We visit Disney World every day, and, over the years, we’ve learned some pretty handy tips!
When it comes to visiting Disney World, many people understandably get super prepared for the theme parks. However, it’s easy to overlook Disney Springs, which has its own set of unspoken rules and things you need to plan for.
While everyone goes about doing Disney Springs — Disney World’s dedicated shopping and dining district — differently, there are some unspoken rules that are essential to know before your visit.
The first thing is knowing when to go. If you have a dining reservation, arriving on time is actually a mistake.
We recommend showing up a FULL HOUR BEFORE.
Parking can be annoyingly difficult to find, and — especially on the weekends — garages fill up fast and/or take forever to get in and out of.
Disney Springs is also deceptively big. It can take you 15 to 20 minutes to get from your car to your destination.
Additionally, Disney Springs is often crowded, and showing up an hour early means you can avoid the stress that comes with running through crowds.
If you don’t follow this warning, you can modify your reservation up to 2 hours prior to your scheduled time via the My Disney Experience app. You can also call the restaurant directly to alert them about a delay.
If you booked through OpenTable, you can modify through that app.
The next rule is to do your parking homework. First-time visitors can easily be confused by the parking.
Choosing the right garage is important on each visit, and knowing that security checkpoints are on the second floors of each garage is an important tidbit to know before you leave your car.
The Orange Garage is generally better for those looking to visit the West Side and AMC Theaters. It has two entrances — on either side of the AMC Theater — so be advised which side you parked on so you don’t forget.
The Lime Garage is better for locations in the Town Center, Landing, and Marketplace.
The Grapefruit Garage is across the street and has an elevated pedestrian bridge, but is usually limited to Cast Member parking only, except for peak traffic times.
There are also surface lots on the West Side that can save walking time during peak periods. These are the Watermelon and Strawberry lots.
Parking at Disney Springs is free and you can always check the map on the My Disney Experience app when in doubt.
While Disney Springs has PLENTY of restaurants to choose from, they all get popular fast, so if you’re looking for last-minute reservations, you might be out of luck depending on when you visit.
Places like Homecomin’, Morimoto Asia, and Wine Bar George can very difficult to book, and that hit rate drops dramatically on the weekends.
Just like at the restaurants everywhere else at Disney World, you can book these ones 60 days in advance of your visit, and we strongly recommend doing so. Otherwise, you’re playing a game of chance.
The next rule to be aware of is when to visit. If you can help it, the best time to visit is weekday mornings.
Crowds are generally in the theme parks during this time, meaning Disney Springs is relatively quiet. The crowds typically tend to peak in the evening and on the weekends when locals come to visit.
Friday and Saturday nights are especially bad, so aim for weekday mornings — especially Tuesday or Wednesday — if you want a chiller experience.
If you’re looking for a more lively experience, the weekend nights may be the time for you.
The last major rule to know is that you should always be monitoring Disney Springs for changes.
This shopping and dining district is ALWAYS changing. Shops constantly close and are replaced, and how it looks today might not be how it looked even a few months ago.
We’re constantly visiting Disney Springs each week, so stay tuned right here at AllEars for all sorts of updates and tips that will help you navigate the area like a pro!
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What are some Disney Springs tips you have for first-timers? Let us know in the comments!
What is the point of making a reservation if you have to show up an hour early? Its like having a lightning lane time but having to show up and wait an hour for the ride.
Second thought. You offer lots of parking suggestions. If you are staying on Disney property and plan on spending more than just a little bit of time at Disney Springs, Saratoga Springs is great as you can walk to Disney Springs or take a short boat ride. Old Key West also has a boat ride and you can also walk to Disney Springs, but I would only recommend doing so during the day as the path has no lighting.