Anyone hate Downtown Disney?

[currycook]

Everyone has a different view, buy we (our family) like DTD now a lot better than what it was before. My kids especially like it now.

 

[zalansky]

Where do you go to get Disney Rewards cards at DTD? This is information I NEED to know! Please do tell...

To the original poster....I agree with you, the old marketplace had a better feel to it and I miss Chef Mickeys being there and some of the other places as well. Oh the Nostalgia....
But I still enjoy the current marketplace and we always make a stop there when we visit DisneyWorld.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I have only been to DTD 1 time, but I was very impressed and will go back to spend more time the next time we are down there. I think there could have been some less expensive restaurants (is there such a thing at Disney?) But like a previous posted said, not everyone lives near a city w/ a Rainforest Cafe, etc.

I particularly enjoyed the candy store, the kitchen store, WOD, the lego place and especially the toy store and Christmas store. It was all much more than our local mall Disney store.

I also like it b/c you don't have to use a day of your pass and you still get the Disney feel. Last year we went in the afternoon after eating breakfast at Chef Mickey's and riding the monorails around the parks. It was an easy rest day, but like I said, still w/ the Disney feel, instead of just doing something in Orlando.

I think DTD is pretty darn nice!!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I enjoy the shopping, but I do see your point. My husband and I loathe things like the Rainforest Cafe (which is EVERYWHERE where we live) and McDonald's, which is restaurant-ese for "the devil". And the only time we ever ate at Captain Jack's, I threw up. Unpleasant.

I see your point, but we somehow find ourselves there anyway. We only eat at Ghiradelli though

 

[aesalsa]

quote by OP:
Anyone hate Downtown Disney?
Mind you, I'm attacking DTD, not Pleasure Island, which I love. That's a separate issue.

For many years I've watched as market forces have transformed what was once a quiet, quaint, low-key shopping village turn into Disney's version of Times Square (somewhat redundant, since Disney owns most of TS anyway, but whtaever) with a Rainforest Cafe, obscenely huge McDonald's, Lego Store, etc.

Now it's big, bland, and lifeless. Maybe it's unfair to criticize Disney for turning the Marketplace into an average mall when your average mall's become too Disneyfied. CityWalk at Universal Studios is even blander - and it followed the Disney model.

I remember when the Village Marketplace was home to shops and boutiques with items you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. There was a glassblower's, a rather good haberdashery, and a bookstore. It was the home to the original Chef Mickey's, back when it was called the Village Restaurant (where Rainforest Cafe is now). You looked forward to busing over from one of the resorts; it was a relaxing change of pace after hours of hoofing it at the theme parks.

Simply put, there aren't very many dining options either. Rainforest Cafe, the new Earl of Sandwich, Capt Jack's (which is awful now as it was in the pre DTD days, to be fair), and that's it.

Does anyone else agree or am I being sentimental?






No, I like DTD. I first visited DTD in Dec. 2002, so I don't know what I'm missing from the Marketplace of the past. And DH and I really like the Rainforest Cafe; we like the theming (FYI, we don't have one anywhere near us, so I can understand why some people don't like it there). I personally don't like seeing the House of Blues in Westside because we have one in New Orleans. And NONE of our malls look ANYTHING like DTD; COME TO NEW ORLEANS TO SEE BLAND SHOPPING MALLS--WE HAVE 3 !It's all a matter of opinion.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by lillygator
Yes - I miss the old village! Wasn't it actually Lake Buena Vista something then?

Or...perhaps the Disney Village Marketplace!...I too, miss the old and "small-town" feel of the marketplace. Even the AMC theater was much smaller. There was no "West side", and the shops/restaurants were few. Chef Mickey's was there (where the rainforest is), and a Goofy's Grill (Hamburger joint where the McD's is), and even a Minnie Mouse Pizzeria! The Disney Store was also so much smaller, and very quaint. We have often remarked about the "explosion" which seemed to hit the place about 1993-94, and from there on out...it has been on the MOVE. We used to take the Sassagoula express from the old Dixie Landings down in the eves, to walk around after enjoying a quiet meal at Chef Mickey's w/DD. We have many fond memories, and loads of pictures...of "the way it was" back then. I believe Disney incorporated all these stores and restaurants to keep the $$$ on Disney Property. Otherwise, many visitors would head "off-property" to experience many of these places. It's the same reason behind the constant growth of the RESORTS on property. To keep visitors ON PROPERTY, and the $$$ too. Progress/change is inevitable...especially w/regards to DISNEY. Let's hope it never affects the parks and beloved original resorts (like CR/Poly).

TTFN...DF99

 

[MLAinVA]

Once upon a time we really enjoyed DTD; now we avoid it like the plague. We just don't enjoy it anymore.

 

[cdpa4d]

I think part of it depends on what part of the country you are from. In the Midwest, we don't have outdoor, open-air malls, so the DTD presentation is a much different change of pace for myself. I really like! It is a different place to visit other than theme parks. I also enjoy taking a day off from parks and visiting DTD, WWOS, and the Outlet Shops off property.

Wouldn't it be crazy if Disney ever started charging customers for entering DTD. Could that happen? Maybe a parking charge. Even that would be outrageous, but I could see it happen. I've been to places where they charge an admission just to shop and eat. I did it once and vowed never to do it again.

ADP

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Oh, don't give them any ideas!!!

I would personally NEVER return to the Disney Marketplace if they started charging admission.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

That would be really bad. Hopefully it will never happen.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

I'm not a big fan of DTD Marketplace myself. We usually go once on our trip, but always leave a little disappointed. We go hoping to find some sort of Disney souvenier that's unique, but never do. They seem to have the same merchandise as the other gift shops on WDW property. Probably won't return on our next WDW trip. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[jarestel]

My wife likes to buy stuff in the World of Disney store. I enjoy a nice walk along the lake at DTD. So I guess we like it. It's a planned stop everytime we go to WDW.

 

[wilderness01]

I don't like it or hate it. It is just ok. In Illinois there are open malls so this is nothing new here.

 

[CindyBella]

DTD is on e of my favorite places at WDW! All of the shopping...what is not to love. After a full day at the parks, I look forward to ending the day @ DTD. I just love the selection that they have in all of the stores.

About the McDonald's, after spending $$$$ eating at some of Disney's best restaurants, I am all for ordering a couple of happy meals and calling it dinner. Besides it gives me more to spend in the stores!!!

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Nope, another shopoholic who enjoys DTD. I go several times on a trip, often on my own after DH and kids are tucked in for the night. I just wish it wasn't so crowded!

My kids favorite part is the Lego Store and all those lego creations outside

 

[jgates]

It's so-so for me. It seems SOOOOO LONGGGGGG walking from one end to the other and it just didn't seem to have much in the way of shade so I got very sick from the heat. I love Ghiradelli's except there is so little seating inside, and once I am sick from the heat eating outside is not an option! We waited forever for a table last time. Otherwise it was fun wandering thru the shops but I didn't spend much. The stuff on the other end near DQ are shops I can find in places like Wisconsin Dells - magnets, candy, etc. So those don't do much for me. Have never been to PI, but hopefully one of these trips I can at least experience that.

 

[dizzneebabe]

Well, I know this thread is getting long, but I had to just tell you that we LOVE DTD. It's one of the places I love going most. To me, it's the whole atmosphere. We usually go there after the parks close, so after a long, hot day, it provides a cooler, more laid back evening. We HAVE to have our Ghiradelli's at least once per trip, even though we have one in Chicago--we've never eaten there. There is all the magic there, to us, as well.

Ok, I'm like one of Pavlov's dogs right now--I can smell DTD!!!!

Plus, I buy an ornament every year from the Christmas shop. Yes, I know there is one in MK and MGM, but again--I buy it at DTD.

As far as McDonald's is concerned--ehhh--I don't even notice it. RFC looks cool there at night--with the volcano--fits in with the legos on the water. Are they still dinos? Can't remember!

Rhonda

 

[whedrick]

I'm not the biggest fan of DTD because in my opinion it's one of the main reasons the parks close earlier these days.

 

[DS484]

For the last two years (two trips), starting and ending our stay at DTD has been part of our "routine". We (DW, DD 3, DS 7 and myself) usually arrive on-property sometime before noon.

After checking-in, we will head over to DTD starting and parking near the Marketplace. A few hours later we end near DisneyQuest at Westside. I "treat" the family by going back to Marketplace and getting the minivan. I'll pick them up by Disney Quest. They will have walked enough in the next couple days so any way I can help I will !!

It's a great way to start vacation as we usually save the full days for the parks... Just my opinion

 

[*Fantasia*]

I love DTD! I like being anywhere for as long as I am in Disney!