12 Fun Things to Do at Disney Springs
Disney Springs affords Floridians and vacationers alike with an opportunity to kick back and relax at a Disney-controlled entertainment complex. This place should become your go-to destination when you need a break from the parks, assuming that it’s not already. And you’ll feel blown away by the sheer volume of entertainment options available. Here are 12 fun things you can do at Disney Springs.
1. Build a Dino
Sure, your town may have a Build-A-Bear store. The furry, fuzzy retail toys are available in more than 400 locations worldwide. But Disney isn’t in the business of selling the ordinary. Oh, no.
At T-REX Restaurant, you don’t build a bear. Instead, your new stuffed companion is a Friendosaur™. Yes, the dino-based restaurant sells dinosaurs that you design for yourself! I may or may not have more than one of these…
2. Catch a Rock Concert
House of Blues and Planet Hollywood are well-known franchises that both have a presence at Disney Springs. And each restaurant hosts some live entertainment on occasion. Planet Hollywood does it at Stargazers, the patio bar, while House of Blues is the place to go for live concerts. Oh, and Marketplace Square sometimes has famous acts take the stage, too.
3. Dance with the Steampunks
The Edison is the least Disney place on the Walt Disney World campus, and I mean that in the best possible way. This nightclub oozes Steampunk style, with unique offerings like a high-wire balancing act and burlesque dancers.
Since it’s a nightclub, you can join the festivities, something I highly recommend. The Edison is the closest thing that we have to Pleasure Island today, only it’s better because it’s Steampunk.
4. Drink with a Pilot
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar highlights a tertiary character from the Indiana Jones film franchise. Lindsey was the pilot who carried Indy to safety, and he’s significant to director Steven Spielberg.
The legendary director once needed the real-life pilot who played the character to fly him to safety during a Hawaiian storm. The lingering love for Jock Lindsey is partially based on this heroic tale, and Imagineers have built an awesome bar to celebrate the maverick pilot. You’ll want to drink here.
5. Dine at the Food Truck Court
You’ll never lack for food options at Disney Springs. The place is seemingly more restaurants than anything else. Even so, you shouldn’t ignore one of the best amenities available here. Disney’s stocked a series of food trucks in one part of Disney Springs. Here, you can eat like royalty for a fraction of the price of regular eateries in the area. Plus, it’s just a fun place as a social gathering.
6. Enter Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is still in its nascent stage. Some of it is really good, while other stuff is – let’s be honest – nausea-inducing. The Void at Disney Springs falls into the category of “really good,” and that really might undersell it.
When you visit here, you’ll put on a piece of VR headgear and armor then enter an imaginary but fully immersive universe. At the time of publication, The Void hosts two interactive adventures. One is Ralph Breaks VR, based on the Wreck-It Ralph franchise. The other is Star Wars™: Secrets of the Empire, a title that sells itself.
The Void isn’t something that you’ll want to do on every vacation, but it’s certainly an experience you have to try at least once.
7. Get Your Picture Taken
I encourage all of my friends to purchase PhotoPass/Memory Maker as part of their admission ticket packages. I fervently believe that it’s one of the best values at Walt Disney World. I’ve framed countless images from prior vacations on my walls and filled multiple scrapbooks, too.
When I tell people about Memory Maker, I make sure to mention the Disney Photopass Service Studio at Disney Springs. It’s akin to Glamour Shots, if you’re old enough to remember a time before Instagram. Cast members will take photographs of you against Disney backdrops and may even provide a costume for you to wear. The pictures are universally excellent, and they’ll automatically upload to My Disney Experience!
8. Go Bowling
Sure, bowling isn’t for everyone, but you don’t have to be in a league to play it every once in a while. Splitsville Luxury Lanes is a glorified sports bar to many people, as televisions are omnipresent inside the restaurant.
However, it elevates the concept by adding bowling alleys throughout the facility, too. Splitsville is a genuinely phenomenal meetup/hangout spot because of all these activities hosted under one roof. And the food is surprisingly tasty!
9. Live out Your Hoop Dreams
While I will miss DisneyQuest for the rest of my life, its replacement at Disney Springs is highly enjoyable, too. NBA Experience is a multi-faceted entertainment facility with a focus on hoop dreams. When you visit here, you can show off your shooting, dribbling, and dunking skills. All the while, automated cameras will capture your efforts while grading you on your performance.
10. Ride an Amphicar
Okay, this one’s kind of niche, but it’s also the rarest of opportunities. The BOATHOUSE is more than a Signature Dining experience by the waters of Disney Springs. It’s also one of the only places on the East Coast where you can ride an Amphicar.
For those of you who don’t know, an Amphicar drives like a car on the land but operates like a boat in the water. It’s a seaworthy vessel that looks like a convertible. I highly recommend this experience. It’s truly unforgettable.
11. Watch an Irish Jig
Whenever I think of Irish jigs, I can’t help but remember Chandler Bing describing his fear of them. “His legs flail about as if independent of his body!” Presuming that you’re not freaked out by this, you should head over to Raglan Road Irish Pub. This place employs an entertainment troupe known as the Raglan Road Irish Dancers. And yes, they’ll dance an Irish jig for you.
12. Watch a Movie
Look, you may not love the idea of watching a movie on vacation. I get that. However, let’s be real. All of us adore Disney films; it’s why we fell in love with the company in the first place. And the AMC 24-screen movie theater at Disney Springs is spectacular. The seats are super-comfy, like your favorite recliner, and they double as seating areas for tables. Yes, this place serves dinner that servers will bring right to your chair!
