Magical trip to...Downtown Disney...

[kermit116]

I'll be passing through Orlando on a work trip and will have about a half a day of free time. I was thinking of visiting a park, but I don't know if I can justify paying for a full day ticket just to spend a few hours in the park.

That being said, I would hate to pass through Orlando and not experience any of the Disney magic, so I'm thinking about a quick visit to Downtown Disney.

I usually only visit Downtown Disney during a vacation, and I think it might be a little sad to visit and be so close to the parks knowing that I won't actually be visiting the parks. Then again, it may be fun to just get in a little Disney magic in the middle of my work trip. Has anyone else done this?

 

[foohpah]

We spent a 1/2 day at Downtown Disney post-cruise. We did not want to spend money for a partial day at the park either and DTD was a fun solution. We shopped, ate at T-Rex Cafe and just enjoyed a little bit of the Disney experience. The way I look at it is that it was better than nothing.

 

[disneyderns]

Agree with PP...One year we went to Orlando for spring break and planned on hanging out at our resort the whole time. We needed the recharge that just wouldn't happen if we did the major parks. We were of the same mindset that we couldn't go to Orlando and NOT do something Disney related...We went to DTD on two separate evening - once we went to a movie and walked around and the other we ate at T-Rex and walked around. We also booked a day at Blizzard Beach to get a little closer to the parks.

I also thought I'd be melancholy about being so yet not entering any of the major parks, but it didn't turn out that way. I think next time we do that I will pay a visit to some of the resorts (maybe get an ice cream at Beaches and Cream).

You'll still feel the magic just being there.

 

[anniemae]

We spend a half day there and had a blast. we had dinner at Pucks, then later ice cream at Ghiradellis, strolled through the huge disney store, enjoyed the sights, people watched etc. I still felt the magic!

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I was in GA in March and did the same thing. I was only 2 hours from Orlando and I had Sat-Sun free, so I needed to get some Disney time in. Even though I had an overnight at Pop I still couldn't choke down the cost of a 1 day ticket .

So, I went to DTD and walked slowly through the shops, ate, and then took a bus to the Boardwalk and walked around there, then went to MK and hopped on the monorail and went to the Poly, got a Dole Whip and sat on the beach to watch the Electric Water Pagent and stayed for wishes.

It was hard to be SO close to the park without going in, but I did it. It was great just to BE there. I was definitely in my happy place

 

[circus4u]

Well, you could always make the loop on the monorail between the ticket and transportation center and Epcot. At least, you could say you had been in Epcot!

 

[Lanie]

Definately worth it, we did it after our cruise and then a few months ago when we visited family in Dade City... DD is Disney, and it ALWAYS puts me in a good mood!

 

[kermit116]

Well, you could always make the loop on the monorail between the ticket and transportation center and Epcot. At least, you could say you had been in Epcot!

Good point!