Downtown Disney

The Downtown Disney area at the Walt Disney World Resort is divided up into three distinct areas – the Downtown Disney West Side, Downtown Disney Marketplace and Downtown Disney Pleasure Island. The Downtown Disney West Side is the “hip” area, as many upscale and unique restaurants are located here, along with the AMC Pleasure Island 24 Theatres Complex and Cirque du Soleil’s resident show at the Walt Disney World Resort, La Nouba. Downtown Disney Marketplace is a more family-friendly area, with a good selection of restaurants and shops for everyone in the family.

The Downtown Disney area is easily accessible from all parts of the Walt Disney World Resort. All resort guests can take buses that run to Downtown Disney, and anyone traveling by car can also take advantage of the tons of free parking available here as well (tip: there is a lot more parking space by the Downtown Disney West Side than anywhere else, so if you plan to walk and see everything, park here!). There are also two guest relations areas – one located in the Downtown Disney Marketplace across from the World of Disney and another inside the AMC Pleasure Island 24 Theatres Complex. If you have any concerns while at Downtown Disney, visit either of these offices for help! There is no charge to visit Downtown Disney, and all areas are accessible to guests.

The dining options at Downtown Disney are unbelievable. You can feast on anything from popular chain themed restaurants (Rainforest Café and Planet Hollywood for example), fast food (McDonald’s is there too), or try your hand at something new and unique. When it comes to food, the size of your appetite and a palate for every set of taste buds, Downtown Disney has you covered! Read all about all of your cuisine options in this section on dining at Downtown Disney!

When most guests think of Downtown Disney, they think of shopping! Why, might you ask? Well, not only is the Downtown Disney area home to the world’s largest Disney store, the World of Disney, it also has over 30 – yes, 30 – stores for your shopping pleasure. And unlike what you might think, the Downtown Disney shops aren’t just all merchandise for the Walt Disney World Resort. There are also a plethora of shops with other themed merchandise as well, so everyone in the family is sure to find a unique souvenir to take home from your vacation! Learn all about where to spend your money before you go in our section on Downtown Disney shopping!

Finally, the Downtown Disney area is also home to several Walt Disney World Resort hotels. All of the accommodations on property are classified into a certain section of the Disney property, and four of the best hotels are located here! To find out which hotels these are, check out our final section about the Downtown Disney area hotels!