Is DTD a "must do"on an average length trip (week long) with 3 kids?

[nkereina]

I would suggest DTD at night on your AK day. We always do AK at rope drop and finish by 1-2pm. Even if you stayed until close at 5 or 6pm, it would still give you time to go over to DTD for dinner and a little shopping. Kids love the Lego store, you can get a sundae at Ghiradelli, and they have a lot of other stores with unique Disney items that you can't find in the parks. We always do DTD and make that our one stop shop where we buy all our souvenirs, since you can find everything that's in the parks plus more.

 

[Aurora0427]

Maybe see how you're feeling. You may be "parked out" by your last day, and DTD could be a nice break. Or, you may be in the mood to go ride your favorite rides a few more times.

We haven't been to DTD since 2007, even though we've done 6 trips since then. I booked dining there for our October trip so we'd make it down there.

Just bc it's not a must do doesn't mean you won't enjoy going!

 

[melifeld]

We usually go every trip, but that is for a dining reservation. DTD has some good restaurants. We go in the evenings, have dinner, wander around for a little while, then head back to the resort. We don't plan an entire day there, but do stop at both the Lego store and World of Disney (and occasionally Ghiradelli's).

 

[Kathryn777]

I haaaaaate it

I used to like it when I went without kids, but for us it was so tantrum provoking it was crazy. They wanted to buy everything. We won't go again until they're much older (8,5 and 2 now). I think Disney quest looks worth it, but it has a high height restriction

 

[Lee & Kerry]

A must do..nope.. If you have time; it's a fun place to go hang out and see everything. We have to plan it in our vacation to do it, as we would rather spend the time at the parks or swimming. There is a lot to see and do, however it's not a must do.

 

[ktlm]

We quit going a few years ago. Several years ago, you used to be able to find things in the shops there that you could not find in the parks. Now, pretty much all the merchandise you can find there you can also find in the parks. As far as the lego store, we have one of those in our mall at home- Not quite as big, but DD would much rather be in the parks (and she is a huge shopper). We find it is typically a hassle to get there and back by bus as it is about 20 minutes from most of the WDW resorts where we stay, and it is typically crowded, with nothing to purchase that we consider unique. For us, our time is much better spent in the parks-- or even at the resort pool.

We have not done Disney Quest as DD was younger last time we went to DTD, but Disney Quest is getting ready to permanently close anyway. I'd rather be in the parks than playing video games anyway.

One other thing to think about is you said you were thinking about doing DTD the last day before your flight? Will you have already checked your bags at the resort? You wouldn't be able to pack whatever you bought. You could put it in a carry on if you had room. Also, if there is a shirt, jacket, kid's outfit or anything you saw in the parks you want that is sized- don't wait assuming you can pick it up at DTD. As sure as you wait, DTD will be out of your size- I've made that mistake before. Don't believe them when they tell you they are completely out of it either and don't know when they will get it again (at any WDW store whether it be parks, resort or DTD), especially if you are looking at the item in the evening hours--- they restock at night. 90% of the time when I've been told that, the item has been at the store the next morning in the right size-- they just won't tell you that it gets restocked overnight because there is an off chance that specific item has been discontinued and isn't going to be restocked.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My kids have never been to DTD and I've only been once, and that was because we had a clothing emergency due to an unexpected change in weather. IMHO, DTD is nothing more than an open air shopping mall and I have no desire to shop while on vacation.

 

[tlmadden73]

I usually do DTD on my arrival day.

As we drive, we don't usually arrive to mid-day or mid-afternoon, since we don't want to "waste" a half day at the park.

It's a nice way to get into the Disney spirit without spending money to get into a theme park. Walk around the stores to get some ideas. Have the kids play at the Lego Store .. and grab a meal somewhere.
But really all you need to do is the Marketplace (East Side) ... The toy store, the World of Disney, The Lego Store, maybe the ornament store ... that's it. The rest is just trendy shops and restaurants (though I do like the way it is starting to have that Disney Springs look).

 

[disneyinfebruary]

Thanks for these great responses! I think from your descriptions it is something we can definitely afford to miss, though my daughters who are quite the shoppers and not huge on thrill rides, might argue with me. But they have no clue it even exists, I'm sure the shops in the parks will have them excited and begging for things enough! If the weather is still warm I'd rather plan on pool time for our down time, or actually I was hoping to spend some time checking out fort wilderness.
Thank you!

 

[d-train]

It really is just a shopping and restaurant area. Last time we went was on our trip this past April. The construction made it so unbearable. We spent more time walking then all the time in shops and earl of sandwich for dinner put together...so not worth it. Especially since all the Disney merch is available via the app and throughout all the parks... Spending all that money to go to Disney, go to the parks... At least until construction is done and Dismey Springs has been born. Then take an evening and see it. Then we still would not go back after that initial lookyloo...

 

[BudgieMama]

Totally depends on your family. We stayed at SSR last year, and people kept telling me "it's great to be so close to DTD!"- we went once (to pick up our free gift voucher that was part of our booking) and stayed a couple of hours. It was pretty meh for us.

I'm always an advocate of trying everything you can, but the only reason we'll be back next time is to collect the gift voucher and spend half an hour in World of Disney. DH hates shopping, and we both hate the prices of alcohol in the States!

 

[Rosebud123]

It's always been a must do for my kids (went 2x during our last trip earlier this month), but mainly because of Disney Quest (specifically Cyber Space Mountain).

I love WDW but I can only take so many theme park days in a row. We usually do 2 theme parks days then a water park day. Since you're not planning WP's, I'd do two theme park days, then a pool day/DTD night.

 

[DisneyOma]

It's almost always part of our plans - Ghirardelli's (sp?) is a tradition for us, having ice cream one night for dinner The Lego store sculptures are very well done, and I find it easier to get all my shopping done at World of Disney, and get the AP discount. Also, the spice store there is great.

We went on our trip last month, and will probably wait until most of the construction is done before we go again - but that's what I said about the entire place, not just Disney Springs. Too many scrims, construction walls, and closed attractions this past trip. We did get to do some stuff we hadn't done in a long time, but it was still an 'off' trip.

 

[SM101]

If we're doing a longer trip (week+), then we usually end up at DTD for at least one or two meals. We like Raglan Road, WPE, Ghiardelli's, and I'd like to try The Boathouse and Morimoto's. We really limit souveniers so shopping isn't a big deal. If the weather isn't great, we might catch a movie.

 

[mamamary]

Not a must do for us either. We only went on our last trip because we were staying at POFQ and we wanted to take the boat ride there. We did enjoy eating at Wolfgang Pucks Express. I guess if there was another rest. we wanted to try we'd go but normally I'd just skip it.

 

[andiraye]

Like others have said, I think it enjoyable on a non-park day, but I wouldn't make plans around it. We went twice on our recent trip. Once for dinner with the kids and my parents on a pool day, and once just my husband and I for a brief date night( kids and grandparents were back at the resort). Both visits were more diversion than destination. That being said, it was a perfect diversion. The construction really didn't bother us.

 

[Zurginator]

We always do it the day we arrive. We usually get in mid morning and have a mid afternoon reservation. We don't want to spend time shopping for souvenirs in the parks so this is a great way to find them. If we do shop at the park it is usually at the end of the day on the way out so if there is that item we were thinking about that we saw at DTD we know we can get it again. We also find that it eases us into the Disney spirit and gets us in the Disney mood shopping at the Toy Store and The World of Disney Store.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

We lean towards more park time most trips. The last time we did DTD was on a 14 night trip.

 

[cjparker0110]

Thanks for these great responses! I think from your descriptions it is something we can definitely afford to miss, though my daughters who are quite the shoppers and not huge on thrill rides, might argue with me. But they have no clue it even exists, I'm sure the shops in the parks will have them excited and begging for things enough! If the weather is still warm I'd rather plan on pool time for our down time, or actually I was hoping to spend some time checking out fort wilderness.
Thank you!

They will have plenty of shopping to do throughout the parks...and depending on where you stay they may even do plenty in your hotel! Have a great trip when you go!

 

[epcotty]

We think Downtown Disney absolutely stinks royally, we really didn't like it at all the one time we finally tried it last year. To us it was boring and lacked any of the Disney charm