EVERYONE knows the parks at Disney World are some of the Most Magical Places on Earth, but there’s so much more to Disney World than just the parks.

Okay, don’t get us wrong, we LOVE the Disney World parks, obviously. But if you’re looking to spend a day at Disney World without buying a ticket, you’ll find plenty of things to do. One of the most popular non-ticketed attractions is Disney Springs. This shopping and dining district is chalk full of fun entertainment. Since we’ve been here a few times, we’ve compiled a list of six things we’ll never do again at Disney Springs, and hopefully this will help you avoid a few things, too, on your next trip!

Attempt Disney Springs On a Weekend Night (Without a Game Plan)

Disney Springs might seem like a quaint, quite village (*insert Belle singing here*) on a weekday morning, but hit the “town” on a weekend night, and you might be in for quite a rude (and loud) awakening.

Disney Springs gets PACKED on those weekend nights, and for good reason. You’ll find lots of live entertainment, including street performers showing off their musical chops outside of restaurants, the AMC theater, or on the outdoor stage across from World of Disney. You can also find live music at several bars, lounges, and restaurants. The Edison and Paradiso 37 are good examples of places to find some lively music!

So what kind of game plan do you need for one of these weekend nights? We recommend booking any table service restaurants you want to dine at around dinner time FAR in advance. You can try both the My Disney Experience app and the OpenTable website (sometimes reservations are even available earlier than 60 days on the OpenTable website). We also recommend giving yourself an hour for travel time to Disney Springs from wherever you are on those weekend nights.

Skip Happy Hours/Promotions

Unlike at other dining locations around Disney World, many of the restaurants are owned by third-party vendors. This means that, also unlike other Disney-owned restaurants, they can offer discounts that you won’t find elsewhere. Yep, this means HALF-PRICED apps, secret menu items, and discounts on your favorite drink of choice!

You don’t want to miss out on these deals as they come and go. You can check out the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining (specifically the Disney Springs section) to find out where you can get some of these many deals. And when you’re there, be sure to ask the restaurants if they’re running any specials.

Rely On the Disney Springs Boats During the Dry Season

The Disney Springs River Cruises are located at the dock near the Marketplace section of Disney Springs. These ferry boats will take you to and from the Disney Springs-area hotels, including, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Port Orleans — Riverside and French Quarter. It can be a nice relaxing ride, and a great way to resort hop.

However, there are times when these boats (and others around Disney Springs) won’t be running. You may noticed them shut down during severe weather, for technical issues, nearby construction, OR low water levels. It might be hard to believe, but Florida does go through a dry season (usually towards the end of spring and early summer). When the water levels are too low, the boats can’t sail. So if you’re hoping to catch a boat ride to or from Disney Springs, beware that you could run into this issue.

Ignore the Brunch Powerhouses

Disney Springs is a GREAT place to grab brunch. Several of the restaurants in the district offer brunch menus, and you might be surprised to know that many of these menus are even better than their regular menus! But here’s a list of some of our FAVORITE brunch spots (a.k.a. Brunch Powerhouses) in Disney Springs:

• Summer House on the Lake — Saturdays & Sundays from 9 AM to 3 PM
• Wine Bar George — Wine Country Brunch on Saturdays & Sundays from 10:30 AM to 2 PM
• The Boathouse — The Captain’s Sing-a-Long Brunch on Sundays from 10 AM to 3 PM
  • BONUS tip: Dueling piana performances play from 11 AM to 2 PM
• Homecomin’ — Rise ‘n Shine Brunch on Saturdays & Sundays from 9 AM to 1 PM
• Raglan Road Irish Pub — Rollicking Raglan Brunch on Saturdays & Sundays from 10 AM to 3 PM

Fear Your Kiddo Is Gonna Be Bored

Disney Springs is the dining and shopping district of Disney World. That probably doesn’t scream FUN for kids at first thought. However, there are lots of fun and exciting things for the kiddos to do here, too! Remember, this is still Disney. Let’s take a look at some things your kids might enjoy.

First, there is the LEGO store, which can be a fun place for kids and adults, alike. There are lots of colorful sets to buy of varying difficulty, SWEET prebuilt cities and figures to see, a MiniFigure Factory where you can make your own MiniFigure, and a race care set outside the shop where kids can build and race their cars!

There’s also a Goofy’s Candy Co., where kids don’t have to just dream about yummy candies. If you’re looking for a run place to take the kids to eat, you can dine at Rainforest Café or T-Rex Café (a less common, but similar experience as Rainforest Café just with more animatronics).

There’s a fun Marketplace Train Express where kids can enjoy a 2 minute loop around the track, then hop on the Marketplace Carousel. You can also get your face painted at the Marketplace, because why not, right?! And of course, there’s World of Disney, the giant Disney gift store that’s definitely not just for the adults.

Underestimate It

No, it’s not a theme park, but DO NOT underestimate the fun to be had at Disney Springs. There’s so much to do, and you  certainly don’t want to assume it will be the same every time. If you’re filling a day on the front or back end of your trip, or you simply need a break from the parks mid-vacation (we all know it’s not REALLY a relaxing vacation), Disney Springs is a great place to visit.

For even more details about these tips and more, be sure to check out our video below!

And remember to keep checking back to DFB for all your Disney news!

REVIEW: Five NEW Desserts Dropped at This Underrated Spot at Disney Springs

Do you enjoy a day at Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments!