Downtown Disney?

[meldrick]

When you go to Disneyland or DCA, When do you go to Downtown Disney? Do you squeeze it in during the middle of the day, after going to the parks, etc?

 

[CrazyDuck]

after the parks close

 

[tlovesdis]

We usually drive down and we go to dinner the night we drive down at Rainforest and we shop at World of Disney.

Sometimes during the trip we will go there in the middle of the day or after the parks close. Sometimes we crave a Jamba Juice or Wetzel's Pretzel!

 

[Sherry E]

Depending on where you stay (meaning if you stay at a Disney hotel and not in Torrance), you can often pass right through DTD to get to the parks' entrance, so you will see everything they have there. But otherwise, either get to your hotel the night before going into the parks and spend some time in DTD then or leave the parks in the middle of the day to get away from crowds and spend some time at DTD to eat or whatever. But I have a hunch, based on your thread earlier this week, that you might not want to leave the parks mid-day to wander through DTD, so the night before the parks is good. Or, sometimes we stroll through DTD after we have checked out of the hotel and before we go home. That is a good time too! But having a nice meal at Naples or Rainforest Cafe is an added perk to an already great trip! Plus, it has some good shops. Definitely spend a little bit of time in DTD, but not a LOT. ESPN Zone is there too if you are into sports and games and what not.

 

[Catgyrl]

Sometimes during the trip we will go there in the middle of the day or after the parks close. Sometimes we crave a Jamba Juice or Wetzel's Pretzel!

So funny you would say that, because on my last trip to DL in 2004 (yeah, I'm way overdue!!) that's precisely what I had for breakfast on my last day: a Jamba Juice and a Wetzel's Pretzel. They don't exactly "go" together, but boy, did it taste good!!!

 

[heatherleigh]

The most time we spend there is usually on the day we check out of the hotel. We load up the car, then walk over one last time, to draw out our stay as long as possible.

 

[dizneekrazee]

We usually go down the day before. If early enough, which hasnt been lately, we go that day and shop. We do go at least 1 night, if not 2, after the parks close. The day we are checking out, we always hit up DTD. Most especially WOD!!

 

[pinktink83]

We don't. I can visit all those stores back home in the local mall. Why waste my vacation time?!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We don't have a Lego store near us, so that one is a MUST!

We usually go to DL in the summer so we might go to DTD for lunch and look around in the afternoon. That way, we don't miss the morning and afternoons can get crowded in the park anyway. This past trip, we went to DTD right after the earthquake since the rides were close for a while anyway. Come to think of it, the only store there we did go to was Lego store. My boys got some great deals on clearance and I got a mug.

 

[pixiewings71]

We love to wander DTD. Normally we go on Saturdays because we are blacked out, we wander the stores and eat at RFC or the Jazz Kitchen. Otherwise we just go whenever we want to. If we feel like a break or we want to see what's at the pin traders we head to DTD and check it out.

 

[bumbershoot]

We don't. I can visit all those stores back home in the local mall. Why waste my vacation time?!

I agree. Even the legos can be bought elsewhere, and most likely for less money. And you don't have to take them back on a plane.

I really don't like DTD much, though I like the RFC more than I do the one at Southcenter (local to me).

 

[Disneylvrforever]

When I do go to DTD, I go during the evening for dinner since they have a variety of eateries. Then if I feel like it, I'll go into a shop to see what's new. Sometimes I like to go into Vault 28 just to see all their overpriced Disney merch.

 

[YoHo]

It depends on our mood. We live so close that it doesn't matter.

Most often we might decide we'd rather have Hagen Das then Ice Cream in the Park, or we cut through there on the way to story tellers. We like to go to ESPNzone for a meal or the wine cellar for a glass of wine and appetiser for dinner sometimes and depending on which park we're in and where we might walk through or take the monorail over. Usually if we want to stop in basin or Department 56 we'll do it then.

 

[Sherry E]

It depends on our mood. We live so close that it doesn't matter.

Most often we might decide we'd rather have Hagen Das then Ice Cream in the Park, or we cut through there on the way to story tellers. We like to go to ESPNzone for a meal or the wine cellar for a glass of wine and appetiser for dinner sometimes and depending on which park we're in and where we might walk through or take the monorail over. Usually if we want to stop in basin or Department 56 we'll do it then.

Basin is the store I love, and those are not all over the place. But Basin is not for everyone, so that alone is not enough reason to go to DTD - especially if you don't like fruity bath products! Dept. 56 is good too.

 

[kmaclou]

I like to go in the middle of the day - it doesn't seem as crowded. I'll grab something to drink, wander around and shop. Drop my purchases off at my hotel and scoot on back over to one of the parks. We don't have a lot of the stores around my hometown and retail therapy always recharges my batteries.

 

[mariezp]

We don't. I can visit all those stores back home in the local mall. Why waste my vacation time?!

I'd rather spend my time in the park as well! I really hate shopping (I'd rather shop online)so I usually try to get the souvenir shopping done in one trip. We usually eat lunch at RFC once and shop once at WOD on the same excursion.

This year may be an exception to the rule. I am planning the usual but since we will be traveling with a family that loves cajun food we are going to try out the House of Blues. BTW, does anyone know if they still serve their White Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding? Any reviews?

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

We usually stroll on the way to dinner. I personally LOVE to watch the people performing salsa music. THEY rock. The last time we went, this older man threw down his jacket, pulled a woman from the crowd and WORKED IT LIKE NO OTHER I looove ballroom dancing, and this man had the moves. He was around 65 and was handling her like they were in high school. IT WAS HOTTT. I look forward to seeing people dance to their latin music

 

[olivejuice]

we usually get there around 4 am eat dinner and hang out before we go to the parks the next day.

 

[Sherry E]

We usually stroll on the way to dinner. I personally LOVE to watch the people performing salsa music. THEY rock. The last time we went, this older man threw down his jacket, pulled a woman from the crowd and WORKED IT LIKE NO OTHER I looove ballroom dancing, and this man had the moves. He was around 65 and was handling her like they were in high school. IT WAS HOTTT. I look forward to seeing people dance to their latin music

I didn't see the salsa people, but when we strolled last year on a Sunday before going home, there was a lone guy with a guitar and a badly amplified microphone who was doing a very cheesy version of a Led Zeppelin song. But he had a groupie!! And she was about 80 years old, gyrating and slithering around to the soothing sounds of this singer's voice as if she had just discovered the fountain of youth. She looked too old to even know who Led Zeppelin is/was (then again, Zeppelin is a pretty old band!), so maybe she thought this was just some hot guy with original music! Too funny. And she didn't look like she was repsonding to the music as if she was a relative of this guy, showing support. She looked like she wanted to stalk him after he was done with his 'set.' She was one of those elderly ladies who would probably have a really husky voice and would go back to the biker bar to down some shots! Only trouble is, Disney has no biker bar in DTD, so she might have just followed the singer home.

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

I didn't see the salsa people, but when we strolled last year on a Sunday before going home, there was a lone guy with a guitar and a badly amplified microphone who was doing a very cheesy version of a Led Zeppelin song. But he had a groupie!! And she was about 80 years old, gyrating and slithering around to the soothing sounds of this singer's voice as if she had just discovered the fountain of youth. She looked too old to even know who Led Zeppelin is/was (then again, Zeppelin is a pretty old band!), so maybe she thought this was just some hot guy with original music! Too funny. And she didn't look like she was repsonding to the music as if she was a relative of this guy, showing support. She looked like she wanted to stalk him after he was done with his 'set.' She was one of those elderly ladies who would probably have a really husky voice and would go back to the biker bar to down some shots! Only trouble is, Disney has no biker bar in DTD, so she might have just followed the singer home.

HAHAHA !!! That is hilarious I hope he wasn't creeped out, because I know I'd be. Good for her though, she is not ashamed of herself AT ALL !!!