'''Downtown Disney''' [http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/moreMagic/moreMagicLanding?id=DTDLandingPage] is part of Walt Disney World in Central Florida.

Downtown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment paradise, geared primarily towards adults. Most of the entertainment activities are found on '''Downtown Disney Westside'''. (The east side, known as Downtown Disney Marketplace, is made up largely of shops and will be covered in the Buy section.)

Get in

By car

Downtown Disney and Typhoon Lagoon are on Buena Vista Drive; drive east from Epcot Center Drive or west from Hotel Plaza Boulevard. Parking is free at both locations.

By Disney transportation

From Downtown Disney-area resorts

'''Ferries''' travel the '''Sassagoula River''' from Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs to Downtown Disney. Saratoga Springs and Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza guests can also '''walk''' to Downtown Disney. '''Buses''' are a third option, and are necessary if you're going to Typhoon Lagoon.

From other on-property resorts

From other areas of the property, simply go to your resort's bus stop and wait for the '''Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon bus''' to arrive. You can choose to get off at Typhoon Lagoon, at Downtown Disney Marketplace, or at Downtown Disney West Side.

From the other parks

From any of the other parks, you will need to make your way to a resort, then go from that resort to Downtown Disney or Typhoon Lagoon. For Downtown Disney, your best option might be to take a bus to Saratoga Springs and then walk to Downtown Disney.

See

  • AMC Downtown Disney 24. An all-stadium seating, surround sound, and digital projection movie theatre. Online schedules and ticketing are available at MovieTickets.com.
  • DisneyQuest. ges 3-9 $34, Ages 10+ $40. A five-floor interactive virtual theme park for the whole family.
  • La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil. ttp://www.cirquedusoleil.com/lanouba/en/intro/intro.asp. eld from Tuesday through Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., no performances on Sundays or Mondays. You'll have to see it to believe it.

    Do

    Typhoon Lagoon

    This water park's theme is that of a island paradise battered by a tropical storm, complete with a wrecked fishing boat atop a mountain.

  • Castaway Creek. A 2,000 foot tubing river that winds through the whole park.
  • Crush 'n Gusher Water 'Rollercoaster'. What do you get when you cross a water slide with a roller coaster? This!
  • Gangplank Falls. A family ride, in four-passenger tubes.
  • Humunga Kowabunga. Three 214 foot long slides send you plummeting straight down, at a terrifying five stories per second!
  • Keelhaul Falls. A whitewater rafting experience.
  • Ketchakiddee Creek. A children's play area.
  • Mayday Falls. Inner tube slide winding down the side of an artificial mountain.
  • Shark Reef. A snorkel pool featuring tropical fish, rays, small (non-threatening) sharks, and a mock sunken ship.
  • Storm Slides. Three 30 mph slides through dark caverns.
  • Surf Pool. One of the world's largest wave pools with some of the largest artificially created waves. Take advantage of the surfing lessons offered here.

    Buy

    Downtown Disney is the largest shopping area on the property (except perhaps for World Showcase). The highest concentration of shops is in '''The Marketplace''', the eastern part of Downtown Disney. The Marketplace is anchored by the 50,000 square foot '''World of Disney''', a Disney Store on steroids, with a truly stunning array of character and park merchandise, and a store-within-a-store ('''Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique''', just like the one in Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom). This is ''the'' place to go if you can't find a souvenir you like anywhere else. If that doesn't suit your fancy, try out these other shops:

  • Arribas Brothers. A well-known name in crystal arts.
  • Disney's Days of Christmas. There are 365 days of Christmas at this shop, with a much larger selection than Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe or It's a Wonderful Shop.
  • Disney Tails. A shop for pet lovers.
  • Lego Imagination Center. Here you can gawk at the Lego sculptures, try your hand at building some of your own, or shop for that one set that you're missing from your collection.
  • Mickey's Mart. WDW's only discount store, where everything is sold for $10 and under.
  • Once Upon a Toy. WDW's second-largest collection of Disney toys (after World of Disney).
  • Pooh Corner. Everything at this store is centered around Pooh and his friends.
  • Rainforest Cafe. (see Eat) The restaurant has a gift shop featuring its own logo-ed merchandise.

    At '''Pleasure Island''' and '''Downtown Disney West Side''', you'll find a '''Harley-Davidson''' shop, '''Planet Hollywood''''s gift shop, the '''Virgin Megastore''', '''Magnetron''' (magnet shop), '''Magic Master''' (magic shop), and a host of other specialty retailers.

    Eat

    Downtown Disney is WDW's largest dining destination, and while it is geared primarily towards adults, most restaurants are family-friendly.

    Marketplace

  • Cap'n Jack's. $. A nautical-themed seafood restaurant on a pier jutting into Buena Vista Lagoon.
  • Earl of Sandwich. . This is lot more than an ordinary sandwich shop. The line is long but moves steadily.
  • Fulton's Crab House. unch: $$ Dinner: $$$. A multi-floored seafood restaurant onboard a fake steamboat. Interesting fact: the boat was originally called ''Empress Lilly'', after Lillian Disney, Walt's wife.
  • Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop and Soda Fountain. . Enjoy chocolates, ice cream, and other great desserts at this San Francisco legend.
  • Portobello Yacht Club. unch: $$ Dinner: $$$. A fine Italian restaurant.
  • Rainforest Cafe.

    Westside/Pleasure Island

  • Bongos Cuban Cafe. $. The best thing to know about this restauarant is that it was founded by Gloria Estefan.
  • House of Blues. $.
  • Planet Hollywood. $. Look for Forrest Gump's shrimp boat outside this movie-themed eatery. Inside, admire the collection of movie props and costumes.
  • Ragland Road. $. You ought to feel "lucky" to dine at this Irish restaurant complete with a full-service pub.
  • Cooke's of Dublin. . Adjacent to Raglan Road, known for its fish and chips.
  • Wolfgang Puck Cafe. unch: $$ Dinner: $$$. The most high-end restaurant in all of Downtown Disney.

    Disney's Port Orleans Resort

  • Boatwright's Dining Hall. $. Shared by Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside, this may be the largest restaurant on the property, serving Southern fare such as ribs, chicken, steaks, etc. Great for families or groups of adults, as the large restaurant is big enough to absorb a lot of noise.

    Drink

    Sleep

    Mid-range

  • Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter. 201 Orleans Dr.. ff Epcot Center Drive. 07-934-5000. 07-934-5353. ttp://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=PortOrleansFrenchQuarterResortLandingPage&count=4. 150-250. Take a walk down Bourbon Street.
  • Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside. 251 Riverside Dr.. djacent to Port Orleans French Quarter. 07-934-6000. ttp://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=PortOrleansRiversideResortLandingPage&count=5. 150-250. Experience the gentle feel of the mansions and towns along the lower Mississippi River.

    Splurge

  • Disney's Old Key West Resort. 510 North Cove Rd.. 07-827-7700. ttp://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortDetail?id=ProspectsOldKeyWestResortLandingPage. 280-880. The spirit of the Florida Keys.
  • Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. 960 Broadway. 07-827-1100. ttp://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortDetail?id=ProspectsSaratogaSpringsLandingPage. PM. 1AM. 290-1,700. A lush country retreat capturing the heyday of Upstate New York.
  • * <sleep name="The Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Octagonal cabins on stilts in a forest setting, scheduled for opening in Summer 2009. This addition will make Saratoga Springs the largest and most luxurious Disney Resort ever imagined.</sleep>
  • Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza

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  • Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort. 000 Hotel Plaza Blvd. 1 407 828-2424. ttp://www.lakebuenavistaresorthotel.com.
  • Buena Vista Palace. 900 Buena Vista Dr. 1 866 397-6516. ttp://www.buenavistapalace.com.
  • Doubletree Guest Suites. 305 Hotel Plaza Blvd. 1 407 934-1000. ttp://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/MCOFHDT-Doubletree-Guest-Suites-in-the-WALT-DISNEY-WORLD-Resort-Florida/index.do.
  • Hilton Resort. 751 Hotel Plaza Blvd. 1 407 827-4000. ttp://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/ORLDWHH-Hilton-located-in-the-WALT-DISNEY-WORLD-Resort-Florida/index.do.
  • Holiday Inn. 805 Hotel Plaza Blvd. 1 407 828-8888. ttp://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/dislb.
  • Regal Sun Resort. 850 Hotel Plaza Blvd. 1 800 624-4109. ttp://www.regalsunresort.com.
  • Royal Plaza. 905 Hotel Plaza Blvd. 1 407 828-2828. ttp://www.royalplaza.com/.

    Contact