Disney, you should be embarrassed...

[ChevisMickey]

This is the answer I was waiting for. DH and I are super boring and not into the nightlife at all. The last time we went to a club was close to three years ago! We enjoy DTD as a place to just stroll and browse the shops.

Glad I could help. I'm the same way with the nightlife, although it is my DW's mission in life to get me to a nightclub.

 

[Communicore]

I've had many a fun time at Citywalk and DTD, but I enjoyed DTD more back when they still had Virgin Megastore.

 

[Fairybuzz]

Anyone ever seen the impromptu dance contests that always seem to be breaking out at Citywalk?

lol guy almost fell at the begining there!

I'm too spoiled to enjoy things like dtd or citywalk cuz I live in NYC so they both just seem like a knockoff of NY but without the down to earth local touch of mom and pop shops independent clothing stores and danky little underground places that have the best food I have ever had.

What I really miss is the World of disney store they used to have up on 55th st and 5th ave. It was like a tiny bit of Disney parks at home, they had all the park merch, I managed to get loads of stuff for me and sis from the parks when we couldn't afford to go, like souvenier books, character chocolate coins, costumes, Disney Star Wars characters, A monorail playset, a set of ride vehicles like R and RC mission space thunder mt and dinosaur, all kinds of things. They even had a gallery of fine art and collectables not to mention any pin I could hope for (within reason). When I walked in and heard the space mt theme from disneyland I knew I hit the jackpot!
Sadly they sold the property and built a standard disney store where the virgin megastore used to be in times square. Its nice but not Disney Parks operated and no unique gifts.

I think I went to DTD when I was younger and had more money so I could stay longer and have more time. I vaguely remember a fountain that looked like pots and pans or something and I thought It reminded me of Splash mountains laughing place part, and that building with a moon for a head that freaked me out as a kid. (just like the mcdonalds moon man which I had a toy of. It haunted my nightmares! Among my top 3 dream villians lol right after the giant feet and the "blob light") But anyway, without going off on tangent again (stay focused sarah!) It was a nice place to unwind and run around as a kid. In fact I never really even noticed there were things other than stores there. I think Chef mickey's was there once (?) back when It was just mickey and some not so good food.

 

[matt9112]

Never been to CW in Orlando, but if it's anything like Hollywood's CW then it beats DTD by a mile. I still have fun at DTD, but I hope Disney Springs spruces it up a little bit...

Is parking at CW in Orlando free? That's one major reason why we love DTD in WDW!

no if you drive you need to park in the garage just like park guests...but it has a bus and taxi stand and is accessible by walking from on site resorts.

 

[matt9112]

lol guy almost fell at the begining there!

I'm too spoiled to enjoy things like dtd or citywalk cuz I live in NYC so they both just seem like a knockoff of NY but without the down to earth local touch of mom and pop shops independent clothing stores and danky little underground places that have the best food I have ever had.

What I really miss is the World of disney store they used to have up on 55th st and 5th ave. It was like a tiny bit of Disney parks at home, they had all the park merch, I managed to get loads of stuff for me and sis from the parks when we couldn't afford to go, like souvenier books, character chocolate coins, costumes, Disney Star Wars characters, A monorail playset, a set of ride vehicles like R and RC mission space thunder mt and dinosaur, all kinds of things. They even had a gallery of fine art and collectables not to mention any pin I could hope for (within reason). When I walked in and heard the space mt theme from disneyland I knew I hit the jackpot!
Sadly they sold the property and built a standard disney store where the virgin megastore used to be in times square. Its nice but not Disney Parks operated and no unique gifts.

I think I went to DTD when I was younger and had more money so I could stay longer and have more time. I vaguely remember a fountain that looked like pots and pans or something and I thought It reminded me of Splash mountains laughing place part, and that building with a moon for a head that freaked me out as a kid. (just like the mcdonalds moon man which I had a toy of. It haunted my nightmares! Among my top 3 dream villians lol right after the giant feet and the "blob light") But anyway, without going off on tangent again (stay focused sarah!) It was a nice place to unwind and run around as a kid. In fact I never really even noticed there were things other than stores there. I think Chef mickey's was there once (?) back when It was just mickey and some not so good food.

as a non new yorker i wish they would jettison NYC into the ocean so i can drive up the north east....im going from 90 to 87 down this time all the way around all of that nonsence. the 9/11 memorial is all i ever want to see there.

 

[Fairybuzz]

as a non new yorker i wish they would jettison NYC into the ocean so i can drive up the north east....im going from 90 to 87 down this time all the way around all of that nonsence. the 9/11 memorial is all i ever want to see there.

Whoa deja vu I swear someone said the exact same thing word for word to me somewhere.

Its not so bad. The worst thing about it is the tourists clogging up everything from some small town I never even heard of or some country thats impossible to determine by the accent (bosnia??). The funny thing is is that I love Boston, the history, the culture, the cute guys (lol and girls). I really love going to other cities cuz its the same yet not at all. There isn't really anywhere in the Us I really hate (cept utah (creepy) and parts of texas (too macho) and idaho(boring!)

lol but anyway you should know better from my post than to get me started on tangents mister!

 

[DManRightHere]

Citywalks atmosphere is awesome. But it only takes like an hour and a half to see everything (for me anyways).

 

[Maelstrom Troll]

We like DTD, but it seems like it is always a huge pain to get back to our resort. The bus line is always super slow and the boats to POFQ are usually as bad. Plus we found out that when riding the boat back in December or February, it gets COLD on the water! Other than that we love the art store and the Christmas shop. The giardelli store is also a nice treat.

 

[Obi Walt Kenobi]

Do I have to choose one or the other or can I like both? Don't get me wrong I know DTD has big problems...and has been damaged for years. But there is plenty I still enjoy there.

 

[RoyWalley]

How is CW if you're not into bars or clubs? DH and I enjoy strolling through DTD, but I was always under the impression that CW was well known for its party atmosphere and that's just not our scene!

If your not into bars or clubs, stay out of city walk. It's not family oriented like downtown Disney. We have been to City walk a few times, just to go to Jimmy Buffetts place to eat and then left. Again, this is all personal preference, so if you like something, go with it!

 

[Tinkwings]

Well I remember going to DTD about 17 yrs ago...and while others were happy to spend time walking around I kept thinking it wasn't even close to being in the parks, I'd rather spend all my time there while in Florida....and did not find anything there I could not find in parks that I wanted....SO have never been back! Interesting to read about comments comparing....but imho it cemented my notions of staying onsite and not leaving the "magic"....that to me is priceless...I realize that is what Disney wants and DTD is a tie in. But arriving Magical Express and not having a car to leave is what I want. I get enough shopping in on site to satisfy that urge and certainly DON"T MISS the commute, the parking lot $$, the wait for the shuttle hassle both in and out off site.

 

[imagineer boy]

The only thing worth seeing at DTD for me is just La Nouba. Everything else there does not interest me in the slightest. It's just a total bore.

 

[TheMadHatter]

For me Downtown Disney hasn't been the same since Virgin Records left. However, I still prefer it to City Walk. I get bored quickly at City Walk. Let's see what Disney Springs brings forth.

 

[TheMadHatter]

I also preferred AMC theatres before they brought in the Dinner theatre...but whatever.

 

[Goofnut1980]

DtD is boring as hell.

We only have to hit up DtD for about 2 hours a trip... Just need pin central, Days of Christmas and World of Disney... then we are done. There is nothing else there to do or see. That little stage they do stuff on is pathetic.. lol Put some freakin entertainment in already!

 

[Goofnut1980]

The Christmas Shop is pretty generic these days, too. And it's always very overcrowded.

Days of Christmas used to be an amazing shop with completely unique items. Now, it's the same you can buy at every store on property... Why bother.

 

[flynnibus]

(I always hear how DtD Anaheim is way more alive than DtD Orlando, which scares me)

Yup.. I was gonna tell you that but you already heard it DtD is very different between the coasts. It's ashame too because the original shopping district, the lake, etc were a nice basis. But west side, the PI debacle, etc.. all very very different.

 

[ToyStoryMiss]

We don't even spend much time in DtD when we're there (I don't know if we'll do it this year..), the only thing I like there is WoD. It has everything I look for, I can buy all of my dolls there (planning on getting around 5 or 6..ehehe).
I do hope Disney Springs will be a large improvement for DtD, because it is sad where it is right now.
Although Goofy's Candy Co. isn't too bad..mm..sweets..

 

[retroeric]

Wouldn't mind seeing a fresh new Cirque show. La Nouba is nice, but 15 years is enough.

 

[danpam1024]

A few weeks ago we went to DTD for lunch, shopping, and to purchase park tix. Nothing exciting, just the same restaurants and shops. We left around 6 or so and were trying to figure out what to do about dinner. There was nothing at DTD that interested us and everything near there we have at home. So, we decided to go CityWalk for dinner. After all, none of us had ever been there before. Now, I'm usually Disney all the way, but after visiting CityWalk, I have no desire to ever go to DTD again. CW is freakin awesome. All the lighting, the restaurants, shops, and bars there. It reminded me of what PI used to be. Plus, we could see part of Uni's firework show. There was live music at an outdoor stage, and families everywhere. We had a great time. We have never left DTD talking about how much fun we had. What really stood out to me though was the amount of security scattered through out the place. At CW you can tell who security is, at PI, I don't really remember ever seeing security. Now with that said, I don't know how anyone at CW would ever try to do anything stupid. Like all the alleged drunkeness and drug use that took place at PI. So Disney, it's time to wake up and get your heads out of your rearends! DTD is a joke and a shell of it's former self. To us, it's like any shopping mall we have here. My wife and I are already talking about how we would like to go back to CW and try out one of Uni's parks next year. Just my two cents.

Most "die hard" Disney fans would think the very same way if they went to Uni for a few days. It is lively, progressive, immersive, clean, friendly, and in most ways ahead of Disney. IMO, you also get more bang for your buck when it comes to the on site hotels. I grew up Disney, it will forever hold a place in my heart, but my family, for now, prefers UOR. Trying to figure out how to get DH to take us in September (even though we were there in July and this month).