Things to Do at Disney Springs During the Holiday Season
If you’re looking to spend some time at Disney Springs this holiday season, you might want to know what there is to do outside of a regular visit. You might be surprised to find that the venue offers a tremendous amount of free and paid holiday recreation offerings. With so many shops and restaurants, we couldn’t possibly list them all. That said, we’ve scoured through as many locations as possible to put together this list of things to do at Disney Springs between now and Christmas!
It’s important to note, however, that this guide is based on last year’s experience until new items are announced for 2026. This is a living guide that we continually update as items are announced or confirmed for the upcoming holiday season.
You are currently reading our guide to Christmas at Disney Springs. Please note that we have holiday guides for a few theme parks and Disney Springs. Here is a quick reference:
- Magic Kingdom Christmas Guide
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios Christmas Guide
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Christmas Guide
- Things to Do at Disney Springs During the Holidays
- The Best Disney Resorts to Visit During Christmas
Epcot’s Christmas offerings are unique to the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. For an overview of everything, see our guide to Christmas Events at Disney World.
The Christmas Tree Stroll
This item has not been confirmed for 2026. Make sure to check back for updates.
We’ll start with the “big” thing Disney Springs has become known for during the holidays: The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by Advent Health. This free offering allows guests to set off on a scavenger hunt to locate themed trees throughout Disney Springs. Guests can pick up a complimentary map, find trees at their own pace, and complete a sticker activity to receive a small reward while supplies last. This is a simple and complimentary way to enjoy the holiday atmosphere!
Meet Santa Claus at the Marketplace
This item has not been confirmed for 2026. Make sure to check back for updates.
Santa Claus meets at Santa’s Marketplace at Disney Springs during the holiday season. This location is in the Marketplace section of Disney Springs near Disney Pin Traders and shops like Earl of Sandwich and World of Disney. This is an incredible place to have your photo made with Santa, and it’s complimentary. Here are the details for this meet-and-greet:
🎅🏻 Santa’s Marketplace at Disney Springs
📍Near Disney Pin Traders (Behind It)
📅 : TBD for 2026
You will need to join a virtual queue to receive a time slot to return for this meet-and-greet. There will be multiple opportunities to enter the virtual queue throughout the day. You must be at Disney Springs to enter the virtual queue.
Fun Holiday Photo Opportunities
The PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs is a great place to have professional photos taken during your visit. The studio offers a variety of backdrops, ranging from Disney-inspired to festive holiday scenes. Photo sessions are complimentary, and no reservations are needed. To enjoy complimentary downloads, you’ll need to have an active Memory Maker package or purchase one. You can learn more here on the PhotoPass site. The PhotoPass Studio is located between Tren-D and Arribas Brothers at Disney Springs.
On a visit to Disney Springs, we saw a few guests taking photos with their mobile devices at other locations. For starters, DisneyStyle (on the West Side) has this fun backdrop of Main Street U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle decked out in holiday decorations!
If you step inside Tren-D (The Marketplace), you’ll run into a Mickey’s Christmas Tree Farm truck loaded up, tree and all! I thought this was a cute place to take a photo, but it might be difficult with crowds.
Holiday Entertainment Offerings
These items have not been confirmed for 2026. Make sure to check back for updates.
While you’re at Disney Springs, you’ll likely see and hear a little holiday entertainment. As you wander through the Marketplace, you might run into DJ Sleigh, who’s spinning up some holiday tunes!
Other entertainment includes Toy Soldier Stilt Walkers, Drummers, and /Holiday Skaters, and the ever-popular Douglas Fir, who rolls all over the venue. You’ll know it as soon as you see it! All of these offerings have set times each day between now and December 30th. If there’s someone you must see, just check the Disney Springs event calendar here, and filter for the day you’re visiting.
If you’re visiting Disney Springs in the evening, don’t miss the nightly snowfall at Town Center. It begins each evening at sundown and will take place every half hour near the Town Center tree. (As with most entertainment, remember that snowfall is subject to cancellation or schedule changes due to weather.)
Christmas Shopping at Disney Springs
Obviously, shopping, or browsing at the very least, is a major part of visiting Disney Springs. To get in the holiday spirit, we would recommend exploring World of Disney. They have some of the most wonderful Christmas displays.
Here are a few photos from last year.
This item has not been confirmed for 2026. Make sure to check back for updates.
If you’re a fan of art, make sure to check out the Disney Enchanted Holiday Art Gallery pop-up shop this season. It features art from 11 different artists!
Dining at Disney Springs During the Holidays
Whether you’re looking to enjoy a complete meal, indulge in a themed holiday dining experience, or just snack on something that looks and tastes festive, Disney Springs has an option. Here are a few highlights of dining at Disney Springs this holiday season.
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar: The bar transforms during the Christmas season with an over-the-top layer of holiday decor! A limited-time holiday menu is also available through January 4th. The menu features festive cocktails and seasonal bites!
For sweet treats, Amorette’s Patisserie, The Ganachery, and Marketplace Snacks, among many other locations, have fun, specialty treats this season! Make sure to see our foodie guide below for an idea of what’s available at each location!
Breakfast with Santa
As far as themed dining, a couple of locations at Disney Springs are offering breakfast with Santa on select dates this holiday season. They are as follows:
Breakfast with Santa at Maria and Enzo’s: This family-style breakfast with Santa takes place on select December mornings and includes a keepsake photo. (Learn more here.)
Breakfast with Santa at the Rainforest Cafe: Guests can enjoy a family-style breakfast, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, write letters to Santa, and participate in other holiday activities. The experience also includes a take-home goodie bag, raffle prizes, and an exclusive retail discount. (Find out more here.)
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide helped you come up with a few things to do at Disney Springs this holiday season! Please remember that with over 100 shops, dining locations, and kiosks, there are likely many more special holiday offerings. My best advice is to check your favorite shop’s social media account to see if they have anything “extra” for the holidays. Or better yet, stop in on your next visit.
As far as crowds, they are probably going to be inevitable. We recently stayed at nearby Saratoga Springs and walked over to Disney Springs early in the morning, hoping to find low crowds. I was surprised to find so many people, but suffice it to say that crowds are far more bearable earlier than they are later. If you want to dine at a table service restaurant, reservations are a must, in my opinion. If you’re planning to do a quick service, expect a long line on most evenings. These things are true for most regular visits throughout the year, but should be considered a necessity between now and the end of the year.
Most of all, have fun and embrace the busyness of the holiday season! If things get to be too much, head back to your resort and find a quiet spot. I think you all know that’s what I like to do the most! Check back with Resorts Gal for more around Walt Disney World.
In the Comments
Do you have plans to visit Disney Springs this holiday season? What is at the top of your must-do list? Let us know in the comments.
