Is there a reason to go to DTD?

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

DTD to us is always the first night.
That way you don't waste a park ticket on 1/2 day and you still have something fun to after you check-in and get settled.
We hit the LEGO store, T-Rex was a highlight this past trip, Once Upon A Toy is great for souvenirs (build-your-lightsaber is AWESOME), and the World of Disney Store is a must as well (we usually buy some stuff to wear throughout the trip).

There's also DisneyQuest, a movie theatre, and lots of photo ops.
For us, it's basically a nice way to get into the Disney Spirit before you hit the parks the next day!

I second that....all of that!

We stayed at POR from January 10th to the 16th and went to DTD every day but one. Wolfgang Puck Express was a fantastic use of a CS credit . The boat ride from POR to DTD was so lovely and relaxing (day or night).

DTD was lots of fun for window-shopping, snacking (I still see Goofy's Candy Co. in my dreams ) and just soaking up some of the Disney excitement. And the shopping is excellent.....my 13 year old fell in love with the offerings at Team Mickey.

Free chocolate samples at Ghirardelli's too...yum.....

We can't imagine "doing Disney" without a visit or two to the Downtown area!

 

[bytheblood]

Shopping, take photos, shopping, Cirque, shopping, a sundae at Ghirardhelli, shopping......

 

[diskids2]

Shopping, take photos, shopping, Cirque, shopping, a sundae at Ghirardhelli, shopping......

Wait you forgot one.........watch the little kids get soaked in the water jets.....more shopping!

 

[Nutty4Disney]

We go there every visit. I am not much of a shopper, but I usually pick up something for my grandson. It is a nice change of pace from the parks. We usually go fairly early then have lunch at Earl of Sandwich or Wolfgang Puck's Express. I always have to check out the Christmas store for new ornaments and DH has to go to the Lego store (he is a just a big kid after all). And Goofy's is great for a snack. I love those chocolate dipped Rice Krispies or pretzel rods.

 

[AustinTink]

I have a ten year old son so Disney Quest is a must for us. We always hit DTD on our first half day and evening. We're usually spent from the traveling portion of our day, so it gives us a nice break. Then, we hit the hay early and are raring to go on our first full day at MK.

 

[myjourney]

T Rex cafe is my new favorite place to eat at Disney next to Boma's. I also love sitting next to the lake and watching all the activity. Candy and Ice Cream shops, what more can I say. Oh, it doesn't cost to get in!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I like to go there for the shopping, eat at Earl of Sandwich and then to get Strawberry Sundaes at Ghiaradelli's.

 

[zuly]

I agree in terms that I would not give up park time for DTD but we make sure we include DTD in our planning.We love the movie theater ,just check if you have a mayor movie beginning while your there ;we love Wolfgang Puck Express great counter service;the christmas shop;the memmorabilia shop (I dont remember the name,the one across the christmas one)where is an artist that draws characters and a lot of great figurines;Capt n jacks is great for dinnig;Portobello is great very romantic;Goofys candy;we are music lovers so Virgin mega store ;Starabilias;Candy cauldron....well we loved DTD its part of Disney so make sure you include it in your planning and relax and enjoy

 

[marielynn724]

if you didnt think anything appealed to you, then dont bother and spend your time doing something that you like better. they have been changing DTD a lot lately (no more pleasure island!) so you should look it up and see whats new. they now have a t-rex restuarant

 

[PrincessMama605]

I love DTD! We go there the night we arrive, after a 7 hour drive, it's so nice to walk around the shops and have a drink at Raglan Road. I love the little store behind Earl of Sandwich and dd loves to go to World of Disney. We've taken her to the BBB there too. We also seem to end up there on the day we leave, using up our leftover snack credits at Goofy's.
On our next trip we want to try T-Rex!
I think it's worth going just to see everything, but I wouldn't use up park time to do it.

 

[NMW]

We had a lovely time at the Market Place side last May. I love World of Disney. Love the Christmas shop. Love the Lego store. We walked around, shopped, drank some beers. Went to our 8:45 ADR at Raglan Road on PI. We LOVED Raglan Road and are planning on eating there again this May. We saw a live band and an Irish step dancer and got our pictures taken with members of England's Royal Navy soccer team at the bar-they were dressed in womens clothing for some reason that they told us they bought at Walmart that day. It was a very fun night.

As for as the PI area goes, I'm not sure what it's like now that all the clubs are closed. The new T-Rex place looks fun-it was under consruction last May. Raglan Road is fantastic. Portabello Yacht Club is being refurbed and has always been good-DH and I ate there on our honeymoon! Fultons is good too. Not too much shopping, although hopefully they will add more stuff.

The West side has some good stuff too. House of Blues is fun. We usually eat at the one in Myrtle Beach in the summer though, so we don't go while at WDW. Wolfgang Puck's place is good.

All and all, I prefer the Marketplace side. Lots of shopping, live bands, drinks, lots of stuff for the whole family to do.

 

[Colormyworld]

I love DTD! I love to shop (even though I rarely buy things) and there are some amazing places to browse there. I collect glass animals, so I always spend time staring at the goods in Arribas Brothers and Hoypoloi (they have glass miniatures).

There are cute things to buy there that won't break a budget (for example, Magnetron had some really cheap goodies when I was there last) and just looking around itself is fun. There are some impressive stores there--I hadn't been into a Virgin Megastore in a long time and forgot how cool they are ;D The Disney-specific shops are awesome, of course.

That said, if you hate shopping/window-shopping then you aren't going to enjoy it much.

 

[dzneelvr]

Truly depends on your schedules at the parks. DD and I went alone last trip to do some shopping only very late one night. Trips past we'd eat as a family at RFC or all browse but not anymore for DS and DH. In June we'll do TRex as a family and our package gives us vouchers to Planet Hollywood so we'll spend these. Walking around is ok, but it's the shopping at the HUGE Disney store that is outstanding (and I get 10% off) so I think DTD will rate at least one evening of shopping per trip.

 

[Miffy]

In case you weren't aware of this, you can use your $200 GC for anything at WDW except paying for your room (which of course will already be paid at check-in, since you bought a package). The GC doesn't have to be used for souvenirs. It can be used to pay for meals or snacks or for upgrading your park tickets, if you wanted to do that.

As for your DTD question, I thought I should register a "don't bother" vote--but it's purely personal preference. It thrills me not.

 

[DisDarling]

You have to shop at Basin if you like unique soaps and bath bombs.. we get soap here each trip and it lasts A LOOOOOONG time!

The Pin Trading Spot is a great store with a HUGE variety of pins, which our family collects!

DTD has a McDonalds, which for some parents is a welcome site to fussy kids who like food from "home."

The Christmas store has EVERYTHING you can imagine DISNEY for your decorating needs! We collect Disney, have a Disney Kitchen, Disney bathrooms, and have a Disney Christmas each year.

We easily can spend $500 at DTD in a day.

 

[DWFan4Life]

We just tried it once, during our last trip last year. Definitely, we are going back their in our next trip.

Have a nice day everyone.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

DTD is not a must for me but it is for my mom. We go for 14 nights/15 days and only have a 10-day ticket+MNSSHP so we have 4 days to fill in some time. DTD just ends up being a stop for us. We like WPE, Earl of Sandwich, Ghirardelli and the shops, my mom especially.

I wouldn't bee sad if I missed it. And I wouldn't take away from park time to see it but since that isn't the case I think, why not?

The atmosphere is kind of fun at night.

 

[ohana*stitchy*tink85]

We go there pretty much most nights whenever we r @ disney. The Disney store there is great (but u can get lost in it very easily) we love earl of sandwich, yummy and quite cheap snacks, and we always stop @ ghiradellis for either a hot chocolate or an ice cream (go into the shop next 2 it & pick up some chocs for ur room!) then theres basin which I love and Pooh corner, plus once upon a toy.......................the list truly does go on, we love it there and even when its busy 2 me it never seems too crowded!

 

[Stitchfans]

We have never gone to DTD on any of our trips but plan to this March. DD wanted to go to the House of Blues for dinner so I made an ADR to go there for our arrival day. I figure there is no reason to waste a day on our hopper passes since we will be missing most the day about time we arrive so instead that is when we will go to DTD.

 

[ajschell]

We loved it on our last visit ~ we ate at Earl of Sandwich (was the best counter service meal we had the entire trip), T-Rex (great food and atmosphere), and picked up some goodies at Goofy's Candy! DD and DS loved The World of Disney too!!!