Hi there, Charles! Welcome to
planDisney, and thank you so, so much for bringing us your question. I'm so happy to see you here!
You'll be happy to know that most shops and
restaurants at Disney Springs accept
Disney Gift Cards as forms of payment, even if they are not owned or operated by the
Walt Disney World Resort. Some restaurants that accept them are Jaleo by José Andrés, The BOATHOUSE, T-Rex, Earl of Sandwich, Morimoto Asia, STK, Rainforest Cafe, Paddlefish, Frontera Cocina, Raglan Road, Blaze Pizza, Wine Bar George, and many more!
Charles, even though it's almost a given that you'll be able to use your Disney Gift Cards to pay at your favorite restaurants, I would still call in advance of your reservation just to make sure. Since the majority of these restaurants are not operated by Disney, their policies could change at any moment.
If I may suggest some of my favorite restaurants, I really really recommend that you make reservations for brunch at The BOATHOUSE. Their Belgian Waffle is arguably the best waffle on property! And if you want something lighter, they have dozens of other options for you to choose from. Trust me, you can't go wrong here!
I hope this helps, Charles. If you have any other questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach back out to us so we may assist you further! I wish you a very Happy New Year, my friend. See you real soon!
Warm hugs,
Ana Paula