’Tis The Season at Disney Springs!

While we know you are likely to be making a beeline for the theme parks as soon as you set foot in Orlando this Christmas season, there is a lot more to the festive period than just the parks. We’ve already detailed some of the more offbeat places to soak up the Yuletide vibe in our full Christmas preview blog, but there are still several others worth highlighting.

One of those is the big shopping/dining/entertainment complex of Disney Springs, which is easy to overlook amid the vast and many attractions Orlando has to offer, as it doesn’t have the obvious appeal of the likes of the Magic Kingdom, SeaWorld and Universal.

But, if you were thinking you don’t need to pay much attention to the shops and restaurants amid all the Christmas festivities, we’re here to tell you to think again! In fact, when it comes to one of the more thoughtful, relaxed and extensive offerings at this time of year, Disney Springs is a genuine contender.

Not only does it offer that Florida classic of “snowfalls” nightly, but it also has its own signature attractions, a genuinely enchanting seasonal atmosphere, and a range of tastes and treats you won’t find anywhere else.

And, when it comes to shopping and dining, this is definitely the place for a splurge, with a dazzling array of souvenirs and other merchandise to fill most Christmas stockings! So, let’s discover the magical merriment, glittering décor and gift ideas galore at Disney Springs, where they urge visitors to “Shop, dine and play the most festive way,” from November 8 to December 30.

Disney Springs Shopping

Find great gifts for everyone on your list – including you! Browse through some classic holly jolly merchandise collections and learn more about holiday shopping at Disney Springs.

It goes without saying that all the shops of Disney Springs will be fully dressed for the season, but this is also the time to look out for those extra-special Disney collectibles and collections that are guaranteed to deck the halls with festive splendour. This year’s collections include:

Holiday Haven – Get cosy with throw blankets, wreaths, stockings and more featuring the Mickey Mouse silhouette. We especially like the look of the Mickey Mouse Icon Light-Up Holiday Wreath, and the Holiday Serving Tray and Mickey Mouse Icon Joy Mug.

Mickey’s Family Christmas – Delight in merry items featuring Mickey and friends dressed as Santa’s helpers, including apparel, home decor and more. Look out especially for the Mickey Mouse Holiday Lights Spirit Jersey for kids, the Mickey and Minnie Light-Up Holiday Glow Necklace, and the seasonal must-have of the Mickey Mouse Icon Holiday Lights Ear Headband and Santa Hat Ear Headband!

Holiday Colour Story – Add a suitably eye-catching festive hue to your Christmas looks with the all-red apparel collection, with more super-cute Mickey Ears and accessories, notably the Minnie Mouse Red Sequin Loungefly Mini Backpack and Red Sherpa Spirit Jersey.

Snowman Trend – Collect apparel, accessories, earrings, pillows and more, all adorned with that ultra-seasonal style of jolly snowmen! These include the Mickey Mouse Snowman Plush Holiday Throw Pillow, Loungefly Mini Backpack and Holiday Ear Headband.

Hanukkah Collection – Celebrate the annual Festival of Lights with a range of new Hanukkah-inspired items, including the Minnie Mouse Hanukkah Ear Headband, Wall Décor, Mickey and Minnie Hanukkah mugs and a stylish Hanukkah Throw.

And definitely make time for the essential Disney’s Days of Christmas store, the year-round repository of everything glittering and festive, with its own array of unique decorations and merch. Many items can also be personalised for extra Yule appeal.

Disney Springs Dining

While this is always a tasty year-round option for fine dining, snacks and sweet treats, the Springs takes on extra lustre in November and December thanks to a mouthwatering line-up of seasonal sips and bites, only available for a limited time. As you’d expect, many of the full-service restaurants add festive menu items at this time of year, but several of the patisserie-style shops go the extra mile and serve up more extensive selections of Christmas goodies.

This year, we especially like the look of The Ganachery, where their Mickey Chocolate Covered Gingerbread Cookies are worth coming in for on their own, along with the Mickey Ornament Chocolate Pinata and the Hot Sipping Ganache Kit, which is the shop’s heavenly hot chocolate blend.

You will also want to make a beeline for one of our year-round favourites, Amorette’s Patisserie, where their clever bakers are serving up a delicious Winter Macaron Sandwich (with almond cheesecake and cranberry-cherry jam), a Christmas Present Petit Cake and an outrageous White Mocha Crème Brulee, that is guaranteed to tantalise your tastebuds.

Additionally, look out for the seasonal six-pack of Holiday Donuts from Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew, Erik McKenna’s Bakery (for the gingerbread cupcake), the decadent Reindeer Shake (chocolate gelato, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and sprinkles) at Vivoli il Gelato and the Christmas Tree Sundae at Swirls on the Water.

When it comes to the festive items on the restaurant menus, you’ll find them most notably at Morimoto Asia, Pizza Ponte, Enzo’s Hideaway, Paddlefish, Terralina Crafted Italian and The Edison, where the Cosmic Poinsetta is a divine concoction of vodka, pear brandy, lime juice and cinnamon. You can look up the full array of delectable Christmas dining throughout Disney Springs on this dining link.

Disney Springs Christmas attractions

Perhaps the best part of all the seasonal highlights at Disney Springs, though, is the range of one-of-a-kind experiences that add up to a heartwarming winter glow. These take the form of set-piece tableaus and original live entertainment, all with that Yule spirit.

Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll: Pick up a complimentary map to help you find the 21 shimmering trees along this fully decked-out trail. Each map includes stickers for you to match the corresponding icon of each tree and, once your map is complete, you can take it to one of the redemption locations for a special surprise!

Santa’s Marketplace: Visit with jolly old Saint Nick near Disney’s Pin Traders in The Marketplace section of Disney Springs for this unmissable meet-and-greet opportunity. Just be aware a virtual queue will be in place for this experience – once you’ve arrived at Disney Springs, use the My Disney Experience app and follow the instructions to enter the virtual queue. There will be multiple opportunities to enter throughout the day.

Nightly Snowfall: This is an undoubted highlight – watch in awe and delight as “snow” falls in the Town Center area, creating a classic winter scene. Snow will flurry every half hour beginning at sundown near the Town Center tree (subject to weather conditions).

Nightly Live Holiday Entertainment: Behold holiday-themed stilt walkers and a rollerblade duo roaming Town Center; find Santa Sleigh DJ serving up joyful tunes throughout the Marketplace; and catch a show from the seasonal line-up of musical offerings on the three main open-air stages of Disney Springs, the Waterside Stage (The Marketplace), Waterview Park (The Landing) and the Orange Stage (Town Center).

Have you sampled the Disney Springs Christmas spirit in the past? Tell us about it on our Facebook, X and Instagram pages.