How much time do you take in DTD?

[maslex]

We're leaving this Sunday for Disney and we just can't contain ourselves!!!

We'll be landing at 9:55am (assuming everything goes well) and I'm thinking will be at the hotel by 11:00 to check in. Once that is done, we're grabbing something to eat at the food court (we're staying at POP---first time!!!) and once lunch is done, we'll be taking the bus to DTD. We've never been there before but there are a few places that I'd like to hit. I've been doing some research and realize that they places that I'd like to go are all in the Marketplace.

And here is where we'd like to go
Mickey Mart ($10/under store)
Days of Christmas
Goofy's Candy Co.
Pin Traders (maybe)
Lego Imagination Center
World of Memories

I do have a few questions though. Since we've never been I'm just wondering where they actually drop you off when taking the bus there? Will they be able to drop us off at the Marketplace? Plus how close are these particular stores from each other? I'm hoping to have an easy first day without a whole bunch of walking. I know I'll be doing some, but like I said, I'm hoping it won't be too bad.

We're not BIG shoppers. We'll go into the store and browse around for a little bit but we sure are not marathon shoppers. Especially my hubby. My main reason for going to DTD this time was to check out the Lego Center. I'm a scrapbooker and I thought this would make a great couple pages to do. So I figured while I was down there I would check out a couple more stores. My DH would certainly love the Christmas shop so that is a must. So I'm wondering how much time does it take the bus to get to DTD, plus how much time do you estimate that we'll be there? An all day thing? We have ressies at Kona for 6:30, so I'm sure we'll want to go back to the hotel, freshen up and get over there in time. I would also like to take a bunch of pics of our hotel when we get back from DTD.

Big question is.....if we leave POP around say noontime, go to DTD and to the stores mentioned above, then come back to the hotel to take some pictures and wander the grounds, then freshen up......will we have enough time to be at Kona by 6:30?

 

[carissanboys]

We went to DTD twice on our first visit in March. I was surprised by how small the Marketplace area was. I guess I was expecting it to be more spread out. I loved DTD! Such a fun feeling. You can easily walk from store to store. The buses dropped us off right near the Marketplace so that won't be a problem for you.

We ate at Earl of Sandwich the first time and Rainforest Cafe the 2nd. We didn't walk through many stores, but we did let the kids play at the Lego store.

I think you'll have enough time to what you want in the time alloted. Just be sure to check the time schedules for the bus to DTD and back. I know that we were staying at Shades of Green and walked over to the Poly to catch a bus to DTD and had to wait at least 30 minutes for one to arrive.

 

[under_the_sea]

When we go to DTD, we don't take much time. There is a lot to do there but you can take it easy the first day and do the main things you want. You can always go back another day, it's free to get in so money isn't a problem. It is some walking but not as much as the parks. I think you will be back in time and be sure to check out the World of Disney! That's my favorite store =) Have a great trip!

 

[antmaril]

I think you'll be fine. We usually just walk around The Marketplace and go in a few of the stores. I would say we spend about two hours or so - max.

 

[Smokeyspawn]

1) The bus can drop you at the marketplace.(Next to the Christmas Store)

2) I've never stayed at Pop...but the DTD bus from AsMo is very long (almost 40 minutes) mostly because it's the same bus as Typhoon Lagoon.

3) Most of the stores you mentioned are all in one place except for the Lego Land. You should be able to zip through those in a couple of hours.

4) Are you planning on taking the bus to the Poly for Dinner? It will most definitely be quicker if you go straight there from DTD. Otherwise you'll have to make two stops from Pop to the Poly. Just a thought.

 

[cvallee]

Yes the buses drop off right at the marketplace. A couple hours (2-3) should be sufficient time to do what you want downtown. Don't stress over the time to get pictures at your resort, there will always be time to do that. Make sure you leave enough time to get over to the Poly.

 

[Mickeefan]

I would also suggest (if I might) that you eat at DTD instead of POP. I would recommend Earl of Sandwich. The sandwiches are large enough that you could split one between 2 people. Then, you can wander around DTD and either head back to POP to freshen up or take the bus directly from DTD to the Poly. As a previous poster said, you'll have to take a bus from POP to MK and than take the monorail to the Poly. If you go directly from DTD, you can just get on the Poly bus and go!

 

[motofox4]

I LOVE Downtown Disney. It's one of my favorite places to go while we're in WDW, but then again I also love to shop!! The Marketplace area isn't that big so you should have plenty of time to go through the stores that you want to see and get back to the hotel in time for dinner. Be sure to check out World of Disney while you're there, they have just about everything you could want there and then some!! Have a great time!! I can't wait to be there!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

We never miss DTD. It's a must on our list for several reasons. One, we just LOVE the Earl of Sandwich and two, we are AP holders and get a 10% discount at the World of Disney. Also, if you like seafood, Fulton's Crabhouse is there and the food has always been good when we have gone. I tend to go nuts in the Christmas store.

It's also a nice break in the day. We will sometimes visit a park, go back to our resort and rest and then go to DTD in the evening.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[kimis]

We do go to DTD a few times when we are there. We always eat our first dinner at Capn Jacks and walk around DTD when we first get there. Then we get back to the resort our lagguage is there and we unpack and get ready for the next day. I can't wait until Feb!!!!!

 

[princesskelz]

We take as much time as possible when we go. We usually go at night and listen to the music and stop by pleasure island and we always go into sunglass icon to look and see if they have my "Fendi" Sunglasses YET butthey never do. lol. We will just stop by stores that look cool and hop in and look around!! its a lot of funn

 

[marlower]

If the busses do take that long to arrive, you might consider a quick taxi ride to DTD, that way you won't be stressed on time. I would say 2 hrs and you will be done with shopping, taking pictures and just hanging out. Have a great time!!

 

[babieemelly]

You'll have plenty of time! Downtown Disney is a ton of fun, but it's really small. We always make a visit to the area on each trip, and we love to shop yet we only spent two or three hours there each time, tops. One time we walked all the way through Downtown Disney (from the Marketplace, through Pleasure Island and to the West Side) and back, and the whole walk took us no more than 20 minutes. All the stores in the Marketplace are really close together, and a lot of them are even connected.

If you're gonna be in Downtown Disney, be sure not to miss the World of Disney! It's the biggest Disney store in the world and there are a lot of great things in there. Even if you don't want to buy anything there are a lot of cool animatronics and displays, as well as a lot of fun photo opportunities.

And as others have said, if you're looking for a quick place to eat I would skip the Pop food court and go to Earl of Sandwich. It's cheap and clean, and the food is great!

 

[Jrabbit910]

And here is where we'd like to go
Mickey Mart ($10/under store)
Days of Christmas
Goofy's Candy Co.
Pin Traders (maybe)
Lego Imagination Center
World of Memories

I do have a few questions though. Since we've never been I'm just wondering where they actually drop you off when taking the bus there? Will they be able to drop us off at the Marketplace? Plus how close are these particular stores from each other? I'm hoping to have an easy first day without a whole bunch of walking. I know I'll be doing some, but like I said, I'm hoping it won't be too bad.
I'm a scrapbooker and I thought this would make a great couple pages to do. So I figured while I was down there I would check out a couple more stores. My DH would certainly love the Christmas shop so that is a must.
So I'm wondering how much time does it take the bus to get to DTD, plus how much time do you estimate that we'll be there? An all day thing? We have ressies at Kona for 6:30, so I'm sure we'll want to go back to the hotel, freshen up and get over there in time. I would also like to take a bunch of pics of our hotel when we get back from DTD.

Big question is.....if we leave POP around say noontime, go to DTD and to the stores mentioned above, then come back to the hotel to take some pictures and wander the grounds, then freshen up......will we have enough time to be at Kona by 6:30?

DTD is a great area...All the stores that you mentioned are in walking distance to one another...There are two places where you can dropped off at by the bus and the one you are looking for is "marketplace" not westside....
When you get off the bus, there is a little pathway that leads you right to the christmas shoppe... I myself can spend 1/2 the day in the christmas shoppe browsing before I actually buy something... I love it there...

My advise to you..... if you are buying anything, take advantage of Disney bringing your packages to your resort for you.. this way you arent lugging anything around.... There is also the scrapbooking store there, so if your big into scrapbooking you might want to check that out as well...
You can spend alot of the day taking pictures in dtd as well... so if you feel like you cant get it all in in one day... go back.... but I think you will be fine w/ plenty of time to spare....

 

[branv]

We only do the Marketplace, and it's always less than 2 hours (We're not major shopper-hunters either, we browse mainly). Though the candy store and the christmast store took longer than I thought.

I agree about rethinking your route though. DTD busses always take the longest to show up and in drive time. I wouldn't want to go to the trouble of going to DTD, going all the way back to my hotel, then making two more connections later to and from the Poly. That's 4 back and forths (6 legs total). I would cut out the middle run by having lunch at my resort, relaxing for a little while. Then I would dress for dinner, but go to DTD first, afterwards using the DTD bus to the Polynesian. You certainly won't get terribly messy or sweaty at DTD unless you stop at Ghirardelli

 

[scrapbooksellman]

Just my two cents: if on dining plan, use counter credits to eat at Wolfgang puck express at DTD and don;t eat at POP, we just stayed at POP, had a great time but food choices are better in DTD and Pucks was delicous!
As a scrapbooker I was disappointed in the scrapbook store, small amount of true scrapbook items (albums, papers, stickers) then I expected, lots of photo books, postcards, kids paper items. Just my two cents.

 

[AnninIowa]

DTD is not big at all; very easy to look at everything. Unless you are someone who likes to look at every single item in every single store, LOL! We actually go there several times at night on our trips to get eat dinner at Earl's or get a snack at Goofy's.

 

[ZoZo]

Just my two cents: if on dining plan, use counter credits to eat at Wolfgang puck express at DTD and don;t eat at POP, we just stayed at POP, had a great time but food choices are better in DTD and Pucks was delicous!
QUOTE]

I also recommend Wolfgang Puck Express (rather than the food court at your resort). They have great food at WPE (the chicken quesadilla is "to die for"!) and probably much better than your food court. If you're only going to go to DTD once, go to either WPE or Earl of Sandwich -- you should experience one of the better CS restaurants on the whole WDW property!

 

[nym4588]

We also enjoy Wolfgang Puck. Hopefully you'll have time to give it a try while you're at Disney.
We love Downtown Disney/Marketplace. If we're not there to eat, we're easily in & out within a couple of hours. And don't forget to get your free Ghiradelli sample!
Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[jwwi]

Even if you are not a shopper you will enjoy DTD. True Disney experience, friendly CM's and beautiful well maintained grounds. Don't miss the World of Disney. Stop in the children's area and take a peak in the BBB, that way when you see all the "princesses" you will understand where they went to be made up. They are adorable.
I vote Earl of Sandwich, it is one of my favorite CS. Easy to share meal, you really get alot of food, and if you need a snack before dinner the Ghiradelli shop is really good.
There are multiple ways to get to the Poly for dinner from Pop; you can go to MGM and take Poly bus; or to Epcot and take monorail to TTT then short walk to Poly. Never use the DTD bus stop to transfer if you can avoid it. Always transfer at a park if it is open. Have a great trip.