Downtown Disney

Magical... day or night.. tons to do and lots of places to spend money. I prefer it at night, I think the atmosphere is so much better.. there is plenty of parking all around, bring some patience as its a very busy place... but you are on vacation, so you should not be in a hurry.

Not worth the drive if you aren't eating and/or staying on the resort. Nothing more than a elaborate shopping mall with high end stores. They offer parking validation with a $20 purchase, but most stores are extremely overpriced, including Disney Merchandise itself. However, nice place to go to view park fireworks outside the park.

It would have been nice to know that they were loading from one side. Bc not knowing we missed the monorail by one group and missed our fast passes to space mountain. We waited for 13 mins and one of the first few and still missed. Thanks Kelly for not telling us and being rude for not letting us on after telling her what happen to us.

Fastest and easiest way to get from inside Disneyland to Downtown Disney area for shopping and dining. Be sure to have your ticket and get your hand stamped to be able to return inside. The new monorails are very futuristic looking, smooth and quite taking you for a ride an overhead seen various parts of the park.

A fun way to go into Disneyland (or out of disneyland). The new fleet look great and offer nice views of the resort. Note that these are generally one-way trips so don't forget to get your hand stamped if you leave!

A little pricey but it is Disney so that is to be expected great place though as it is free to get in. I attended with a 3 week old baby and the staff was immaculate couldn’t have asked for better treatment. If your going there for Disney Pins they do not have a lot you will have to buy a ticket to the park for that.

The monorail is a nice ride and an easy / quick way to get to tonorrowland from downtown Disney. There's still a queue and security, but usually a much more pleasant time than the main gates

Disability parking is far from the entrance, if using cane, good luck, better for wheelchair.

Everything was beautiful it was spectacular Halloween time is the best at Disney the parade was perfect to watch while we had dessert we had 5 different treats and drinks that was provided with our parade reservation

Parking was far, even for handicapped parking. It needs some shades for the hot days. I like going here but parking was my only concern as a handicapped person. I got that Disney service so I can't say much about it. For value, it's expensive af but it's Disney. It's a brand. Lots of selection for your needs. I was able to get a magnet and a kitchenware I was looking for. My nephew lost my magnet. I'm sad.

I'm adding a star to my Downtown Disney review because it's not a hellish nightmare if you enter on foot from the parks or hotels. We did things differently this time around and stayed at Pixar Place, one of the Disneyland hotels. This gave us easy access to Downtown Disney, where we were able to catch the monorail in and out of Disneyland. I have two boys under five, and this was one of the highlights of their weekend. If you have park hopper tickets, Downtown Disney is also a good place to catch a meal between Disneyland and California Adventure. We ordered take-out from Din Tai Fung and had a fantastic, reasonably relaxing dinner on the lawn. The food was delicious, almost certainly better than anything in the parks, and the kids were able to prance around the lawn. There was also live music. Our two-year-old was so into it, he went right up to the stage. I'd still rather drink Robitussin in rush hour traffic than park at Downtown Disney just to go to the shops and restaurants. But it's a nice place if you're already in Disneyland and want some good food or downtime between the parks.

The most rip off place ever. Worst rip off parking ever known. If you can never come here you will be far better off in life. Not worth it. 10$ for first hour no matter what. and they force you to have to pay over $20 in food additional , so if you come for desert it's worthless. After growing up and living my over 40years here Disney has done nothing but make me never want to go here or bring my kids here. Gone are the times when it was fun and exciting. Gone are the times when as a local you were welcomed to come here and celebrated when you did. Disney doesn't give 2 shhhhhhhhhhsss about residents or families anymore

We had been to Trader Sam's Tiki Bar and decided to go for a little walk after dinner. Hadn't been to Downtown Disney for quite a few years, so it was fun looking around. It is kind of like an outdoor mall as it has some standards like Sephora. Also, plenty of Disney merch stores and a variety of restaurants. Some had longer lines than others and you could tell which families were done for the day pushing their strollers. Not too cold on the January night that we were there.

Wow, it has been twelve years since my first review of DTD, and a lot has changed! It's still a touristy destination, but I've grown to enjoy the latest food and entertainment options as a local. The vast upgrades over the past couple of years and the current growth and expansion plans are leveling up this Downtown Disney Experience. The latest food options include Din Tai Fung, Earl of Sandwich, Paseo, Centrico, Black Tap, Ballast Point, Salt and Straw, and more. There's undoubtedly a place to satisfy your taste buds. Plenty of bars and lounges to suit your needs: Naples, Centrico, and Jazz Kitchen, all with relaxing bar settings. The Disney Resort hotels are also within walking distance and offer more food and bar options. DTD offers plenty of shopping, with merchandise from Disney and partners, art, clothing, and more. Disney fans and visiting guests can be sure to find something to add to their collections. The permanent stage on the west side of DTD showcases various performers during the day and evening. On Saturday evenings, live music is also played at the Jazz Kitchen. Some restaurants and shops will honor discounts for Magic Key pass holders. Prices are generally on the premium side, being on Disney property, but it's worth visiting DTD if any food or shopping options interest you. About parking from the website: "The first hour of parking costs $10. Validations apply after the first hour of paid parking. Enjoy an additional 3 hours of same-day parking with a $20 minimum purchase and validation from any Downtown Disney location--or up to 5 additional hours of same-day parking with validation from any Downtown Disney table-service restaurant." Please see the website for more details.

Downtown Disney is a lot of fun! Boy has Downtown Disney changed a lot in recent years. They don't have Rainforest Cage anymore (rip). I loved Rainforest Cafe lol The House of Blues isn't here anymore either. That's crazy! It was such a popular spot! There's plenty of shopping and restaurants left though. And the Lego store is always fun to hit. There's a decent sized Sephora, Jamba Juice, and World of Disney store. The World of Disney store has it all. I went last weekend with a group of friends. We had lots of fun.

Downtown Disney District is a shopping and restaurant area outside of Disneyland and California Adventure. The Downtown Disney District starts near the entrance of the theme parks and ends near Disneyland Hotel. Downtown Disney District decorates for the holidays!! My husband and I walked through Downtown Disney District during the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon. There were a few photo op locations with Mickey and Minnie statues and lots of Halloween decorations in Downtown Disney District. There are several entertainment spots too! Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage has a variety of musicians and entertainers that play on select nights. You'll want to check out Disney's website for showtimes. There is also Splitsville Luxury Lanes where you can bowl, listen to live music, and enjoy some food! If you're looking to eat outside of the parks, Downtown Disney District has a lot of restaurants! Some of the restaurants listed below! Din Tai Fung Naples Restaurant e Bar Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio Paseo Centrico Tiendita Get ready for some amazing shopping opportunities too! There are the Star Wars Trading Post (used to be a Rainforest Café), World of Disney, The Lego Store, Disney Home, and so much more! Parking for the Downtown Disney District is at the Simba Lot, located off of Disneyland Drive between West Katella and Pixar Place Hotel. The first hour of parking is only $10, but for an additional 3 hours, a same-day parking is required with a $20.00 minimum purchase, validation is required. My husband and I spent several hours at Downtown Disney District. It's free to walk through too! If you have a Disney annual pass, there are some discounts available at the restaurants and some of the stores!

We personally love Downtown Disney! I think it's a great way to experience some of the magic of Disneyland without having to pay exorbitantly high admission prices for the park. Parking is usually around $10 if you purchase any items at Downtown Disney. I recommend going early because the parking lot can be a bit crowded middle of the day and beyond. They have recently done a lot of renovations to the area and the selection of stores in restaurants has grown exponentially. They now offer fine dining with Din Tai Fung and also their usual restaurants like black tap and more. The world of Disney store has all of the souvenirs and merch as the regular park which is amazing. All the employees are extremely helpful and nice. They are trained in the Disney customer service experience.

Love coming to DT Disney for the food and vibes! They've added so much throughout the years and they're still in the process of building more restaurants here. Whether we're visiting the parks or just here to hangout, it's always a good time. This year (2024) they added nightly snow shows by the concert lawn area and big Christmas tree - dates/times are posted below. Bowling at Splitsville (typically a long wait but not if you go on a weekday), grabbing some bomb food/holiday drinks, seeing all the Christmas lights, checking out the stores and trying all the holiday ice cream flavors at Salt & Straw was lit! Definitely the best time of the year!

The ambiance is pleasant, clean, and well-decorated. Staff is attentive and very polite. Food is delicious.

Always a good time at Downtown Disney, so much to see and do. They always have different activities depending on the season and the holidays and they have activities for young children to keep them entertained and having fun. Lots of different stores for shopping there's world of Disney there's a Lego store. There's a Disney store with all the Mickey and Minnie kitchen items. There's all the shops and restaurants for dining. You can be Disneyland ready and find all your Disney gear here from spirit jerseys to Minnie mouse ears to T-shirts and lots of other items.

Went for a walk after we went to Disneyland looking for a nice bar and it was very much in the Christmas spirit around here...

It is so pretty here during this time of the year. We got snow and a live band. Stop at a restaurant for a little bite to eat. I love Disneyland and coming to Downtown Disney is just as great.

The parking is expensive!!! No special rate for disabled people. They need to make more parking spaces for disabled people. It has been a very long time since I came back here. Things have changed. It doesn't have the childhood Disney feel anymore. It feels like money, like profit, like a shopping center. Where did the street performers go?

Cool place and you don't have to pay to go here. They have a Star Wars store, Lego and various other stores. The coolest one by far was the Star Wars store. Of course everything is very expensive but it is cool to go there for the atmosphere. The have several different restaurants and we tried churros, Napolini and a Mexican restaurant. Decent priced but the food wasn't the best. Will definitely come back but then probably for a sit down dinner and the star wars store.

Newly renovated. Lots to see. I still love coming here and hanging out. Tons of stores to shop and tons of food places to dine in. Clean restrooms and well maintained outdoor decor and flowers. We visited the new Din Tai Fung and it was good. The newly renovate Jazz kitchen looked brighter with their new decor. I enjoyed visiting the Star Wars trading post and checking out their items. Plenty of security guards around and there's metal detectors at the entrance. Parking rates have been updated. You fast $10 for the first 4 hours if you have a validation from dining purchase of $20 or more.

There's a lot of refurbishment going on at the moment so a few places are using smaller pop up locations. This means there's a limited menu at places like Marceline's. They have added some new restaurants since my last trip which were really good and the wait wasn't too longer considering we didn't have a reservation. I always enjoy wondering around downtown Disney so hope the new shops will be completed soon.

You can have a whole disney experience without stepping into either theme park all in Downtown Disney! There are so many stores to shop in and places to eat. There are so many iconic restaurants and bars to visit that stay open late. The energy is just as amazing as it is inside one of the parks!

So I love Disney and all the Christmas displays and the restaurants. I was a little disappointed this year as I feel it was lacking in the amount of decorations compared to other years. I am hoping this is not a trend becuz it was always my go to place for the excitement of sharing Christmas lights bummer!

出門看看，常常是為了更好的回到生活，知道了外面有多遼闊，然後踏踏實實地回到自己生活的地方，每天的日子～ Downtown Disney,從 covid 後就沒來過了，一樣的人潮擁擠，一樣的很貴的停車費，不過還好只要你買超過$20的東西，憑著10塊錢可以停個四個小時，因為如此，我賺到了一個免費的口紅，週末的晚上，非常多的人潮，還是非常的熱鬧，迪士尼一直都是世界上最快樂的地方，偶爾就該來這些地方走走，可以治癒長大後不是每天都很快樂的我們！

Have a great time shopping and walking around Downtown Disney District. The area is huge and if you miss the turn into Downtown Disney you'll make the same mistake I did and wait in a line for the resort!! lol The parking can be validated for $10 with a $20 purchase of any of the retail shops or restaurants. Just ask when checking out! They have plenty of different shopping spots and places to grab some food! Overall, it's a great spot to get some Disney merch without having to go to Disney. They do have a tram there as well to get you into the park! It was a great stop!

We visited Downtown Disney three times on this past trip and we had an enjoyable time. We made a few purchases at World of Disney, Salt and Straw, Starbucks, Pele, and Marceline's Confectionary. We strolled around and enjoyed people watching. I can't wait to see what this area will look like once the renovations are completely done!

Great place to hang out. They totally made so many improvements. A lot more places to sit and lounge. It's always so festive around the holidays. Din Tai Fung has just opened and they are still adding more places to dine. Can't wait to see it when it's done.

Great food options and restaurants, lots of shopping and plenty to do for little kids. It's definitely a lively place to be but can get crowded on the weekends. Long lines and wait times for restaurants, ice cream shops even some stores but so many selections for everyone. The entire DD is closed off surrounding the perimeter of it all and you have to go through security to enter the area. Also you do have to pay for parking but can have it validated at some restaurants. We had ours validated and the total was $31 and we only had to pay 10. So make sure you remember to validate.

I've visited downtown Disney more times than I can count. It's always a nice little experience if you want to feel that little bit of Disney magic without actually going into the park. There are plenty of places for you to go and buy your Disney souvenirs, which is great. There are also plenty of places for you to eat And shop. We took my son here when he was just a few months old to prepare him for Disneyland just to see how he would do. It was a nice experience. The parking lot for downtown Disney is not far which is also nice, especially during those warm summer months. There is a charge for parking, but if you purchase items over $25, then you are able to get a small discount on your parking. The staff at Disney is always super friendly even going through security. You're always greeted with a smile.

Love coming here for bday celebration to start the new age with a bang of fireworks! Get ticket valedated at any shops to pay $10 only.

My most recent visit to Downtown Disney District had me parking in the Simba Lot. The first hour of parking cost $10. You get an additional 3 hours of same day parking with a $20 minimum purchase and validation from any Downtown Disney location or up to 5 additional hours of same day parking with validation from an Downtown Disney table service restaurant. Beyond these validations, each additional 30 minutes will cost $7. The maximum per day is $66, so don't park here if you headed to one of the theme parks! Upon exit, if a gate attendant is present, just hand your ticket to him or her. They aren't too happy if you insert it into the box and try to self pay. Now, with the parking out of the way, there's plenty of restaurants here as well as the World of Disney store to easily take care of validation. My friend and I checked out the newly opened Din Tai Fung for lunch on a Wednesday. Boy, was Downtown Disney packed for a weekday! Whenever I'm here, my go-to places are the Earl of Sandwich and Starbucks.

It was neat. First time experience. Fun to walk around. Check out stuff. Short 5 min ride from hotel. Food on the pricier side but not too bad.

A tradition in my family is to drive to Anaheim and hang out at Downtown Disney District the night before going to Disneyland. We usually grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants and then do some shopping at World of Disney or one of the other stores. I come from a family of Disney fanatics and going to Disneyland was our annual summer trip growing up. Downtown Disney District is a shopping and dining complex that opened in 2001 and is located in between Disneyland and California Adventure. It also connects to three of the resort hotels. Walt Disney World in Florida has the same concept but it is called Disney Springs. The great thing about Downtown Disney is that you don't need a themed park ticket to get in. It is open and free to the public. You just have to pay for parking and go through security. It has several restautants and shops. Some are Disney operated and others are popular retail brands. Some of our favorite shops are World of Disney, the LEGO Store, Star Wars Trading Post and WonderGround Gallery. World of Disney is the largest Disney themed retail store on the West Coast. For food we like to eat at Tortilla Jo's (soon to be closing), Earl of Sandwich, Naples Ristorante e Bar, Jamba, Starbucks and Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio. Jazz Kitchen also has an express window just for beignets. Marceline's Confectionery is a cool place to get Disney snacks and you can watch the bakers make their signature Mickey Mouse candy apples in the window. There are also yummy churro carts in Downtown Disney. Din Tai Fung will be bringing its famous Xiao long bao soup dumplings sometime in 2024. Downtown Disney District has live entertainment on some evenings. You can also jump on the Monorail if you have a park ticket for that day. Overall it is a fun place to hang out and get yourself hyped up for a fun day at Disneyland. Sometimes I come here when I need a break from the large crowds while at the park. I usually like to get a lot of shopping done here before visiting one of the parks so that I am not carrying around gift bags all day.

Lots & lots of shops & restaurants! There is a Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Sephora there. Also many clothing stores. It's free to get in. As it is National Hispanic month, they had Mariachis playing for half hour a few times a day. It was a great bonus!

Downtown Disney has a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and hangout spots for all types of visitors. It's an ideal place to enjoy a meal or shop before entering the park, or to spend a relaxing day exploring its attractions without going into the park. There's something fun for everyone, which makes it a great spot to unwind and soak up the fun atmosphere, whether you're between park visits or just looking for a day of enjoyable activities.

We are regulars at this location when we're in town. In this case, we visited at least 2-3 times a day for the last 3 days. You can't beat being able to get the (necessary) coffee fix before the park chaos ensues. The cherry on top and the reason for this review is Erica's top notch customer service. She is extremely friendly, welcoming, and kept the outdoor area beautiful and clean. Erica definitely provided the friendliness you'd hope for when visiting the "Happiest Place on Earth!"

A magical place where you don't need a park ticket to visit! This is a great stop on the day you land or leave if you don't have a ticket to the parks to go in. There is great shopping areas including the massive World of Disney shop, and plenty of great dining establishments. Several are available to book reservations through the Disneyland app and can be booked up to 60 days of your visit. Bring your magic band as there are a couple interactive sections within the Downtown Disney District. I've visited quite a few locations within the Downtown Disney District and added separate reviews if you want to check them out. The service overall in various locations has been great, and many places are reasonably priced depending on what you are looking for.

Place is always a fun shopping time. Great stores, friendly customer service, and so many shops and eateries to spend time. Whether you're looking for clothes, bags, decor, art, or food, you can find it here. It's Disney priced. Great place to stop by.

Downtown Disney has many stores and a few restaurants. They have a bunch of food stands and benches. You can get a characature which is a funny drawing of your family and it's really cute. It was $187 dollars though! Crazy! They have a large World Of Disney Store and it has outfits, toys, and lots of Mickey ears! They have one restaurant called Black Tap with serves burgers and crazy shakes. They also have a large Lego Disney Store! Not a super magical place for kids. The staff at Black Tap are nice but they were having a problem with the screen when taking our orders so we had to stand there until it was back up.

The parking is definitely different from what I remember. It's been a while since last time I visited DT Disney District. We visited on a Saturday around 5 pm. Parking lot entrance was very busy, but it was moving at a decent pace. $10 for the first hour. We paid $24 for very close to 2 hours. Make sure you remember where you parked. Easy to lose your car in the parking lot. Outside parking. There is also a security check line before entering the District. It also move at a decent pace. It took us about 10 minutes to get in. Inside, nothing has change too much. It was nice today seeing all the Christmas lights on. I recommend eating before or after leaving Downtown Disney. All of the restaurants had a very long line. We just walked into Starbucks and got some coffee, 20 minutes from start to when we had our coffees, not bad at all.

Downtown Disney is a great place to spend an afternoon or evening, especially if you're looking for a Disney fix without paying a hefty fee to enter the park cuz it's free. If you're only looking to shop and dine, this place offers Disney-themed stores and trendy boutiques to casual cafes and fine-dining restaurants. On certain days, you can catch a free musical performance or street show for a touch of Disney magic. For a festive atmosphere especially during the holidays, Downtown Disney transforms into a winter wonderland, with twinkling lights, festive decorations, and special events. However, Downtown Disney can get very crowded, especially during peak season and weekends.

It was fun to get out of the house and see how Downtown Disney has changed since I was there last (it's been a looong time) I was surprised how far away we had to park. It was so busy, we wound up in the overflow lot by the soon to be Pixar Hotel. Of course everything is overpriced but it's always been that way so no big surprise. We stopped at Jazz Kitchen for lunch which wasn't the best choice in retrospect but you can read about that in my restaurant review. So many changes. I miss the places I used to take my kids to when they were little like Build A Bear and Rainforest Cafe but time is like a train that keeps on rollin'. It was Black Friday but apparently Disney marches to the beat of a different drummer and doesn't feel the need to give the public a break financially at the Disney or Star Wars stores. Disney is kind of like the Dodgers; no matter what shape the economy is in, increase prices and ignore the grumbling of the peasants. As crowded as the parking lot was, it wasn't too bad walking around DT. Lots of families and no drama which is a rare thing in Los Angeles and Orange County as of late. No swarms of hoodlums robbing stores or crazy people waving butcher knives. Just a peaceful afternoon and discovery of the Pickle Dog.

Downtown Disney is very cute - they seem to be adding a lot of new restaurants and stores. It's not super big but it's perfect to spend a little time walking after dinner, as a break from a long day at the park, or just for fun.

The downtown Disney area is a fun place to shop, window shop, get a bite to eat, people watch or just walk around. It cost $10 for parking the first hour and then make sure to get your parking ticket validated at a shop before you leave. I do wish they had a better restaurant selection. My favorite place to go to is the shop where they make the caramel apples. My favorite apple is the Apple Pie Caramel Apple! Yum! I ate it too fast before taking a picture.

Just as magical as Disneyland. If you still need a little fix post your Disney trip, this is the place to go. Plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants-- it's a must either before or after Disney land.

Love walking around DT Disney during the holidays! Lots of restaurants, shopping and good vibes! The kids had fun, don't forget to stop at salt & straw for the best ice cream, and get your hot beignets! Drool! Parking validated when you eat there. Ask the restaurant, or you can validate a Sephora! When you purchase. They have a cool grass area now with live music. Definitely lots to do! Can't wait for Din Tai Fung!

So fun!! Can't believe I've never been here before. You enter the lot and drive all the way down for closer parking. It's $10. Then there's a short walk to the actual downtown Disney. The vibes were amazing. There was a mariachi band right at the entrance. A Lego store. Food stands. Can't go wrong with a Disney corndog. I really wanted beignets but the line was out the door, down the alley. Maybe next time. They close late too! Has a great time.

Tip: Validate your parking ticket so you only have to pay $10. It used to be if you spent $30, your parking is validating for free. Now you still have to pay another $10 regardless. It's interesting to see how this place has changed. There's still a bunch of stores to browse and look at no matter your interest whether it's Star Wars or Legos store. World of Disney is probably the go to place since it has everything you need for souvenirs.

I had been to Disney Springs in Florida many times so I was excited to come here next. I was expecting it to be a lot smaller and it definitely was. I thought it was pretty and I actually liked the smaller size. My issue with it is that I wish there was more of a variety of things to do here. It's basically shops and restaurants with a small entertainment area. I would've liked to see more things like entertainment and opportunities for kids to dance and interact with staff as well as maybe a small ride. A really good coffee shop would also be good.

GETTING HERE: The Downtown Disney District (AKA DTD) is located between the Disneyland and DCA. Set your GPS and head on down. REVIEW: Color my shock face that I've (again) not yet reviewed DTD. Over the last 10 years or so I spent many a day and night down here. So sad to say I never watched a movie at AMC. So sad! The end of an era! So many places to shop and eat it's hard to know where to begin. :) If you're heading to the parks, I would wait to shop at World at the end of the day. That way you're not stuck carrying everything around on the attractions. There's a few ways to access DTD; I find it easier to enter from the Disneyland Hotel side. Many options for dining as well. But be sure to make a reservation on Disney Dining if you're looking for something special/specific. Lastly, my review would be remiss if I didn't mention Sprinkles and Vault 28, RIP. :-( Pre-shutdown: Service was much better and much more consistent on CM's trying to bring a smile to guests faces. Pre-shutdown: Selection and variety of items was much better, IMO Pre-shutdown/Post: Value is Disney. So, take that for what you will. :) If you can no longer afford to go to the Parks (like me, cough cough) sometimes, a day trip to DTD helps the itch get scratched.

They did have the security check complete a person, checking bags and a metal detector.( 10 years ago I came here almost every week with my daughter and no security check ) A lot of shops, restaurants and places where you can have a drink, chill out, the Disney store, to LEGO store, Star Wars Trading post, great restaurants, breweries and more almost fully crowded all the time. You can also buy some Souvenirs here and you don't need to have a ticket in order to get access. When you dine inside Don't forget to get your receipt stamped to save money for parking One thing that was a definite negative is the cost of parking. Parking was $10 for the first hour and free for the next 2 hrs with a minimum $20 purchase at any store . If not the first hour is $10 and it's $7 for every 30 minutes after that . ( when my daughter was a little kid I came here , the parking is free for the first 3 hours. Now no more and so expensive, that's sad ) The parking is definitely different from what I remember. It's been a while since last time I visited here so make sure you remember where you parked. Easy to lose your car in the parking lot. Outside parking .

Did a quick stop by before UCLA walked around the shops and if course stopped in at some restaurants. Staff are friendly and helpful lots is shops and restaurants to stop in.