Downtown Disney. Should I bother?

[abeachchick]

I have a 4 night/5 day trip coming up and I have planned a pretty full itinerary for it.
I am doing 3 parks and a full resort day with time at the Boardwalk.
I have not included any time at DD because the last time I was there I found it kinda boring.
That was about 6 years ago.
Is it worth it to check out? Has it changed much in the past 6 years?
Any feedback is appreciated!

 

[JIMINYCR]

We never found it boring. Definitely different than when we first started visiting DTD years ago. Some changes have been made, some shops disappeared, or changed. It's worth it for us. We like to stroll around checking out the many different shops, World of Disney store, and eateries. Listen to the many performers that you find along the route around. There are opportunities to find some different types of merchandise available that you might not have found in the parks. We usually plan to go in the evening when more seems to be going on. If you can, I'd say after a 6 year away time it's time to revisit.

 

[luv]

DTD is entirely skippable when taking a short trip like that...unless you want to go bowling. I see no reason for you to go if you've BTDT and didn't care for it!

Have fun!

 

[Pooh Lover]

I think it depends on why you found it boring 6 years ago. If shopping doesn't make your radar or you feel the restaurants found in the parks and resorts adequate, it probably hasn't changed enough to make it worth your while on this short trip.

 

[HollyAD]

My husband and I have enjoyed dtd and it's changes. There are the original restaurants such as planet Hollywood, Rain Forest cafe, and Fultons. However, take a look at the new restaurants and their menus online, much better and more interesting than the previous few places to grab food. There has also been a change in entertainment. At night there are several street performers that are actually very good. The entire atmosphere has change at DTD. It's much classier and there is more to see. You certainly don't have to spend an entire evening there but It is worth a few hours of your time to check it out.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

The others did a great job on what changed at DTD in a 6 years time.

IF DTD was boring 6 years ago to you, than you should skip it right now on a short trip unless you are into bowling. I don't know what made you think DTD was boring 6 years ago, but the amount of places open has decreased I believe due to the Pleasure Island building closings in 2008.

The fact is DTD is starting an expansion right now that including parking structures and changing DTD into Disney Springs. The expansion is expected to be done in 2016 or 2017 because of the amount of stuff planned for the expansion.

DTD is still open during the expansion, but you wouldn't see any thing planned for the expansion to be completed when you are on your 5 day and 4 night trip.

 

[SMS55]

If you need to do some shopping for people back home, World of Disney is definitely worth checking out. We usually arrive mid to late afternoon, so we stop in after check-in to get into the "Disney mood." The wife has to pick up something at Ghirardeli so it's a must even if it's just for a few minutes.

 

[2bornot2be]

Its a great place if you like shopping, eating, DinseyQuest, or maybe bowling. On a 5 day trip I would spend a couple of hours their, maybe the first or last day.

 

[OswaldTheRabbit]

Although I like DTD I would completely skip it on a short trip like this. You can do plenty of shopping in the parks and eat lots of yummy snacks! We would skip it for sure!

 

[littleroo]

Tough question bc I love DTD! I would probably stop in for 2 or 3 hours on a trip like this. If you have not been to Raglan Road this alone would make it worth while!

 

[Susan Savia]

We usually go to DTD on the days we visit AK as we always are finished with that park by noon or earlier. We went for years and never went to DTD, but the past few years have made at least two visits to it each trip.

 

[olinecoach61]

Four night trip? I wouldn't waste time at DTD. Now if you worked it into your resort day, that could work.

 

[disneygirl76]

I have a 4 night/5 day trip coming up and I have planned a pretty full itinerary for it.
I am doing 3 parks and a full resort day with time at the Boardwalk.
I have not included any time at DD because the last time I was there I found it kinda boring.
That was about 6 years ago.
Is it worth it to check out? Has it changed much in the past 6 years?
Any feedback is appreciated!

I would skip it. We went this last time and we both said that unless we loads of time to kill on the next trip, we would skip it until after they revamp it.

 

[itsbetsyh]

Every time I go, I wonder why I did. Too many people, not enough space. I stopped there on our way out of town last time just to grab a bite at T-Rex, but I don't usually plan on going. Now...when Shake Shack is there it's gonna be a completely different story!!

 

[bethymouse]

DTD for shopping and dining only to me. Only reason you may want to go is to visit The World of Disney Store if you can't find it at other stores in the parks. Or if you'd like to eat at a particular DTD restaurant. If not interested in Disney Quest, Splitsville, or the Air Balloon, or all of those "extras", then I would not make a special visit to DTD unless you have any "down" time. IMHO.

 

[rob0519]

We usually make it a two or three hour trip just to walk through the shops and see what's changed. We get a personalized Christmas ornament for our son each trip and pick up a thing or two at the kitchen store. A few years ago, at the Art of Disney, we picked up a Mickey & Minnie poster, which we have framed in our family room and a miniature replica (about 2 ft. long and 2 ft. high) of the Black Pearl, which is now on display in the dining room. I do agree, if shopping is not your thing and you were bored even years ago, just skip it.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We are not big shoppers at WDW...so DTD is kind of lost on us. We do like heading over there for a meal if it's a longer trip, but it doesn't sound like it's worth it for your trip.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I highly recommend DTD. I love to shop and that's perfect for me.

 

[DaGoof00]

I would skip it with a trip that short.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I enjoy DTD but, for a 4-night trip, I'm definitely in the "skip it" crowd. Car or bus, getting to DTD can be painfully slow. Since you already have a pretty full itinerary, I recommend skipping it this trip.