and its one of the best things to do at Disney Springs with dinosaur loving kids.
Youll be placed right in the heart of the Jurassic period with dinos all around you hoping to crunch down on your meal .
Again, there is some entertainment from your surroundings as you eat, and it can be quite loud and chaotic so make sure youre in the mood for that and enjoy one of the most unique dining experiences ever.
Have A Sophisticated Night At Wine Bar George
If youre over 21, youll know that Disney has some fantastic drinking options throughout its parks and resorts.
Wine Bar George is no different a stylish, sophisticated wine bar where you can catch up with friends and family and enjoy your evening in Disney Springs.
There are also some food items and nibbles on offer so you dont necessarily need to eat before you come.
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Soar Via Characters In Flight
Soaring 400 feet into the air in the worlds largest tethered helium balloon is an experience my family didnt quickly forget. This Disney Springs attraction is an extra ticketed experience, but Characters in Flight tickets are often available at a discount on Groupon. Even if you pay full price, its one of the things that is worth the splurge at Disney Springs.
The balloon basket holds up to 29 guests per ride and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Disney Springs area. This exhilarating ride can be found on the West Side of Disney Springs, near Splitsville.
TravelingMom Tip: The ride doesnt fly during a storm or when the winds are 22 mph or higher.
Take A Helicopter Ride Over The City
How cool would it be to fly high over the city for a private birds-eye-view tour? One of the coolest adult things to do in Orlando is to book a helicopter tour that flies above landmarks like Sea World, Universal Studios, and Lake Toho. Its a flight that lasts up to 25 minutes and is such an awesome date idea.
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Lego Store Hands On Play Tables
Weve loved the Lego store ever since my daughter had her first Lego car race with a car she actually built at the store. They had an area right outside where you could build your car AND they were running races every so often. My daughter is 9 now and still remembers that experience fondly. Im not sure if they still do the car races from time to time, but they definitely do have a hands-on outdoor play area and it wont cost you a dime.
Buy Designer Brands With Disney Flair
Imagine a store dedicated to Instagram photo ops and classic looks and rides from the 90s that we all love and miss.
Thats the premise behind Disney Style, a new Disney Springs store that has everything from shirts loving on the Carousel of Progress and People Mover to full Instagram style backgrounds for you to take some snaps at.
Its aimed at a Millennial crowd, of course, but if thats your thing, its one of the most throwback things to do in Disney Springs that will remind you of your Disney childhoods or much-loved rides that have a cult following like the Enchanted Tiki Room.
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Getting To Downtown Disney At The Disneyland Resort
Simba Parking Lot-
There are a few ways to access the Downtown Disney District depending on where you are located at the Disneyland Resort. If you are visiting the district for the day, you can utilize the resorts Simba Parking lot that is located off West Katella.
Harbor Entrance
Downtown Disney is also accessible at the opposing Harbor entrance. This entrance can be reached on foot by walking from any of the adjacent hotels that sit on Harbor Street across from the Resort. There is also a drop-off loop that is perfect for any ride-sharing services and/or taxis. If your hotel does offer a shuttle service, you will also be brought to this entrance. You will then cross the Esplanade, both theme park entrances, and ticket booths to access the Downtown Disney District.
Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
If you happen to be staying on Disneyland Resort property, access to the Downtown Disney District is easy as entering the Disney parks. Just as there is a convenient entrance from the Grand Californian Hotel into Disney California Adventure Park, Guests have direct and convenient access to the district. This entrance will take you to the center of Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort. If you are coming from the Disneyland Hotel, you have a bit of a walk, but theres a path that feeds into the entrance of the Downtown Disney area. Whereas, Disneys Paradise Pier Hotel is a bit further from Downtown Disney,
Take A Scenic Boat Ride In Winter Park
Another great thing about Winter Park, and one of the greatest adult things to do in the Orlando area, is take a scenic boat ride. Its an incredibly affluent area so the houses you see on the lake and its back canals are beautiful. Check out Scenic Boat Tours, which takes guests around Winter Parks lakes, for more information.
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Downtown Disney At Disneyland Entertainment
Even if you’ve shopped, dropped and dined to your heart’s delight, there’s still more fun at Downtown Disney! Select evenings, you can enjoy a variety of live entertainment. To get the scoop on live performances or special events, consult the Disneyland online entertainment calendar.
Splitsville Luxury Lanes rolled into Downtown Disney in 2018, bringing bowling, live entertainment and fabulous food with it. This is not grandpa frogs bowling alley, but hell probably love it just the same. The bowling has returned! Ribbit!
Trade Pins
Stop by the Disney Pin Trader’s kiosk near the Monorail entrance to add to your collection or start a new one. You can trade with cast members and guests to build your collection.
Get Pressed Coins
The Disneyland Resort has over 150 commemorative images that can be pressed onto a penny, nickel, dime or quarter. Kids will enjoy collecting these inexpensive souvenirs. The Downtown Disney locations are in the World of Disney store and the Disney Dress Shop.
Attend a Bourbon Street-Style Party
As the sun goes down, the party is on at the Flambeaux Jazz Club in Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. Duck in for music inspired by New Orleans.
Live Entertainment
Most evenings, you can find various musicians and street performers as you wander through Downtown Disney. There are usually more on the weekend than during the week.
Personalized Artwork
Meet an Artist
Take Photos
Get A Birds Eye View Of Disney Springs
Go flying on the Disney Springs Balloon, an iconic part of the Disney Springs landscape, to get a view of Disney Springs that youve never seen before.
This French-designed balloon will let you stand in the basket while you soar above the buildings and look down at the lake and people below.
From the top, you can see for up to 10 miles a day, and on a gorgeous day in Florida, theres nowhere better to be than high up in the clouds surveying one of the most beautiful places on earth.
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Downtown Disney At Disneyland Bars
All of the table-service restaurants at Downtown Disney at Disneyland include a bar. If you’re looking for more bar options always a good thing we have a post on the best bars and lounges at Disneyland.
Uva Bar & Cafe is an outdoor bar below Catal in the heart of Downtown Disney. Enjoy food, along with signature cocktails, beer, wine and Tapas in a family-friendly setting.
Naples Ristorante e Bar has a beautiful outdoor patio
The Flambeaux’s Jazz Club transforms the Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen into the French Quarter in New Orleans. Enjoy New Orleans specialty drinks like a Cat-5 Hurricane, Huckleberry Lemonade, Mardi Gras Mojito or a Southern Peach Sweet Tea.
Tortilla Jo’s offers an impressive list of margaritas, tequila flights, and even “the bad stuff” 2 oz. of small-batched, barrel-aged tequila.
Relax with a cocktail, sangria or a glass of wine at the new, beautifully lit outdoor bar at Naples Ristorante e Bar. They created some exciting new mocktails for the tadpoles in your crowd too.
Splitsville serves up bowl drinks, cocktails and handcrafted spirits. You an also find wine, draft beers and bottled beers.
Ballast Point Brewing Co. has an impressive 3-barrel brewing rig and and array of craft beers on tap . Check out the inviting tasting room.
Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer serves beer and cocktails, alongside the burgers, wings and CrazyShakes.
Planning Your Downtown Disney Experience
Make sure that as you’re planning your Disneyland vacation that you schedule enough time to experience all that Downtown Disney has to offer. If you haven’t planned your Disneyland vacation yet, we’d love to help. All of our Disneyland packages and Disneyland tickets can be found online. We also have a team of travel experts that love Disneyland and would be happy to answer any of your questions and give personalized recommendations. They can walk you through when to go, where to stay, what to eat and so much more.
Book online or call our agents at 855-GET-AWAY.
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Downtown Disney Hotels And Resorts
The three official Disneyland Resort hotels surround Downtown Disney and are within walking distance.
The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa also has a direct entrance to Downtown Disney. You must go through security to access the district.
The Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel dont have their own entrances, but are only a quick walk away. Like Grand Californian, you have to go through security first, but once you do, you wont have to go through security again to enter Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure.
Some Good Neighbor Hotels are close to Downtown Disney, as well, but the Disneyland Resort Hotels neighbor the district. For more details on the hotels, check out our pros and cons guide here.
Does Downtown Disney sound like a place youd like to visit during your trip?
Top 10 Free Downtown Disney Adventures
As Florida Residents, weve spent a huge amount of time exploring all Disney has to offer and the Downtown area is one of our favorite places to relax and enjoy some extra magic! My kiddos look forward to visiting there and its a good way to get a Disney fix when youre not able to visit the actual parks. Here are our top 10 Free Downtown Disney Adventures:
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Get Brunch On Park Avenue
One of the most beautiful areas of Orlando is just next door, at nearby Winter Park. This is one of the adult things to do in Orlando that kids definitely wouldnt appreciate because the joy here is simply relaxing and enjoying a day off.
If youre in the mood to enjoy the outdoors and walk into some cute boutiques, Winter Parks Park Avenue is the place. Its the go-to street for al fresco dining in the Orlando area and we love having brunch here. Youll definitely enjoy eating outside and soaking up some Floridian sunshine. They also have a beautiful park called Central Park if you feeling like reading a book or magazine in the beautiful, fresh air. Taking photos in Central Park on Park Avenue is also pretty great.
