It is worth planning Disney Springs
Most Walt Disney World plans start with the same big questions: which park on which day, where to eat, and when to book dining reservations.
Disney Springs often gets added later as a loose note: “Maybe Disney Springs?” or “Dinner/shop night?”
That works until it doesn’t.
Once you add transportation, tired kids, dinner plans, weather, shopping, snacks, and the question of whether anyone actually has the energy for a big evening, Disney Springs can turn into another messy pile of screenshots and saved posts.
This summer, it is worth planning Disney Springs a little more intentionally.
Disney has announced several Disney Springs additions for summer 2026, including Level99 at Disney Springs West Side, Six Ravens from the team behind Gideon’s Bakehouse, and select-night summer entertainment tied to Cool KIDS’ SUMMER. That does not mean every trip needs a packed Disney Springs night. It does mean Disney Springs may deserve a real place in your itinerary instead of being treated as an afterthought.
Here’s how to think through it, especially if you are planning a rest day, arrival night, or lower-pressure evening outside the theme parks.
What’s new at Disney Springs this summer?
The two biggest planning updates are Level99 and Six Ravens.
Level99 is opening at Disney Springs West Side in summer 2026. Disney describes it as a social gaming experience with more than 60 themed challenge rooms, duels, and art hunts that test both mental and physical skills (some might say, a bit like Disney Quest...). The Disney Springs location is on the West Side, near Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil and across from House of Blues.
For planners, the important part is this: Level99 is not a quick “walk past it and see” stop. It sounds more like something you plan a block of time around, especially if you are travelling with teens, adults, or a group that likes interactive games, competition, and indoor activities.
Six Ravens is also coming to Disney Springs. It is a Quick-Service location from the creators of Gideon’s Bakehouse, with savory hand-pie-style sandwiches called Coffyns, potato-based sides, dips, dessert tarts, root beer, and local beer. At the time of writing, Disney lists Six Ravens as “Coming Soon” and notes that Disney Dining Plan meals are not accepted there.
That makes Six Ravens useful in a different way. It may be a snack stop, a casual lunch or dinner option, or a good backup when your group wants something more flexible than a Table-Service reservation.
Disney has also announced a DescenDANCE Party x Camp Rock Jam on select summer nights at the AdventHealth Waterside Stage. Disney’s Cool KIDS’ SUMMER event runs from May 26 through September 8, 2026, with Disney Springs offerings on select dates, including DJ dance parties, a splash pad, themed photo opportunities, and other summer activities.
As always, check the current Disney Springs schedule close to your trip. Entertainment, hours, and opening timelines can change.
Why this changes the way you plan a Disney Springs evening
A good Disney Springs plan is not about doing everything.
It is about knowing what kind of evening you are trying to create.
Are you planning a quiet dinner after a long park day? A true rest-day evening? A teen-friendly night with something active to do? A snack-and-shop stroll? A no-park-ticket arrival night?
Those are very different plans.
With Level99, Six Ravens, and summer entertainment in the mix, Disney Springs can now fill several different roles in a Walt Disney World itinerary. The trick is choosing one main purpose for the evening and planning around that.
A Disney Springs night usually goes better when you decide three things in advance.
First, decide the energy level. Is this a “keep everyone awake until fireworks time” night, or a “dinner and back to the room” night?
Second, decide the meal style. Are you booking a Table-Service dinner, using Quick-Service, grazing through snacks, or leaving room for something new like Six Ravens?
Third, decide the transportation plan. Disney Springs can take longer to reach than people expect, especially when you are moving a tired group at dinner time.
Disney says standard self-parking is complimentary at Disney Springs and recommends allowing at least 60 minutes of travel time when planning your arrival. Bus service between Disney Resort hotels and Disney Springs is available during Disney Springs operating hours and ends one hour after closing.
That one-hour buffer matters. A Disney Springs dinner reservation, show, or timed activity can feel stressful if you only left “a little time” to get there.
The best places to put Disney Springs in your itinerary
Disney Springs can fit in several places, but some days make more sense than others.
Arrival night
Arrival night is one of the easiest places to put Disney Springs, especially if you do not want to use a park ticket on travel day.
Keep this version simple. Travel days are unpredictable. Flights are delayed, rooms are not always ready when you hope, and everyone’s energy can drop quickly once the bags are finally in the room.
A good arrival-night Disney Springs plan might be:
Arrive, check in, unpack the basics, head to Disney Springs for a casual dinner, browse one or two shops, and call it an early night.
This is probably not the night to overbuild your plan unless your group has a very early arrival and plenty of energy. If Level99 is a priority, consider whether your group will actually enjoy it after travel. Some will. Some will be better saving it for a true rest day.
After Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom often works well with a Disney Springs evening because it is commonly treated as an earlier-ending park day. That does not mean you should automatically pack the night full, but it can be a natural pairing.
A practical plan could look like this:
Morning and afternoon at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, return to the hotel for a break, then Disney Springs for dinner and one planned activity.
This is a better fit for Level99 than trying to squeeze it after a late night at Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. You still need to account for transportation and downtime, but the overall day may feel more balanced.
A true rest day
This is where Disney Springs can really shine.
A rest day does not need to mean “do nothing.” It means you are protecting your group from another full ride-to-ride park day.
A good rest-day structure might be:
Sleep in. Pool time. Simple lunch. Nap or room break. Disney Springs in the evening.
That gives you room for a Table-Service dinner, Level99, shopping, a movie, or a few snack stops without making the day feel like another rope-drop-to-close marathon.
The key is not to let the rest day become secretly exhausting. Pick one anchor for the evening. That anchor might be Level99, dinner, Drawn to Life, or just a relaxed walk through Disney Springs. Everything else is optional.
A water park or pool day
A Disney Springs evening can also work after a water park or pool-focused day.
This is especially useful if you want a day that still feels fun and planned without using one of your main theme park days. Just be realistic: sun and swimming can wipe people out. A casual Quick-Service dinner may work better than a late, formal reservation.
Six Ravens could be useful here as a flexible food stop once it opens, especially for groups that want something quick, savory, and easy to fit around shopping or entertainment.
Last night
Disney Springs can be a nice final-night choice if your group wants souvenirs, a goodbye dinner, or one last low-pressure evening.
The risk is packing it too tightly. If you are leaving early the next morning, keep your final-night plan simple. Dinner, one or two shops, back to the room, finish packing.
Future-you will be grateful.
How to plan around Level99
Level99 is the addition that most changes the shape of a Disney Springs plan.
Because it is built around challenge rooms, duels, leaderboards, and group play, it is best treated as a main activity rather than a filler stop. Disney has described the experience as including short challenges, player-versus-player games, and a two-story bar with food and drinks.
Before adding it to your plan, ask:
Who in your group will actually want to do this?
It may be a great fit for teens, adult groups, competitive families, and anyone who enjoys puzzle rooms, physical challenges, or social gaming. It may be less appealing for very young children, anyone who dislikes timed challenges, or a group that simply wants a quiet evening.
Then decide where it goes in the night.
For many groups, the cleanest options will be:
Level99 before dinner if you want the activity to be the focus and dinner to be the wind-down.
Dinner before Level99 if your group does better when everyone is fed first.
Level99 as the whole evening if your group wants a more active night and you are happy to eat casually there or nearby.
What I would avoid is squeezing Level99 between two other fixed plans. Disney Springs is spread out, and the West Side is its own area. If you also have a dinner reservation in another part of Disney Springs, plus shopping goals, plus a show, the evening can get crowded quickly.
Give Level99 breathing room.
How to plan around Six Ravens
Six Ravens is more of a meal-planning question.
Because Disney lists it as a Quick-Service restaurant, it may be easier to fit into a Disney Springs evening than a Table-Service reservation. It also gives planners another savory option connected to the Gideon’s Bakehouse team, which will make it an obvious “must try” for some guests.
The best way to plan for Six Ravens is to decide whether it is:
A meal, a snack, a backup, or a “must eat.”
Those are four different things.
If it is a meal, put it in the right meal slot and do not also book a major dinner unless your group is intentionally grazing.
If it is a snack, attach it to the part of the evening when you will already be near The Landing.
If it is a backup, keep it near your other casual Disney Springs options so you are not making decisions from scratch when everyone is hungry.
If it is a “must eat,” write down exactly what caught your attention. Was it the Coffyns? The potato sides? The dessert tarts? Local beer? A vague note that says “try Six Ravens” is easy to forget once you are tired and walking through a busy Disney Springs evening.
This is where planning gets practical. Restaurant research is only useful if it stays connected to the meal you are actually planning.
A simple Disney Springs rest-day evening plan
Here is a calm structure you can adapt.
Morning: Sleep in. No alarms unless you truly need them.
Late morning: Pool, resort time, or a relaxed breakfast.
Afternoon: Nap, laundry, room reset, or quiet time.
Early evening: Travel to Disney Springs with a realistic buffer.
Evening anchor: Choose one main plan: Level99, a dinner reservation, Drawn to Life, shopping, or summer entertainment.
Food plan: Decide whether dinner is Table-Service, Quick-Service, snacks, or a mix.
Backup: Pick one alternate food option and one alternate activity.
Exit plan: Know when you want to leave before everyone hits the wall.
That last step sounds small, but it matters. Disney Springs nights can stretch later than expected because there is always one more shop, one more snack, or one more thing happening nearby. On a rest day, the goal is to enjoy the evening without stealing energy from the next park morning.
Three sample Disney Springs evening plans
Option 1: The teen-and-adult activity night
This plan is built around Level99.
Start with a slower morning and pool time. Have lunch at the resort or another easy location. Head to Disney Springs in the late afternoon or early evening, leaving enough time for transportation and walking to the West Side.
Make Level99 the main event. Then either eat there, choose a nearby dinner option, or keep the meal casual.
This is a good plan for families with older kids, adult trips, friend groups, and anyone who wants a Disney Springs night that feels more active than shopping and dinner.
Option 2: The food-first rest-day evening
This plan is built around dinner and snacks.
Book a Disney Springs dinner reservation if you want one fixed point in the evening. Before or after dinner, leave room for a snack stop like Six Ravens once it opens, Gideon’s Bakehouse, or another favorite.
The important part is not to turn every food idea into a requirement. Pick your dinner, pick one “must eat,” and keep the rest optional.
This works well for couples, adult trips, and families who enjoy Disney Springs but do not want a highly scheduled evening.
Option 3: The family summer night
This plan is built around atmosphere rather than a big reservation.
Choose an earlier dinner, then check the current Disney Springs entertainment schedule for select-night summer offerings. Disney has announced the DescenDANCE Party x Camp Rock Jam at the AdventHealth Waterside Stage on select nights, along with Cool KIDS’ SUMMER activities at Disney Springs on select dates.
This can be a nice fit for families who want a fun evening without committing to a long sit-down meal or a late park night.
Just remember: select-night entertainment is not something to assume. Check the schedule close to your trip.
What to put in your planner before you go
For a Disney Springs night, your plan should include more than “Disney Springs.”
Add the details that will help you make decisions when you are actually there:
Your main reason for going.
The part of Disney Springs you are starting in.
Your dinner plan.
Any must-try snacks or restaurants.
Transportation notes.
Backup food options.
What time you want to leave.
Whether the next morning is an early park morning.
This is especially helpful if your plans are still rough. You may not know your exact dates yet. You may not know whether Level99 or Six Ravens will be open for your trip. You may not know which night will become your rest day.
That is exactly why a day-index based planner helps. In PlanTheMagic, you can rough-plan “Day 3: Disney Springs evening” before your dates are locked in, then shift the trip later without rebuilding the whole itinerary. Once details are confirmed, you can move the plan from rough to booked, keep your dining notes attached to the right meal, and check the same day plan on mobile during the trip.
No spreadsheet tab hunting. No trying to remember which screenshot had the restaurant idea. No rebuilding the whole plan just because your dates moved.
The bottom line
Disney Springs is easy to under-plan because it is not one of the four theme parks.
But that does not mean it should be vague.
With Level99, Six Ravens, and summer entertainment joining an already busy Disney Springs lineup, a little structure can make the evening feel much calmer. Pick one main purpose, choose your meal style, leave enough time for transportation, and keep a backup option ready.
The best Disney Springs plan is not the fullest one.
It is the one that gives your group a good evening without making the next day harder.
Planning your own Walt Disney World trip? PlanTheMagic helps you keep parks, meals, stays, notes, tasks, reservations, and trip-day details in one organised place, so your Disney Springs ideas do not get lost in screenshots, browser tabs, and half-finished notes.
