Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney is a wonderful collection of shops, restaurants, clubs, and entertainment.  It is truly a destination unto itself.  Downtown Disney is currently separated into two distinct parts.  They are the Downtown Disney Marketplace and the West Side.

The Downtown Disney Marketplace is heavily focused on shopping and eating, and their is plenty of both.  The centerpiece store here is the World of Disney, the largest Disney store on Earth.  But there is far more than that.  From the Days of Christmas to Once Upon A Toy to Summer Sands, there is just about anything you could want.  The little ones will love the Lego Imagination Center.  There are a total of 19 stores in the Marketplace.  There are 12 eating options here, ranging from the Rainforest Cafe to the Portobello Yacht Club to McDonald’s. 

The West Side at Downtown Disney is a mix of shopping, eating, and entertainment, making it the most “complete” of the three Downtown Disney parts.  Spending an entire day at the West Side is not just possible, it is hard to avoid.  The most obvious part of the West Side is the large white building at the end of the promenade that houses Disney’s Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba.  Next door is perhaps the most creative of Walt Disney World’s attractions.  Disney Quest is an indoor, interactive theme park.  While that certainly does include video games, it is much, much more than that.  Eating options at the West Side include Bongos Cuban Cafe, House of Blues, and Planet Hollywood.  Shopping options include a number of unique stores, including Candy Cauldron, Magnetron, and Starabilias.  A massive Virgin Megastore sits in the middle of the row of buildings.  There are 7 restaurants and 15 stores at the West Side.

Downtown Disney is popular with tourists and just as popular with central Floridians, making it fairly unique among Walt Disney World attractions.  It’s central location makes it easily accessible.  If there is any souvenir or merchandise item you want, you will find it at Downtown Disney (if it can be found).  With 22 restaurants, 38 stores, one indoor theme park, and one Cirque du Soleil, Downtown Disney presents a world of options.  Enjoy your time here.