This article discusses the top Disney Springs shops that you’ll want to visit on your next WDW for couples trip.
Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island may be memories of the past, but today’s Disney Springs is simply an evolution of what’s been there all along: a shopping, dining and entertainment district with so much to do it can feel like the unofficial 5th Disney World park.
Spread across 120 acres and four interconnected neighborhoods (Marketplace, Town Center, The Landing and West Side), Disney Springs has shops, restaurants, bars and lounges, movies, bowling, live music and more to keep you busy for a day, night or both.
Set on the waterfront, there are approximately 200 establishments here inviting you to shop and play to your heart’s content, then stop for a drink or meal when you’re ready for a break.
Also, like many Disney parks, DS lets you grab a beer, cocktail or glass of wine and roam around with it. We suggest grabbing a bench or table that overlooks the lake while you sip.
Bonus: It’s free to park at DS, and you can get there via Disney World transportation if you’re staying on property. Consider it an Orlando, Florida, destination whether or not you’re on a full-blown WDW vacation.
✨ Is Disney Springs Free? Everything You Need To Know
Whether you go during the day when it’s half-empty or at night to be amongst the Orlando buzz and nightlife, these are the Disney Springs shops that we think are best for a couples-only trip.
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Marketplace Shops at Disney Springs
We think of the Marketplace section as being at the end of DS, but that’s only because we usually park in the Orange Garage, which puts you on the West Side. If you park in the Lime Garage, you’ll be much closer to this side of Disney Springs.
💡 P.S. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is about a 10-minute walk from the Marketplace, and you can also take a water taxi there. If you’re into visiting different resorts on your Disney for couples trip, it doesn’t get easier than that.
Arribas Bros.
Arribas Bros. is one of our favorite souvenir shops on both coasts, and there are 3 locations in Walt Disney World:
- The Marketplace section
- La Princesa de Cristal in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase
- Crystal Arts on Main Street in Magic Kingdom
The Marketplace location is the largest and prettiest of all three. Plus, we like that we don’t have to put our shopping bag in a locker or try to figure out how to take it on rides without worrying that the handcrafted artisan items inside will shatter.
✨ Here are pro tips for how to bring your backpack or bag on Disney World rides.
They have Disney-themed and non-Disney items here, including decorative items for the home, high-end pens and desk items, and sparkling jewelry. One of our favorite Disney souvenirs ever is the engraved Mickey and Minnie mug set we bought at the Arribas Bros. store in Disneyland.
Insider Tip: Since Arribas Bros. isn’t technically owned by Disney, prices here are more affordable than at many other stores on WDW property. You’ll also get a discount if you’re a D23 member.
The Art of Disney
There are two Art of Disney stores in Disney World — one in the Marketplace and the other in the World Showcase in Epcot (in The American Adventure section).
As far as we can tell, they pretty much have the same items, but if there’s a limited-production piece that’s sold out in one of the stores, you may be able to get it in the other one.
Also, just like with the Arribas Bros. items, walking around a Disney park with a fine art purchase is no fun. Wait until you’re at DS to do your shopping, if you can.
Basin
Basin is a bath and body shop that sells body butter and scrubs, bath bombs and salts, face masks, specialty soap and more. We prefer Basin White at the Grand Floridian, but either way, we like to stock up on bath bombs to bring back home with us.
Also, the bath salts are great to use mid-trip if your hotel room has a bathtub because they can help soothe sore muscles and get you ready for your next park day.
Disney’s Days of Christmas
There are a few Christmas stores in WDW, like Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom and Die Weihnachts Ecke in the German pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. (The latter has lovely, non-Disney ornaments if that’s what you’re after.)
Disney’s Days of Christmas is larger than Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, and even though they have almost exactly the same stock, we’ve found holiday decor at the one in Disney Springs that we didn’t spot anywhere else.
Goofy’s Candy Company
We almost always make Goofy’s Candy Company our last stop for the night, even though it couldn’t be farther from where we park. This is one of the best places at Disney Springs to get a dessert to-go and enjoy it back at your hotel room, especially if Gideon’s won’t let you get on line, which happens more often than not.
There are bagged candies here, but we come for the baked goods. Order what’s ready-made behind the counter or fill out a Create Your Own Treat sheet to get a custom caramel apple, Rice Krispies Treat, marshmallow and more.
The Lego Store
The Lego Store is cute and creative, and we like to pop in every few trips to Disney World to see what’s new. Sometimes, there’s a line, but you may be lucky enough to walk right in.
Insider Tip: Don’t miss the Lego mural outside!
Marketplace Co-Op
The Marketplace Co-Op is hands-down our favorite store for Disney merchandise, even above World of Disney. There are items here that you’ll have a hard time finding anywhere else on Walt Disney World property, and the shop itself is so eclectic and well-decorated that you could come here just for the surroundings.
There aren’t a lot of stuffed animals and toys here, which is perfect for a Disney couple’s trip. Instead, there are dedicated sections for different types of items:
- D-Tech on Demand: Make-your-own iPhone cases and other tech accessories. I get compliments all the time on my Main Street Electrical Parade case, and even though I drop my phone daily, it’s never been scratched or broken.
- Centerpiece: Disney home decor, including plenty of kitchen items, aimed at Disney adults.
- Disney Tails: Products just for pets! 🐶
- Wonderground Gallery: Unique Disney artwork. Many of the large, pricey pieces have postcard versions to buy.
Of all the stores you can visit here, this is at the top of the list — consider it a must-do when visiting Disney Springs.
World of Disney
Despite our adoration for the Marketplace Co-Op, we still love World of Disney.
About 90% of what you’ll see in souvenir shops around Walt Disney World can also be found here, making it the best place to do all your souvenir shopping so you can forgo carrying plastic bags around a 90-degree park. (But if you insist, here’s where you can find lockers in each Disney park.)
The World of Disney store is enormous, with merchandise sections for clothing, Mickey and Minnie ears, homeware, kitchen decor, snacks, seasonal items, etc.
Even if it’s not a shopping-heavy Disney for couples trip, we always come here to stock up on Mickey’s Really Swell Coffee before we head home. (You can also find it at the Main Street Confectionery in Magic Kingdom.) We like this coffee brand better than Joffrey’s, and it’s also our go-to souvenir for our family.
☕️ Here are all the Starbucks locations in Walt Disney World, including Disney Springs.
Honorable Mentions: Marketplace Eateries
🍫 Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
I don’t know how the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain escaped me on so many DS trips, but it wasn’t until I went to the one in Disneyland and then visited DS after that I noticed it was there.
Do yourself a favor and order the Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae. Here’s the heavenly, poetic description: Caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream and handmade milk or dark chocolate hot fudge topped with whipped cream, sea salt, and a chocolate caramel square.
It’s even better than it sounds and worth every second you have to wait in line.
🍦 Swirls on the Water
Came to WDW for the Dole Whip? We don’t blame you. Did you know that you don’t have to brave the lines in Adventureland or venture to the Polynesian to get it? At DS, they serve Dole Whip at Swirls on the Water. And more than that, they have Dole Whip tasting flights and alcohol-infused Dole Whip, too.
🥨 Wetzel’s Pretzels
Don’t be mad at us, but we think the Mickey pretzels in WDW are kind of (very) overrated. Yes, they’re adorable, but they don’t taste great, guys. I said it.
As soft pretzel fans, we prefer ours from Wetzel’s Pretzels in Disney Springs. There are stands in the Marketplace and West Side sections. (The Bavarian pretzel at BaseLine Tap House in Hollywood Studios is also yummy.)
The Landing Stores at Disney Springs
The Landing is the narrow part of DS that’s in the center of the strip and near the water. You’re always close to this section, and even if you’re not specifically going here, you’ll probably walk through it at some point.
💡 The Landing is also where you can take a ride in a restored vintage amphicar, which is a car that turns into a boat on the water. Bucket list item.
The Boathouse Boatique
The Boathouse Boatique is a cute nautical gift shop connected to The Boathouse restaurant. A lot of what you’ll find here are generic nautical souvenirs, but we love the duck decor, which goes hand-in-hand with The Boathouse’s cocktail that’s topped with a rubber ducky.
Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC
As someone on a gluten-free and dairy-free-ish diet, it’s hard to find good-tasting sweets in Walt Disney World. During my first WDW vacation after going gluten-free, I was overwhelmed with how much I couldn’t have. Mike had done a lot of allergy research for me ahead of time, though, and he already knew about Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC, which ended up being such a godsend that I bought the cookbook on Amazon right after that trip.
Everything here is allergen-free — there’s no gluten, dairy, nuts, etc. in their products — and many of their baked goods are delicious, which isn’t something you experience a lot when you cut essential ingredients from desserts.
🥹 Even better is that the staff is extremely generous. I’ve never gone without receiving freebies.
Since we go to Disney Springs on our arrival day most of the time, I like to stock up on sweets from Erin McKenna’s for the length of our stay. Their desserts last several days without drying out or going bad. When everyone else is able to order dessert or I have a sweet tooth at the end of a park day, it’s great knowing I have options back in the room that will taste great without making me sick.
Gideon’s Bakehouse
If you’ve never had the oversized cookies or cake slices from Gideon’s Bakehouse, you’re in for a treat. On top of their regular flavors, there are morning-only and seasonal options that you may be able to snag if they haven’t run out. Our favorites are Original Chocolate Chip and Cookies and Cream, which are always available.
🍪 During Hot Cookie Hour (2-3 p.m. and 7-8 p.m.), you can have an Original topped with homemade ice cream.
The sleeper hit of Gideon’s is the peanut butter cold brew, which is officially the one and only cold brew I’ve ever liked. They also have other cold brew flavors, like cookies and cream and pumpkin chai.
🚩 Here’s the thing: Gideon’s can be tricky to get into.
Sometimes, you have to (1) go to Gideon’s to (2) join a virtual waitlist, which means you’ll have to (3) come back later on. Other times, the line is “short” enough that you’re allowed to wait on it (yes, allowed), but the wait can still be about half an hour.
We’ve had the best luck toward the end of the day. The waitlist is often closed later in the evening, and a couple of times, the cast member has simply let us wait on the regular line even though we technically shouldn’t have been able to. It pays to ask.
Another option is to go to the second location in Orlando — you can find the address here.
Honorable Mentions: The Landing Restaurants in Disney Springs
🦀 The Boathouse
The Boathouse has become one of our go-to restaurants for dinner on practically every trip. They’re flexible about changing reservation times, the wait is rarely long, and both the food and service have always been good. They were also very accommodating with me when I had to order a gluten-free meal.
If you like steak or seafood — or steak and seafood — this is the restaurant for you.
🥘 Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is where we went on Christmas when we decided to be away from home for the holiday, and it was a great choice. Not only is the food delish (southern comfort food), but the employees are sugary-sweet and welcoming.
🍷 Wine Bar George
Wine Bar George is one of our favorite Disney date night choices, especially if you want great cocktails and small, shareable plates. Personally, we love the cocktails here, but there’s a vast wine selection, as you’d expect. It’s also possible you’ll see owner George Miliotes around — he was in the background wiping down tables in a Tim Tracker video, even.
West Side Shops and Experiences at Disney Springs
We love the West Side, and this is where we spend most of our time. It’s kind of the hub of DS since it’s where the Orange Garage empties out, and it has a lot of everything — entertainment, stores and restaurants.
DisneyStyle
DisneyStyle is an apparel and accessories store with the latest collections, particularly colorful and pastel pieces that are fun to browse even if you’re not going to buy. We’ve also found items here that are unavailable elsewhere, and it’s one of the few shops in Disney World with fitting rooms.
Everglazed Donuts and Cold Brew
Everglazed Donuts and Cold Brew is a tiny donut shop tucked in a side street on the West Side, and there’s a secret entrance to the Orange Garage just past it.
The menu here is fun, with both traditional and over-the-top donut options. You can also get cold brew coffee here with different flavored syrups and cold foams. Plus, Everglazed serves sandwiches and fries if you need something to balance the sugar rush.
⚠️ Insider Tip: The donuts are best when eaten the day you buy them. We bought a few for the next morning, but the toppings had gone soggy and the donuts were getting stale.
Splitsville Luxury Lanes
Full disclosure: We’ve never actually been inside Splitsville (it’s a bowling alley that also serves sushi, if you’re interested). Where we have been is the outdoor walk-up bar, mainly because I was desperately craving a pina colada, and that’s where a cast member suggested we go. Worth it.
😀 Love vinyl stickers? You’ll like this Disney-inspired pina colada sticker, complete with Mickey Mouse cherries on top.
Honorable Mentions: More To Do in West Side
🎈 Aerophile Balloon
The enormous blue Aerophile balloon is impossible to miss as you walk around DS. It’s actually a hand-painted helium balloon, not a hot air balloon, as you might think. It goes ridiculously high, too, so it’s best for you adventurous travelers. Skip to the last section of this video to see what I mean — the views of Disney Springs are incredible.
🎥 AMC Dine-In Movie Theater
For movie lovers, going to see a new movie on vacation is a treat. The AMC theater has several auditoriums playing whatever’s out at the moment, including the current Disney Company movie they’re promoting, and many of the theaters have dine-in service.
🍺 City Works Eatery and Pour House
While we’re not huge fans of the food at City Works Eatery and Pour House, the beer and cider selection is undeniably great. It’s so hard to choose that we usually order samplers to try a bit of everything and then get our favorite option to go. There’s also a walk-up bar on the outside of the restaurant that serves the full drink menu, so you don’t even have to go inside if you don’t want to.
✏️ Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life
If you have the time on your romantic Disney trip, see Drawn to Life at the Cirque du Soleil theater. I’ve seen two different Cirque du Soleil shows in Disney World (including Drawn to Life), and they were both fantastic. Since the theater is on the small side and there’s a huge screen behind the stage that shows what’s happening, there’s really not a bad seat in the house.
Town Center Stores at Disney Springs
This is where we spend the least amount of time at DS because most of the stores here are standard options we can find back in New York. It’s a nice part of DS, though, with a high-end feel. Plus, it’s where you’ll be let off if you take a Disney bus to DS, and it’s also where you’ll find the Art Walk.
Notable shops here include Anthropologie, Coach, Fabletics, Kate Spade New York, Lilly Pulitzer, Lululemon, Pandora, Sephora, and UNIQLO. Our two faves are the Coca-Cola Store and Lovepop.
🌸 Check out the Lilly Pulitzer for Disney collection, plus alternatives.
Coca-Cola Store
For someone who’s not a huge soda drinker, I like the Coca-Cola Store way too much. There are Coca-Cola x Disney items here, vintage-looking Coke merch, tumblers and apparel with Coke-brand theming (lookin’ at you, Sprite), seasonal items and, yes, actual soda.
This store is huge, spread across multiple levels, and there’s a rooftop beverage bar, too. You can order soda-based mocktails and around-the-world flavors, like what you sample at Club Cool in Epcot.
Lovepop
Few things bring me greater joy than giving or receiving a Lovepop card or bouquet. The paper art you’ll find here ranges from cute to heartwarming, and the 3D items make great gifts for people who are hard to buy gifts for. Some of the products here have a Disney theme, while many don’t.
Wrapping Up
Is Disney Springs worth your time? Yes, most definitely.
We love it here, whether we need to do some shopping, want a Disney dining experience without heading to a resort, or feel like having a traditional movie date night.
Disney Springs also has that magical, elevated Disney feel you can only get on WDW property. And since it’s free to park and visit, we often choose it over off-property experiences, which can be more difficult to get to and find parking.
Knowing which shops are worth your time and which ones are skippable makes the experience all the more rewarding.
Are you planning a romantic Disney World trip for two? It’s OK to skip these 6 things. Zero-guilt vacations are the only way to go.
This article about the best Disney Springs shops for your Disney for couples trip includes affiliate links to items, and I may make a small commission if you click them at no cost to you.
