Downtown Disney, 1580 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, CA 92802, (714) 300-7800
This is another modern area of Disneyland Resort to which I have trouble warming. I really liked the feel of the old monorail station, the tram stop, the rubber trees alongside the buildings, the travel offices in the building underneath the monorail station, the Japanese garden in the administrative offices to the north, the miniature golf, the marina with its paddleboats, the diving bell, Seaports of the Pacific, Tiffy's Ice Cream Parlour with its old ragtime music, the convenience stores, the artistic window displays outside the souvenir shop, and more. I have to admit that objectively the area has improved as far as visual and auditory delights, but it also has an excessively commercial feel now, and lacks the easy access in and out of the area. It's now almost impossible to even walk along the road.
Some great things about DD are that it's free, it's open late at night even after Disneyland closes, and there is usually live entertainment at any time in the afternoon or evening. The Rainforest Cafe is always good for photos, although its "jungle" is awfully unrealistic compared to say the Jungle Cruise. Most of the interior of the Rainforest Cafe is freely accessible to shoppers and photographers, except for maybe the restaurant and bar. World of Disney is a store in DD that particularly appeals to me due to all its Pirates merchandise and displays, at least in 2006-2007, after the huge success of the 2006 film Dead Man's Chest.
To add to Downtown Disney's overall feeling of excessive control, a modern police station has been installed on Disney property, right across from Downtown Disney, with police cars poised to intrude and arrest. And then there is the security checkpoint between Downtown Disney and Disneyland, where everyone is forced to open packages and handbags before walking into even the ticket booth area of Disneyland.
I don't know if this fountain has an official name, but obviously it was intended to resemble a California Poppy, the state flower. I agree with an acquaintance of mine who says it looks more like a punctured eyeball, however. The water stream is dynamic, so the height of the water jet varies. Kids like to play around the edge of this fountain.
Downtown Disney has a wide variety of musicians of all musical styles, day and night, playing for free. Most play to recordings of a rhythm section, and most sell CDs of their music at a table next to where they play.
I really dislike this place. It looks like it should be good, since there is a live view of a person making pretzels and there are some good-looking snacks and ice drinks, but in practice the noise level and acoustics are appaling, it's almost impossible to talk with the cashier over the loud noise, service is lousy, the hot dogs are dried out, the gourmet ice doesn't hold its flavor, prices are high, supplies are missing, and there is no seating except wherever you may happen to find a public bench outside. Wetzel's Pretzels also has a small outdoor stand elsewhere in Downtown Disney, but after my experience in the main stand I would not buy their food again, anywhere.
ESPN Zone tends to get good reviews on MousePlanet, though I've never eaten there. Each of the murals of sports players on the side wall has a rotating plate on the player's head, which automatically tilts back and forth. It seems like a lot of work to put into such an unconvincing effect.
Created: February 24, 2007
Updated: May 6, 2007