Top things/"secrets" to do in Downtown Disney

[jessica29]

I feel like I may be missing magic in all my trips to DTD. What are the best things to do at downtown Disney. I know Disneyquest and the new balloon ride, but what else.

I will start I think getting sprinkled at the BBB with pixie dust and seeing the legos and playing with them at the lego store are must sees!

Is there a store called Magic Masters still there. I heard if you buy something their is a secret door and they teach you to do tricks. Does anyone have pictures of this? Is it something kids would enjoy? I also hear they do magic tricks in the store.

 

[iheartdolewhips]

I love the Disney Store (it's huge!) and the Christmas store at Downtown Disney. Those are both must do's for me each trip. This last time we ate at the new T-Rex restaurant. It was AMAZING! The theming and food (get the ribs!) were both just perfect. The only bad thing is that it doesn't take the dining plan, but it was so good it was worth it anyways.

 

[jessica29]

Is the disney sore the one with the girly castle area in the back where kids can play?

 

[Judy in Texas]

Is there a store called Magic Masters still there. I heard if you buy something their is a secret door and they teach you to do tricks. Does anyone have pictures of this? Is it something kids would enjoy? I also hear they do magic tricks in the store.

At first I didn't remember an magic store; but, then I looked it up online. It's in the West End of DWD. Here's what All Ears says:


Magic Masters -- features a fireplace, a Victorian replica chandelier, cherry bookcases with old magic books and memorabilia and other items inspired by the library of Harry Houdini. The demonstrations (3 different ones) will last about 10 minutes. There is a Teaching Room where you can learn how to use the items you purchased and an Illusion Room where Pepper's Ghost will be demonstrated. Tricks start at $15.00. (The Wildhorse Saloon Store used to occupy this space.)

 

[MelanieC]

My son loves this store and has purchased more than I would like him to while there, lol. He has never been to a seperate room though to learn how to use the items. You just bought them and left. They definately do demonstrations and it's fun to watch.

There used to be a magician in DD, but not sure if he is still there. He was great. It was just in the middle of the walking area at DD.

 

[lpizzuro123]

We LOVE Earl of Sandwich. Great food - inexpensive prices. We have been there when they have been very slow or very busy but the line generally goes pretty fast. They have both inside and outside seating.

Linda

 

[katepass72]

We are also big fans of the Earl of Sandwich . . .it's a must-do for our next trip! I'm sure some would disagree with me but I'd consider DTD for just a 1/2day (prettier in the evening).
Don't waste your time on the Princess Diana exhibit in DTD unless you are a huge fan - some of the displays are just plain bad.

 

[Geoff_M]

One of the "secrets" of the area are the backstory plaques from "Merriweather Pleasure" around what remains of Pleasure Island.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

World of Disney, Disney's Pin Traders, Earl of Sandwich and Ghiaradelli's.

 

[joe1946]

I like taking the boat to Port Orleans.

 

[laracroft]

I highly recommend Ghiaradelli's. Oh man were they good! Also House of Blues has concerts sometimes and they are pretty good.

 

[KateKat23]

We love watching the hat guy in DTD. We have seen him numerous times and we still enjoy it. We also love the guys on stilts dancing and playing games with the kids over on the P.I. side. Fun music and alot of crowd participation too. Our kids love when they have performances going on the stages especially the hula hoop contest.

 

[spodie]

I don't know if these are the "secrets" that you're looking for, but here are some of my favorite things about DTD:

1) The Ghiradelli store. They always give out free samples!

2) Basin. They sell things like bath salts and soaps. One kind of soap that they sell have little Mickey heads in them, which make a fantastic souvenier. They also let you try their sugar/salt scrub for your hands which make your hands feel like silk for a couple of days.

3) Wolfgang Puck Express. If you're hungry, go here. Their food is fantastic and I think that it's one of the best way to use a quick service dining credit if you're on the DP. There are two locations for this restaurant in DTD - go to the one in the Marketplace next to the Christmas store. The one on the Westside has a very limited menu.

4) The $10 and under store. You can find a lot of great cheap souveniers here, but the reason that I like it so much is because you can find some *really* cheap discontinued/surplus things that they're trying to get rid of and have priced accordingly. It's wedged in between Pooh's Corner and the Goofy Candy Company, so a lot of people pass it by without even knowing it's there!

 

[smola09's mom]

We love the Ghiradelli store and soda fountain. They have wonderful ice cream. The kids love Goofy's Candy Company. They love doing the pretzels and marshmallows with all the toppings they pick.

 

[TaleasoldasTime]

We love to go to Ghiaradelli's and order the largest sundae they have and we share it as a family for lunch!! It's a great treat in the heat!!

 

[LiteninPrincessa42]

La nouba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Thanks for the tip about the magic store. We were planning on not spending too much time in DTD, and hub is a professional magician.

 

[jessica29]

wow I did not know about the backstory plaques. I also did not know that they had men on stilts and games is this at a certain time everyday?

 

[Hazelrah]

Great topic, since Downtown Disney doesn't get a lot of love for its secrets ("subtle" isn't exactly in DTD's vocabulary). Some of my favorites:

1) The old train ticket booths for Pleasure Island are still there, but actually came from a train that used to circle the Fort Wilderness campground many, many years ago.

2) The Art of Disney Store will let you purchase the old-style Magic Kingdom attraction posters (using print-on-demand). If you go into the shop and look up, you can see several of them arranged in a row along the highest wall, like your very own MK train station tunnel.

3) The carousel near Earl of Sandwich features several panels that show the Marketplace as it used to look, before some of the major overhauls (before McD's and the giant World of Disney store). I am especially fond of the panel that shows the kaleidoscope tower, which used to be in the area in front of Ghirardelli.

4) The handicap-accessible ramp in Pleasure Island has a sign labeling it Lombard Street. And if you look twice, you'll realize that it really does resemble a certain famous San Francisco road.

5) Not really in Downtown Disney proper, but Hotel Boulevard right next to it still has the original Walt Disney World Preview Center building (which still looks like it's straight out of the 70s). It's actually an office building now for an Amateur Athletics group, I think.

6) The pirate skeletons in the cages at the World of Disney (just inside the exit under the spitting Stitch) occasionally come to life (okay, this one isn't really a secret, but I still like them, and it's fun to watch the occasional kid get spooked).

7) Look closely at Fulton's Crab House, the Riverboat just past the T-Rex restaurant. You'll see that it's not a real boat at all, but it fooled me for years (of course, I was much younger then). Back when it was called the Empress Lily (named after Walt's wife), and it used to have smokestacks and a paddlewheel off the back that would actually churn, to help with the illusion.

 

[jessica29]

Good stuff!