Downtown Disney - is it worth it?

[Disneyorbust05]

I hear that getting to Downtown Disney can take an average of 30-60 minutes to get to. Is this correct? What is your experience with the transporation? Will we miss a lot by not going and choosing to spend more time at the other parks? Thanks!

 

[Lynn4Mel]

I like Downtown Disney alot and you should try to make it there atleast for a couple of hours. The stores are nice and I find I don't get to bop in and out of shops when we are in the parks and this gives you the perfect opportunity.

You know I have never paid attention to how long any of the bus rides are from place to place. I usually zone off looking at the scenery. I don't get to do that often at home because I seem to be the one who is always driving!

 

[twinklebug]

DTD is a shopping area with select non-Disney resteraunts. IMHO, it's a nice place to go take a stroll and dinner if you're taking a day off from the parks, looking for a special Disney item or first night/last day type thing.

Time to get to depends on where you are staying and the time of day you are traveling. I think the longest it took us to get to DTD was 5-10 minutes from POR which is "just" around the corner, but note that the water parks are right here so if they're being shut down due to t-storms you will encounter HUGE delays.

My kids loved the toy stores and I just like shopping in general, so to me, yes it was worth it

 

[3mickeys&me]

We love DTD!!! We go every trip. I have been there many times and it never took us that long to get there.

Guess it depends on the time of day and your resort. Its never taken us more than 15 minutes and our trips there are usually in the evening.

 

[Disneyfun1]

DTD is a blast!! All kinds of nice places to eat at-Planet hollywood, wolfgang pucks, house of blues, rainforest cafe and many others. Lots of shops-including the worlds biggest disney store, Movie theaters, Cirque du soleui, and dont forget the clubs-espcially the adventurers club-that is one not to be missed. At midnight every night they shoot off fireworks as well. Check it out for sure!!

 

[dmonroe]

For us, it just wouldn't be the same if we didn't visit DTD at least once! We love it! It's typically what we do on our arrival day when we don't have time for a full day at one of the parks. I will say that we prefer to go in the morning or afternoon, as it seems to get fairly crowded at DTD after dark.

 

[newholidayx2]

DS13 & I are planning a night at Downtown Disney this Aug
We'll planning on dinner at Earl of Sandwich, Lego Store, boat to/from PO, Giradelli

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

I hear that getting to Downtown Disney can take an average of 30-60 minutes to get to. Is this correct? What is your experience with the transporation? Will we miss a lot by not going and choosing to spend more time at the other parks? Thanks!

It can take that long to get almost anywhere on Disney property! Disney always recommends to allow up to an hour for travel times.

Much depends on your starting point and your destination! ;-)

 

[720L]

Yes that time is correct depending on where you are staying. We stayed at AK Lodge. We decided after this trip that it's not worth all that time. We love to eat at Wolfgang Pucks but would rather spend all that traveling time doing something else.

 

[minniesstylist]

We love going to DTD. You should not skip going!! It's a great place to just get a snack and have a nice night!

 

[SAWYERMAW1]

We love DTD. When we stay at POR or POFQ, we take the boat to DTD almost every night. When we stay at other resorts, we always manage a visit or two to DTD. I think getting around Disney using Disney transportation is part of the fun of Disney.

 

[Feralpeg]

I live at DTD. Not really, but sometimes it seems that way. I go at least every other day. Sometimes I go to shop, but I like to go there to grab a sandwhich at the Earl Of Sandwhich or an ice cream at Ghirardelli. I like to sit and watch all of the folks and enjoy the view. In the evenings, I like to walk over to the westside and just stroll around. Great place!

 

[bdrex95]

Count us as DTD lovers too! We go at least one time per trip. We like to take the boat to DTD when we stay at OKW, and that takes about 30 mins. The bus from OKW is only about 5-10 mins, but it is real close. This trip we went from MK to Contemporary on the monorail, then took the bus to DTD and the whole trip only took about 35 mins.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I love DTD! We don't get there every trip, like we would like to...but when we go, my DH always buys a cigar at Sosa's. i would not revolve my trip around getting there, but if you are gonna have a non park day, the do it! I like it best at night time.

 

[Cookie Princess]

It is worth it for the Ghirardelli's sundae alone, and then there is the shopping...ahh!

 

[turnlisa]

We love DTD too! We generally hit it at least twice the last time being as we are leaving to travel back to the cold. We have found the best way to get there is to drive ourselves. The parking isn't bad and it does take a lot less time than the bus.