DOWNTOWNDISNEY REVIEW DOWNTOWN DISNEY DOWNTOWNDISNEYORLANDO

DOWNTOWN DISNEY
What Everyone's Talking About in Downtown Disney
By John Brennan

Outside the theme parks of Walt Disney World, there's a
place where guests can relax, do a bit of shopping, and enjoy
a myriad of other fun pursuits. Downtown Disney, located on
the grounds of the Disney complex, is an ideal place to enjoy
a respite from the sometimes crowded parks.

Downtown Disney is separated into three distinct areas:
Downtown Disney Marketplace, Downtown Disney West Side,
and Pleasure Island. Each is meant for a particular activity
and all are fun to explore.

The Downtown Disney Marketplace is, of course, the place to
experience Disney shopping at its finest. The largest Disney
character store in the world is located here. Appropriated
named "The World of Disney", this store is made up of 12
individual rooms, all full of Disney memorabilia, from stuffed
animals to t-shirts to collector's items. You'll also find a
Virgin™ mega store in Downtown Disney, a LEGO™
Imagination Center, and at least 2 dozen additional stores.
You can buy Cirque du Soleil souvenirs in Downtown Disney,
do a little pin trading, pick up some original folk art, or even
do a bit of holiday shopping at the Disney's Days of
Christmas shop.

Downtown Disney West Side is home to a number of unique
dining experiences. You'll love the choices of eating
establishments at Downtown Disney, ranging from the
elegant Fulton's Crab Houses - located on a paddle wheel
boat, to places where you can grab an impromptu meal or
snack, like the Ghirardelli ice cream shop and - of course -
McDonald's. Famed chef Wolfgang Puck has left his mark
here at Downtown Disney and guests can even visit an Irish
pub.

Pleasure Island, a favorite part of Downtown Disney, lets you
"party all night under the lights!" There are several
nightspots in Pleasure Island that are popular with younger
adults or, if you prefer, you can laugh your head off at the
Comedy Warehouse. By purchasing just one Downtown
Disney ticket, you can visit as many of these clubs as you
wish…all in one night. There's also a 24-theater Cineplex at
Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island.

For some additional indoor fun, head to Downtown Disney's
DisneyQuest interactive theme park. The five floors in this
unique attraction are filled with cutting-edge technology,
including virtual realty games and 3-D experiences. You can
design your own roller coaster and then "ride" it, become a
life-sized pinball, or "fight" pirates before they steal your
gold! This Downtown Disney attraction is a huge fit with
technology fanatics of all ages.

Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the stunningly magnificent
Cirque du Soleil. With a permanent home in Downtown
Disney, this unique French "circus" will delight all your
senses with the most amazing shows.

You'll also want to visit the incredible House of Blues, an
experience that combines all three elements of Downtown
Disney - entertainment, food, and shopping. Guests will enjoy
a number of different experiences here, from Sunday Gospel
Brunch to foot-stomping hip-hop musical entertainment.

Downtown Disney is definitely worth a stop, so take time off
from your busy park schedule to spend a little time eating,
shopping, and dancing here. Downtown Disney is easily
accessible from all the Disney parks and hotels via shuttle
buses which pick up guests at various locations throughout
the resort. Park hopper passes can include a Downtown
Disney option if so desired.

John Brennan is a travel writer who enjoys spending his free time in the most
beautiful vacation spots in the world. He has two kids and a loving wife and cute
little dog name Elfie.

He has two Disney websites:

Disney Vacation Time - Disney travel information regarding places to stay, where
to eat, and how to save money while down in America's favorite vacationland.

Disney Princess Pictures - Come and check out a huge variety of Disney pictures
ranging from Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs to Belle from Beauty and the
Beast.

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