Yesterday, I wrote about how Downtown Disney is a fantastic place for the whole family but is not that well known yet. The family crowd tends to stick to the other four major theme parks leaving Downtown Disney unexplored. Don’t get me wrong. . .it can get pretty crowded on any given afternoon. But because it has been touted as the place to experience nightlife ‘Disney style’, it is often overlooked by the family set.
I do have to say that since it is the place to experience Disney nightlife, not every thing is appropriate for the family with young children. However, the dance clubs and various Pleasure Island venues are closed during the day and the various entertainment complexes are separated such that it’s easy to stay out of the way of party goers.
Here are a few of our favorite pics for entertainment in Downtown Disney:
Cirque du Soleil
Very pricey. . .but if you ask my kids what their favorite part of the trip was, all three will tell you that they loved the circus. I’m not going to say too much now, because really Cirque du Soleil, deserves it’s own blog.
AMC Theatres
Not that you’ll want to go to Walt Disney World to go see a movie but if you have several children of different ages, a movie may be a needed distraction for some while others go to do something else. While we were there “Meet the Robinson’s” came out and we likely would’ve gone to see it if there were time.
DisneyQuest
I am sorry to say that we missed out on our trip to DisneyQuest this time. There is not really another word for it besides cool. For one price (I think the tickets are $36), you get to play in what I can only describe as the neatest arcade ever. Even if you think you don’t like arcades. . .you would like this one. It is bigger, and better with unique, state of the art games, virtual rides and games, and even some tried and true favorites. Believe it or not, you could easily spend a full day here.
McDonald’s and the Lego Store
I realize that it sounds funny to point out that there is a McDonald’s here–unless you have a crowd full of kids and the menu is a welcome change from the overly expensive food in the parks. But there is a McDonald’s at the west tip of the Disney Marketplace. Purposefully adjacent, you can get your $1 menu items and mosey to the playground area at the Lego store. It is complete with a little slide and small two story house as well as a ton of Lego tables. (This is where my crew hung out while I got some blessed time to myself for souvenir shopping.) And if you’re an actual Lego aficionado, you can spend yourself happy in the Lego store or take pictures of the giant Lego sculptures.
The Disney Marketplace
This is my favorite place to get souvenirs. If you want clothing, you may do better at the outlet, but everything you could possibly want is here and for Disney stuff, it’s reasonably priced. I have to say that the outlet also had a bad selection when we went and was not worth the trip. In any case, while you’re here stop in at Ghirardelli’s for a frozen treat.
Boat rides
You can even rent a boat–anything from a 2 seater, to something large enough for your entire family! We didn’t get to take a ride on the lake because it rained the one opportunity we had. . .but they even had something for the 9 of us.