Disney Springs is a free-to-enter shopping, dining, and entertainment district at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando. It is not a theme park, and there is no Disney Springs at Disneyland in California. Disneyland has a similar shopping district called Downtown Disney.
At Disney Springs, you’ll find the enormous World of Disney store, waterfront restaurants, movie theaters, live entertainment, and four distinct neighborhoods to explore. You don’t need a Disney World park ticket or hotel reservation to visit, and standard self-parking is complimentary.
Whenever I’m at Walt Disney World, I try to spend some time at Disney Springs. I like having somewhere to explore without planning around ride queues or attraction reservations. Sometimes I’ll stop at The BOATHOUSE for a meal, browse the World of Disney store, or catch a movie at AMC. Other times, it’s enough just to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.
Where Is Disney Springs? Florida or California?
Disney Springs is in Florida, at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando. It is not located in Los Angeles, Anaheim, or anywhere else in California.
This is an easy detail to confuse because Walt Disney World and Disneyland both have outdoor shopping and entertainment districts. They serve similar purposes but are located on opposite sides of the United States.
Disney Springs is part of the larger Walt Disney World Resort, which also includes Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, hotels, and other recreational areas.
However, Disney Springs is outside the four theme parks. You can visit even if you aren’t planning to purchase a Disney World ticket.
Disney Springs vs. Downtown Disney at Disneyland
Disney Springs and Downtown Disney are two different Disney shopping and entertainment districts. Disney Springs belongs to Walt Disney World in Florida, while Downtown Disney is part of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
| Feature | Disney Springs | Downtown Disney |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Walt Disney World, Florida | Disneyland Resort, California |
| Closest major city | Orlando | Anaheim / Los Angeles area |
| Theme park ticket required? | No | No |
| Admission fee? | Free | Free |
| Standard parking | Complimentary | Generally paid, with possible validation |
| Layout | Large waterfront district with four neighborhoods | Outdoor shopping and dining district beside Disneyland’s theme parks |
| Main attractions | Shopping, restaurants, movies, shows, and entertainment | Shopping, restaurants, and entertainment |
Disney Springs is a destination where I would comfortably spend several hours, especially if I have a dining reservation or want to see some entertainment. Downtown Disney is particularly convenient for spending time outside the Disneyland parks without traveling far from their entrances.
If you’re visiting California, read my Downtown Disney guide instead. It covers the shopping, dining, and entertainment district at Disneyland Resort, including how it differs from the Disney World experience.
Is Disney Springs a Theme Park? Do You Need Tickets?
Disney Springs is not one of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks, and admission is free. You can enter the shopping district without buying a theme park ticket or staying at a Disney Resort hotel.
There are no traditional Disney theme park rides such as Space Mountain or Expedition Everest. Instead, Disney Springs is focused on restaurants, retail stores, theaters, and entertainment experiences.
Some activities require separate payment, including movies at AMC, Cirque du Soleil performances, bowling, and certain other attractions. But you can walk through the entire district, browse stores, and enjoy available public entertainment without paying admission.
Standard self-parking is also free in Disney Springs garages and surface lots. That makes it one of the easier places at Walt Disney World to visit without committing to an expensive day at a theme park.
What’s at Disney Springs? The Four Neighborhoods
Disney Springs is divided into four connected neighborhoods: Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center, and West Side. Each has a different collection of shops, restaurants, and entertainment.
- Marketplace: One of the best areas for Disney merchandise, family-friendly shopping, and the enormous World of Disney store. You’ll also find specialty shops and casual places to eat.
- The Landing: A waterfront neighborhood with some of Disney Springs’ most recognizable restaurants, including The BOATHOUSE and Morimoto Asia. I particularly enjoy this area for its views and atmosphere.
- Town Center: An outdoor shopping district with fashion retailers, dining, landscaped walkways, and fountains. This area feels more like an upscale shopping center than a theme park.
- West Side: A major entertainment area with AMC Disney Springs 24, the Cirque du Soleil theater, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, restaurants, and other attractions.
The neighborhoods connect through pedestrian walkways, so you can explore them without needing transportation between each section. However, Disney Springs is spread out enough that I would wear comfortable shoes, especially if I planned to visit stores at opposite ends of the district.
Before visiting, you can check the official Disney Springs map to find restaurants, shops, parking garages, and entertainment locations.
Things I Recommend Doing at Disney Springs
Disney Springs is especially enjoyable when you don’t feel pressured to fit everything into a rigid schedule. I’d pick a few places that interest you and leave some time to explore.
- Explore World of Disney. This enormous Disney merchandise store is one of the area’s biggest attractions, particularly if you enjoy browsing collectibles, apparel, souvenirs, and gifts.
- Walk around The Landing. The waterfront scenery, restaurants, and pedestrian areas make this one of my favorite places to spend time without having a particular destination in mind.
- Eat at The BOATHOUSE. This waterfront restaurant serves seafood, steaks, and other dishes. It also offers vintage Amphicar experiences on the lake for an additional charge.
- Watch a movie at AMC Disney Springs 24. Some theaters offer dine-in service, allowing you to order food during the movie.
- See Drawn to Life by Cirque du Soleil. The production combines acrobatics with Disney animation and storytelling. Tickets are sold separately, and performance schedules vary.
- Enjoy the entertainment. Depending on the date, you may encounter live music, performers, and other activities throughout the district.
You don’t have to pay for a major attraction to make the visit worthwhile. Sometimes I enjoy Disney Springs most when I’m simply browsing stores, walking by the water, or spending time somewhere that feels less structured than the theme parks.
Where to Eat at Disney Springs
Dining is one of the strongest reasons to visit Disney Springs. The district has everything from quick-service counters and bakeries to more elaborate table-service restaurants.
The BOATHOUSE is one of my personal favorites because I enjoy its waterfront atmosphere. But I wouldn’t automatically choose an expensive sit-down restaurant if I only wanted a quick meal between shopping and entertainment.
For a full directory organized around your dining options, see my list of all the restaurants at Disney Springs.
If you’re choosing a restaurant for a special meal or trying to avoid disappointing options, I would start with my best Disney Springs restaurants guide.
Visitors planning an early meal should also check my guide to breakfast at Disney Springs, since restaurant opening hours and breakfast availability can differ from the area’s general operating hours.
I recommend checking current menus and making reservations for popular table-service restaurants, especially if you’re visiting on a weekend or during a busy holiday period.
How to Get to Disney Springs and Where to Park
Disney Springs has several transportation options depending on whether you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, driving from another part of Orlando, or visiting one of the nearby hotels.
Driving: Standard self-parking is complimentary at Disney Springs. Disney recommends allowing extra time before dining reservations and entertainment events, particularly during busy periods. The resort has multiple parking garages and designated rideshare locations.
Disney resort buses: Complimentary bus service connects participating Disney Resort hotels with Disney Springs. Access to buses departing Disney Springs may be restricted to Disney Resort hotel guests and visitors with qualifying resort dining or experience reservations.
Walking and boats: Some nearby Disney resorts have pedestrian connections to Disney Springs, while certain resort areas are served by water transportation when operating.
One important detail: Disney Springs does not offer direct bus transportation to Walt Disney World’s four theme parks. If you’re traveling between Disney Springs and a park using Disney transportation, you may need to transfer at an eligible resort, subject to transportation access rules.
I’ve explained the different routes in my Disney World transportation guide, including how to travel between the theme parks, resort hotels, and other destinations.
Hotels Within Walking Distance of Disney Springs
If shopping and dining are going to be a major part of your Walt Disney World vacation, staying near Disney Springs can be a convenient alternative to choosing a hotel primarily for theme park access.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa has a pedestrian connection to the shopping district, making it appealing for visitors who want to walk over instead of relying entirely on transportation.
There are also several hotels in the surrounding Disney Springs area, although the actual walking distance and route vary by property.
For hotel comparisons, see my guide to hotels within walking distance of Disney Springs.
I’ve also covered which Disney resort has a walkway to Disney Springs if you’re specifically looking for a Disney-operated property with pedestrian access.
Is Disney Springs Worth Visiting?
Yes, I think Disney Springs is worth visiting if you enjoy shopping, restaurants, waterfront scenery, or evening entertainment. It’s also a good option for spending time at Walt Disney World without buying another theme park ticket.
For me, the main appeal is the freedom to explore without a strict itinerary. I can walk into the World of Disney store, eat somewhere along the waterfront, and enjoy the atmosphere without worrying about ride reservations or park closing times.
However, I wouldn’t necessarily sacrifice half a day at Magic Kingdom or EPCOT to visit Disney Springs if I only had a short Walt Disney World vacation. The district is enjoyable, but it doesn’t replace the major attractions and entertainment inside the theme parks.
I think Disney Springs works particularly well on an arrival day, a departure day with enough spare time, or an evening when you don’t want to spend additional hours inside a theme park.
If you’re traveling with luggage and aren’t able to go directly to your hotel, check my guide to luggage storage at Disney Springs before planning a stop with your bags.
All Disney Springs Articles
Browse my Disney Springs articles below for detailed guides to restaurants, breakfast, parking, transportation, luggage storage, nearby hotels, and other practical questions about visiting this part of Walt Disney World.
