Disney Springs + Orlando Magic: Our Family Day in Orlando

After our first Disney park day at Hollywood Studios, we wanted something a little easier before heading to Magic Kingdom the next morning.

So day two started much more slowly.

Breakfast first.

And because we were in America, that meant Dunkin’ Donuts. 😅

From there, we headed to Disney Springs for a few relaxed hours of shopping, food and wandering around the lake.

At least, that was the plan.

Later that day, Maj developed a fever, we nearly skipped our Orlando Magic game completely, and somehow we still ended the evening watching an NBA game from surprisingly good seats for about $80 for all four of us.

Travel days don’t always go according to plan.

This one definitely didn’t.

Is Disney Springs Worth Visiting With Kids?

Disney Springs is basically a huge outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment area at Walt Disney World.

There’s no theme park ticket required, so it works well for a slower Disney day.

For us, it was exactly what we needed after Hollywood Studios.

You still get plenty of Disney atmosphere, but without spending the entire day running between rides.

There are shops, restaurants, water views, entertainment and enough Disney-related stuff to keep kids interested.

Shopping at Disney Springs

A big part of Disney Springs is shopping.

And yes, there is a lot of it. 😅

You’ll find Disney merchandise almost everywhere, along with stores themed around brands such as Star Wars, Marvel and more traditional shopping brands.

For the kids, one of the best stops was the LEGO Store.

Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s worth going inside just to see some of the huge LEGO sculptures.

They’re exactly the kind of thing that makes Disney Springs more interesting than a normal shopping centre.

Lunch at T-REX Cafe

For lunch, we went somewhere that is probably impossible for kids to ignore.

T-REX Cafe.

It’s basically a dinosaur-themed restaurant filled with giant animatronic dinosaurs, prehistoric scenery and dramatic lighting.

Disney Springs still lists T-REX as one of its table-service restaurants.

Was it the best meal of our entire Florida trip?

Probably not.

But eating lunch surrounded by dinosaurs is definitely more memorable than eating in a normal food court.

For families with younger kids, I can see why this place is popular.

Yes, You Can Drive a Car Into the Water

One of the strangest things at Disney Springs is seeing what looks like a normal classic car drive straight into the lake.

These are the Vintage Amphicar Tours.

The cars are actual amphibious vehicles that drive on land and then continue into the water.

We didn’t do it ourselves, but it’s definitely one of those things that makes you stop and watch.

The Balloon Over Disney Springs

There’s also a huge tethered balloon called Aerophile.

It takes guests up above Disney Springs for views across the surrounding area.

Again, we didn’t do it, but it’s another option if you want something more than shopping and restaurants.

How Long Do You Need at Disney Springs?

For us, a few hours was enough.

I wouldn’t necessarily dedicate an entire day to Disney Springs unless you plan to eat, shop and add some of the paid experiences.

But as a slower morning or afternoon between theme park days?

Perfect.

We wandered around, looked through the shops, had lunch and then moved on.

Our next stop was one of Orlando’s outlet malls.

And that’s where the day changed a little.

Outlet Shopping… With a Sick Kid

We went to one of the outlet malls for some shopping.

At some point, Maj started getting cranky.

Then we realised why.

He had developed a fever.

Not ideal.

We found one of the shopping trolleys and basically pushed him around while we tried to figure out what to do next.

Eventually we gave up on shopping and headed back to the motel.

We already had another plan for the evening:

an Orlando Magic NBA game.

But with Maj feeling unwell, we weren’t sure we were going at all.

Last-Minute Orlando Magic Tickets for $80

After resting for a while, Maj started feeling a little better.

So I did what any responsible parent would do.

I opened StubHub. 😂

I had read that NBA tickets can sometimes get cheaper closer to tip-off when sellers just want to get rid of them.

So we waited.

And it worked.

We found four tickets for around $80 total.

For all four of us.

And the seats weren’t even especially high up.

At that price, we decided to go.

Orlando Magic vs Brooklyn Nets

The game was Orlando Magic vs Brooklyn Nets at Kia Center.

It was our kids’ first NBA game (and our second), so even arriving at the arena felt like part of the experience.

Parking Near Kia Center

We drove into downtown Orlando and found parking in one of the downtown garages close to Kia Center and walked to the arena.

Important: Bags Are Not Allowed

We learned this one the slightly annoying way.

We arrived with a backpack.

And Kia Center has a strict no-bag policy for Orlando Magic games, apart from very small clutches and certain medical or parent bags.

Luckily, there are Binbox lockers outside the arena where you can store items that aren’t allowed inside.

So we locked the backpack away and headed inside.

If you’re going to a Magic game, I’d definitely recommend leaving bags at the hotel or car if possible.

Inside Kia Center

Once inside, there was plenty to look at before the game even started.

The arena has a lot of Orlando Magic history around it, including memorabilia connected to some of the biggest names to play for the franchise.

And obviously, for us, Shaquille O’Neal was the name that stood out most.

Then we found our seats.

And honestly?

For around $20 per person, we were really happy.

Stuff the Magic Dragon’s Birthday

We got lucky with the game night too.

Orlando’s mascot, Stuff the Magic Dragon, was celebrating his birthday.

So there were mascots from other teams around the arena as well.

For the kids, that made the whole evening even more entertaining.

The basketball was only part of the experience.

There were mascots, music, competitions, entertainment during every break and that very American sports atmosphere that we’d wanted to experience.

Orlando Magic Won

And Orlando won.

Comfortably.

The Magic beat the Brooklyn Nets 108–81, so the home crowd had a pretty good night.

Even if you’re not a huge basketball fan, seeing an NBA game in person is completely different from watching one on TV.

The speed, the noise and everything happening around the actual game make it feel like a full evening of entertainment.

$80 Tickets… Then $90 on Food

Of course, getting cheap tickets didn’t mean the night stayed cheap.

The four tickets cost us roughly $80 total.

Then we probably spent another $90 on food and drinks inside.

Because arena pricing. 😂

Kia Center is currently fully cashless for food, drinks and merchandise, so you’ll need a card or mobile payment.

Still, even with the food, I thought the evening offered pretty good value considering we were watching an NBA game.

Are Last-Minute NBA Tickets Cheaper?

In our case?

Yes.

Waiting until close to the game worked really well.

But I wouldn’t present it as guaranteed.

Ticket prices depend on the opponent, seat location, day of the week and demand.

If seeing a specific NBA game is one of the main reasons for your Orlando trip, I’d probably book earlier.

But if you’re flexible like we were, checking resale sites on the day of the game can definitely be worth trying.

Is an Orlando Magic Game Good With Kids?

For us, yes.

Maj wasn’t feeling 100%, which obviously made the evening more complicated, but the game itself was very family-friendly.

There’s constantly something happening.

Music.
Mascots.
Video screens.
Competitions.
Entertainment between plays.

So even kids who aren’t serious basketball fans have plenty to watch.

The main thing I’d prepare for is the length of the evening.

NBA games can run late, especially for younger kids after a full day out.

Our Verdict on Disney Springs With Kids

Disney Springs worked perfectly as a slower Disney day.

I wouldn’t put it ahead of one of the actual parks, but I also wouldn’t skip it if you have a few days in Orlando.

You can spend a few relaxed hours shopping, eating and enjoying the Disney atmosphere without buying another park ticket.

For us, the combination worked especially well:

Disney Springs during the day + NBA game in the evening.

One relaxed.

One loud.

Very different experiences.

Planning a Family Trip to Orlando?

We stayed in Orlando for three days while visiting Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs and Magic Kingdom.

If you’re planning a similar trip, choosing the right accommodation can make a big difference, especially when travelling with kids.

Compare family-friendly hotels in Orlando

This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Would We Go to Another Orlando Magic Game?

Definitely.

Getting four tickets for around $80 helped. 😅

But even beyond the price, it was just a fun night out.

The atmosphere was great, the kids had plenty to watch and seeing an NBA game again had been something we wanted to do anyway.

And after the game?

Straight back to the motel.

Because the next morning we had our biggest Disney day waiting for us:

Magic Kingdom.

Disney Springs With Kids + Orlando Magic FAQ

Is Disney Springs free to visit?
Yes, Disney Springs itself does not require a theme park ticket.

How long do you need at Disney Springs?
For us, a few hours was enough for shopping, lunch and walking around.

Is Disney Springs good for kids?
Yes. Between the LEGO Store, Disney shops, restaurants such as T-REX, Amphicar rides and other entertainment, there’s plenty to keep kids interested.

Can you take bags into Kia Center?
Generally no. Kia Center currently prohibits bags apart from small clutches and certain medical or parent bags. Lockers are available outside. kiacenter.com

Where do you park for an Orlando Magic game?
There are several garages near Kia Center, including ThreatLocker Garage next to the arena and the 520 W Pine Street Garage nearby.

Are last-minute Orlando Magic tickets cheaper?
They can be. We bought four resale tickets for about $80 total shortly before our game, but prices vary heavily by game and demand.

Is an Orlando Magic game worth doing with kids?
For us, yes. The game itself plus mascots, music and entertainment made it a fun family evening.

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