Downtown Disney is the Disney version of a town centre with shops, restaurant and leisure activities. It is quite simply the best place to shop eat and be entertained Disney Style. Downtown in fun and friendly and well worth a visit.
Downtown Disney is completely free to visit. You don’t need a ticket or pass and parking is also free and very easy. This is better than the Universal resorts who do charge for parking even if you eat in one of their restaurants. Downtown is well signposted once you enter the Disney Resort area and there are three main areas to visit.
The three areas are Marketplace, West Side and Pleasure Island. Pleasant paths and pavements link the areas together. It is totally pedestrianised and there are lots of signposts so you don’t get lost. Each area has it’s own atmosphere. Some areas are more for shopping, some for eating and some for street theatre and entertainment.
The West Side area is home to the wonderful Cirque Du Soleil together with Disney Quest. Many famous restaurants are also here including Wolfgang Puck and Bongos Cuban restaurant. This was designed by Gloria Estefan and is a stylish Cuban themed restaurant. Enjoy the bar area for a quick cocktail and sit on the bar stools shaped like Bongo drums! !
Candy Cauldron is amongst our favourites with its amazing chocolate dipped strawberries and other sweet treats. A sweet shop with a difference you can see toffee apples being dipped by hand. Spend a happy few minutes watching through the window! You will be spoiled for choice. . . . just make sure you don’t fill up too much before your tea!
Magic Masters is an incredible shop selling magic tricks. They are simple to do and it is a very unique shop. We love the card tricks which are amazing in terms of illusion, but very easy for children to perform. You can also by balls and cups tricks, magic rings and ropes. The guys in the shop are often to be found demonstrating the tricks and it is a great show to watch.
A trip to West Side is very well worth it. You can simply walk around at night when the twinkling lights entice you to explore further. Try it during the day and enjoy a leisurely ice cream and a stroll around the lake. The Hagan Das store is irresistible and their chocolate fudge sundae is worth a trip alone!
Downtown Disney is completely free to visit. You don’t need a ticket or pass and parking is also free and very easy. This is better than the Universal resorts who do charge for parking even if you eat in one of their restaurants. Downtown is well signposted once you enter the Disney Resort area and there are three main areas to visit.
The three areas are Marketplace, West Side and Pleasure Island. Pleasant paths and pavements link the areas together. It is totally pedestrianised and there are lots of signposts so you don’t get lost. Each area has it’s own atmosphere. Some areas are more for shopping, some for eating and some for street theatre and entertainment.
The West Side area is home to the wonderful Cirque Du Soleil together with Disney Quest. Many famous restaurants are also here including Wolfgang Puck and Bongos Cuban restaurant. This was designed by Gloria Estefan and is a stylish Cuban themed restaurant. Enjoy the bar area for a quick cocktail and sit on the bar stools shaped like Bongo drums! !
Candy Cauldron is amongst our favourites with its amazing chocolate dipped strawberries and other sweet treats. A sweet shop with a difference you can see toffee apples being dipped by hand. Spend a happy few minutes watching through the window! You will be spoiled for choice. . . . just make sure you don’t fill up too much before your tea!
Magic Masters is an incredible shop selling magic tricks. They are simple to do and it is a very unique shop. We love the card tricks which are amazing in terms of illusion, but very easy for children to perform. You can also by balls and cups tricks, magic rings and ropes. The guys in the shop are often to be found demonstrating the tricks and it is a great show to watch.
A trip to West Side is very well worth it. You can simply walk around at night when the twinkling lights entice you to explore further. Try it during the day and enjoy a leisurely ice cream and a stroll around the lake. The Hagan Das store is irresistible and their chocolate fudge sundae is worth a trip alone!