When one hears about Disney Springs, they probably envision a place to escape from the theme parks for a night out. Or maybe it’s a place to shop and grab some lunch or dinner during your trip to Orlando. That’s also a great idea, but I’m here to tell you that there is so much more to see—there are some secrets to uncover, best kept secrets that need to be explored. There’s a dash of magic to be found at the shopping, dining and entertainment complex.
And, we had a chance to experience a lot this magic firsthand during the most wonderful time of the year—the holidays of course.
So, sit back, gather with your family, and take some time to hop in your car for a quick road trip to Orlando, or a trip on the Brightline train, and immerse yourself in a place where you will rediscover that holiday spirit.
Impressive and Creative Installations Await Visitors
While we toured and strolled around Disney Springs, we realized that this holiday season will be one of the most special ones in the history of the Walt Disney World destination. From an interactive and chatty Christmas tree on wheels, to a special moment when snow flurries appear at the Town Center’s Christmas Tree in its main courtyard, there is something there for everyone to enjoy this 2024 holiday season.
To start, there are impressive guests roaming around, perfect for festive photo opportunities. From Soldier Stilt Walkers, Roller Blading Snowflakes and the sounds of a festive Brass Brand, they shine just as much as the décor and trees surrounding Disney Springs. We were impressed with their energy, and they were open to pictures and loved the attention from us visitors.
The windows at the World of Disney store have been spruced up in a way that will leave you breathless. For the first time in the shop’s history, each of the windows offers friendly animations that will bring some joy. Just don’t forget your MagicBand+! With these Magic Bands, visitors will be able to visit each window display, tap their band, and enjoy personalized greetings and interactive opportunities. The windows tell a story, and one of them will have you writing a letter to Santa, where your name will appear alongside your wishes. That letter will be placed in a mailbox, and you can see when it is whisked away to the North Pole. Every window shows off something unique, so don’t leave one behind! You might miss something fun for you and the family to enjoy.
Disney Springs also has a Christmas Tree Stroll, where visitors can explore the Springs to check out different trees. Each tree has a Disney-related theme, such as “Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Encanto.” There’s also a scavenger hunt available, where you can visit every tree and get an exclusive Christmas Tree Stroll pin once you finish! Again, don’t forget to have your MagicBand+ on you; it will activate a surprise on each tree, such as music or lights. These are all offered by a partnership with Luxury of Time by Diamonds International, and they add a diverse touch to the walking experience.
If you are a fan of performance art and find yourself with time during your adventures at Disney Springs, take the time to get tickets and experience Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn to Life. The energetic show blends daring performances and also celebrates the importance and impact of Disney animation and its memorable characters. A touching and engaging story adds a certain dash of magic to the show and makes it a unique experience for the whole family to enjoy that’s very different from any other Cirque du Soleil show that one might’ve experienced in the past.
Dining, Adventures and Holiday Shopping
Besides the installations, Disney Springs is a place where you can come for the holiday adventures and leave with some unique gifts. From headbands with decorative plushies representing your favorite characters at Disney Ever After, to purchasing and personalizing ornaments at Disney’s Days of Christmas, there are many more places such as these where you can create unique gifts for loved ones.
At Disney Ever After, I selected Zero and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” as my headband toppers. Then, at Disney’s Days of Christmas, I decided to leave with a snowman ornament wearing a Mouseketeer hat, personalized with my name. Trust me, there are so many to choose from that you’ll have a hard time leaving with just one!
A unique gift that I recommend is a professional cartoon from the experts at The Art Corner by Artistic Talent Group. I left with a gorgeous, animated portrait of me and my mother as characters from “The Incredibles.” I also decided to take home a print and digital artistic piece of my tuxedo cat, Luna. And, I had the chance to create quite the galactic painting with the help on an expert artist that rode a bicycle while I dropped different bright colors of paint on a blank canvas, creating bright swirls that were topped off by glitter.
Finally, dining at Disney Springs is a crucial experience to be had.
The Boathouse, a lake front restaurant, offers the chance to take themed floating “car boats” for a ride, as well as a selection of fresh seafood and festive drinks. For quick and unique Indian fare curated by an expert celebrity chef, make sure to stop by eet by Maneet Chauhan, where knowledgeable staff will recommend their fusion Indian dishes based on your tastes.
Another restaurant owned by a celebrity chef, and former Disney Summer Program graduate, is the impressive Southern Cooking spot Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin,’ featuring farm-to-table fare highlighting local ingredients. We recommend Art’s famous fried chicken, a favorite of Oprah herself. Art Smith’s menu is one fit for foodies that enjoy perfectly crafted Southern Food.
Let’s not forget George’s Wine Bar, a classy spot where you can enjoy worldly wines by the glass or bottle, as well as bites such as fried mac and cheese and charcuterie boards with fresh cheeses and meats. The owner George takes pride in his expert wine list and makes sure to include unique and rare wines on the menu. But please don’t leave without sipping one of the restaurant’s signature drinks, such as their rendition of the espresso martini, a popular one that diners gravitate to when they visit the restaurant.
Want some more holiday cheer? And cocktails? A place that I enjoyed during my visit was Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar. The Indiana Jones-inspired bar offers unique craft cocktails and bites, and these are over-the-top amazing during the holidays when the bar becomes quite festive. Called Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Hangar Bar during the season, it’s quite the fun spot to be, with long lines to get into the bar and restaurant—and for good reason!
Some awesome and limited time items on the menu include the Post-flight “Milk” and Cookies with Coquito, featuring Bourbon-eggnog, a snowflake cookie and gingerbread reindeer cookie filled with dulce de leche, a chocolate-peppermint Christmas tree cookie and coquito with Bacardí Rum. I’m Puerto Rican and the coquito took me back home, and the flavors are just as authentic as you can imagine. Another favorite cocktail of mine was the Eternal Snowfall, featuring St. Augustine Cane Vodka, St. Augustine Gin, Tippler’s Orange Liqueur, Siesta Key Silver Rum, chipotle pineapple syrup, and sour mix topped with a float of Bols Blue Curaçao Liqueur and garnished with a snowflake sugar piece and lemon. The flavor mix is as unexpected as it is delicious.
A place where the holiday season comes to life, I was happy to enjoy a little holiday spirit in November. And, the events at Disney Springs run through Dec. 30, so you are in luck to plan that road trip in time to enjoy all of the fun.
For more information, visit disneysprings.com/holidays-at-disney-springs.
