Disney Springs waterfront restaurants

Disney Springs is a waterfront area that comes to life in the evening when musicians play live music that is fantastic! Plan ahead because the restaurants here fill up and there is usually a long wait. Most of the restaurants are large, upscale chain restaurants that are consistently good though expensive. Kids can ride the carousel, see giant lego sculptures, or check out the toy store, Once Upon a Toy, while you wait for your table. There is a lot of concrete at Disney Springs, but it becomes far more beautiful at sunset when musicians take their places in waterfront stage areas and wow you with their talent. Orlando is abundant in talent! And the international crowd in the audience make for a fun ambience. If good-looking Buda Tom is playing his happy tunes, you're in luck. His resonant voice and guitar sound like an entire band, and his energy makes the audience dance. There is also a flamenco guitarist who puts on a good show. You can opt for paid entertainment by catching a show by Cirque du Soleil, an acrobat group, or Blue Man Group.

Wear good shoes because this area is huge. Bring a stroller for kids.
Come early in the day for less crowds. It becomes super crowded around 4:30pm especially on weekends. If you come in the morning or for lunch, it's a more calm, enjoyable experience.
Make sure you walk to the east side where you can see the Lego store and some awesome Lego sculptures outside, such as a giant sea monster in the lake! Kids can make their own lego creations at tables inside and outside the store. The noise and crowds are a bit much though.
The most beautiful areas of Disney Springs are the lakefront walking path and restaurants, and the fake spring, a pool of blue-green water that bubbles up, near Sprinkles Cupcakes. It's wonderful to have a dark chocolate cupcake at their outdoor seating overlooking the spring. The cupcakes are not too sweet- what a nice surprise!
For a snack, you can go to the Starbucks, two chocolate shops (enjoy a free sample), or a bakery. Expect long lines.
For a meal, try House of Blues, which has delicious food made with attention to detail plus interesting decor throughout. You can look up and see casts of Blues legends on the ceiling. Skip on Wolfgang Puck- the food was not good. Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar has a lovely spot on the water, with a huge breezy balcony (but loud music), and serves empanadas for $10. The beer flights (small servings of various beers) are fun, and so is the Poisonless Dart (a non-alcoholic mojito). A quick and pleasing option is the side window at Frontera Cocina where you can get delicious tacos to go. You can also eat with waiter service inside.
There are some beautiful Disney stores with amazing decor. World of Disney has a gorgeous princess section. Rainforest Cafe has a store with fish tanks, jungle ceiling, and little lights that make it magical.
At Christmastime check out the Trail of Trees, which starts near Once Upon a Toy store. It is free, but overcrowded at night especially on weekends. It wasn't as lovely as the Christmas decorations at the Disney hotels. Each of the 22 medium-sized trees are themed after a Disney princess or character. 
It's super nice to catch the Disney ferryboat over the breezy water to one of the Disney resorts where you can walk around and take in the ambience. Saratoga Springs is accessed via the ferry docks called The Landing, near Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar. Port Orleans (this is made up of two hotels, a ten minute walk apart: French Quarter and Riverside) is accessed by the ferry dock near Rainforest Cafe and Disney's Days of Christmas store- the ferry takes you on a long ride up the river past beautiful natural areas. Another one of the Disney hotels that is accessed by ferry from Disney Springs is Old Key West, a timeshare resort. 
The ferry vibrates a lot and feels quite uncomfortable and loud, so you might want to walk one way and catch the ferry the other way, or vice versa. Walking takes 1.2 miles on the Conch Flats Nature Path to Old Key West, and just over a short bridge to Saratoga Springs. I'm not sure if you can walk to the Port Orleans hotels from Disney Springs, but you can walk between the two hotels that make up Port Orleans.

Directions

Disney Springs is located at 2901 Osceola Pkwy, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. There is plenty of free parking in several huge parking structures. Lights lead you to empty spaces- Disney is always so organized!
House of Blues, 1490 East Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista FL 32830, call (407) 934-2583.
Once Upon a Toy, 1375 East Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista FL 32831, call (407) 824-4321.
Lego Imagination Center, call (407) 828-0065.
Open daily 10am - midnight.

Click on map for interactive view