Friday Family Fun - Downtown Disney

It's time once again to look at relatively inexpensive, fun activities beyond the theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort.  Today we'll take a peek at Downtown Disney.  This shopping and dining area is filled with fun for all ages, and we always include a visit (or two) to the area whenever we visit Walt Disney World.  If nothing more, we love to go and get a free sample of chocolate at the Ghirardelli store next to their ice cream parlor - free samples are handed out to each guest who walks through their door.  But of course, heading to Downtown Disney is not guaranteed to be completely inexpensive.  There is no entrance fee, but you will find multiple opportunities to part with some (or more) of your money.  But it's all in what you make of it. Some times we've gone and not spent a dime - others, well....


Downtown Disney includes three distinct sections:  Marketplace, Pleasure Island and the West Side, and is filled throughout with fanciful shops, restaurants, a marina, 24 screen movie theatre, small pay-to-play attractions for the young or young-at-heart such as the small carousel and train ride, or for the more-adventurous at heart the "Characters in Flight" balloon ride.


Dining adventures can be had, either with endangered species of the wild in the Rainforest Cafe, or extinct creatures of old over at T-Rex; Wolfgang Puck is represented in both the Cafe on the West Side or the Express location in the Marketplace. You'll find quick casual choices such as Earl of Sandwich or Pollo Campero; or nicer table service options such as Fulton's Crab House, Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub and more.


The area includes various entertainment offerings, both on a temporary and more permanent nature in an effort to keep it fresh, and ever evolving. Some days you'll find musical acts performing on the stage in the Marketplace, other days not. More permanent entertainment can be found in the West Side at the House of Blues, combining dining and entertainment, or DisneyQuest, an interactive indoor theme park, or Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba.


And then of course there is the shopping.  One of my favorite stores to look in (and occasionally purchase something) is the Art of Disney store in the Marketplace, and the Days of Christmas store.  Once Upon a Toy is a lot of fun, as is the Lego Imagination Center.  My wife loves Basin for all of the fancy, scented soaps and bath supplies; and we all love Pin Traders... but there are so many other fun shops to explore!


Here are just a few images of the fanciful Lego creations found at Downtown Disney: