How Long at Disney Springs

[Frozen2014]

You can take a Disney bus to any Disney Resort from Disney Springs. For example, you can take the bus to the Beach Club, walk around the Boardwalk area, ride the Skyliner to the Caribbean Beach resort and take the bus from there to Disney Springs.

You can take a Disney Bus to Fort Wilderness, ride the boat to the Contemporary Resort and then Ride the Monorail around to the Grand Floridian and then take the Disney Bus back to Disney Springs.

You can grab an Uber to TTC, Resorts, Disney Springs and all the theme parks but MK.

You cannot ride a Disney bus from Disney Springs to the TTC or any theme park.

All Disney transportation, be it boat, bus, skyliner or monorail is free and open to everyone.

Thank you! That really helps. Great summary!

 

[Frozen2014]

I was never a fan of Downtown Disney / Disney Springs. I thought of it as a shopping mall and could take it or leave it. If we went to Disney for a week we might plan on a couple of hours on the day we left.

But after all of the renovations and so many new stores, restaurants, lounges etc it’s pretty great. My wife and I could easily spend a whole day especially if the weather is nice. With kids maybe less unless you plan some activity like maybe the Void or NBA experience. But even without those there are a lot of cool sights and sounds and snacks to keep them occupied for hours.

Definitely snacks (I e. a nice treat) would need to be included to keep them happy...lol.

 

[Asnell]

I would not spend my vacation time at an outlet mall, unless you really love outlet malls.

I'd take the cheaper transport option just to the TTC, and from there you can explore so much of WDW! There's lots to do outside the parks, including Disney Springs of course but in addition...

I would jump off that bus at TTC and walk to the Poly (right next door) and get some kind of snack or meal at one of the quick-serve restaurants, and walk around the resort just a bit to enjoy the atmosphere. Then I'd hop on the resort monorail for a circumnavigation of the lake, with great views of GF, MK and the Contemporary. Hop off at either Contemporary or back at Poly, and grab a WDW bus to Disney Springs (or Uber if it says the wait will be a long time). Walk around DS for a couple of hours, enjoying the atmosphere, attractions, food and shopping. Go on a balloon ride if it appeals, or just take the water taxi across from one end to the other because that's fun.

If the family is done with DS before it's time to head back to the ship, you can Uber to other places around WDW: the Boardwalk, or AKL to look over the Savannah View, or take the boat from DS to POR to rent bikes. Go to WL to check out the theming and take a Friendship Boat back to the Poly for TTC. Or head back to the TTC early and enjoy a ride on monorail ride to EPCOT and back just for the scenic view of EPCOT. If at any point you're running short of time, an Uber back to the TTC will save time over waiting for a Disney bus.

 

[Frozen2014]

I would not spend my vacation time at an outlet mall, unless you really love outlet malls.

I'd take the cheaper transport option just to the TTC, and from there you can explore so much of WDW! There's lots to do outside the parks, including Disney Springs of course but in addition...

I would jump off that bus at TTC and walk to the Poly (right next door) and get some kind of snack or meal at one of the quick-serve restaurants, and walk around the resort just a bit to enjoy the atmosphere. Then I'd hop on the resort monorail for a circumnavigation of the lake, with great views of GF, MK and the Contemporary. Hop off at either Contemporary or back at Poly, and grab a WDW bus to Disney Springs (or Uber if it says the wait will be a long time). Walk around DS for a couple of hours, enjoying the atmosphere, attractions, food and shopping. Go on a balloon ride if it appeals, or just take the water taxi across from one end to the other because that's fun.

If the family is done with DS before it's time to head back to the ship, you can Uber to other places around WDW: the Boardwalk, or AKL to look over the Savannah View, or take the boat from DS to POR to rent bikes. Go to WL to check out the theming and take a Friendship Boat back to the Poly for TTC. Or head back to the TTC early and enjoy a ride on monorail ride to EPCOT and back just for the scenic view of EPCOT. If at any point you're running short of time, an Uber back to the TTC will save time over waiting for a Disney bus.

Thanks for the great suggestions. I am showing DH all these comments and suggestions. If he is comfortable using Disney Transportation and doing our own thing, then I am good. I guess if we are really overwhelmed and don't know how to get around, then uber will work. We typically don't have data plan when away on a cruise vacation, but think we can turn on roaming for a day.

Btw...I know it's not for everyone, but for us, our cruise is about the ship and less about the ports so spending time at a mall isn't a waster for us. Port Canaveral doesn't have much (we are not interested in the Kennedy Space Center), and this is a good way to get some Disney in. I did the calculation and it would cost us $1000 CAD to go to the park, so not worth it for 5 hrs. But luckily, we have a short Disney trip planned end of summer so can visit the parks then. Anyways...for DH and I, we are happy just visiting the outlet and Disney Springs, but my main concern is our kids getting bored...especially as the drive itself is 1hr each way. We're from Canada and so some different shopping options (although we'd probably more window shop). So...this may be a good compromise....or if we stick to the outlet/DS excursion, then we'll find ways to make it enjoyable for them.

 

[ssnelle]

I would suggest half a day, if you’re a big shopper then more.

 

[diznygirl]

If you get dropped off at TTC and go to one of the monorail resorts you could always rent boats to zoom around the Seven Seas Lagoon. That ought to excite the kids. LOL

 

[hrhdhd]

You could leave the kids in the kids' club, if it's open on port days.

 

[wilbret]

We make a point to go to Disney Springs every time we are in town. I would say it's easily good for 3 hours for average folks.
The WDW store is gigantic and a freaking madhouse, but so much fun. So many other Disney stores with their own flavors.
The kids always want to hit all the toy stores.
We eat lunch or dinner. It's a good idea to make a reservation on a busy date. You can do it from MDE app.
We wait for the volcano to erupt.
We go to Goofy's Candy Shop and buy some stuff we don't need.
We pin trade all over the place.

It is expensive, but it's Disney. Will be there tomorrow. ;-)

Ditto the above comment, I wouldn't even bother with the outlet. I'd rather find a gift shop on I-drive or somewhere, if it was an option.... it would be more interesting.
The Outlet store is tiny, it's not a place where you'll spend hours browsing. You can take it all in in a few minutes, it's the 30-60 minute line that will get ya. The outlets are okay, but it's the same stuff at most outlets around the country. Check the directory and see if there's anything that interests you.
We do typically end up getting shoes for the kids or something...

 

[Frozen2014]

We make a point to go to Disney Springs every time we are in town. I would say it's easily good for 3 hours for average folks.
The WDW store is gigantic and a freaking madhouse, but so much fun. So many other Disney stores with their own flavors.
The kids always want to hit all the toy stores.
We eat lunch or dinner. It's a good idea to make a reservation on a busy date. You can do it from MDE app.
We wait for the volcano to erupt.
We go to Goofy's Candy Shop and buy some stuff we don't need.
We pin trade all over the place.

It is expensive, but it's Disney. Will be there tomorrow. ;-)

Ditto the above comment, I wouldn't even bother with the outlet. I'd rather find a gift shop on I-drive or somewhere, if it was an option.... it would be more interesting.
The Outlet store is tiny, it's not a place where you'll spend hours browsing. You can take it all in in a few minutes, it's the 30-60 minute line that will get ya. The outlets are okay, but it's the same stuff at most outlets around the country. Check the directory and see if there's anything that interests you.
We do typically end up getting shoes for the kids or something...

Thanks. What / where is the volcano?
Any recommended restaurants?
For sure want to hit World of Disney. Goofy's Candy Shop is probably fun too.
We may swtich to the Disney Transportation and then take one of the buses to Disney Springs (sounds like the best option is to walk from TTC to Polynesian and then bus from there)? If that's the case, then we would skip the outlet.

Or perhaps we explore monorail resorts first, and then head to Disney Springs. But then we may cut ourselves short .

(Or also thinking uber to Boma for an early dinner before we need to get ourselves back to TTC to head back to the ship....so many options)

Enjoy your day tomorrow!

 

[wilbret]

Thanks. What / where is the volcano?

Rainforest Cafe, it’s a fun restaurant. Average to good food, but fun. You can’t miss it.

Any recommended restaurants?
Sort of, but keep in mind that we always have kids with us, so we don’t frequent the fancier places.
Boathouse is by far my favorite. Great food and view. Service is exceptional, but $$$
Rainforest Cafe and Trex are fun themes. Trex is so loud, we were one and done.
The kids really like Planet Hollywood.
Chicken Guy is good for a quick bite, but to me...overrated. Good, but not “wait in 30 minute line” good.
D-luxe burger was good, my burger connoisseur kid loved it.
Morimoto is always amazing, but not for picky eaters
Haven’t had Homecoming yet, haven’t been able to get in. But I will keep trying.

For sure want to hit World of Disney. Goofy's Candy Shop is probably fun too.

Goofy is across the path from Rainforest Cafe.

We may swtich to the Disney Transportation and then take one of the buses to Disney Springs (sounds like the best option is to walk from TTC to Polynesian and then bus from there)? If that's the case, then we would skip the outlet.

That might be your best bet, but note that I did this the other day at Polynesian and waited for DS bus for over 30 minutes.

Or perhaps we explore monorail resorts first, and then head to Disney Springs. But then we may cut ourselves short .

Bus transit is going to eat up a ton of time, so plan for 1-2 hours just waiting and/or riding total.

Touring hotels your call. I wouldn’t try to cram it in. Maybe ride the monorail for one loop if you want?


(Or also thinking uber to Boma for an early dinner before we need to get ourselves back to TTC to head back to the ship....so many options)

Enjoy your day tomorrow!

Thanks! Good luck!

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks wilbret. Ah yes ok...we used to have a Rainforest Cafe here (Toronto) and one not too far in Niagara, so I know the restaurant you mean. Thanks for the other recommendations. We also are coming with our kids so the same.

Thanks for the note about the transportation. Maybe then, we bus to Disney Springs first, so then at least we won't feel rushed there and we know how much time we have before our bus back to the port. Then think it's best to get ourselves back to the TTC or close resort (polynesian or contemporary?) depending on the time by uber.

Have an awesome day at DIsney today!