Tell me about DTD please

[eeyoresmom]

Our plans for this weekend changed suddenly and we now have Saturday evening free. How would you spend 3 hours at DTD? It's just DD 22 and I.

 

[lalasmama]

Movies, drinks, listening to the band, window shopping, Trader Sam's, looking around the hotels... DTD is our no-park-day (travel day) destination

 

[Geemo]

Our plans for this weekend changed suddenly and we now have Saturday evening free. How would you spend 3 hours at DTD? It's just DD 22 and I.

Weekends can be busy like the parks.
If you want to have dinner at one of the restaurants, you might want to call TODAY and see if you can place a reservation.
I know Rain Forrest and Tortilla Joe's both make advanced reservations. I have ours for busy nights the first week in October.
The night of for a reservation can be a long wait.

If you want to take in a movie, here's a link to the AMC Downtown Disney
https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/los-angeles/amc-downtown-disney-12-los-angeles

Strolling through DTD as well as scoping out the GCH or DLH can take up a chunk of time

Enjoy

Geemo

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Trader Sam's!

So much Trader Sam's!

 

[eeyoresmom]

Can we check out the lobbies of the onsite resorts?

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Can we check out the lobbies of the onsite resorts?

Yup

 

[tiffjoy]

Can we check out the lobbies of the onsite resorts?

You can. Skip PPH. I actually don't even care that much for DLH for just hanging out. But GCH has a beautiful lobby and is very nice to relax in. They do have a bar in the lobby as well, that was just recently reviewed by the Disneyland Podcast crew.

In DTD, I like eating at Tortilla Joe's and listening to the music while we walk around. Some great spots for dessert to. You can go to the esplanade and watch the fireworks.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Can we check out the lobbies of the onsite resorts?

Yes...as mentioned PPH is nothing special that would really warrant worth a trip to see.

The DHL and GCH however properties are cool to take a stroll around. Except for the pools, there are no public areas that are off limits to non resort guests.

Only restriction is that only GCH guests can enter the GCH from the front doors off the street. Non GCH guests have to either the lobby from DTD or DCA but all the lobbies are open to all.

 

[danceanddisney2010]

I think you and your daughter will have a great time exploring DTD for a few hours! I am the same age as your daughter and my mom and I always have fun grabbing a bite to eat and then strolling around and looking in the stores. We usually stay at the GCH so we don't usually explore the grounds of that hotel, but we always take a trip over to the DLH and check out what's happening over there.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You can browse the DtD restaurants & menus on the DL website under dining to get an idea if any of the restaurants are of particular interest to you or your daughter.

 

[NannyBeBe]

Shopping, dinner at Ralph Brennan's, sitting and listening to the musicians, people watching.

 

[HuskyGal]

I'd like to take my young kiddos to DTD on travel day too. Are there ever characters in the Disneyland hotel or GC lobbies? I thought I had read that somewhere.

 

[Geemo]

I'd like to take my young kiddos to DTD on travel day too. Are there ever characters in the Disneyland hotel or GC lobbies? I thought I had read that somewhere.

I've seen characters in the DLH lobby, Goofy and Pluto. Santa was in the lobby of PPH during one trip.

 

[HuskyGal]

I've seen characters in the DLH lobby, Goofy and Pluto. Santa was in the lobby of PPH during one trip.

Thank you. Cheaper than the character dinner!

 

[Geemo]

Thank you. Cheaper than the character dinner!

They aren't there 100% of the time.
They drift through once in a while.
We've seen them in the morning when checking into DLH.

 

[mgd]

3 hours is very easy to spend in downtown disney especially if you plan to eat there. Recommend ralph brennan while a band is playing or rainforest cafe for themed dining. Also you can spend a ton of time in the giant disney store or candy shop, or other stores depending on your interests. GCH lobby is nice and DLH lobby/shops/pool area/coffee shop that sells alcoholic dole whips/convention room area is fun to stroll around at least once to see what's there. Each tower of the DLH is themed differently and will have slightly different decorations, eg teacups, train model on display, jungle decor...

 

[SteveMP]

You can. Skip PPH. I actually don't even care that much for DLH for just hanging out. But GCH has a beautiful lobby and is very nice to relax in. They do have a bar in the lobby as well, that was just recently reviewed by the Disneyland Podcast crew.

In DTD, I like eating at Tortilla Joe's and listening to the music while we walk around. Some great spots for dessert to. You can go to the esplanade and watch the fireworks.

Yep, i like to grab a drink or coffee at the hearthstone then sit by the fireplace, inside our outside depending on weather. Or if lunchtime grab lunch at Whitewater Snacks and sit outside next to DCA.

Tortilla Joes is fun, and if you go make sure to order the guacamole bar.

Rainforest cafe has a great giftshop for waiting for your table.

Picture spots near Lego store.

Earl of Sandwich is delicious and relatively inexpensive.

I love browsing the Vault store, the art store, and the store with the Star Wars and comic themed stuff.

Ralph Brennan Jazz Kitchen for beignets and chicory coffee

Uva bar is good for people watching.

And i could kill 3 hours at World of Disney alone.

 

[cmpeter]

We like to dine at Ralph Brennan's. Although for our trip last week we did a character meal at Goofy's. It was just myself and three girlfriends (all over 40)...and so much fun. We were going to do drinks at Trader Sam's but they are renovating the bar and only have outdoor seating...it was too hot on Sunday. We also wanted to catch the last half of the Seahawks game, so we ended up at ESPN Zone. Had drinks and appetizers (highly recommend their cheese fries).

But, I prefer Ralph's for adult only...they just didn't have the game on.

 

[ParkHopper1]

One of the most underrated spots IMO is the lounge of Napa Rose in the GCH. It is walk up first come fist serve both at the bar and in the lounge. They do serve full menu, but is a great place to go grab some drinks, appetizers and desserts.

 

[HuskyGal]

They aren't there 100% of the time.
They drift through once in a while.
We've seen them in the morning when checking into DLH.

Oh ok. Thanks for letting me know.