Skip to main content

Discovering Downtown Disney


If you take the tram from the parking structure to the park, it drops you off at the end of the Downtown Disney District. This lively shopping and dining promenade can add some unique fun and excitement to the park. 

Especially in the evening, the area is filled with “street musicians” ranging in all styles like classical, Latin, acoustic, etc. livening the mood. In addition, at the main stage (next to the Rain Forest Café and the AMC theatre), there are often different dancers and performers, most of which, want audience participation. Recently on Friday nights starting around 7pm is swing dancing, and it has been a ton of fun, especially if you have never done it before!

There is Downtown District Parking lot that is free for 3  hours (or up to 5 hours with validation). So if you do not have a parking pass but are even going into the park for a bit, this is a great place to park for short visits.

So what are the different stores and restaurants in this fun area? 


The LEGO® Store
Enter a LEGO world of colors, creativity and wonder at the Downtown Disney District. Come to The LEGO Store — it's recently re-designed — and discover new additions of fun for everyone in the family. The second largest LEGO store in the country (!) this re-imagined space is designed with kids in mind, featuring innovative displays and welcoming play areas. 




Explore a tropical rainforest — complete with waterfalls, rain showers, live parrots, animated apes and all the sounds of a real jungle — at this unique dining adventure. Savor generous portions of food from around the world under a shimmering fiber-optic starscape.



LittleMissMatched is an apparel store on a mission to inspire creativity and individuality in girls of all ages. The signature socks are sold in packs of 3 so you can mix it up, express yourself and solve the age-old problem of the disappearing sock, all at the same time.






Shop at Sanuk for your new kicks, from beach sandals to its patented Sidewalk Surfers. Using such innovative materials as yoga mat and indoor-outdoor carpet in its footwear, Sanuk offers the ultimate in stylish comfort.






Sample the spiciness of Cajun cuisine with gumbo, Gulf seafood, po' boy sandwiches and decadent desserts. As part of a total entertainment and dining experience, the music never stops and Bourbon Street's legendary party atmosphere pulsates to life.






Celebrate the spirit of the American South with world-class live music and lip-smacking soul food at this plantation-style estate turned rollicking rock n' roll palace. Feast on delectable American and international inspired dishes that are bold and classic yet contemporary and enjoy the funky American folk art and live musical performances on the House of Blues® Stage.


This is just a taste of the variety found in Downtown Disney, but hopefully you have gotten an idea of the fun that can be found in the area. But don’t just take my word for it, go explore it for yourself!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ride Profile: Mad Hatter Tea Cups

Celebrate your “un-birthday” in Wonderland by spinning and twirling in your very own teacup! There are a total of 18 cups that spin individually, on top of 3 separate turntables, on top of one large turntable! It a crazy contraption indeed, but it is Wonderland after all! (After a recent physics experiment, without spinning the actual cup, you will spin about 8 times during the ride, but with spinning you can get up to 23 spins. For those looking to spin as much as possible, try sitting in the purple cup or pink trim cup with hearts as they spin the most times!) The ride was created after the animated classic Alice in Wonderland , particularly the Mad Hatter’s party scene. So naturally the color scheme and unreal size of tea cups are not a surprise! This attraction was apart of one of the original rides in the park, located in Fantasyland today where it still has the timeless whimsical feel as on opening day. As for the hidden Mickey, this one is tricky to se...

World of Color

One of my absolute favorite things to view is World of Color. A combination of water, pyrotechnics and a lot of magic brings the Paradise Lagoon in California Adventure to life every evening! More than 1,000 water jets form screens and shapes that animations are projected onto. Although I have seen the show dozens of times, it never gets old, especially because as new Disney movies come out, they are incorporated into the show. If visiting both parks (or just DCA), be sure to get a fatspass for World of Color. The machines are right outside Grizzly Rapids and will have one of four colors (red, yellow, green, and blue), which is your viewing area during the show. Be sure to line up in your  specific area as soon as your fastpass tells you you can. Most people will sit down to wait for the show, which is fine, but be ready to wiggle to the front as people start to stand up. Another great way to get premium seating is through dining specials. Certain restaura...

Ride Profile: it's a small world

Located in Fantasyland on the far side of the park, “it’s a small world” was originally created for the 1964 world’s Fair, to raise money for UNICEF. Passengers of all ages and heights board a boat and visit South America, Central America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the South Pacific Islands in a ten-minute voyage.  The famous, catchy song is repeated over and over in the language of the area you are in. Dolls dance and show off attire of that area, and even some Disney character dolls join the fun throughout the ride. Even though it’s a slow, easy going ride, it is a good break to take in the summer as the whole ride is air conditioned and gives your legs a chance to take a break. Every 15 minutes, a parade of dolls in various culture costumes comes out from the base of the iconic clock. As the last doll returns into the clock, the parade doors close and the large central doors open to reveal two giant toy blocks—the large block displays the hour, the small one ...