Downtown Disney is an open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment center located at Walt Disney World Resort. This very large outdoor area is free to enter, and offers complimentary parking and transportation to all Disney hotels (but not its theme parks). The complex is divided into three areas: the Marketplace, Pleasure Island, and the West Side. Each section features a selection of entertainment venues, shops, and uniquely themed restaurants.
Marketplace
As the name suggests, the Marketplace is made up of a multitude of Disney-related shops and themed restaurants. Stores include: T-REX Retail Shop, LEGO Imagination Center, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, World of Disney, Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop, Basin, Arribas Brothers, Rawlings Making the Game, Team Mickey Athletic Club, Ridemakerz, Tren-D, Once Upon a Toy, Disney’s Pin Traders, Mickey’s Pantry, Spice & Tea Exchange, Marketplace Fun Finds, LittleMissMatched, Goofy’s Candy Co., Rainforest Café Retail Shop, The Art of Disney, Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories, Disney Design-a-Tee, and Disney’s Days of Christmas. These are all great spots to pick up a souvenir, a gift for a friend back home, or just spend a few hours browsing.
There are also lots of places to grab a bite to eat! There are several quick service and table-service options to choose from. Options include: Earl of Sandwich, Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop, Marketplace Snacks, Pollo Campero, Wolfgang Puck Express, Cap-n Jack’s Restaurant, Rainforest Café and T-REX.
Although the nightclubs are closed (I sure do miss The Adventurer’s Club), there are still a few restaurants and shops open on Pleasure Island. Curl by Sammy Duvall, Apricot Lane Boutique, Fuego by Sosa Cigars, and the Raglan Road Irish Shop are unique options for shopping, and Cookes of Dublin, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant, Portobello and Fulton’s Crab House are great places to grab a bite to eat.
Downtown Disney’s West Side is the most eclectic of the three areas and offers the most entertainment options. These include Cirque du Soleil’s LaNouba, DisneyQuest, the House of Blues, AMC Theaters Downtown Disney 24 and Dine-In Theater and Splitsville (opening fall 2012). Dining options include: FoodQuest, Wetzel’s Pretzels, Wolfgang Puck Café and Express West Side, Bongos Cuban Café and Window, House of Blues Restaurant, Paradiso 37, and Planet Hollywood. Last but not least, there is shopping: the Cirque du Soleil Boutique, Bongo’s Gift Shop, Blink by Wet Seal, D Street, Disney’s Candy Cauldron, DisneyQuest Emporium, Hoypoloi, House of Blues Company Store, Orlando Harley-Davidson, Planet Hollywood Shop, Pop Gallery, Something Silver, Sosa Family Cigars, and Sunglass Icon.
Hi Disney Diva! I just discovered your site and it is wonderful! For the Downtown Disney restaurants and places to eat, do you find their prices are similar to other places or are they inflated Disney prices? Thanks!