Shop Til You Drop Disney Style! - Downtown Disney Marketplace
Written: Apr 17 '05 (Updated Oct 14 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great variety of Disney merchandise, visually appealing, lots of great restaurants
Cons: Can be CROWDED, everything is expensive (which isn't surprising)
The Bottom Line: Worth a stop for the ultimate in Disney souvenir shopping, but you may have to fight a crowd!
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| chelledun's Full Review: Downtown Disney |
Downtown Disney actually consists of three distinct parts. Marketplace is the oldest, and consists of shops, restaurants, and fun attractions for children. Pleasure Island is a nighttime entertainment complex, which requires admission to enter clubs. Downtown Disney West Side is the newest section, and consists of shops and restaurants as well as a huge movie theater and Cirque de Soleil theater. Because of the diversity of attractions between the three areas, this review will focus primarily on Downtown Disney Marketplace.
Marketplace is a bright and cheerful shopping and dining district. It has undergone many renovations over the past ten years and it looks better than ever. The shops are small wooden buildings with brightly colored storefronts. There are a variety of fountains throughout the Marketplace, and the whole Downtown Disney area curves around a lake. There is no way you will forget you are on Disney property! There are Disney products in almost every store and statutes of characters scattered about the area. There is a very open feel. A few of the shops are connected, but there is plenty of space in between the buildings. Marketplace could be called a strip mall, Disney style!
General Information
Parking is free for Marketplace. You will have no problem finding a convenient parking place during the day, but it can be a little bit tricky at night. If a member of your party has limited mobility I would recommend dropping them off at the curb up close to the shops and restaurants and then going to find a parking spot. In my opinion, the best place to park is by the large World of Disney store, particularly if you plan on making a walk through Pleasure Island or the West Side as well. This is a central location, whereas if you park down by Rainforest Café you will have quite a hike back to your car at the end of your touring.
If you don’t have a car and are staying on Disney property, taking a bus may be your best option. The buses pick up and drop off frequently at stops at all three parts of Downtown Disney. The buses can get crowded at the end of the night, however. The best times to do serious shopping at Marketplace are on weekdays during the day or Sunday morning. These have been the least crowded times in my experience. The best time to enjoy the fun atmosphere is in the evening, but arrive early if you want to dine at one of the restaurants here because they virtually all develop lengthy waits.
Dining Options
My family used to be quite passionate about our visit to Chef Mickey’s, which is no longer located here (It’s now at the Contemporary). However, I can’t complain too much because there are now tons of dining options for a quick snack or a more elaborate meal. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten out of this place without adding a few hundred (or thousand) calories to my day! The following are some recommendations with regard to dining at Marketplace.
Cap’n Jack’s Restaurant - This is where I have ended up on a couple occasions to avoid the nightmare of trying to get in the Rainforest Café. The restaurant is on the water’s edge, and offers a nice view of the lake if you can get a window seat. My family loves the crab cakes here, and I recommend the spinach dip and chips. This restaurant doesn’t feel as crowded as some of the others even when it is full to capacity. Waits can become long here as well. There is a cute little area in the front entryway where kids can watch Disney cartoons while they wait, or just go take a walk and come back.
Rainforest Café - The slogan is “A Wild Place to Shop and Eat." Let me tell you, trying to eat here is certainly a wild experience. It is not uncommon to encounter a two hour wait here, and there are no reservations. However, last time my family got wise and joined a fan club of sorts that allowed quick seating as one of the perks, so look into this. The restaurant is full of plants and audioanimatronic animals that move and make noise. There are elephants, gorillas, and giant butterflies. Food is generally pretty good, my favorites are the giant Caesar Salad and the Volcano brownie dessert (be sure to share!) Service can be slow, however. The experience is a fun one, but this is the most crowded branch of this chain I have ever seen, so if you have a Rainforest Café near your home I recommend going to another location to experience this restaurant.
Earl of Sandwich - This is the Marketplace’s newest offering, and part of a chain of sandwich shops. You can chose from a wide variety of sandwich options and baked goods. This is a quick place to get a substantial meal, but a little bit overpriced for a sandwich shop in my opinion.
McDonald’s - Would the Marketplace be complete without a big ‘ol McDonald’s? I think not! A lot of people scoff about eating McDonald’s on vacation, but this is probably your cheapest, and quickest, option at the Marketplace. If you are on a shopping mission or have picky kids, there’s nothing wrong with running in and grabbing some chicken nuggets.
Wolfgang Puck Express - This is another new addition to Marketplace, and the only location at which I have not dined. The restaurant offers sandwiches and pizza to go, which can be eaten outside on benches or tables or taken home with you.
Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop - This fabulous ice cream shop doesn’t serve ‘real’ food, but I have been known to make a meal out of one of the fabulous sundaes. There is a Soda Shop where you can order a variety of ice cream treats, and a chocolate shop where you can buy something to take home. The chocolate shop gives out Free Samples of full size pieces of fresh chocolate! The caramel-filled kind seems to be the norm. All you have to do is step inside and find the worker with the basket. Be sure to stop and get your free piece of candy even if you don’t plan on eating here or buying anything!
Snack Shop - Some of the best popcorn I have ever had at Disney can be purchased from the snack shop by the lake. It is just the right amount of salty and buttery, and always warm. Cold drinks are also available.
Shop ‘Til You Drop!
Ok, now that your hunger is satisfied, its time to do some serious shopping! Marketplace is, in my opinion, the best place to shop for Disney souvenirs. You can find here almost anything Disney you would find in the parks, with the exception of some very specialized hotel-based souvenirs (t-shirts with Grand Floridian on them). There are also some very unique items available in these stores. If you are staying at a Disney hotel, you can do your shopping at Marketplace and have the packages sent back to your hotel at no cost. The following are a few of my very favorite must-stop shops at Marketplace.
World of Disney - A Disney lover’s dream come true! This is the largest Disney character merchandise store. The store is divided into sections according to product type (home, toys, jewelry and such). Just going in the store is fun, even if you don’t intend to buy anything. There are a lot of great places to take photographs, you can pose between the princess on a park bench or try on a princess boa and crown. This store can get VERY crowded and be very disorienting, however, so have a plan when you go in of what type of souvenirs you are looking for.
Wonderful World of Memories - This shop is near and dear to my heart, as I am a passionate scrapbooker. Over the past couple years, I have been finding more and more scrapbook supplies on my trips to Disney World. This shop has all the supplies in one place. There is a huge selection of stickers, paper, and page kits with a variety of themes. Prices are actually fairly reasonable as scrapbook supplies go, it is generally an expensive hobby.
Basin - This little store is probably my favorite at Marketplace. Basin offers soaps, lotions, massage oils, and other body products. You can buy soap by weight with a variety of designs and scents. On my last trip I picked chocolate and strawberry soaps, and my mom opted for orange and vanilla ones. Be sure to try the free samples of hand scrub available in the back corner, it will make your hands smooth for the rest of the day. One of my very favorite gifts to take home to others comes from the “make your own candle” section of the store. You can drop wax beads of a variety of colors into a square glass holder. A worker will then insert a wick and vacuum seal the whole thing. I did two last time I was there, one to match my sister’s room and one in my wedding colors.
Summer Sands - Here is a place to go if you want a break from Disney merchandise. Summer Sands offers beach wear including bathing suits, sandals, and jewelry. Brands include Roxy and Quicksilver. If you need a new bathing suit, there is quite a good selection available but you will probably not find anything on sale. Expect to pay at least $80 for a swimsuit. For a less expensive souvenir, there is a colorful selection of summery jewelry ranging from shell necklaces to charm bracelets.
The Lego Store - I never buy anything, but it is at lest worth a walk through. This store features a huge variety of Lego products. Both inside and out, various Lego works of art are on display. There is a snoring man directly outside, and a huge Lego dragon in the lake.
Goofy’s Candy Kitchen - This is a junk food lover’s dream! There is a huge selection of bagged candy, as well as fresh treats. The store offers both traditional candy favorites as well as the latest Disney candy products. Some of my favorite products include the multi-flavored saltwater taffy, chocolate rice crispy squares, and the Mickey pretzels that I can’t find anywhere off of Disney property. This place may give you a cavity!
That’s not all…
There are many other stores, and numerous Fountains for your children (or yourself!) to cool off on a hot day. There is a play area for children near the Lego Store, where they can climb, slide, and build with bocks. Sometimes Live Performers will be featured near the lake, one year we were able to hear a school swing choir performing Christmas carols in December. You can also continue to walk across the bridge to visit Pleasure Island or West Side. I enjoy people watching at the Marketplace, and my dad claims no trip is complete without grabbing a beer from Captain Jack’s bar and relaxing by the lake.
Overall…
Downtown Disney Marketplace is always a required stop during my trips to Disney World. It’s a fun place to eat and shop, although it has become more and more crowded in recent years. You won’t find any great bargains here, but Disney merchandise is pretty much identically priced everywhere. What you will find is a great selection of products. My advice would be to go in the afternoon, eat a late lunch if you would like to enjoy one of the restaurants, and do your shopping when the crowds are low. Be warned, whenever I come here I spend too much money!
*Planning a trip to WDW? These other reviews might be helpful...
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See the complete list in my profile!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
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