Disney Springs doesn’t get enough credit — and honestly, sometimes it gets too much. It’s not a theme park. It’s not a mall. It’s somewhere in between, and how much you enjoy it depends almost entirely on how you approach it.
I’ve spent a lot of time here over the years. I have my favourites, I have my skips, and I have genuine opinions about what makes a Disney Springs visit worth it versus what makes it feel like a waste of vacation time. This list is that — 26 things actually worth your time in 2026, honest takes included.
One thing worth noting upfront: Disney Springs is genuinely evolving right now. Level99 is coming to the old DisneyQuest building — the same space that became the NBA Experience before closing during the pandemic. That building has been empty for years and seeing it come back to life as something completely new is exciting. Six Ravens, from the team behind Gideon’s Bakehouse, is also on its way. I haven’t been to either yet, so I’ll tell you what I know and flag them honestly for what they are: things worth watching.
Let’s get into it.
The Food & Drink
1. Polite Pig My most-visited restaurant at Disney Springs, and it’s not close. The smoked turkey is the move. The craft cocktails are legitimately good. It doesn’t feel like a theme park restaurant, which is exactly why I keep going back. If you only eat one meal at Disney Springs, this is it.
2. Joffrey’s Coffee The official Disney coffee partner and genuinely worth it. Grab one and walk — that’s the right pace for Disney Springs. This is how I start almost every visit.
3. Starbucks Yes, it’s Starbucks. But this is a corporate-licensed location, which means your Starbucks Rewards stars actually work here. On a Disney trip where everything costs money, that matters. No shame in it.
4. Gideon’s Bakehouse The cookies are excellent. The cold brew chocolate chip especially. That said, I think the hype has slightly outrun the reality — you don’t need to wait two hours for a cookie. Go when it opens or late in the day and you’ll have a much better experience. Worth doing, not worth suffering for.
5. Summer House on the Lake An underrated brunch spot that most Disney Springs guides completely ignore. The lakeside setting is beautiful, the food is genuinely good, and the vibe is relaxed in a way that most of the area isn’t. If you’re doing a morning visit, this is worth knowing about.
6. Earl of Sandwich Cheap, fast, consistently good. When you want a real meal without committing to a sit-down restaurant, Earl of Sandwich delivers every time. It’s a chain, but it’s a chain that earns its spot here.
7. Chicken Guy! Guy Fieri’s chicken tender concept is better than it has any right to be. The sauce selection alone makes it worth a visit. Good for families, good for a quick lunch, and never seems to have the waits that other spots do.
8. Blaze Pizza The case for Blaze is simple: it’s cheap, it’s fast, and the unlimited soda refills are a genuine value play in a place where drinks cost a fortune. It’s not the most exciting meal you’ll have at Disney Springs, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
9. Morimoto Asia The best upscale dining at Disney Springs. The dim sum brunch on weekends is one of the best meals available at all of Walt Disney World — bold claim, I stand by it. If you’re planning a special meal, book this one.
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10. Wine Bar George Quiet, adult, genuinely good. Wine Bar George is what Disney Springs does well when it’s not trying to be everything to everyone. If you want to decompress after a park day without committing to a full dinner, this is the spot.
11. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar I come here for two things: the theming details and the water views. The Indiana Jones backstory woven through every corner of this bar is some of the best environmental storytelling at Disney Springs. Order something, sit outside, and actually look around. Most people miss how good this space is.
12. Swirls on the Water Dole Whip, waterfront, no theme park ticket required. That’s the entire pitch and it’s a good one.
13. The Ganachery I’ll be honest — I mostly come here to smell the chocolate. The truffles and ganache are beautiful and genuinely delicious, but the smell alone is worth stopping in. It’s one of those small sensory moments that makes Disney Springs feel like more than a shopping district.
14. Amorette’s Patisserie We rarely buy anything here. We always stop and look. The artistry on display — the sculpted cakes, the painted petit fours — is legitimately impressive. Think of it as edible window shopping. Worth five minutes of your time even if you leave empty handed.
15. Six Ravens (Opening 2026 — watch this space) From the team behind Gideon’s Bakehouse, this savory hand pie concept is opening in The Landing later this year. I haven’t been yet and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. But if Gideon’s quality carries over into savory food, this could quickly become one of the best quick service options at Disney Springs. Cautiously optimistic.
16. CrazyShake by Black Tap (New March 2026) The Instagram-famous milkshake concept from Disneyland just arrived as a grab-and-go window. It photographs brilliantly. Whether it earns repeat visits is a different question — I’ll report back once I’ve tried it.
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The Shopping
17. World of Disney The largest Disney merchandise store on property. You should go. Go with a loose idea of what you’re looking for, and make sure you reach the back sections — that’s where the interesting stuff lives that most tourists never find.
18. Art of Disney My favourite store at Disney Springs. Animation cels, original artwork, limited edition prints. It feels like a gallery, not a souvenir shop. If you collect anything Disney, budget extra time here and leave your credit card in your pocket until you’re sure.
19. Tren-D One of my favourite retail spaces at all of Walt Disney World. The curation here is different — fashion-forward Disney merchandise that you genuinely can’t find elsewhere on property. If you care about what you wear and you want Disney in your wardrobe without looking like a walking theme park, this is your store.
20. Marketplace Co-Op Always changing, always worth a look. Six curated mini-boutiques in one space, and the inventory genuinely rotates. I find something new almost every visit. The kind of store that rewards repeat visitors.
21. Disney’s Days of Christmas The personalization options here are what make it worth a stop. Ornaments, stockings, keepsakes with your name on them — it’s year-round, not just seasonal. One of the better souvenir investments you can make because it’s actually specific to you.
22. Disney’s Pin Traders / Star Wars Galactic Outpost / Super Hero Headquarters If you trade pins, any Disney-operated location is your friend. These stores carry the official Disney pin stock and the cast members are always up for a trade. Pin trading at Disney Springs is genuinely underrated — less pressure than in the parks, more time to browse.
23. The LEGO Store Even if you’re not buying, the life-sized LEGO builds outside stop you in your tracks. The Darth Vader sculpture alone is worth a detour. Inside, the selection is impressive and the build-your-own-minifigure wall is a hit with kids and adults alike.
24. Spice & Tea Exchange Yes, it’s a chain. I don’t care. The selection of loose leaf teas at genuinely reasonable prices is worth the stop, especially compared to what you’ll pay for tea inside the parks. I always leave with something.
25. Goofy’s Candy Co. Come for the smell, stay for the snacks. The hand-dipped apples and fresh-made treats are classic Disney, and the warm sugar smell that hits you at the door is one of those Disney Springs sensory moments that makes the place feel special. A great last stop before you head out.
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The Experience
26. Level99 (Opening 2026 — watch this space) This is the one I’m most excited about. The old DisneyQuest building — which became the NBA Experience, then sat empty through the pandemic — is finally becoming something again. Over 60 challenge rooms across 45,000 square feet of physical, mental, and skill-based experiences for adults. I have real history with that building and genuine excitement about what it could become. I’ll have a full review the moment it opens.
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The Honest Reality About Disney Springs in 2026
Disney Springs is at its best right now, and it’s about to get better. But it still has two frustrations I can’t ignore.
First, not every retailer treats it like Disney property. You’re at Walt Disney World. There should be something here I can only get here — something exclusive, something that makes the trip worth it. Too many stores feel like they wandered in from a regular mall and forgot where they were. That’s on Disney to fix, and they haven’t.
Second, the hours are a mess. The official line is 10am to 11pm. In reality, individual stores open and close on their own schedules with no consistent communication. Check before you go, because showing up at 10am expecting everything to be open is a gamble you don’t want to lose on vacation.
Neither of those things should stop you from going. They’re just worth knowing.
Disney Springs rewards the people who treat it like what it actually is — a great half-day with a checklist of genuinely excellent things, not a park that needs to be conquered. Go with that mindset and you’ll have a great time.