What Disney Springs is
Disney Springs is Walt Disney World's waterside district of dining, shopping and entertainment — and crucially, it is free to enter with free parking and no park ticket required. Formerly known as Downtown Disney, it is where you go for a relaxed evening, a rest-day outing, an arrival or departure night, or simply a great meal without burning a park day. For a trip that is otherwise all early alarms and queues, it is a welcome change of pace.
The four neighbourhoods
- Marketplace — the most family-focused end: the vast World of Disney store, the LEGO Store, character-friendly shops and quick bites.
- The Landing — waterfront sit-down restaurants and bars, the more grown-up dining heart.
- Town Center — open-air shopping, including name-brand and upscale stores, plus cafés.
- West Side — entertainment: live music, the AMC cinema, the Aerophile balloon ride, and Cirque du Soleil's Disney show.
The whole district wraps around the water, connected by walkways and water taxis, and it is pleasant simply to stroll, especially after dark.
Dining and reservations
Disney Springs has the densest concentration of restaurants at Walt Disney World — from quick bites to celebrity-chef signature dining — which is much of why it is such a popular non-park evening. Standouts include Morimoto Asia (Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto's pan-Asian flagship), the waterfront The BOATHOUSE, Wine Bar George (run by a Master Sommelier), Chef Art Smith's Southern Homecomin', the steakhouse STK and Irish pub Raglan Road — alongside cult favourites like Gideon's Bakehouse for cookies and The Ganachery for chocolate.
The popular sit-down spots take reservations and fill up — especially at peak dinner times and on weekends — so book ahead if a specific restaurant matters to you, while quick-service and casual counters need no booking. For a relaxed, no-ticket meal, it is one of the best options anywhere on Disney property. See the Disney World dining guide for how reservations work.
The full Disney Springs restaurant list
Disney Springs has over 60 dining locations, from signature restaurants to quick-service counters and dessert shops. Here is the line-up by type — it changes over time, so confirm a specific spot (and book ahead for the sit-down restaurants) before you go.
Signature & table-service restaurants
- The BOATHOUSE — seafood, steaks and waterfront views, with Amphicar tours.
- Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' — Southern comfort food and brunch.
- Morimoto Asia — pan-Asian cuisine by Iron Chef Morimoto.
- Jaleo — Spanish tapas by José Andrés.
- Raglan Road Irish Pub — Irish food, live music and dancers.
- Wine Bar George — a Master Sommelier's wine list and small plates.
- Paddlefish — seafood aboard a moored paddleboat.
- STK Steakhouse — a modern steakhouse.
- Frontera Cocina — Mexican cuisine by Rick Bayless.
- Terralina Crafted Italian — family-friendly Italian.
- Enzo's Hideaway — speakeasy-style Italian and tunnel bar.
- Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill — California-inspired cuisine.
Best quick-service spots
- The Polite Pig — barbecue and bourbon.
- Earl of Sandwich — great-value hot sandwiches.
- Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza — build-your-own fast-fired pizza.
- Pepe by José Andrés — Spanish sandwiches.
- Pizza Ponte — Italian pizza and pastries.
- B.B. Wolf's Sausage Co. — gourmet sausages.
- Eet — globally-inspired bowls and street food.
Family favourites
- Rainforest Cafe — jungle-themed family dining.
- T-REX — a prehistoric-themed restaurant.
- Splitsville Dining Room — bowling, dining and live music.
- Planet Hollywood — movie-memorabilia dining.
Desserts & snacks
- Gideon's Bakehouse — famously huge cookies (expect a queue).
- Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop — sundaes and chocolate.
- Salt & Straw — small-batch ice cream.
- Amorette's Patisserie — beautiful cakes and pastries.
- The Ganachery — handcrafted chocolate.
- Sunshine Churros — churros.
- Joffrey's Coffee & Tea — coffee and specialty drinks.
Shopping and entertainment
Shopping ranges from the flagship Disney stores to national brands and one-off boutiques, making it the place to pick up Disney merchandise without a park ticket. For entertainment there is live music most evenings, a multiplex cinema, the tethered Aerophile balloon for views over the resort, bowling-and-dining venues, and Cirque du Soleil's resident show (a separate ticket). It is genuinely a destination in its own right, not just a mall.
How to use it in your trip
The smartest uses of Disney Springs: an arrival or departure evening when you do not yet have (or no longer need) park tickets; a rest-day outing mid-trip; or a dinner-and-stroll night after a pool afternoon. Parking is free in the large garages, and Disney buses connect it to the resorts. Because it needs no ticket, it is also one of the best free things to do at Walt Disney World. See the Walt Disney World guide for how it fits the wider resort and the hotels guide for nearby stays.
