Why does anyone go to DTD?

[manning]

When staying offsite, gotta go somewhere for......free parking,

 

[lilmissdisney216]

I used to work in DTD (BBB) and it was always fun to go there after work for the Ghiradelli chocolate shop or to go check out the stage shows and sometimes for the food (EoS or RC). I don't much care for the Westside or Pleasure Island as much as I care for the Marketplace. I think its more fun over on the Marketplace side anyway but that's my opinion. I've never been a big nightlife person.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

When staying offsite, gotta go somewhere for......free parking,

But for how long? Clearly there is money to be made in this area.

 

[JoShan1719]

We go to DTD often, even if we aren't going to the parks. It's a nice way to kill a few hours while still feeling like you're in that Disney bubble. I don't think I could go every weekend or anything like that, and it certainly doesn't take up an entire day, but it's definitely a must-do for us.

 

[Havana]

So we can go to Earl of Sandwich and Wetzels pretzels

 

[nytimez]

Daughter's into dinos now so we went to T-Rex last month. All I can say is... blech. My taste buds may never forgive me.

Have to say Basin turned out to be a great stop to pick out a gift for the wife. But overall, DTD remains a place I have no need to visit again anytime soon.

 

[Tramp77]

Sometimes I like a low key day of walking around the shops if it isn't too crowded. I'll try to get most of my shopping done there in one trip. Outside that, I used to be there every night of my trip when PI was open. Not so much anymore. Now I head over to the Boardwalk for a little nightlife.

 

[Chernab0g]

I don't understand the World of Disney store as a reason to go downtown. The shops on Main st. in MK are exacly the same. the layout is a line instead of a block, but they have departmentalised just like world of disney. and of course sell the exact same stuff.

Actually, there are not the same. Next.

 

[OldsDr]

Actually, there are not the same. Next.

Thanks for the insight, and one heck of an argument. However, for the sake of some sort of rational discussion could you please elaborate? I will do so ever so briefly here and see where it develops.


I saw all the same merchandise in each. Please explain what is available at one that is not at the other. The only difference I saw was the shape of the building and the uniforms of the cast members.

FYI. I would love it if you or anyone wouild prove me wrong, because if that happens it means they are moving in the correct direction of diversifcation of merchandise.

 

[nytimez]

Thanks for the insight, and one heck of an argument. However, for the sake of some sort of rational discussion could you please elaborate? I will do so ever so briefly here and see where it develops.


I saw all the same merchandise in each. Please explain what is available at one that is not at the other. The only difference I saw was the shape of the building and the uniforms of the cast members.

FYI. I would love it if you or anyone wouild prove me wrong, because if that happens it means they are moving in the correct direction of diversifcation of merchandise.

I'd agree with you. They bulk of the merchandise is identical.

A year or two back, I spotted something in the Emporium I wanted to get my daughter for Christmas, but she was in the store and I didn't want her to see.

Since I wasn't planning to come back to MK, I quietly asked a CM if the item was available at the other parks. She said something along the lines of "You might find it in the other parks but you'll definitely find it in World of Disney at Downtown Disney -- pretty much everything we have here, they have there."

I don't know if that's the literal truth -- there might be some differences, but I don't think those differences are all that significant.

 

[dairylives]

I'd agree with you. They bulk of the merchandise is identical.

A year or two back, I spotted something in the Emporium I wanted to get my daughter for Christmas, but she was in the store and I didn't want her to see.

Since I wasn't planning to come back to MK, I quietly asked a CM if the item was available at the other parks. She said something along the lines of "You might find it in the other parks but you'll definitely find it in World of Disney at Downtown Disney -- pretty much everything we have here, they have there."

I don't know if that's the literal truth -- there might be some differences, but I don't think those differences are all that significant.

in my experience, a lot of the generic merchandise is available at WoD. They have a selection from jsut about any sort of type of merchandise, although you'd be hard pressed to find a wide variety of any specific type of merch at WoD, although they'll most likely have something similar to what you are looking for.

 

[OldsDr]

The problem is the emporium and other gift shops used to have a lot more unique merchandise.

But the major gift shops at the themeparks are completely interchangable with each other and WoD with minor differences.

Last year everything in the gift shop at FW, was available at the two gift shops as you enter world showcase, and at the emporium. Everything is the same and interchangeable.

I used to buy a lot of souviniers, but now nothing catches my eye, because you see the same stuff everywhere.

I still love going to WDW I just spend a lot less time and money shopping

 

[RedOne3781]

I pretty much only go to shop at Basin, split a sundae at Ghirardelli, and watch the cute little dance shows at the stage by the water.

For me it is still a nice place to go to and relax a bit, especially on non-park nights. It has changed a lot over the years, and I can see where it could have lost its appeal for some. But I still enjoy going there.

 

[almcg]

We love DTD. After a 10 hour flight we just didn't have the energy to hit the parks but we did from early afternoon to late evening in DTD. We go for the shopping, anything we bought there meant not having to worry about bags in the parks (we stayed offsite). The food is great and we loved the boats. My DH also loves Raglan Road as he can get Newcastle Brown Ale from the tap, we can't even get that over here in N Ireland lol

 

[howardlee2]

it is a nice place to take up a little time on getaway day and pick up a last minute souvenir too.

 

[JCH]

I do my Christmas shopping there since it has the Christmas store and WOD. I know the stuff is in the parks, too, but I hate carrying things around. Much easier to get it all done at once and be done with it. We also love Pop Gallery as they sell work from Fabio Napoleoni, whom the DH and I have become slightly obsessed with. There are also days we are driving through Orlando and don't want to go to the parks, but want a little taste of Disney. We will actually often have lunch at a resort and then go to DtD if we are there passing through or visiting friends and don't want to deal with a park. It's also nice to meet friends there since they don't have to pay to get in, just for lunch.

 

[jenjifer]

Before our trip I wrestled with whether or not to go to DTD. We decided to go to Wolfgang Pucks, and my family agreed it was easily the best meal of our trip. (I think it has to do with it being open to the public, and the restaurants having to put out quality food because they don't have a captive audience) Will without a doubt go back there on our next trip.

But aside from the food, Characters-in-Flicht is so worth it!! My little guy was 5 when he went and asked if we could do it. My immediate response was no, but then I decided that each and every day, we needed to do something out of our comfort zone. Worth every penny we spent!

 

[jade1]

We rarely go to DTD anymore. Maybe every 4th trip or so.

 

[disney1990]

World of Disney, Ghiradelli, Earl of Sandwich (can't go to Disney without a sandwich at Earl). Just walking around DTD puts me in the Disney spirit. I told DH just the other day, I wish I could be there just to walk around to grab a little Disney magic for the weekend.

 

[DisneyMomx4]

I love Christmas and I love Disney so the Xmas store is what always gets me to go!!