Downtown Disney(Land) vs Downtown Disney (World)

[KeithVH]

While I think the consensus is that there may be less shops, my DW and 3 DD's all think the actual "shopping" is better in Anaheim. Personal preferences I guess. Legos is wasted on them and the Xmas store in Orlando seems to be nothing but a mad house any more. Pooh Corner is going downhill too.

 

[CThaddeus]

Are you going to Disneyland? I'm so jealous! I went once in 2001, but I don't remember enough of it! From what I do remember, the weather is a lot drier and pleasant in the summer. I think you have to pay for parking at DTD and it is smaller; it mostly feels like West Side with a few Marketplace shops inside. Really nice! From the outside, the Rainforest Cafe looks like some Mayan temple with waterfalls and terrace dining. It's gorgeous! There's also this bridge that overlooks a road leading to DLR...I would love to see it now...

I think they also have Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen and ESPN Zone.

You only have to pay to park if a) You're in that parking lot for more than three hours and don't get validated at the AMC or one of the restaurants, or b) there more than 5 hours. After 5 hours it's $6 an hour.
I agree, that Rainforest Cafe is beautiful from the outside. It's too bad there's an ugly ESPN Zone right next to it. Something equally attractive would have been nice.
Oh, and the road is Disneyland Drive, which either takes you past the hotels or back toward the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure.

 

[alanindy]

I agree with the earlier post that it's apples and oranges. I love the atmosphere at DTD Disneyland, especially with all the fountains, landscaping, outdoor dining, convenience to the parks and LIVE MUSIC!

At WDW - I love the lakeside setting and vast variety of things to do - DisneyQuest, Cirque, etc.

 

[StephanieS]

Both are nice- DL's has a Jamba Juice, which i love. The one at DL is cool because you can walk though it on your way to the parks in the a.m. and on the way back to the hotel at night- very convenient for shopping or to get a snack/drink.

We stayed at the Grand Californian and our room was right over the World of Disney store- that was pretty neat. It was nice sitting on the balcony at night and seeing all the stores lit up and listening to the live music. And you'd just walk downstairs and be right there.

 

[TP2000]

For those keeping score at home, here's the list of shops/restaurants/entertainment from both Downtown Disney's:

Downtown Disney District - Disneyland

Entertainment:
House of Blues Stage
ESPN Zone Sports Arena
AMC Theatres Downtown Disney 12

Shops:
World of Disney
Anne Geddes
Basin
Build-A-Bear
Club Libby Lu
Compass Books
Department 56
Disney Vault 28
Fossil
Illuminations
Island Charters
Lego Imagination Center
Marceline's Confectionary
QuickSilver Boardriders Club
Sephora
Something Silver
Starabilias
Sunglass Icon
Travelex
ESPN Zone Team Store
Walt Disney Travel Company Guest Services

Dining:
Quick Service-
Compass Books Espresso
Haagen-Dazs
Jamba Juice
La Brea Bakery To Go
Napolini
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen To Go
Tortilla Jo's To Go
Uva Bar
Wetzel's Pretzels

Sit Down/Fine Dining-
Catal
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
Naples Ristorante
Tortilla Jo's
La Brea Bakery Cafe
ESPN Zone Restaurants
Rainforest Cafe
House of Blues Restaurant

Downtown Disney - Walt Disney World

Entertainment:
DisneyQuest
Cirque de Soleil
House of Blues Stage
AMC Theatres Downtown Disney 24

Shops:
World of Disney
Virgin Megastore
Lego Imagination Center
Arribas Brothers
The Art of Disney
Basin
Disney's Candy Cauldron
Disney Tails
Disney's Days of Christmas
Disney's Pin Traders
Disney's Wonderful World of Memories
Goofy's Candy Co.
Hoypoloi
Magic Masters
Magnetron Magnetz
Mickey's Groove
Mickey's Mart
Mickey's Pantry
Harley-Davidson
Pooh Corner
Sosa Family Cigars
Starabilias
Summer Sands
Sunglass Icon
Team Mickey Athletic Club

Dining:
Quick Service-
Ghiradelli Soda Fountain
McDonald's
Earl of Sandwich
Wolfgang Puck Express

Sit Down/Fine Dining-
Bongo's Cuban Cafe
Fulton's Crab House
House of Blues Restaurant
Planet Hollywood
Portobello Yacht Club
Raglan Road Irish Pub
Rainforest Cafe
Wolfgang Puck Cafe

I was most surprised at the differences in the shopping mix between Disneyland and WDW. The WDW Downtown Disney seems to be tilted heavily to Disney branded products and concepts. Disneyland's DTD, on the other hand, is almost devoid of Disney branded shops outside of the World of Disney. I was also surprised that Disneyland's has more dining options than WDW. That's interesting to me. But I wish Anaheim would get a Ghiradelli's! (I didn't include the various little carts and kiosks in Anaheim's Downtown Disney as they aren't listed on the disneyland.com website. I don't remember if they have carts and kiosks at WDW's Downtown Disney. Can they do that sort of thing when it rains every two days?)