DTD - tell me what is wonderful!!

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

The last time we went to DLR we didn't take the time to check out DTD - this time we are going to set aside an hour or two to stroll through and see what there is to see. What should we make sure not to miss? And what is worth passing by?? We are trying to stay budget-minded so we won't be doing a lot of impulse shopping (I hope!) but we love to look!! And what about restaurants? Any we just HAVE to see?

TIA - it is getting SO close now I am beside myself!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

We love taking the kids into Build-A-Bear....lots of cute Disney themed outfits to chose from. We also enjoy the Lego store.....it's got lots of lego statues that my son goes crazy for. We of course never miss The World of Disney store......it could take an hour just to look thru this place.

As for restaurants, we absolutely love the Rainforest Cafe. There is so much to see inside & the gift shop is fabulous too. If you get there at the right time, they have people outside with some trained birds which is fun to watch.

If you are big sports fans (like we are), ESPN Zone is fun to look thru.

There were also a ton of little shops that are nice to go thru, but they've had a number of business leave (or are leaving), so not sure which ones are still there.

We always spend an evening looking around DTD. There is usually a few different musical groups playing as you wander thru. Have fun!!

 

[AngieWin]

At build-a-bear, I assume the bears are the same as the ones anywhere else, right? We are having our 3rd child in March and planning on the 2 big boys picking out a bear for baby brother and probably baby brother giving the big boys a bear also. We have a trip booked for May (when baby brother is 2 months) and it would be cool for them to take their new bears and get special outfits/accessories for them at DTD.

And my ds5 has been dying to go to Rainforest Cafe, but the one we had at a local mall closed last year. I'll put both of these on our list!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I assume the bears are probably the same, but they have a huge selection of Disney themed outfits.....makes it very hard to pick!!!

We loved the Rainforest Cafe....the food, service & scenery makes it a great meal.....just be aware that the "animals" move & make sounds that sometimes scares kids. They also have a thunderstorm every 15-20 mins....which frightened my 2 yr old. But she survived & actually talks about it all the time now....so that's a good sign for our upcoming trip!

 

[Rivergallery]

We plan to head to Build a bear for sure with my second son, he has never done it before, and my oldest already has a build a bear.

 

[AngieWin]

We have a T-Rex cafe here (Kansas City) and have been there several times. They are finally ok with the gigantic T-Rex in the lobby and the meteor shower. Hopefully we are ok with the thunderstorm too!

 

[Jennifer03]

You should definitely stop in at World of Disney.

 

[shoppingmom]

We love DTD, in the morning before things open you can sense the excitement (we always stay at PP so we have to walk through DTD to get to the park) of families heading to the park for the first time, the smell of Beignets being made at the Ralph Brennan Express Kitchen. But at night after a day at the park, the lights in DTD and the atmosphere are incredible. Everyone in our group is usually tired as we hit the exit gate to the park but then you enter DTD and everyone perks up, another stop at World of Disney in case something new is out, a stop at the Lego store to check out the deals there, then there is the smell of the kettle corn, or the smell of the wonderful food at Ralph Brennans, oh and you can pin trade in DTD which is always fun, the volcano at RainForest Cafe, there is usually music playing somewhere and then you see the big hat at the enterence to the Disneyland Hotel, round the corner and you see Paradise Pier and the walk seems to take forever but it doesn't and you are up early the next morning to do it all over again!

 

[Sherry E]

I can tell you what was wonderful about DTD - and that would be Dept. 56!!! Of all the non-Disney establishments which have resided in DTD, Dept. 56 was one that really worked well in a Disney environment. It just seemed to 'fit' perfecty there. Just as I think Rainforest Cafe fits in well to a Disney atmosphere because of its animated animals and all that (it reminds me of the Jungle Cruise, the Treehouse and the Tiki Room all rolled into one!), Dept. 56 had a real charm and magic of its own, and I assume it must have gotten a lot of business from visitors to either park, being in that location. That kind of specialty collectors store seems like it would tap right into the Disneyland guest market. Of course, now it is gone forever from DTD. But the little miniature villages they sold in there reminded me of what I would see on the Storybook Land boat ride.

Anyway, farewell Dept. 56. Mareceline's Confectionery, of course, is great - that's where I got my chubby gingerbread men with ears last December, as well as some Christmas tree cookies. Rainforest Cafe meshes well with the Disney vibe, I think. ESPN Zone does not fit in with a Disney vibe in any way, BUT they have really good food. Naples has good food. World of Disney, of course, is a great store. I personally really like Basin and Sephora, but they aren't exactly reasons to make a whole trip to DTD. I like the Build-a-Bear shop, and that is another one that I think meshes really well with the Disney vibe, and hopefully that won't follow Dept. 56's lead and leave any time soon. Anne Geddes' store always has cute things if you like the famous babies in planters thing. There are a couple of stores I can't recall the names of right now that are kind of cool, but they may be closing!

Oh - and the Walt Disney Travel Comnpany is there - the best place to go in and get FREE books/booklets (not just brochures, but actual magazine-thick type books) on the Disney Cruise line, WDW, DLR, etc. They come out with new ones every year, and I always make sure to go in and grab them. I love looking through the WDW book because I can keep up with all of the different hotels down there, and the package prices.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Didn't know that about the WD Travel. Have to go look.

A must stop for us is the Lego store. We are big Lego fans. They often have some great deals and some items that you can't buy in regular stores- like pens, watches, pink and purple Lego sets aimed at girls, and fill a bucket with Legos you pick from many bins.

 

[Sherry E]

Didn't know that about the WD Travel. Have to go look.

A must stop for us is the Lego store. We are big Lego fans. They often have some great deals and some items that you can't buy in regular stores- like pens, watches, pink and purple Lego sets aimed at girls, and fill a bucket with Legos you pick from many bins.

The WDTC is tucked around a corner - it may be next to the car rental place, possibly - and is kind of near Compass Books, at that far end of DTD. The reason I like actually going into WDTC and grabbing the bookets is because when I have called the WDTC general number in the past and asked them to send me the WDW book or even the DLR booklets (they call them "brochures," but they are way thicker than that), they send me the outdated ones from the previous year! This happened 3 separate times - they kept sending me old booklets!! So the WDTC location in DTD has the current DLR, WDW and Disney Cruise Line books, and some actual brochures for Tokyo Disney and, I think, Adventures by Disney. I didn't see anything on DLP. There is never anyone in there, except the 2 or 3 WDTC agents working behind the desk who stare at me as I march over and grab the books!!!

 

[LavenderPeach]

This isn't part of DTD but if you've never done it before, you should go over to the DLH and check out the koi pond/waterfall area and wander around their grounds for a bit.

 

[DisneyJenn18]

I think it's fun just to stroll thru and take in the atmosphere. Whenever I drive to DL, I always get in pretty late in the day, so I opt just to check in at the hotel, and hang out in DTD, grab some lunch at Naples, and an ice cream from Haagen daz, just sit and listen to the bands that usuallly play.

In the morning I love to stop at Jamba juice for a smoothie (YUMM!!) and if I want to eat a full breakfast Catal offers a pretty good one, cheap, and you can sit upstairs on their balcony. Super fun!

 

[jolynda]

I just love the vibrant atmosphere of DTD! Lots of street performers, food, drink, shops, etc. It's just a pleasant place to stroll, shop and chill. We love it! (oh - and we always have to get a wetzel pretzel dog - that's very important!).

 

[lucky1]

We just got back tonight after a long drive.
One thing I would say is make sure you stroll through on a Friday or Saturday evening, as many street performers set up and the streets of DTD are really jumping. So much more than WDW DTD.

 

[auntiegem]

If your kid's sleeping schedule will permit, go at night when it is dark and stop and listen to the street performers. When we were there, there was a good violinist playing arias from Italian operas. Now whenever I hear Nessum Dorma, I smile and dream of being at Disneyland on a warm September evening.

 

[mt mommy]

Tortilla Joe's restaurant is one of our favorites!

 

[charmama4]

It's been a couple of years but I do remember the musicians playing in the evenings. Real nice to sit with a cup of coffee and pastry and listen to some beautiful music in the warm evenings. The kids absolutely love the RainForest Cafe. I want to try to experience more on this May trip we are taking since we have to walk through it to get to our hotel. Thanks for starting this thread.

 

[Kennywife]

Our faves are:

Napolini. It's next to the restaurnat Naples and you can get a slice of pizza and pop for a pretty good deal. Wetzel's Pretzels are really good too. Kenny and I love to share a giant pretzel and have some lemonade.

I love World of Disney! It's so much fun and you can find tons of Disney stuff there. Check out the Lego Store. It's pretty cool and Kenny and I took pics in front of the giant Darth Vader lego figure.

Next to the Naples/Napolini is a Haagen Daas and you can get a pretty nice sized ice cream cone. Good flavors too. I love Marceline's too. I bought out the store last time! LOL!

Anna

 

[goofycathy]

Something we did last time we were there that we didnt do the time before is to go at night, there is something about all the twinkling lights and the atmosphere that makes it so much fun....we also LOVE Ralph Brennans and also going to World of Disney, that takes a good hour in itself! As far as everything else, we love to look at everything, and enjoy the sights and sounds and all that DTD has to offer...