Hi Laura, welcome to planDisney!
You must be so excited to be arriving at Walt Disney World in two days. Visiting during the holiday season is so magical. Although the crowds will likely be a capacity, it is a wonderful time to visit the various resorts to enjoy their holiday decorations. I especially enjoy visiting the gingerbread displays and picking up some gingerbread goodies along the way.
Disney Springs is such a fun go-to place to visit unique shopping and dining locations. I am always on the lookout for new Christmas ornaments at
Disney's Days of Christmas and I could spend a couple hours in the
World of Disney Store alone. I also enjoy browsing the stores that are not owned by Disney for a little extra retail therapy. And I've never had a meal or snack I didn't enjoy at Disney Springs! It is certainly a good idea to budget time in your vacation itinerary to spend time at Disney Springs.
I'm happy to let you know that the
Disney Gift Card is indeed accepted at the majority of retail locations at Disney Springs, including the stores that are not owned by Disney. I had some extra time recently so I just did a spot check of the payment policies at many of the retail locations at Disney Springs and I was not able to locate one that did not accept the Disney Gift Card. That being said, it's always a good idea to confirm payment options when visiting any retail location at Disney Springs as policies could change.
Have a magical holiday vacation, Laura!
Diane