It seems to me that everyone knows to do the four major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot. Actually if you do all four parks your week will be filled. If you have time left you can check out one of Disney’s water parks to satisfy your swimming aficionados not to mention a whole slew of other attractions near Disney World; like Sea World to name one.
But Downtown Disney is one of the ‘hidden’ gems of the Disney World experience. I say ‘hidden’ because it’s not entirely unknown, but it’s not nearly as popular as the other four theme parks and I don’t think that families with young children think of going there right off the bat. When it first was created, it was touted as the place to experience “Disney nightlife”. (I guess that’s if you’re not watching the lighted parade at Magic Kingdom complete with nightly fireworks as deemed a mandatory activity by our young crew.) To be sure, there are night clubs where young adults (or at least the young at heart) can dance the night away. There are also sophisticated dining selections for the more discerning adult palate like Wolfgang Puck’s.
However, Downtown Disney remains a favorite with our family. It has expanded significantly from the first time we were there 7 years ago and we find that the additions have made the experience even more family friendly. My kids are ages 8 to 2 (not withstanding my kid-at-heart husband and father in law) and everyone was entertained there. It’s not really a place to go all day but I suppose if you wanted to, you could as there is plenty to do. There is no parking fee, so we find that it’s a great place to spend a little down time, picking and choosing what you might want to do. I also find that it is one of the better places to get souvenirs as everything you could possibly want is under one roof.
Check back soon for my next blog on what to do in Downtown Disney!