Prototype82
Well-Known Member
Lego Store, Disney Store, Earl of Sandwich. Amazingness.
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Why do people love Downtown Disney?
- Thread starter Luvmydisney
- Start date
jlevis
Well-Known Member
Different strokes - we go to WDW once or twice a year for 7 to 10 days. A trip or 2 to DTD is a must. Lunch or dinner at Fultons, dessert at Ghridelli and the pin store are musts. Because of the length and frequency of our visits we feel no pressure to "get it all in". I understand the need to spend limited time in the parks but DTD has its own attraction.
Mickey_777
Well-Known Member
I also live in a place where you can find fantastic shopping and dining but none of them have the "feel" of Dowtown Disney. The sounds, smells, palm trees etc...not the same IMO.
I completely agree with your statement. Besides, the last thing I want to do is hunt for gifts when at the Parks. At the Parks, it's the rides, shows, meals that hold my interest. DTD is down time to relax, hunt for gifts and have some
snacks. :wave:
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
When I was a kid we had plain boxes of Lego blocks. You could build a square house, nothing fancy, with windows and door. When my son was growing up we spoiled him and bought many sets that he would spend hours upon hours building intricate buildings, vehicles, star wars, pirate ships etc.
The first time we went to DTD and he saw the large sea dragon and other figures outside the Lego shop his eyes bulged out, He was in heaven. We must have spent the entire afternoon with him in that shop.
ddbowdoin
Well-Known Member
When I was a kid we had plain boxes of Lego blocks. You could build a square house, nothing fancy, with windows and door. When my son was growing up we spoiled him and bought many sets that he would spend hours upon hours building intricate buildings, vehicles, star wars, pirate ships etc.
The first time we went to DTD and he saw the large sea dragon and other figures outside the Lego shop his eyes bulged out, He was in heaven. We must have spent the entire afternoon with him in that shop.
yeah... the classic old red box! kids now a days are spoiled!
eddiemcgarrigle
Well-Known Member
What's not to like?
Great places to eat such as Earl Of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck and available as quick service on the DDP.
Great places to shop such as te Lego Store, World Of Disney and Days Of Christmas (there's something about shopping for Chrostmas goodies in the summer).
Great places to sit and let the world drift by or to people watch such as Ghiaradelli's, mmm, ice cream.
Great places to eat such as Earl Of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck and available as quick service on the DDP.
Great places to shop such as te Lego Store, World Of Disney and Days Of Christmas (there's something about shopping for Chrostmas goodies in the summer).
Great places to sit and let the world drift by or to people watch such as Ghiaradelli's, mmm, ice cream.
NiarrNDisney
Well-Known Member
I like to go to DTD during the day for lunch and maybe some window shopping and a boat ride accross the lake. At night DTD can be fun for a stroll, a meal , and for an adult night out. We like to get dinner and then a few drinks at Fuego, Paradiso, or Raglan then turn in for the night to get some rest for the day ahead.
real mad hatter
Well-Known Member
Wrong Island.
Whit! Grab a boat and sail to Jersey,your in the wrong island,:ROFLOLon't end up in Sark,it's even quieter.Oh by the way,my town doesn't even have an Indian restaurant,unheard of in Scotland.:wave:
Whit! Grab a boat and sail to Jersey,your in the wrong island,:ROFLOL
on't end up in Sark,it's even quieter.Oh by the way,my town doesn't even have an Indian restaurant,unheard of in Scotland.:wave:
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
I enjoyed DtD more when Pleasure Island was still a thing...to be honest, with two little ones, we probably would have had to forgo PI if it did still exist, yet I'm still bummed it does not.
When we're staying in Saratoga (our home resort) I do like having all those extra dining options a stroll or boat ride away. And my wife does enjoy shopping there. We still like DisneyQuest though it's not a "must" anymore by any stretch.
Next time we go, we're driving. The plan is to start driving on Friday night, drive until we're in Florida Saturday afternoon, crash somewhere like Jacksonville, then drive the remaining leg the next morning when we're rested. My secret hope is to make it all the way to WDW, find a place to stay that night locally (on or off property), so we can stroll DtD, and maybe get breakfast the next morning in the Wolfgang Puck Express (cornflake French Toast for the missus, breakfast pita pocket for me. :slurp: ) Otherwise, I won't be upset if we don't get to DtD this trip.
When we're staying in Saratoga (our home resort) I do like having all those extra dining options a stroll or boat ride away. And my wife does enjoy shopping there. We still like DisneyQuest though it's not a "must" anymore by any stretch.
Next time we go, we're driving. The plan is to start driving on Friday night, drive until we're in Florida Saturday afternoon, crash somewhere like Jacksonville, then drive the remaining leg the next morning when we're rested. My secret hope is to make it all the way to WDW, find a place to stay that night locally (on or off property), so we can stroll DtD, and maybe get breakfast the next morning in the Wolfgang Puck Express (cornflake French Toast for the missus, breakfast pita pocket for me. :slurp: ) Otherwise, I won't be upset if we don't get to DtD this trip.
DisneyDebNJ
Well-Known Member
As often as we have gone to Downtown Disney, I rarely buy anything. Two years ago I bought a pair of fuzzy flip flops at Curl, but that was it. Having a park hopper plus ticket, for nostalgia reasons, we go to Disneyquest (which has REALLY gone down hill, but still, do it) I figure, if we're going to a restaurant there (usually Ragland Road) why not stop in? With the addition of Splitsville as well as alot more restaurants being part of DDP, it's more worth while I think. DTD just became one of those *tradition* things I hold on to. The very first time I took my son to Disney, he was 2 1/2, almost 3, and went on the Empress Lily for his first meet and greet with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy (now called Fulton's Crab House) Maybe it's just me, but I tend to do things that we all know and love from the past, yet every year, add new adventures.
Whit! Grab a boat and sail to Jersey,your in the wrong island,:ROFLOL
EEEEEWWWWWW Jersey....:hurl::hurl::hurl:
Might as well ask you to move to England !!!
Philhar-Fanatic
Active Member
For us the biggest draw hands down is Wolfgangs, we will eat there at least twice during our trip. 2nd draw is Lego store, my DS 10 loves it because there's sets you can't find at home. Also, it's just cool to see all the figures and take pic's with them. 3rd draw is Goofy's Candy Company, those are the best cookies I've ever eaten im my life! 4th draw is the pin trading shop. We love that there are just people hanging around ready to trade, all 4 of us collect for fun! Lastly, we like to browse the shops, but always end up buying from the same one. It's the one with the BIG STITCH on the outside. They have souveneers in there that alot of the other places don't. We always buy our picture frames and coffee mugs there and let the kids pick something. With that being said, most of this is done in one night. The next time we return is just to go grab lunch or dinner and be on our way.
DisneyDebNJ
Well-Known Member
born and raised in New Jersey here, it's really not that bad, not all of us have big hair and hang in Seaside Heights LOL
c-one
Well-Known Member
Downtown Disney is definitely in a strange transitional sort of period right now. I thought it was best in the mid-90s, personally. The Marketplace was at its peak and Pleasure Island was great. The West Side started to undo that -- I'm not a fan of Disneyquest, but more importantly, the "flow" was interrupted. If the West Side and the Marketplace were adjacent, it'd be one thing, but having to deal with Pleasure Island (when it charged admission) in the middle did no one any favors. That problem still exists -- except now it's not that Pleasure Island is charging admission and excluding kids, the problem is that it's a creepy ghost town.
Downtown Disney is still nice, but it does need a refresh. Put SOMETHING into Pleasure Island, whether it's Hyperion Wharf or something else. Cut it out with the endless character merchandise and put in interesting, unique stores. Same with the food -- no more chain, or chain-like, restaurants and get back to excellent dining (some of the dining is good -- House of Blues even if it's a chain, Paradiso 37)...
The problem is that outdoor upscale malls have become in vogue and have taken away some of the thunder. DTD used to feel unique, especially on the Marketplace side. Now lots of little cities are trying the same thing. It's time to plus the experience. And excellent food and shopping choices help, too.
Downtown Disney is still nice, but it does need a refresh. Put SOMETHING into Pleasure Island, whether it's Hyperion Wharf or something else. Cut it out with the endless character merchandise and put in interesting, unique stores. Same with the food -- no more chain, or chain-like, restaurants and get back to excellent dining (some of the dining is good -- House of Blues even if it's a chain, Paradiso 37)...
The problem is that outdoor upscale malls have become in vogue and have taken away some of the thunder. DTD used to feel unique, especially on the Marketplace side. Now lots of little cities are trying the same thing. It's time to plus the experience. And excellent food and shopping choices help, too.
Can't comment on New Jersey probably very nice .... Jersey U.K. = :hurl: