Downtown Disney
The food, shopping, and entertainment area of Disneyland has a lot of similarities to its Florida counterpart, Disney Springs. It also has a number of really unique benefits that sets Downtown Disney and a great addition to your next trip to California, and Disneyland!
Getting to Downtown Disney
One of the biggest selling points to Downtown Disney is its location. Located next to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, guests are able to hop over to Downtown Disney for a quick bite to eat or to shop in between their time at the park, or on their way back to their hotel. You are also able to take the monorail from Disneyland and get off at the stop in Downtown Disney or vice-a-versa (as long as you have a valid theme park admission). This convenient location is a huge selling point for this, and part of the reason why Disney keep adding new and improved experiences to this area.
Before getting to the Downtown Disney area, you will have to go through security. This should be fairly quick and will help make sure you’re time here is safe. You are also able to walk up to the ticket entry for the Theme Parks, so if you are not able to go to the park, this is a great way to catch the evening fireworks show or take some photos in front of the historic Disneyland Train Station!
Shopping
With more than 15 different shops, including the World of Disney, Downtown Disney has shopping options that will entice the whole family. The unique Disney stores, like the Disney Home store, the Disney Dress shop, and the World of Disney make this area a must see for Disney fans. With Pandora, the Lego Store, and Sephora, you’ll also be able to find great items that are not Disney specific.
Also, in order to park for free for 3 hours in the Downtown Disney parking lot, you will need to spend $25 at one of the stores to get the parking validated. While it won’t let you park here for a day at the park, the 3 hours will let you grab dinner and get some shopping in if you aren’t able to dedicate the day to the theme parks.
Dining
One area that Downtown Disney has been improving on over the last few years has been the dining options. With the addition of the Ballast Point Brewing Co., Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes, and Salt & Straw to go along with long time favorites of Tortilla Jo’s and Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen there are tons of great options for your late night meal after a long day at Disneyland!
One of my favorite things to do, is to run over to Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen and pick up a bag of beignets. These are the same ones that can be found in New Orleans Square inside Disneyland, and on days I wasn’t able to go into the park, they really hit the spot!
Entertainment
While there are not too many options for entertainment within the Downtown Disney district, there are a few that shouldn’t be missed. First of all, Splitsville bowling alley is always a great way to spend a few hours bowling and eating some of their great food options. Secondly, The VOID is located in Downtown Disney, and is a can’t miss attraction. I have done the experience in both Disney Springs and Downtown Disney, and while they are the exact same, it is worth it to do every time you are able to! Virtual Reality Star Wars and Wreck it Ralph are a great way to have a little fun and help you feel like you spent the day in the theme parks!
Visit the Downtown Disney website to check out all of the shopping, dining, and entertainment options available for your next visit!
