There are so many reasons why you need to visit Disney Springs with your kids- entertainment, food, shopping, and fun!!
Disney Springs is a wonderful shopping and entertainment complex that is conveniently located near Disney parks, hotels, and I-4. There so many great shops and restaurants for all budgets and preferences. People of all ages can find something to enjoy because the options are basically endless. My kids love going and I’m sure your kids will love gong too.
We love living in Central Florida as it gives us the opportunity to see so many great places, including Disney, in less than a 2 hours drive. In fact, we can make it to Disney Springs in about an hour and 15 minutes. (okay, I drive quickly!)
Disney Springs is a fun place for us to go to for the afternoon or to go for dinner before going to the parks for an after hours event. Besides my love for this venue, my kids love going there as well. They love shopping, playing, and taking lots of pictures throughout the complex.
15 Reasons to Take your Kids to Disney Springs
We go often because it’s so close by so I wanted to share some kid centered reasons to go. I only listed 15 reasons, but there are so many more! Disney Springs has so many things happening there throughout the year- fun entertainment, new shops, and new dining.
1: It’s Free!
Disney Springs is great because it’s a FREE place to go to that still gives you the Disney feel. I love that it is conveniently located off of I-4 and there is FREE parking. Plus, there is so many parking spaces in the 3 parking garages it makes it easy to find a great spot.
*Universal’s City Walk is great but parking is $27, unless you go after 6pm!
2: The Shopping
Obviously shopping is going to be great here because it is a premiere shopping center in the Orlando area. Disney Springs has so many great stores for shoppers of all ages. Shop for clothes, Disney accessories, jewelry, and TOYS!
Kids can enjoy begging for you to buy them something at World of Disney, Lego Store, M&M Store, Once Upon a Toy, Pearl Factory, Zara… to name a few!
3: T-Rex Cafe
Besides being just a great place to eat, kids love going to T-Rex because it is so interactive and cool.
Inside and out the dinosaur themed restaurant kids will get to enjoy an immersive experience filled with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. While dining in a color changing ice cave they can see wooly mammoths. Or you can sit in a fern filled forest and hear squawking dinos get spoked by a flashy meteor shower.
Besides enjoying a meal, you kids can enjoy the Dino-Store and the Build-a-Dino by Build a Bear. My kids love to crack open the geodes to reveal the hidden sparkles. So fun!
Even if we aren’t dining at T-Rex, we stop by the dig zone so they can pretend they are archaeologists. They use tools to sweep away the gravel to reveal dino bones.
*Check with the restaurant for their Covid Protocols about the dino dig being open.
4: Rainforest Cafe
It has to be over 20 years since I my first ever trip to a Rainforest Cafe when I was a kid, and I was BLOWN AWAY by how cool it was. I could not get enough of the fish tanks, animatronics, and all the
From inside and out, Rainforest Cafe is a great place for kids
“Gather your party of explorers and journey deep into the Amazon! Dine amidst lush landscaping in the company of audio-animatronic creatures that welcome you to this tropical jungle—including singing birds, trumpeting elephants, chest-pounding gorillas and schools of brightly colored fish.”
Hunter loves to see tall the difference life size animal statues they have outside the restaurant too. From up close experiences with the statues, to the volcano erupting, the Rainforest Cafe has so much to show off, without you neven needing to go inside.
5: The LEGO Store
One of the kids favorite places to go to in Disney Springs is LEGO store. As soon as we arrive, Hunter is asking for us to head right there.
Our local Target has plenty of LEGO sets, but the amount of LEGO sets here is incredible. There are sets of all kinds and sizes! You’ll also get to see so many sets from Harry Potter, Star Wars, Frozen, vintage cars, and famous landmarks constructed and on display.
We love that the LEGO displays are constantly changing too. They have different Disney and pop culture characters made up completely of LEGO bricks. One visit you will see Anna and Elsa from Frozen, and then the next it will be darth Vader, and the next it will be the Hulk.
6: Birthday Celebrations
We have been taking our kids to Disney Springs to celebrate their birthdays for the past few years. They have so much fun there getting to run around and enjoy a special treat.
During out most recent trip to Disney Springs, we celebrated my daughter’s 8th birthday . We went to Frontera and they sang “Happy Birthday” to her. Ah, it made her feel so special.
T-Rex also has a complimentary birthday cupcake too!
7: Ice Cream, Cookies, & Sweets
Whenever we go to to Disney Springs, we treat our kids (and ourselves) with a big, fun treat. If you ever have a sweet tooth, you can be sure to get it satisfied with some ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, or a donut.
The Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop is one of our favorites to do to because the ice creams are so good. Plus, they are really big ice creams so we typically get the kids their own cones to feel special, then we finish them off because they are MASSIVE.
If ice cream is not your thing, than you can get a pastry for dessert from Amorette’s Patisserie, a cookie from Gideons Bakehouse, or a cupcake from Sprinkles. Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew just opened, so you can get your sweet tooth fix with a big indulgent donut. Oh my gosh, those donuts are so good!
8: Rides & Attractions
Disney Springs certainly doesn’t have the same caliber rides as the parks but my kids still love to enjoy a ride on the Marketplace Carousel and Marketplace Train Express rides. They are cute rides for young kids.
You can purchase tokens for $3 each or 2 for $5. Children under 42″ must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18, who is not required to pay.
Besides the rides, you kids can have a lot of fun on the Aerophile for a tethered balloon ride that takes you high above Disney Springs, get a round of bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes, or a cruise on Lake Buena Vista in a Vintage Amphicar.
9: Performances
We have seen all different kinds of performances while at the Waterside Stage in Disney Springs. There have been kids dance competitions, tap dancers, and live bands. The kids love to check out the daily performances.
If you are looking for a real big show, then you should check out the Cirque du Soleil® shows. The “Drawn to Life” show just came out!
10: Silhouette Portraits
During our first trip to the Magic Kingdom with Autumn, we had a silhouette portrait created for her. It’s a beautifully made portrait that we have displayed in our bedroom. Aww she was so little.
Besides getting it created at MK, you can have a Silhouette Portrait made at Disney Springs. Stop by Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers, to get a portrait done by the talented artists. They are so adorable, and really affordable too! I recently got 2 of them done for my kids for less than $25.
11: DJ dance parties and live music
Beside the Waterside Stage, there are several spots around Disney Springs where you can enjoy music.
Watch performers do Irish dancing at Raglan Road, and catch live music in Exposition Park while you enjoy some food truck fare, and wor watch a magician at Riverboat Square.
My kids favorite activity has been to dance to the DJ dance parties.
Taking pictures of kids getting to enjoy the entertainment is the best! I love to see their faces light up with big smiles as they dance along to the music.
12: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
For our daughter’s 6th birthday we took her to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Disney Springs. She had the most amazing time. She really felt like a princess getting her hair, make up, and nails done.
It is a really special experience that boys and girls would love to do. There are plenty of packages for all price points for little Knights ($20+) and Princesses ($75+).
Sadly, the boutique is still closed because of Covid. Be sure to look out for when it opens again so you can take your kids to the boutique!
13: Enchanted Holidays
Disney really does such a great job with decorating for the holidays!
The holiday season is one of the best times to go to Disney Springs! From Halloween to Christmas the decorations are top notch! The pumpkins and leaves transform to candy canes, colorful ornaments, and plenty of trees. It feels to magical.
Seeing the joy in your kids faces when they see the decorations is the very best! The love to see the sparkle, Mickey themed decor, and fully take in all the holiday cheer there is.
14: Christmas Tree Stroll
For the past few years we have enjoyed the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs. It has been a blast to walk among the trees getting to see all the different fun ways they decorate the themed trees.
Because of Covid, in 2020 Disney made some changes so it do that it became the Christmas Tree Stroll. Now the trees are spread out throughout the whole complex. Follow the map to find the trees, like a scavenger hunt.
15: Take Loads of Pictures
Throughout Disney Springs, there are plenty of places to take pictures of your kids enjoying themselves. My kids love to pose with the statues of princesses, Toy Story characters, and LEGO statues too.
While there have been some changes to Disney Springs due to Covid, you can still really enjoy yourself in a safe manner. We visited Disney Springs on the day it reopened and they did their best to keep everyone safe with masks and temperature checks. As one publishing this article, masks are not required while walking around outside, but are on required inside stores.
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