The Downtown Disney District in Disneyland is Full of Fun Beyond the Parks

The Downtown Disney District is the ideal location for a shopping spree, a dining excursion or a walk through a different Disney environment. Downtown Disney, a public esplanade leading to the entrances of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Parks, offers a lively, colorful array of innovative restaurants, interesting shops and dynamic entertainment venues.

The 300,000-plus square-foot Downtown Disney District (no admission fee required) includes such distinctive locales as Starbucks, ESPN Zone, House of Blues, La Brea Bakery™ Café, The LEGO Store, Rainforest Café, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, Build-a-Bear Workshop, AMC Theatres, and, of course, World of Disney Store.  Other dining highlights include the Mediterranean-inspired Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar; Tortilla Jo’s, offering tempting Mexican specialties and music; the festive Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, featuring the famed cuisine of southern Italy; and Napolini, a gourmet Italian deli.

Downtown Disney features over 50 shops, restaurants, boutiques and snack locations, plus a travel center with offices of the Walt Disney Travel Company and Alamo Rent-A-Car.

With a diverse menu of unique retail, dining and entertainment options, Downtown Disney offers something for everyone.  AMC Theatres is a nationwide operator of popular multiplex cinemas and entertainment centers.  Its Downtown Disney locale features a 12-screen, Art Deco inspired megaplex theater, including an IMAX screen and featuring stadium-style seating and the finest in moviegoer amenities.

The House of Blues offers a unique twist on its blues-jazz based restaurant and club, featuring Delta-inspired cuisine and a variety of music. Rainforest Café, “A Wild Place to Shop and Eat” offers distinctive food, entertainment and unique shopping in a tropical rain forest setting featuring a combination of live and animated wildlife and other special effects.

Combining a spicy mix of traditional New Orleans cuisine and hot jazz, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen at Downtown Disney is presented by The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, a tradition in the New Orleans’ fine-dining restaurant scene. With its French Quarter inspired architecture, the restaurant is an authentic slice of the “big easy” in the middle of Southern California.

World-renowned chef Joachim Splichal, known through Southern California for his European-influenced fine cuisine served in the Patina and Pinot restaurants, presents Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar at Downtown Disney.  The two-story restaurant serves the flavors of the Mediterranean in a relaxing and chic environment.

Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria brings an authentic taste of Southern Italy to Downtown Disney.  The restaurant features an open kitchen in which diners can observe the preparation of a variety of Italian dishes, including pizza baked in wood-burning ovens.  Nearby is Napolini, a gourmet Italian deli offering fresh salads, pastas, pizzas and sandwiches.

Tortilla Jo’s showcases traditional Mexican dishes, strolling mariachis playing folk ballads and an outdoor cantina serving margaritas and sangrias.

La Brea Bakery and Café, known throughout Los Angeles for its unique breads and pastries, brings the bakery/cafe concept to Downtown Disney.

ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney is the ultimate sports dining and entertainment destination. The Zone is composed of three distinct areas: the Studio Grill, serving great American grill food in an authentic ESPN studio setting; the Screening Room, offering any game on the air in the ultimate sports-viewing environment; and the Sports Arena, which challenges fans with the latest in interactive and competitive attractions.

A colorful, distinct and diverse collection of shops adds to the late night and daytime fun of Downtown Disney.  At 40,000 square-feet, World of Disney at Downtown Disney is one of the biggest Disney shopping experiences on earth, second only to its sister store at the Walt Disney Worldâ Resort in Florida.  It offers an incredible selection of Disney toys, souvenirs, accessories and collectibles in a variety of colorful and imaginatively decorated themed shopping areas.

Other Downtown Disney venues include favorite snacking stops as well as boutiques for jewelry, fashion, sunglasses, fragrances, art, gifts, food items and souvenirs:

• Anna & Elsa’s Boutique – For a cool transformation, this boutique offers girls and boys ages 3 to 15 the unique chance to become their favorite character from Disney’s animated hit film “Frozen.” An array of “Frozen”-inspired merchandise, including apparel, toys, dolls and more, is also available.

• Build-A-Bear Workshop™ “Where Best Friends are Made” – Guests create their own stuffed animals as they “choose, stuff, stitch, fluff, name and dress” their way through a series of bear-making stations.

• D Street – A fusion of urban style with a Disney twist, D Street is the place to find modern and cutting-edge apparel, Star Wars and Marvel product and other pop culture novelties. D Street is also considered the flagship location for Vinylmation figures and collectibles.

• Disney Vault 28 – This couture boutique features headlining designs from Mighty Fine, Tank Farm and Harajuku Lovers. Here you’ll find the hottest handbags, jewelry and apparel.

• Earl of Sandwich – Signature hot sandwiches are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner at this restaurant, founded by a direct descendent of John Montague, the earl who invented the sandwich in 1792. Soups, salads, wraps, pastries and desserts are also on the menu.

• Fossil – Get a polished retro look from a variety of wallets, purses and classic Fossil watches.

• Häagen-Dazs – Famous premium ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet are served in addition to brownies, cookies, soft drinks, juices and specialty coffee drinks.

• Jamba Juice – Celebrate the flavors of life with a variety of healthy and refreshing smoothies and juices.

• The LEGO Store – This store offers a huge variety of the latest Lego imagination products that enable children to create and build.

• LittleMissMatched – “Think outside the socks!” Here creativity and color rein as girls mix-and-match a variety of unique sock options, as well as totes, pajamas, hair accessories and t-shirts. Solving the mystery of the lost sock, all socks come in threes!

• Marceline’s Confectionery – Named for Marceline, Missouri, where Walt Disney grew up, this nostalgic sweet shop delivers “a spoonful of sugar” in a big way with hand-crafted signature items created by a talented team of Disney candy makers. Guest favorites include caramel apples, chocolate-covered strawberries and marshmallow treats.

• Pearl Factory – Create your own authentic pearl jewelry at the Pearl Factory, Hawaii’s Original Pearl-in-the-Oyster. This unique kiosk features more than 135 jewelry mountings for your one-of-a-kind treasure.

• Quiksilver – Check out hundreds of stylish goods from such leading designers as Billabong, Hurley, Ripcurl, Quiksilver, Oakley and more.

• RIDEMAKERZ – Design your custom ride. Choose from hundreds of options to style your ride from body types, wheels, sound effects, colors and accessories.

• Sanuk – Best known for its Sidewalk Surfers, with patented sandal construction that allows feet to move in natural comfort, Sanuk offers a variety of stylish and innovative footwear for the outdoor community.

• Sephora – This specialty store, originated in France, offers countless fragrances and cosmetics, with demonstrations on how to apply them.

• Something Silver – A first-of-its-kind shop in California, this venue features a collection of silver jewelry that is out of the ordinary.

• Starbucks – The unique location brings one of Starbucks’ most engaging experiences to guests with technology designed specifically for this store. In addition to its regular beverage and food selection, the store offers some of the rarest coffees available.

• Sunglass Icon – Allow certified sun fashion consultants to select the perfect style for you. Choose from a variety of designers including Chanel, Oliver Peoples, Gucci, Oakley and more.

• Wetzel’s Pretzels – This state-of-the-art pretzel house offers a world-class selection of the hand-rolled treat, dips and beverages.

• WonderGround Gallery – Distinct and eclectic, this uncommon art gallery provides the ultimate creative space where surprising original and limited-edition art collections – works from a new generation of artists – find a home and lifestyle décor always takes center stage.

 The Downtown Disney District parking lot is conveniently located next to the action and offers free parking for up to three hours — or up to five hours of free parking with validation from participating locations.

Have you been?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

I am an Independent Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel Services. Would you like to visit the original Disney park? I know I would! Contact me at maria@worldofmagictravel.com for your FREE no obligation quote.