Disney Springs
Writes the park guides, the ticket math and the event calendar, checked against the parks' own price calendars.
UpdatedThis page carries dated prices or seasonal dates checked on the date above, and that window has now passed. Re-check the sources at the foot of the page before you book anything.
Disney Springs is Disney's open-air dining and shopping district on Lake Buena Vista. It has no admission charge, and Disney's own parking page states that self-parking is complimentary in all surface lots and garages. That was still true on September 22, 2026. At the theme parks, standard parking costs $35 a day, so this is the one Disney destination where any visitor parks for nothing.
What you pay for is everything inside. Dinner at a table-service restaurant, a flight on the Aerophile balloon, an Amphicar ride on the lake, a Cirque du Soleil ticket. The district stretches along the water in four sections: the Marketplace on the east end, The Landing and Town Center in the middle, and the West Side. Walking from one end to the other takes about 25 minutes without stops.
At a glance
- Admission
- Free. You pay only for what you eat, buy or ride.
- Parking
- Free self-parking in all garages and surface lots, per Disney. Garages open at 9 a.m., or 7 a.m. on Tuesdays and other merchandise-release days.
- Paid extras
- Aerophile balloon $29.99 adults, $24.99 ages 3 to 9 (plus tax). Marketplace Carousel $5 a ride. Amphicar tour $125 per car.
- Getting there
- I-4 exit 67, then follow signs. Disney buses run only from Disney Resort hotels, not from the theme parks.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours for a walk and dinner. The full waterfront loop is about 1.7 miles.
- Address
- 1486 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
In this guide
Parking: free, but arrive early for reservations
There are three garages, Lime, Orange and Grapefruit, plus surface lots. WDW News Today's January 2026 guide puts the Lime Garage at over 2,000 spaces across five levels. The Lime and Grapefruit garages sit on the east side near the Marketplace and Town Center. The Orange Garage is on the West Side next to the AMC cinema. The Watermelon lot sits next to the Cirque du Soleil theater and takes larger vehicles; the Strawberry lot is the most remote.
Disney's own advice is to arrive at least 60 minutes before any dining reservation or show. Garages can fill on busy evenings, and the My Disney Experience app now shows when one is full. Lime was refurbished through mid-March 2026 and is open again.
- Garage opening time: 9 a.m. on normal days. On special merchandise days, including every Tuesday for pin releases, garages and rideshare loops open at 7 a.m. Cars may not queue before 7 a.m.
- Rideshare: drop-off is at the Marketplace Loop or the West Side Bus and Rideshare Loop next to the Strawberry lot.
- On foot: hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard connect to the Marketplace by pedestrian bridges.
For every other parking fee in the city, see our parking fees page.
What costs money, with the prices
These are the prices on Disney Springs' own pages on September 22, 2026. Tax is extra where noted.
| Experience | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Aerophile balloon (up to 400 feet) | $29.99 adults (10+), $24.99 ages 3 to 9, plus tax | 9:30 a.m.–11 p.m., weather permitting |
| Marketplace Carousel | $5 one ride, $10 two, $20 six | 10 a.m.–11 p.m. |
| Vintage Amphicar tour (20 minutes) | $125 per car, 3 to 4 people | 10 a.m.–10 p.m. |
| Live music stages | Free | Evening sets, varies nightly |
The balloon is the one paid thing that shows you something you cannot see from the ground. It is tethered, the basket holds 29 people, and Disney says you can see up to 10 miles on a clear day. It is covered in more detail on our Aerophile page. The Amphicar is $125 for 20 minutes, which is a novelty price for a novelty ride. Skip it unless the car itself is the point.
The free live music is the real bargain. On September 22, 2026, the Disney Springs calendar listed sets on the AdventHealth Waterside Stage, the Lakeview Stage and the Fountain Stage from 6 p.m. onward.
Where the money goes: eating
Most visitors come to eat, and the restaurant list is long. Disney's dining directory in September 2026 included The BOATHOUSE, Raglan Road, Paddlefish, Morimoto Asia, Jaleo by José Andrés, Chef Art Smith's Homecomin', Wine Bar George, The Polite Pig, Summer House on the Lake and a newly added venue, Six Ravens. Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill was listed as unavailable.
For a sit-down meal worth the price, start with The Boathouse, which is on the water and runs the Amphicar tours from its dock. For something cheap, the quick-service counters (Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, B.B. Wolf's Sausage Co.) cost a fraction of a table-service dinner. For dessert, Gideon's Bakehouse, Salt & Straw and Vivoli il Gelato are all on the directory.
Book table-service restaurants in advance for Friday and Saturday nights, and remember Disney's advice to park an hour before your reservation time.
The shopping is Disney merchandise, mostly
World of Disney in the Marketplace is the big Disney merchandise store and the reason many people come. If you want park merchandise without a park ticket, this is where to buy it. Beyond that, much of Town Center and the West Side is national brands you can find at home.
The honest advice: do not plan an afternoon around the shops. Plan an evening around a walk, a stage and a meal, and let the shops fill the gaps. If you want a structured route, follow our Disney Springs evening loop.
When to go
Evenings are better than days. The heat drops, the stages start around 6 p.m. and the waterfront is lit. Weekday evenings are calmer than weekends. The best single slot is a weeknight dinner after a park day, when your feet need a flat walk and your wallet needs a free car park.
Rainy afternoons are also a reasonable use of the place, since the AMC Disney Springs 24 and the shops are indoors. Our rainy-day guide lists other options.
One trap: Disney buses do not run from the theme parks to Disney Springs. If you are at a park without a car, you need a rideshare or a trip back through your resort hotel.
Tickets and tours you can book
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
Is parking free at Disney Springs?
Yes. Disney states that self-parking is complimentary in all Disney Springs surface lots and garages. That was the policy on September 22, 2026. Garages open at 9 a.m., or 7 a.m. on Tuesdays and merchandise-release days.
Do you need a ticket to enter Disney Springs?
No. There is no admission charge and no gate. You pay only for food, shopping and paid experiences such as the Aerophile balloon.
How much is the balloon ride at Disney Springs?
Disney Springs lists the Aerophile flight at $29.99 plus tax for ages 10 and up and $24.99 plus tax for ages 3 to 9. It operates 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., weather permitting.
Can you take a Disney bus from a theme park to Disney Springs?
No. Disney says bus service from the theme parks to Disney Springs is not available. Buses run between Disney Springs and Disney Resort hotels only.
How long does it take to walk Disney Springs?
A walk from the Marketplace to the far end of the West Side and back is about 1.7 miles, roughly 35 minutes without stops. With dinner and a stage set, plan two to three hours.
Further reading
Official sources
- Disney Springs - Plan Your Visit, parking and transportation (official) – Free self-parking in all lots and garages; garage opening times; rideshare loops; no bus from theme parks. Checked September 22, 2026.
- Walt Disney World - Parking (official) – Complimentary Disney Springs parking; theme park standard parking $35 per day. Checked September 22, 2026.
- Disney Springs - Aerophile balloon flight (official) – $29.99 adults, $24.99 ages 3 to 9, plus tax; hours 9:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; 400 feet. Checked September 22, 2026.
- Disney Springs - Marketplace Carousel (official) – $5 per ride; hours 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Checked September 22, 2026.
- Disney Springs - Vintage Amphicar Tours (official) – $125 per car, 20 minutes, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Checked September 22, 2026.
- Disney Springs - Dining directory (official) – Restaurants currently listed, including Six Ravens (new) and Wolfgang Puck listed as unavailable. Checked September 22, 2026.
- WDW News Today - Guide to Disney Springs parking (January 2026) – Garage locations, Lime Garage size and refurbishment through mid-March 2026.
- OpenStreetMap foot routing (routing.openstreetmap.de) – Walking distances between the Lime Garage, the Marketplace and the West Side, measured September 22, 2026.
