If fine dining and retail therapy is your idea of rest and recreation, the Walt Disney World Resort’s Disney Springs district is a major treat. From the world’s largest Disney Store to mind-boggling Lego sculptures, super dining, and thrilling entertainment, you’ll have a ball at Disney Springs.

AMBIENCE AT DISNEY SPRINGS

Disney Springs has four unique districts. The Marketplace is a charming village of shops, The Landing (formerly Pleasure Island) features more shopping and dining, Town Center is a new area filled with the trendiest spots, and the West Side is the urban-style shopping, dining, and fun capital of the “World.” Disney Spring’s pedestrian-only streets and sprawling layout avoid the “mall” feeling completely.

SHOPPING AT DISNEY SPRINGS

Disney Springs satisfies the urge to “shop ‘til you drop.” There’s no admission charge here, and you’ll find much more than Disney merchandise. The Marketplace shops are The Art of Disney, Basin (bath products), Disney’s Days of Christmas, Arribas Brothers (crystal shop), Goofy’s Candy Co., Once Upon a Toy, Design-A-Tee (make your own t-shirts), Tren-D (latest fashions), Disney’s Pin Traders, Lego Imagination Center, LittleMissMatched, World of Disney (and its Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for little kids), Marketplace Fun Finds, and Mickey’s Pantry. The Landing features the Coca-Cola Store, Art of Shaving, Apex by Sunglass Hut, The Ganachery (chocolate!), Erwin Pearl, Chapel Hats, and Havaianas. Town Center has by far the most shops, including ALEX AND ANI, Anthropologie, Trophy Room, kate spade, Tommy Bahama, Sephora, Uniqlo, Under Armour, Pandora, L'Occitane, Vera Bradley, Lily Pulitzer, MAC Cosmetics, and many more. West Side has the Star Wars Galactic Outpost, Super Hero Headquarters, Splitsville (bowling), Sunglass Icon, Disney’s Candy Cauldron, DisneyQuest Emporium, Pop Gallery, Mickey’s Groove (funky Disney gifts), Harley Davidson, Curl by Sammy Duvall, Planet Hollywood, Sosa Family Cigars, Something Silver, and shops at House of Blues, Cirque du Soleil, and the upcoming NBA Experience. Magic Masters offers top-flight magic gear, demos, and even a hidden room. Packages can be delivered to your Disney resort!

PLAYING AT DISNEY SPRINGS

Disney Springs builds fun into nearly every shop and restaurant, but five spots put entertainment first. The Aerophile is a tethered observation balloon that lifts riders up to 400 feet in the air—cost is $20/adult and $15/child age 3–9. Movie fans flock to the AMC 24 Theatres Complex, the Southeast’s largest—their theaters sport stadium seating and dining options. Splitsville Luxury Lanes features 30 bowling alleys, billiards, dining, and entertainment—see page 252. The innovative Cirque du Soleil also makes its home Downtown—see page 208.  And beginning this holiday season, Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire arrives to transport you to a galaxy far, far away to engage with friends, family and Star Wars characters through sight, sound, touch, smell, and motion. Special effects like Haptic feedback will meld the physical and digital worlds together.  In summer 2018, the new NBA Experience will open in the former DisneyQuest space at Disney Springs in Summer 2019. In addition to the restaurant and retail space which are open to the public, there will be exhibits, movies, and interactive games that require admission.