DTD arrival night, whats fun to see there?

[nagshead]

We are arriving by about 5 next Tuesday and plan to do Wolfgang for CS dinner and walk around with our 6 and 2 year olds. Anything we definitely should check out there?

 

[RedHeadedFairy]

The Lego Store has an outdoor play area that our DD can't seem to walk past without stopping. It's like a magnetic pull or something...

We also make it a point to share a hot fudge sundae from the Ghiradelli ice cream shop & get a free sample in the chocolate store on the other side. (they give out samples at the door every day - different flavors)

We like shopping to so we just stop & browse EVERYWHERE we feel like stopping for whatever reason, lol.

 

[maplevale]

Our last trip we went to DTD the first night. We had dinner in the Rainforest Cafe with friends (you can go in and 'shop' to check it out).

There is a little carousel and train. The Disney stores and Lego Store. The T-Rex Restaurant. There is the balloon in the air.

Lastly - near the one Disney store (where the Potato head pieces are) there is a little courtyard that they had music and dancers with glow sticks.

 

[mm1971]

We are arriving by about 5 next Tuesday and plan to do Wolfgang for CS dinner and walk around with our 6 and 2 year olds. Anything we definitely should check out there?

T-Rex for dinner is fun. They have the Lego store and if you have time, Splittsville has a lot of activities. We enjoy just walking around the stores and enjoying the atmosphere.

 

[Woodmnky]

In front of several of the stores are Disney statues which can be fun to take pictures with. This goes over much better on the first day before kids have seen the real characters in the parks. I think that DTD is an awesome way to start off a WDW vacation because it is a slow intro to the atmosphere (& craziness) that is WDW.
A trip to DTD is not complete without a stop at Goofy's Candy Co for a treat.

 

[pixiemama91]

We like to just walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. There is a stage and sometimes there are singers/dancers performing. We stopped and listened to a band playing once. There is also a carousel and little train ride that is fun for young kids. My DD loves them.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Don't forget the fountain near the beginning of DTD. It's down near where the buses drop off. There's some benches to sit around and the kids can run through the water. Even at 11 and 13 this year, my kids remembered this and wanted to try to "beat" the water squirting up!

And the LEGO store is a must-do. Out back they can build and race cars made out of Legos and there's several amazing Lego sculptures. But stop inside, too, where they have even more structures to see!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Oh, and just sit back and check out Rainforest Cafe from outside. They have a "volcano" that erupts every many minutes with fire and smoke and all!

 

[caselaw3]

ok - i am such a newbie to ask this question - but how do you get tickets to DTD? Are they part of my park tickets? Will I have to use a day if I go there?

 

[Aaeolien]

Nope no ticket needed. Just head over there and enjoy. Fun place.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Downtown Disney is just a shopping/eating/entertainment type area. To walk around, go in shops, visit restaurants, there's no charge. But there are things like DisneyQuest and the bowling alley, the movie theater, La Nouba and the balloon ride that all have their separate admissions.

All the resorts have buses that run to Downtown Disney and certain ones even have boat rides there which is a nice change of pace.

Definitely check it out--it's great to spend an afternoon just walking around.

 

[mm1971]

ok - i am such a newbie to ask this question - but how do you get tickets to DTD? Are they part of my park tickets? Will I have to use a day if I go there?

DTD is a giant shopping and entertainment area. No ticket needed. Just head on over and have fun. The only exception is DisneyQuest. DQ is basically a huge building filled with video and interactive games. If you have the WP&more option on your tickets, you can head in for 1 entertainment credit.

 

[caselaw3]

DTD is a giant shopping and entertainment area. No ticket needed. Just head on over and have fun. The only exception is DisneyQuest. DQ is basically a huge building filled with video and interactive games. If you have the WP&more option on your tickets, you can head in for 1 entertainment credit.

Great! We have that - ummm what is an entertainment credit? I feel like I know NOTHING, lol!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Great! We have that - ummm what is an entertainment credit? I feel like I know NOTHING, lol!

If you have water parks and more, you get one "credit" for each day's worth of tickets you have. So a 5-day water park and more ticket gives you 5 days in the parks and 5 "credits" for other things. Those credits can be used for the water parks, mini golf, or DisneyQuest admissions. So if you use one credit for DisneyQuest, you have four left to use for water parks, mini golf, etc.

Does that make sense?

 

[LovesTimone]

Since you are having dinner are Wolfgang's, I would suggest dessert at Ghiradelli ice cream shop, they also give out samples on the store side, You might want to grab a bag to take bag to the room as a well deserved treat for Mom and Dad after a long days in the park..

Legos is a great place for the kids to burn off some steam. But don't be surprised if you leave with a bag from there...

Walking through the west side is really nice, sometimes they will have "street performers"

If you are thinking about getting some Christmas ornaments you can have them personalized, we do this on the 1st night so that they are ready by the time we leave.

Checkout the gift shop's at T-REX and Rainforest. They have some cool items and the theming is pretty cool as well.

 

[nagshead]

Great idea about ornaments!!

 

[caselaw3]

If you have water parks and more, you get one "credit" for each day's worth of tickets you have. So a 5-day water park and more ticket gives you 5 days in the parks and 5 "credits" for other things. Those credits can be used for the water parks, mini golf, or DisneyQuest admissions. So if you use one credit for DisneyQuest, you have four left to use for water parks, mini golf, etc.

Does that make sense?

ahhh got it! and since we probably won't even use the water parks at least we can go to DTD

 

[foxxxy83]

Sorry to jump in with a silly question but we're going to DTD on a Friday night and I hear it can be packed out with tourists... is that all year round or just during the summer months?? I heard it quietens down in Oct but didn't know if that was just in the parks or if DTD was the same?? Thanks!

 

[LMN]

We love to go to DTD on our first day, especially when we drive to WDW, because that tends to put us there mid afternoon and if we don't want to use a park ticket that first day, we head to DTD. A must-do is Ghiradelli's for dessert. Their brownie sundae is awesome! We love to walk around, check out the shops and just enjoy soaking up some Disney! We usually will pick up some snacks at Goofy's Candy Co to take back to the resort too. An added bonus if you're staying at POR: the boat runs between POR and DTD and it is a very relaxing way to get there and back. And its free!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

ahhh got it! and since we probably won't even use the water parks at least we can go to DTD

Okay, my turn for a silly question -- If you're not planning on going to the water parks, was there a reason to get the water parks and more tickets? You don't need them for DTD, other than going into Disney Quest. And you can get a park hopper without the additional water parks option, if that's why you got them.

Just don't want to see you spend money you don't have to!