Downtown Disney: Where To Go When the Theme Parks Close
Written: Sep 08 '03 (Updated Sep 08 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: great place to shop, eat or people-watch;
best store: Once Upon a Toy
Cons: designed to separate you from even more of your money
The Bottom Line: Whether you need to satisfy the inner shopper, or just looking for something to do after the parks, Downtown Disney is the place to go!
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| AliventiAsylum's Full Review: Downtown Disney |
Note: Although Downtown Disney actually includes Pleasure Island in its official guidemap, I’ll not be talking about it here since there is a separate listing for it on the site: http://www.epinions.com/Pleasure_Island_Walt_Disney_World
The Parks are closed, but you’re still raring to go. The club scene isn’t for you, or maybe you just don’t want to take kids into Pleasure Island... What’s a vacationer to do?
At Downtown Disney, there are even more ways to separate you from your money.
Downtown Disney is easily accessible by bus from your resort if you’re staying inside Walt Disney World (if you’re staying outside, check with your resort if they offer shuttle service and what the schedule is). There are also launches available from Port Orleans and Old Key West, however at times of lower attendance these have been known to be discontinued. Check with your resort’s front desk for availability if you are staying at either of these two resorts. If you are driving in, there are signs from every entrance directing you here. Although parking is plentiful, the spots and lots closer to the stores and attractions tend to fill up early.
Beginning on the West Side of Downtown Disney you will see a huge round alabaster building where Cirque du Soleil performs La Nouba. This is not your ordinary circus performance, but a delightful acrobatic performance to an incredible score. Great lighting effects and sets accompany the performance. This is not a performance for children who generally have a problem sitting in their seat. Tickets run in the $80 range for adults and $50 for children. For tickets, call (407) 939-7600.
Next to Cirque du Soleil is Disney Quest. Disney did try launching these indoor interactive theme parks in cities across the country. However, the one in Downtown Disney is unlike any of the others. General admission is $27 for adults and $21 for children ages 3-9. If you are staying at a Disney Resort and have purchased an Ultimate Park Hopper Ticket. Disney Quest is included as part of that ticket plan, as well as being a part of the Premium Annual Passport Disney offers.
Inside Disney Quest you will find five floors of entertainment. The place is divided into four “zones”. Games such as Cyber Space Mountain, Virtual Jungle Cruise, Ride the Comix, and Animation Academy are available to be played at no additional cost to your admission. The only additional charges once inside are for any games which offer ticket redemptions for prizes. If all this virtual reality is too far ahead of your time, don’t fret. I found some classic video games which I haven’t seen since... well, in a very long time! Games such as Tempest, Donkey Kong, and Asteroids are still around!
Also on the West Side of Downtown Disney is the AMC Pleasure Island 24 Theatre offering up 24 screens for your movie-viewing pleasure. Showtimes and ticket purchase can be found here: http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=3509
Stores on Downtown Disney’s West Side include the Disney Quest Emporium, Virgin Megastore, and Mickey’s Groove (offering Disney character merchandise). Some specialty shops include Guitar Gallery, Magic Masters, Sosa Family Cigars, Hoypoloi, Celebrity Eyeworks Studio, Candy Cauldron, Magnetron, and Starabilias. Starabilias in particular was really a fun store to browse through!
If you’re on the West Side of Downtown Disney and you’re hungry, you’re in luck. There are a lot of terrific dining choices here. Inside Disney Quest is a Cheesecake Factory Express, with lots of yummy dessert choices and snack foods, along with wraps and sandwiches. Wetzel’s Pretzels also has some terrific snack selections with their hand-rolled soft pretzels.
For a bit more of a meal, there’s House of Blues with its Cajun-inspired cuisine and a terrific Sunday Gospel Brunch if you can get a seating. I loved the Bread pudding with whiskey sauce here. Concerts take place late in the evening Thursday through Saturday.
Wolfgang Puck has a presence here with four different dining options, depending on your mood. If you want a snack to go, there’s an express window, while if you’re looking for an elegant dining experience you can visit The Dining Room upstairs. Bongos Cuban Cafe’s menu has changed since we were last there a few years ago, but word is the food is just as good now as it was back then. Planet Hollywood also still has a presence in the area, and while the setting is quite fun, there are better selections for a good meal. Still, when traveling with children I have found that this is a place where I can get a sit-down meal and the kids will actually eat the food.
Moving over to The Marketplace of Downtown Disney, the emphasis here changes from entertainment to shopping. Chances are if you’ve seen something somewhere in Walt Disney World, it can also be found here at The Marketplace.
The first store to take note of is the Lego Imagination Center, not just because of what it offers inside the store, but also because of the terrific Lego sculptures outside. My favorite by far is the dragon which is in the lake. Inside, however, there are plenty of Legos available for kids to play with.
Practically everything Disney can be found at the huge World of Disney store. This contains room after room of Disney and character merchandise. There’s an entire room devoted just to princesses, as well as a room with just watches and jewelry. Annual passholders get 10% off purchases here.
For Disney items with a sports theme, as well as sports items with a Disney theme, there is Team Mickey Athletic Club. For pin-trading enthusiasts, there’s Disney’s Pin Traders with an awesome selection of Disney pins as well as trading stations to broker deals.
By far, my favorite store at Downtown Disney is Once Upon a Toy. Here you can find a terrific assortment of Disney World attraction toys (such as the model monorail set-up my husband is always intent on adding to) as well as brand-names presented in a unique manner. There’s the Mr. Potato head box where you pay for the box and fit as much into it as you can. If you need a potato, that takes up a lot of room. However, if you are only interested in his accessories, there are a tremendous number which will fit in the box. This is also available for Tinkertoys. At any given time, games or contests can be going on inside this store, or certain toys are available for trying out.
Art of Disney has collectible sericells and other rather expensive collectibles. Wonderful World of Memories has a terrific selection of Disney scrapbooking supplies, photo albums, and stationary. At Days of Christmas you can find all sorts of Christmas decorations and ornaments year-round. For everything Winnie the Pooh, there’s Pooh Corner.
For those of us who’s Disney enthusiasm tends to follow us home, Disney at Home has lots of option for creating that Disney theme in your own home. Bathware, kitchenware, linens and other gifts with a distinctly Disney theme or a subtle suggestion of a love for the mouse are available here.
Basin is a new store with bath and skin products. Arribas Brothers Eurospain features crustal and collectibles. Summer Sands features swimwear and beachwear. It makes a great stop if you somehow managed to forget to pack that swimsuit! The Candy Shop is the place to take care of that sweet tooth,
The food selection here is different from the West Side. Full-service restaurants include Cap’n Jack’s with it’s nautical theme and extensive selection of seafood lets you dine as you overlook the lake. Fulton’s Crab House also features seafood on a riverboat. Rainforest Cafe has a representation here in a setting of a tropical rainforest. It’s another restaurant I find to be great when I’m with the kids because of their child-friendly offerings, but I probably would seek out something else were I traveling only with adults.
There’s even a McDonald’s restaurant here, something which feels distinctly out of place, but which is probably a necessary evil for many parents with picky eaters. Wolfgang Puck Express is a mirror of the counter-service restaurant on the West Side.
By far, the best treat for my tummy in Downtown Disney is the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop. Here I can get some of the best shakes and sundaes I’ve ever had, or purchase some delicious (and expensive!) chocolate treats.
While you’re strolling around, or while one person is in a store, there’s entertainment at various intervals on the walkways around the stores. If your kids haven’t had enough rides, there’s a train ride and carousel available for a fee. At Christmastime, there’s even an ice-skating rink!
There are so many options available at Downtown Disney that it makes a terrific evening experience for anyone. Even if you’re on a budge, just looking here can be fun with the wide variety of options and fun that can be had here at no cost.
© 2003 Patti Aliventi
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
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