One week from tonight we will be exploring Downtown Disney! Anything there we don’t need to miss? We didn’t spend much time there last year…. it was pouring rain the day we went.
I looked over the plans a little bit again today, but I am pretty much done. My mother-in-law is in town for my daughter’s birthday party (tomorrow) and we are hanging out. I have a LOT of stuff to do the first of next week so she is going to take my 3 year old back with her. I am going to miss him so much! But he brings so much joy to her life. But we leave her Thursday afternoon and go to her house anyways, so it works out.
Tanya says
Another idea with the oranaments that my husband and I did for our oldest daughter was we bought one of the hinged ones in 2008 and hid it from our children. She was a junior in high school at the time and we fooled her by telling her that she was gonna have to wait for us to get her high school ring. Little did she know we had the ring, placed it in the ornament, hung it on one of the many trees I have put up, told her to search for a new & different ornament and see what is inside. She was so excited she cried!
Alycia M says
We live in Orlando and our family favorites are:
1)Lego Store – they have a free play area with tables of full of legos to build with. Be sure and ask the attendant for wheels so you can build cars and race them on the ramp table.
2)The T-Rex Cafe – It is owned by the same company as The Rainforest Cafe, if you’ve ever been to one of those the atmosphere is very similar. There are animatronic dinosaurs that move and make noise. There are four rooms each representing the elements fire, water,land and ice. Each is unique and you must tour them all no matter where you are seated! (Btw, you can tour the restaurant even if you don’t eat there.) Every 30 min. a meteor shower happens (stars shoot across the ceiling, the lights dim, all of the dinos move and make noise). It is loud and my son hated it at first but adjusted pretty quickly. Just be aware that little ones might be overwhelmed. The food is pricey but fabulous! Portion sizes are huge and service is great.
There is also a FREE outside play area where the children can “dig for fossils”. They have dino skeletons buried and the children use brushes and tools to “discover” them. They also offer for purchase bags of either fossils, gems or stones. In the play area they have water mining tools to “pan” for your treasure. Each kit comes with a card to identify what items you have. Really fun and you get to keep your treasures! I think it costs around $5 and includes around five items in each bag.
Also at the T-rex is a Build-a-Dino (just like Build-a-Bear workshop only dinosaurs). Fun experience especially if you’ve never done it.
You really could spend a few hours just at the T-Rex if your children enjoy that kind of thing.
3)Ghiridelli for free chocolate, of course!
I’m so excited for you! I know you’re going to have a fabulous time while you here!
Rebecca H. says
How many trips have you made to Disney?
Kristin from Couponing to Disney says
This is trip #2. :)
Kristin from Couponing to Disney says
Thanks to everyone who gave me tips!! I’m going to use them. :)
Michelle says
I am so excited for you. I was just telling my husband today that it is crazy how excited I am for someone I don’t even know to go to Disneyworld. I think it is just because of all the great memories I have of my family vacations to disneyland as a kid, and I know how much I still have 25 years later with my husband and kids. I can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Kate says
We just got back from our trip on Wednesday, and one night we took our 4-year-old to the Cirque du Soleil show, “La Nouba,” at Downtown Disney. She LOVED it (as did we). We even had to buy her the DVD of the show on the way out, and she has watched it several times since we’ve been back.
Shannon says
A thought on the Christmas ornament…I like to pick up an ornament for each of my kids as a stocking stuffer. It reminds them of a great trip and adds to their collection of ornaments.
leann says
My family loves Downtown Disney!
We make annual trips to the Toy Store to get Mr. Potato Head parts and My Little Ponies. The Lego is like heaven for my son! We always get Christmas ornaments for each trip. We always have a meal at either The Rainforest Cafe or the Dinosaur restaurant, we also love the Earl of Sandwich, House of Blues, and Planet Hollywood.
You have to get either ice cream or chocolate at Ghiridelli’s.
I love the Basin, they have great bath products, I love the bath bombs! We always pick up pins at the Pin Traders. If you haven’t seen the Cirque du Soleil, it is AMAZING!!! worth every penny! I can’t wait to visit the new Ride Makerzm that sounds like a lot of fun, of course I am going to miss the Virgin Mega Store.
Deanna says
We go out to eat a LOT, much more than we should for our wallets as well as our waistlines, however, that being said, T Rex is the best restaurant we have ever eaten at. It is pricey but is SO GOOD. The food is outrageous, the decor is amazing, there is a “meteor shower” every 30 mins or so. The fountains are very “cool” also, especially when u guys r going it will be fun to cool off at them. Have a GREAT time! I can’t wait until we go again.
45 so.
Ashley says
I’m so excited for you and the family! I LOVE all things Disney! My husband and I love going to the Christmas Store, World of Disney, and Goofy’s Candy Shop. We tried to get into Ghiradelli’s, but it was beyond packed! I wasn’t to upset, as my dad represents the Ghiradelli Candy Company with his job. So, our family gets the candy year round! However, the ice cream sounds delicious!
Angela says
I’m getting excited for you and now you are making me want to go again. We still get so excited before each trip even though we go quite regular. It is the most magical and happiest place on Earth.
Hope says
There is a clearance store in Downtown Disney where everything is 4/$10. I let the kids each pick 2 things that they wanted with no objections…they also had clearance Christmas ornaments there too!
Tina says
What is the name of this place? I can’t believe I have never seen it!
mandy says
Me neither! Holy cow.. we’ll have to make a trip to Orlando =)
MamasNewShoes says
What a blessing that she can take care of your 3 year old. I know you’ll miss him but it works out nicely!
Laurie says
The night before we leave the wonderful world of Disney we go to Ghiridelli’s for our ice cream sundaes. We’ve done this every trip! We are going this July and the kids (20 & 17) have already said we need to do it again!
Hope you have a magical vacation!
Tosh says
Are you going to do the Lanyards w/ the Disney pins? If so they have TONS on carts out there. We didn’t know anything about them until I was talking to a Disney employee and she gave me one! Now we want to get one each time we go to remind us of that trip :)
Monica says
We loved the Lego store!! They have a life size Woody built out of legos (we were just there 2 weeks ago)! My kids loved building all kinds of things.
We also went to the TREX resturant (we had made reservations in advance so there was no wait time). My boys LOVED this resturant. They were entertained the entire time we were there. We also let them build a dinosaur. FUN!!!
Amanda Johnston says
I am getting so excited for you! I love World of Disney. My DD loves the fountain. Definitely take a change of clothes. Some people even bring bathing suits. There’s a bathroom right there. I like to get the free sample at Ghiridelli’s and maybe a coffee. Either hot or cold depending on the weather. T-Rex is LOUD. I mean really loud. They are removing McDonald’s so if you haven’t been there, you might want to stop by. I actually like the hot dogs from the cart, LOL! You guys are going to have so much fun!!! We are going back in October for my son’s first birthday. I can’t wait!
Alison says
I LOVE the Christmas store! They have a few select non-Christmas items too. It’s great to get a personalized Disney ornament for your tree so each year your are decorating you have a great memory of your trip!
I can’t think of the name of the kitchen store either, but I agree it is great!
Mary says
I loved the kitchen store in downtown disney. I can’t think of what it’s called. But they have everything for your kitchen with Mickey Mouse on it! And every cookbook from around the parks. i could have spent every dime I had there!
Maggie says
Oh I almost forgot about that store! I love it! I got the cutest kitchen towels in the exact shade of blue as my kitchen – they have Mickey heads on them. They have SO much cool stuff! I really want the china – maybe I’ll price it out this trip and then start a little side fund to get it when we go back in 2012. It’s gorgeous. Thanks for the reminder Mary! :-)
Karen says
Ghiradelli chocolate and the LEGO store were our favorites!
sandra says
T-Rex is also great because they have a Build-A-Dinosaur adjacent to the restaurant and what little boy doesn’t love dinosaurs. And the giant T-Rex in the restaurant is awesome.
Lynette J says
Let everyone pick out a special treat at Goofy’s Candy Shoppe- things like a chocolate dipped Mickey rice crispy treat , dipped pretzel rods, or a Caramel apple! So much fun to order, and you get to watch them make your treat and add the special candies or toppings you ask for. The small treats are about 3.75, and the apple is about $7 and is great to share back at the room- bring a knife!
Ashley says
Lynette,
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Chocolate dipped Mickey rice crispy treats!!! I love them so much, that the last time we went to WDW, I brought home a box of them!!!
Michelle says
The apples are so good! If you ask them, they will cut it for you. It is our favorite treat to share.
Summer says
Hello,
There is a new hot air balloon ride…pretty cool. its not the cheapest thing to do(i think it was $20 for 2) but how often do you get to go up in a hot air balloon… my daughter and husband loved it.; i stayed with the sleeping baby and watched from below.
And there is also a new t-shirt store off in a corner on the end that you can custom make your own t-shirts (endless possibilities). totaly awesome to have an original shirt no one else has.
I hope you guys have a ton of fun..excited for you..look forward to our trip later this year.
Elaine says
i agree with summer on the t-shirt..maybe you could design one with Couponing to Disney on it..then you could wear that shirt one day and take pics for the website.
Tina says
Oh, this is a great idea!
Ann says
WOW time is flying by before you leave for your trip. I hope everything goes well and you have a safe trip. I will be praying for your family!
God Bless!
Maggie Moore says
I agree – T-Rex is AWESOME. It’s not outrageous considering you’re at Disney, though a little more than we’d normally like to spend around town. And do go at an off time – that cuts the wait considerably.
One other thing to note – in the stores where you can buy the box of Mr. Potato Head and pieces, you don’t have to buy the head. It takes up so much room in the box, so just fill your box up with pieces and hit TRU or Target for heads when you get back. :-)
Lego is our favorite – we went 3 times our last trip! Of course, it doesn’t help that I’m as much of a lego geek as my little boy! Poor hubby. Haha!
Mandy says
Hey Kristin,
We ate at T-Rex last year, and it was pricey, but totally worth it. We did a very late dinner and didn’t have to wait. I heard that sometimes wait times for T-Rex can be around 2 hours at prime dinner-time hours.
Tricia says
Sounds like so much fun
Jennifer says
I buy a souvenir Christmas ornament at the Christmas store each time we visit. Maybe one day I’ll have a Disney tree.
Ashley says
Me too Jennifer! This was going to be my coment, but you beat me too it!
Tina says
I love Ghiradelli Chocolate, World of Disney, and the Lego Store. There is also the new T-Rex restaurant that I have heard is pretty impressive on the inside.
Erin says
Our Downtown Disney trips usually include going to the toy store by the fountains to asssemble the Mr. Potato Heads and My Little Ponies, a ride on either the train or carousel ($2 each), visiting Ghirardelli Chocolate Company for a free sample, and then the Lego store. If the weather is nice, the kids love to play in the fountains and the boat ride is nice, too. As JoAnna stated, bring a change of clothes or swimsuit and towel.
Karen says
I agree the Lego store is a must. My kids loved to play with the legos outside, building all sorts of things.
JoAnna says
Take a change of clothes to downtown disney… my son LOVES playing in the fountains.. give me 15 mins to enjoy my cup of tea and map of the next day activities.. plus we like the Boat ride across the lake and the Lego Store is great.. if you can get out of there without paying something. lol.. HAVE FUN!!