Welcome to those of you joining me from Rolling with the Magic and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail.
Need a day off from the parks? Looking for a leisure day of shopping, shows, action, and a variety of cuisine?
Then Downtown Disney is the perfect place for you! Day or night this place is hopping with excitement! This Mecca of diverse amusement is divided into three sections.
Marketplace,
Pleasure Island,
and West Side.
I would suggest finding a map or using My Disney Experience on your smartphone to help navigate through this island of entertainment.
Let’s begin with shopping ~ Shopping in Walt Disney World is a MUST! Where else can we get our fix of a multitude of Disney merchandise?
Clothing to Crystals, Pins to Vinylmation -it’s here! Let’s start out in Marketplace, this is where the majority of DTD (Downtown Disney) retail locations reside. You can design a special Disney Family T-shirt,
find that special family holiday ornament,
and visit Mickey’s Pantry for a unique culinary utensil.
Browse through a shop of extraordinary works of art, or are the kids begging for something a little more fun? Check out the magnificent Lego Imagination Center, where you can build your own Lego car and enter it in a race amongst other Lego enthusiasts!
Some specialty shops that intrigue me are Lefty’s, where gifts are geared to that special left handed someone in your life, Marketplace Fun Finds- everything is $25.00 and under, a great place to find souvenirs that won’t break the bank! And my all time personal favorite store Tren-D!
The most awesome Disney Designed clothing and accessories!
If you don’t have the patience to visit all these specialty shops then I suggest two places, World of Disney and the brand new amazing Marketplace Co-Op. World of Disney just about covers every shopping need one may have, if you need it, most likely World of Disney has it. The brand new Marketplace Co-Op houses an array of specialty items, many of which are Disney themed.
We can keep on shopping but we have other places to visit, anyone hungry? Let’s eat! Just want a snack, need something sweet? Want to sit down and relax while you enjoy a delicious meal? You can do all that at DTD. You can find food trucks, pubs, candy shops, fun dining, and fine dining.
A fairly new addition to DTD cuisine is food trucks offering dishes inspired by each of the Disney theme parks. These trucks will be finding their permanent home this summer in the West Side area.
Some of my favorite inexpensive in price but rich in flavor eateries are, Earl of Sandwich and Wolf Gang Puck Express both found within Marketplace. Food is fresh and made to order, I am never disappointed when dining at either location.
If you are looking for FUN dining, my all time favorite is T-Rex, located in Pleasure Island.
Each room is themed in varied prehistoric landscapes with a raining meteor shower every 15 minutes.
Right outside is a Dino Dig Bone Yard to keep the kids entertained while waiting for a table.
If Fine Dining is more your speed, Fulton’s Crab House or Portobello can both be found in Pleasure Island. Fulton’s is located in a large paddleboat permanently docked at the entrance to Pleasure Island and centers most of their menu on seafood, though chicken and steak are available as well.
Portobello is Italian cuisine in a Mediterranean setting; indoor and outdoor lakeside seating is available.
Looking for that laid back pub feel? Head over to Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant located in Pleasure Island. They have an amazing menu along with a great array of beverages to help make your smile even brighter!
You may be treated to some Irish Step Dancing while dining; if you choose to dine later in the evening you will be entertained by a live band.
Take a little BBQ, some outdoor seating, live entertainment and a great cocktail and you have The Smokehouse at House of Blues in West Side. It doesn’t get more laid back than this!
Time to get your sweet on! We can stay in West Side and check out the Candy Cauldron or hike it back to Marketplace to Goofy’s Candy Co.
Either one promises to delight with their brightly colored sugary concoctions! What’s that? You wanted ice cream? Then come on, we’re going to Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop!
You can smell the aroma of warm fudgey chocolate even before reaching the door!
So are we full? I’d say so! Ready for more fun?
DTD has an range of entertainment; rain or shine they have it covered! Most of this amusement takes place in West Side, let’s take a look at what’s going on!
Have you ever been in a Hot Air Balloon? Me either, but we can at DTD’s Characters in Flight Balloon Ride! Travel 400 feet in the air for a 360 degree view of Disney Property!
Disney Quest is out next stop. This is not just your ordinary arcade; in this building you will find 5 stories of cutting edge technology – check out what Disney Imagineers dreamt up for these interactive experiences.
24 screens, 5,400 seats ……. A stadium? Close, it’s AMC Downtown Disney 24. Check out the latest flicks and enjoy a little lunch or dinner at the same time!
How about checking out the new Splitsville Bowling Alley……. And so much more, see the video below to find out what else you can experience in this entertainment complex!
Splitsville at Downtown Disney West Side
We must not leave without seeing Cirque Du Soliel – La Nouba – A theatrical circus presentation. I have read this is the best live entertainment venue in Orlando! You will not see this show anywhere else; it is made specifically for Disney! I have been told it’s a “not to miss experience” and it is at the top of my “Must See” list!
Besides all this you can find great street entertainment throughout the streets of Pleasure Island and the outskirts of West Side. Look for a times guide for information on which bands are performing when you are visiting or find an updated entertainment schedule on this website wdwent.com
Well that’s going to do it for this tour of Walt Disney World’s entertainment Mecca, Downtown Disney!
I think we may need help carrying all these shopping bags 😉
Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Ashley Aspires.
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ Disney Babies Blog
2nd Stop ~ Rolling with the Magic
3rd Stop ~ Two Moms and A Mouse
4th Stop ~ Ashley Aspires
Final Stop ~ 400 Miles to Disneyland
Great post! There is truly SO much to do at Downtown Disney! I love Wolfgang Puck Express & Earl of Sandwich-those are on my ‘must visit’ list 🙂 Hoping to go to a show at Cirque De Solei next year. What is your favorite Downtown Disney activity to do? Bowling, Quest, shopping or eating?!
Hi Hayden :)Boy that is a hard one… probably SHOPPING! lol then eating… I have not been to Disney Quest, C-Du Sol. or Splitsville! I am too busy shopping and eating!
Downtown Disney is awesome! Where were those little elephants (in the Marketplace Co-Op photo)? I collect elephants & I think I need those Disney ones!
Hi Jodi 🙂 The picture of elephants was a Co-Op picture I found online- not sure exactly where in the store they are, but I think they are adorable… I am just itching to get my hands on that Orange Bird!!
Downtown Disney is my favorite thing to do outside of the parks! I love your photos…they remind me of arriving at WDW since we always go to DTD on our first day. The Marketplace Co-Op store sounds so fun! I can’t wait to check it out! I’m sure I will probably want to buy at least half the store! 🙂
Hi Kimberly :)Usually we got straight to the Magic Kingdom upon our arrival to WDW.. but last couple trips we have gone to DTD after taking a dip in the resort pool. I have enjoyed this.. a nice way to ease into the magic :)) I can’t wait to go to the Co-Op, I’m going straight to the Orange Bird section!
I love the shopping and Tren-D is a favorite. Last trip we saw Saving Mr. Banks at the AMC theater (with dining option) which was awesome! Downtown Disney can’t be beat.
Hi Lee! You love Tren D too!? so many cool things in there 🙂 One day when I have unlimited access to WDW I am going to go check out that theater – what a great place to have seen such an awesome movie!
I haven’t been since November, so I’m excited to check out the Co-op and the food trucks! Have you tried the food trucks yet? Which is your fave (if you did)?
Hi Disneybabies! I have not tried the food trucks yet. Last time I was in WDW was last August, I think they cam just after I was there… but I am totally intrigued by them!
I’m so jealous that you have Marketplace Co-Op at WDW! It looks like such a great store and I wish Disneyland would get one soon. For now, I can only settle for what limited things they sell at disneystore.com.
Hello 400 Miles to Disneyland 🙂 I have to settle for the online store to right now, lol until I can get back to my beloved Home away from Home.. I bet you all will get one as soon as they see how well it does in WDW DTD!
We love Downtown Disney. It’s a great place to get a Disney fix if you can’t make it to the parks, for whatever reason. We could spend days there! Thanks for sharing a very thorough post about DtD. It will be interesting to see all the changes that are coming with the new Disney Springs updates. What are you most looking forward to?
Hi Heidi 🙂 I am so excited to see the new Disney Springs layout as well… I think I am most excited just to see how it all looks.. hoping for some beautiful sights to go with the great experiences 🙂