Disney springs with a toddler?

[Disneynov2015]

We have one free night after planning fireworks, parades, and dinners on other nights. Should we do disney springs with our 3 yo or keep our ohana reservation? She will stay up late so not worried about time. Staying at CSR.

Thanks

 

[Hopefully]

I would keep your 'OHana ADR. They have fun activities for little ones. Disney Springs is more adult

 

[Sytrace]

There are quite a few fun things to do for the younger crowd at Disney Springs. For example, down by the Christmas shop there is a splash/water pad area for little ones to play in. (there is a restroom right next to it where you can change her clothes when she is done splashing around)
That is where the boat leaves from on that end. One boat goes to the other side of Disney Springs and lets off behind HOB and the other goes to POR where you can get off and explore or make it a round trip.
There is a Rainforest Cafe and a T REX which are both really fun for the younger kids. If I had to take a 3 year old to eat somewhere at Disney Springs, it would be one of those two.
Also, there is a LEGO store, Ghiradelli, World of Disney and Once upon a Toy store all in that same vincinity of the splash pad. Also, a cute little clothing store and carousel and train ride.
The other side where HOB and Splitsville are tend to me more on the grownup side though.

Have fun.

 

[North of Mouse]

We have one free night after planning fireworks, parades, and dinners on other nights. Should we do disney springs with our 3 yo or keep our ohana reservation? She will stay up late so not worried about time. Staying at CSR.

Thanks

Like 'HOPEFULLY', I would keep the 'Ohana ressie - would not think Disney Springs would be much interest to a 3 year old, especially if going during cooler weather (not sure when your stay is for).

 

[Disneynov2015]

Thanks guys. We are going in a week. Anyone know how buses running to disney springs? Had heard it was slow going...

 

[Capang]

Keep ohana. DS buses are like all Disney buses. It's hit and miss. You may wait forever for your
Resort bus only to see another resort's buses come and go at least 3 times. Still beats driving at DS

 

[Mainemama]

I tend to avoid DS (and I have a toddler). It seems too hard to get to to make the experience navigating crowds in order to spend money worthwhile. I do have a low tolerance for shopping, though, so perhaps you would enjoy it. I have never eaten dinner at OHana, but my favorite toddler night ever in WDW went like this:marshmallows on the beach at the Poly, toddler sees boat, we get on boat just for the ride, returned to Poly and shopped in their store. Honestly,if I were planning a trip with other night commitments with a toddler, I would plan one night to just enjoy my own resort.

 

[Tink3rbell86]

My kids love DS in the summer. They have lots of stuff going on and shows on the main stage. they also love the splash pad. During to cooler months not many things happening. we always go because i love it, but not as much happening.

 

[SaraMc]

My kids for the longest time thought that DTD/Disney Springs was a theme park too. LOL They have gone as babies, toddlers and now at 6 and 9 years old. There is so much to do. Have some small bills available/coins when my two were toddlers they loved doing the train and the carousel in DTD and they do cost money.

 

[nherbert]

As its night time I would go with Ohana. If it was during the day I think there is lots to do at DTD with a toddler but not at night when it is cooler and darker.

 

[Bluegrrl]

Just went to DS with my 3year old. We went there, went to Lego Store, Earl of Sandwich then Once Upon a Toy. This was around 5-ish pm. My opinion based upon my easy-going 3year old:

Do O'hana. Skip DS. Sure, there are lots of things there. But we had to forcibly carry our kiddo out of the store kicking and screaming. And he's a sweet kid, really. Parking was really tough, (we drove) and we had to walk from that huge parking structure by Cirque to the more interesting kid-zones at Market place while battling through loud music and teens/couples/adults who were trying to get to their resturants and shops. You can't take a stroller into a shop, really, and trying to take a 3 year old into a toy shop is like taking a chocolate addict through a Godiva shop!

Go to O'Hana. Not only is the food fun, but there are characters, parking is decent, the whole hotel has a nice vibe to it, and I think you can still chill on the beach to watch the fireworks and the Water padgent. You can also take the monorail around the hotels, which is just fun in general to a three year old. There are pretty shops with neat Disney diningware and tiki stuff (which you can find at DS, mind you), and you could just walk around the grounds of the hotels or go and get yourself a dole whip at the bar. And they serve Kona coffee! It would just be SO MUCH simpler, and we should have done it. DS, while nice, is too incomplete for me right now, plus it's too much like CityWalk at Universal to justify taking a toddler to it that late in the evening. We learned from our mistake - just too much stimulation for our honestly well behaved toddler. He had a major meltdown being there. He did not have a meltdown when we went to Kona (after the kids races at the Wine and Dine this weekend).

Best thing we did today with little man: we went to Fort Wilderness and he rode a pony! $8.00 for a little ride (you lead the pony) and he LOVED it! Well behaved little ponies, and such fun for our little guy. Cinderella's ponies are also at the little track too, so you can say hi to them!

 

[Raenstoirm]

DS is a shopping mall. It is the exact same as shopping experiences around here (DC suburbs) except for maybe the balloon. We have carousels and things in every mall area. Its really nothing special to us. We go maybe once a year because we have family in Florida that is not disney people and it is easier for them to come to DS (DTD) then a park. We did the balloon once and it was awesome so once the twins are older we will consider that again.