I Spent One Day At Disney Springs and Icon Park: Best Things To Do

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1) Check out of your hotel

Having spent the day before in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Epcot, now I was going to spend this day in Disney Springs, and maybe also around Orlando, just before my flight back to New York in the evening.

I was staying in Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area, since it has reasonable prices and it’s just a short walk away from Disney Springs.

The hotel has many amenities, but one of my favorite one is the store by the lobby, where you could get from food to basic needs during your trip. I woke up early that Sunday, and got myself a coffee.

There is even an R2 unit close to the lobby in case you need a nice Star Wars picture and you are not going into Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The room served its purpose for just sleeping and getting ready for the day. I did not need a more expensive hotel like a Walt Disney World resort to be able to get Early Theme Park Entry for Disney Resort Hotel Guests, since the day before I was arriving to the parks around 11 AM anyways.

I checked out and started my journey of things to do for the day. I had them bookmarked in my Google Maps, and also had a Keep list with things to eat around this area and beyond.

2) Take the free water launch to Scat Cat’s Cafe

It was already 10:23 am and Disney Springs had been opened since 10 am, so I decided to get a couple of things out of the way: I would get a return time for Gideon’s Bakehouse and then I would go for breakfast to Scat Cat’s Cafe located at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

To do that I would have to take the free water launch (ferry), from Disney Springs on the purple line. The ferries are located at the very end of the Marketplace area in Disney Springs, and the cast members will help you put you in the right line, since there are other ferries that would go to other destinations within WDW.

Now in the boat, I was just praying for the weather to get better since it was overcast and did not want to spend my free day under the roof, like would have to do eventually in Tokyo DisneySea.

This free ride was everything, I will consider doing it again next time I visit Disney Springs, or one of these resorts. You do not have to be staying in any Disney hotel to be able to experience it.

We were finally approaching the Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and it looked stunning.

This is how these ferries look in case you wonder, they go very smoothly over the bodies of water that connect the many Disney World properties.

From the Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter (Purple Launch) you can walk a few minutes to Scat Cat’s Cafe (do not mistake it with Scat Cat’s Club) which is opened for breakfast, and of course the delicious beignets.

Scat Cat’s Cafe is located on the north side of the lobby/main area of the Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

The place was very busy but they got my order very fast. It is very loud in this small space, but you can get your Mickey shaped beignets to go and you’ll be fine. They also sell beverages. The price for this 6 beignets was $10.99 but you can but 3 as well. Check the menu.

3) Get a ton of cookies in Gideon’s Bakehouse

After getting the beignets and eating a couple of them, I decided to take an Uber back to Disney Springs. I could have taken the ferry back but the Uber was so cheap and fast that I had to. I also got the text from Gideon’s Bakehouse saying I could return now to their store.

As I said earlier, it is imperative that you get in the Virtual Line of Gideon’s Bakehouse as soon as you get to Disney Springs. Sometimes they would not have a virtual line and you would have to wait in the physical line the entire time. The cast member handling the VL is usually located at the very entrance of the store, so do not go to the end of the line to get this number.

For $43.54 (Inc. Taxes) this is what I got:

• Limited Edition Cookie × 1: $6.00
• Cookies & Cream Cookie × 1: $6.00
• Triple Chocolate Cookie × 1: $6.00
• Coffee Cake Cookie × 1: $6.00
• Cold Brew × 1: $6.00
• Peanut Butter Cake Slice × 1: $9.00 (Valentina Cake)

I only had the cold brew and the rest I just brought to New York to eat slowly for the next few days lol. All those cookies and cakes are very heavy.

4) Go to the movies

Disney Springs offers a movie experience, unlike its counterpart in Anaheim, California. I did not watch a movie this time here in AMC, but I was tempted to watch Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantunmania once again.

5) Get a Donut in Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew

Even though beignets are technically donuts, I had Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew bookmarked for so many years, that it was about time to pay it a visit. For $7.92 inc taxes I got the Dulce de Leche donut. It was very heavy, and once again I just saved it for another day. Since I had already had a lot of coffee today, I did not get the famous cold brew, but I probably would in a future trip.

6) Get a Coca Cola drink with a view

I had been in the Coca Cola store here in Disney Springs before, but I was never able to get drinks, mostly because the place was crowded. This time, even though it was a Sunday, and there was a line, I still had time to finally get a drink.

The good thing is that while you do the line in the top floor of this store, you can see the Disney Springs.

Finally almost making it to the front and I was very overwhelmed with all the choices. I noticed most groups were having a flight of different international sodas, since I was by myself I just wanted to try one of those famous floats.

I picked the Floating Coca Cola Cherry on a Souvenir Cup for $8 and it was the best decision I think I made. Even though it was not very hot that day, the drink was refreshing, sweet, and worth the money to be honest.

7) Get a muffin in the Sprinkles ATM

Something I had wanting to try for a long time has been getting to use the Muffin ATM at the Sprinkles location in Disney Springs. It is a very easy option with not in person interaction, just choose your muffin, pay and then a box will appear at the bottom, just like an ATM.

I got the Chocolate Marshmellow for $6, just for future me to nejoy sometime next week lol.

8) Head out of Disney Springs and go to Icon Park to get Kookaburra Wings

I got tired of the sweets in Disney Springs, and around 3:30 PM I left and Ubered to my next destination to hand until before my flight: Icon Park. Infamous now for a fatal accident that happened a few months back, the park seemed to had been recovered very fast from that. It was crowded and had many many different food and shopping options, besides the typical other attractions like The Wheel and Sea Life Orlando Aquarium. I really recommend this place for a rainy day.

For now, I was just craving some salty and spicy food, and nothing better that some Kookaburra Wings at Outback Steakhouse located at the north corner of Icon Park. The wings where delicious, and was literally what I needed after all those sweets. It cleaned my palette but got my craving for more food, so let’s see what else Icon Park has to offer.

9) Ride the Orlando Starflyer and The Wheel at ICON Park

I did not ride it, but it seems like a lot of fun. “The World’s Tallest Stand-Alone Swing Ride” standing at 450 feet will probably cover for the thrills you could be missing in a typical family vacation in Orlando.

And if you want some views and and a more calm attraction, The Wheel at ICON Park is also a great option. I rode it before and it is definitely something unique in Orlando.

10) Get some Fish and Chips

If you have read my blogs before, you’ll know that I have been a fan of fish and chips for a while. I get them wherever I can: in any of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands in the world, in the England pavilion in Epcot, in Cape Town or in the proper city of London. Now, it is time to get the famous ones from Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips at Icon Park. You can get the combo for almos $15, but it is worth every dollar.

The textures of the batter and the fish itself are incredible. The flavour by itself is very good, but the sauces are also very tasteful.

11) Get a Nevado in Juan Valdez

Born in Colombia, Juan Valdez was my Starbucks growing up. We would go to this store to get the Nevados (Snow-capped mountain in Spanish) which is like a version of the Frappuccino. My favorite one used to be Dulce de Leche but Oreo was good too. This time I picked the Chocolate Nevado.

The main building in the Icon Park where Juan Valdez is located was packed. In here you can find the access to the wheel, Madame Tussauds, the aquarium, among others.

Finally in my hand my Nevado de Chocolate. Seeing Juan Valdez here was a surprised, and a good example of being open to do other things in a day like this.

12) Leave for New York

Just kidding! But it was time to go to the airport for my flight to New York La Guardia. This time I was flying Spirit, which is a first since a long time ago, but I think I bought this ticket because of convenience in price and times.

After seeing the Hanson’s “The Traveler” statue at Orlando Airport, I went to the gate full of all the stuff I had gotten today: boxes of cookies, muffins, beignets, donuts and cakes, that would be eaten in the next following days lol.