Disney Springs is always a must-visit whenever I’m in Orlando. Even if I’m not going to the parks, I always love going to Disney Springs for a touch of Disney magic and some incredible shopping and treats! Disney Springs is a huge location with so much to take in so if you’re not sure where to start, join along for the adventure!
Eats
When I’m going to Disney Springs, I’m probably most excited about the huge variety of food options, many of which can’t be anywhere else. In fact, some of my favorite restaurants are here!
For lunch, I always go to Chicken Guy!, which is located right next to Planet Hollywood and across for the Coca-Cola store. I’m a huge Guy Fieri fan and everything here is absolutely incredible. I love the seasoning on the fries and the chicken, but what makes Chicken Guy! so unique is definitely the twenty-three sauces available for dipping. After all, Guy is the boss of sauce and you can quite literally get lost in the sauce, but in the best way possible. I believe each of the regular chicken strip meals comes with two different sauces of your choice, but you can always get extras to add-on.
For dinner, I can’t help but go to Maria and Enzo’s, which is located right next to the Edison and is in between the Characters in Flight experience and the Boathouse. It’s all traditional Italian food made the best way. My family is Italian and every year we get food from Arthur Avenue (the real little Italy) and Maria and Enzo’s was extremely reminiscent of all of the goodies we get from the small shops that make everything the traditional Italian way. My dad ordered the spaghetti and meatballs (something he never does) since it said the recipe was from Abruzzo, where his grandmother was from. The dish tasted very similar to the one his grandma would make when he was a child. My mom and I’s favorite dish is the Torchio al Pollo (chicken and pasta) and it’s addicting. And of course, you can’t forget the bread that comes out before the meal.
For dessert, it’s not a trip to Disney Springs without a visit to Amorette’s Bakery, located right next to the World of Disney Store. Every trip, I always have to get a box of cookies and a Mickey shaped brownie. Around the holiday, you can probably find me devouring a holiday Yule log. I’ve had a few of the seasonal macarons from Amorette’s and they’re as delicious as they are cute. One of the bakery’s focuses is the constant rotation of themed cakes, so be sure to stop in and check out what they may have in store!
If you’re looking for a sweet snack during the day, I’d also recommend AristoCrepes, located on the bridge pathway near Rainforest Cafe. The edible cookie dough is so sweet and a perfect midday snack! I’ve gotten it a few times now and it never fails to disappoint.
Shop
If you’re looking for merchandise that’s magical and uniquely Disney, you need to visit the World of Disney, Disney Style, and Pin Traders. The World of Disney is your one-stop shop for all things Walt Disney World and has just about everything you can imagine and multiple rooms full of amazing souvenirs. From t-shirts to seasonal collections to a whole plush room, the World of Disney is a must-visit. If you like to collect nerdy things like me, Pin Traders is the place to go. It used to sell exclusively pins for trading and collecting, which is something I’ve been into for practically my entire life. Now, it sells pins, Funkos, MagicBands, and a few other fun items. If you’re looking for more trendy and modern items, as well as a few photo ops, the Disney Style store is your place to go. The entire store is decorated to be an Instagrammer’s paradise and all of the items inside are perfect for young adults and based on popular colors and franchises.
If you’re looking for Disney items that aren’t only Disney branded, there are a ton of stores in Disney Springs that have exclusive Disney collections. My personal favorites are Kate Spade and Vera Bradley. I have items I love and use on the regular from both collections like sparkly mouse earrings, a parks printed ID lanyard to match my quilted backpack, and a tote with a cute little Minnie design on the front. Stores like Alex & Ani, UniQlo, and Zara also carry Disney items in store and these collections are updating all the time.
Disney Springs also has stores that aren’t Disney branded and just carry regular items, like Lilly Pulitzer, Sephora, Free People and American Threads. I usually stop in just to see the selection of items and if there are any different items from my home stores. American Threads is usually a priority since I don’t have any locations in my area and their clothing is just so cute!
Photo Spots
Just like the parks, Disney Springs is almost designed to get the perfect picture. Some of the most iconic Walt Disney World photo spots can be found here, like the Characters in Flight balloon. Getting a low angle shot in front of the balloon is certainly a unique and magical keepsake. For a less Disney-branded image, be sure to check out the bridge near Maria and Enzo’s (really, any of the bridges) and the central fountain. The area is designed to have gorgeous scenes and Spanish-inspired architecture, perfect for any aesthetic.
With so much to offer, I could only cover a try fraction of what Disney Springs has to offer in this blog post. I can’t wait to return to Springs to try all of the new offerings, like Everglazed Donuts, Gideon’s Bakehouse, and the M&Ms store, and just spend hours roaming around one of my happiest places.
See ya real soon,
