Disney Springs is a great destination to enjoy the wonder of Disney World, without the shocking price tag. From free boat rides, to amazing stores, there are lots of free things to do at Disney Springs. If you are looking for inexpensive things to do on your Disney World visit, check out our family’s list of best free things to do at Disney Springs.
- See Glass Blowing at Arribas Brothers
- Race Lego Cars at the Lego Store
- Take the Sassagoula River Ferry Boat Ride
- Sample Body Scrubs at The Basin
- Catch Some Live Music
- Dig for Fossils at the T-Rex Cafe
- Meet the Polar Bear at the Coca Cola Store
- Dive In at the Splash Pad
- Browse the World of Disney
- Explore the Jungle at Rainforest Cafe
See Glass Blowing at Arribas Brothers
One of my family’s favorite free things to do at Disney Springs is to watch live glass blowing at Arribas Brothers. At Arribas Brothers, glass blowing experts perform their craft in the center of the store. Kids and adults alike will be mesmerized by the delicate movements of the artists.
The objects in the store are equally beautiful, and it’s fun just wander and look at the sparkling masterpieces on display. If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a Swarovski Crystal studded Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
Race Lego Cars at the Lego Store
The Lego Store is a great stop for those looking for free things to do at Disney Springs. Take some instagram photos with the giant Lego structures outside. Inside the store, you can get lost in the expansive collection of Lego sets.
Outside the exit, there are tables set up with bowls of legos, and a race track. Kids, even toddlers, love creating and racing Lego vehicles against each other. Parents will enjoy a much earned break here, while kids socialize and compete to make the best build.
Take the Sassagoula River Ferry Boat Ride
There are several Disney World resorts with boat rides that provide free transportation to Disney Springs. These boat rides are open to all guests, and a great way to take a ride and see Disney Springs from the water.
Boats depart to Old Key West Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort, and Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter.
Boats depart from both the Market Place, and Disney Springs Landing. Boats from the Marketplace go to Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. Boats from Disney Springs Landing on the West Side travel to Saratoga Springs and Old Key West Resort.
Here is a Map of Disney Springs to help you find boat departure sites.
I recommend the trip to Port Orleans French Quarter. It’s a pretty resort to take a walk in, and a short but pretty ride.
If you are interested in staying at a hotel walking distance to Disney Springs, but don’t want to pay the steep costs on Disney property, check out our list of hotels walking distance to Disney Springs!
Sample Body Scrubs at The Basin
If you love soaps and fragrances, you won’t want to miss The Basin. With a unique line of bath bombs, lotions and soaps, The Basin is a great place to browse and take in unique scents.
One of my favorite free things to do at Disney Springs is to visit the body scrub station there. They have several scrub samples set up to try, and it is fun to experiment with the different fragrances.
Catch Some Live Music
One of the best free things to do at Disney Springs is to listen to live music. Evenings are the best time to catch performers, and bands and soloists are scattered throughout the property.
The AdventHealth Waterside Stage is the largest performing area in Disney Springs. It is across from World of Disney in the Marketplace, and often has local bands or dance troupes performing most evenings. They typically perform at 7, 7:45, 9, and 10:15 PM.
Waterview Park next to the Boathouse also features nightly bands, and performances are typically 6:15, 7:15, 8:15, and 9:15 PM.
If you want to see Irish dancers or listen to traditional music, live performances can often be caught at Raglan Road Irish Pub between 3PM and midnight. Evenings are fun for adults, and live music is available both outside and indoors. You can also pick up some beer or fish and chips at Cookes of Dublin, one of the best quick service restaurants in Disney Springs.
If you are looking for a more relaxing venue with great drinks, Dockside Margaritas near World of Disney also has a rotating schedule of really talented singer songwriters.
Click here for a current schedule of live music at Disney Springs.
Dig for Fossils at the T-Rex Cafe
The T-Rex Cafe is one of the funnest places to dine with kids in Disney Springs. It’s also a great place to stop by on a budget. The Dino-shop has a wide array of dinosaur themed gifts, and even a spot to build your own dino by Build a Bear Workshop.
If you are visiting Disney Springs with toddlers, one of the coolest free things to do in Disney Springs is their Discovery Dig fossil sandpit. Little ones will love digging with shovels and brushes unroofing dinosaur bones in a giant sand box. There is also the Discovery Creek water mill where kids can pan for stones and fossils.
Meet the Polar Bear at the Coca Cola Store
On the second floor of the Coca Cola store, the Coca Cola Bear makes a daily appearance. Visitors are welcome to snap pictures and meet the giant iconic polar bear.
While there, it is definitely worth visiting the Coca Cola store roof top bar. The view of Disney Springs is amazing, and they offer cool sampler trays of international sodas and ice cream floats.
Dive In at the Splash Pad
One of the funnest free things to do at Disney Springs with kids is to play at the Splash Pad. Located in the Marketplace, right next to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Earl of Sandwich (a great place to get breakfast in Disney Springs), the Disney Springs splash pad is an easy and fun place to spend time with little ones.
Kids and toddlers will enjoy soaking in the jumping fountains. There is often a DJ near the area, making it fun and relaxing for adults as well.
Browse the World of Disney
There are tons of unique stores at Disney Springs that are fun to browse, even if you don’t want to open your wallet. World of Disney is a giant Disney World store with the world’s largest collection of Disney merchandise. It’s an amazing store just to browse and take in the wide variety of Disney World gifts and souvenirs.
Other don’t miss stores in Disney Springs include:
- Disney’s Days of Christmas
- M&M store
- Lovepop Store
- Sugarboo & Co.
- Marketplace Co-op (unique pop-up shops with Disney items)
- Superhero Headquarters
- Anthropologie
- Ron John Surf Shop
- UNIQLO
- Savannah Bee Company
- The Art of Disney
Explore the Jungle at Rainforest Cafe
The Rainforest Cafe is worth visiting even if you don’t want to spend the money for a meal. There is a volcano show erupting every 30 minutes, which can be seen all around the Disney Springs Lagoon. Be sure to browse the jungle themed store at the entrance of the restaurant. If you are lucky, you will catch some of the animal action during the rainstorms that occur every 22 minutes.
This is also one of the funnest places to dine with kids in Disney Springs. If you are looking for a splurge, check out our post on best places to dine with kids in Disney Springs.
Check out our Other Disney Springs Blog Posts:
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