When my mom and sister told me that they wanted to spend the day at Downtown Disney during their Spring Break visit, my first thought was “Yes! I can show off my newly discovered favorites!” My next was “What the heck will we do with Harper?”

Harper is my adorable, perfect, curly-haired, 2-year-old niece. Since I don’t have kids of my own, I’ve never had to think about how to entertain a toddler during a Downtown Disney afternoon. Luckily, I didn’t have to work too hard to figure it out. Turns out, there is plenty to keep little ones entertained here.

Below, in no particular order, were a few of Harper’s favorites:

The Marketplace Train Ride – My mom tells stories about how much my sister and I loved train rides as kids; it must run in the family. Even though I was a little bigger than the other passengers, I was happy to oblige when Harper asked to ride with “Auntie.” (Tip: Adults riding with small children get to accompany them for free. Score!)

The Marketplace Carousel – Her smile says it all, but Harper loved picking out her favorite horse and climbing aboard. I loved watching her, taking photos and waving from the sidelines. She enjoyed it so much, she had to ride twice – the spinning teacup was just too enticing to pass up.

Browsing at World of Disney – Since she’s only 2, Harper is still too young for a makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, but she’s the perfect age to find her favorite friend (this week it’s Minnie!) and pick out a new princess nightgown (she’s a huge “The Little Mermaid” fan at the moment). Lucky for her, I’m the perfect age to pay for everything.

Building Masterpieces at LEGO Imagination Center – This was, by far, the best 30 minutes of Harper’s day. I think she would have stayed and played all day if we let her. She has LEGO toys at home, but this was a treasure trove of unlimited bricks. I adore the look of intense concentration on her face!

Other highlights included a free chocolate sample at Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, getting a Mickey sticker from a nice Cast Member and watching the Characters in Flight balloon go up and down. The lesson? If you’re worried about bringing a small kid to Downtown Disney, don’t be. There are lots of fun to be had, no matter your age.

Do you have a favorite Disney vacation memory or tip on traveling with toddlers? Please share in the comments below. (Harper will be back this summer and I can use all the suggestions you’ve got!)

Want more from Downtown Disney? Follow us on Twitter at @WDWDowntown.

Tagged: Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

In May 2012, we opened the first Star Wars Droid Factory experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I’m delighted to announce that we’ve expanded the build-your-own droid experience to new locations at Disneyland park in California and Downtown Disney Marketplace in Florida. I spoke with toy merchandiser Cody Hampton at Disney Theme Park Merchandise about what’s in store for fans.

“The Droid Factory has been an incredibly popular experience with our fans,” explained Cody. “After the initial launch, we heard our fans loud and clear that they also wanted this interactive experience in California. I’m beyond happy that guests are able to exit Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at Disneyland park and be able to build their own droids.”

A Droid Factory build station opened at Once Upon a Toy in the Downtown Disney Marketplace earlier this month. For California, the new build station can be found in The Star Trader in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park starting April 13.

Guests are able to build “astromech” droids from the Star Wars galaxy. (Here’s a closer look at this series of droids from the official Star Wars website)

The new experiences will feature more build stations for guests to make their own droid action figures. They were designed as a square, which can accommodate up to four guests at one time (that’s two more build stations than the current version at Tatooine Traders in Disney’s Hollywood Studios).

May the Force be with you … and your droids!

Tagged: DHS, DL, DLR, Downtown Disney, Star Wars, WDW

Filed: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

After a family trip to Ireland, we jumped at the chance to re-live the experience over a shared meal at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Downtown Disney – and not just any “order-off-the-menu” experience, but a traditional Sunday roast, much like families enjoy so much on the Emerald Isle.

With a minimum of six guests, Raglan Road’s “Host the Roast” is one of a kind in Central Florida – there are plenty of Sunday brunches and buffets, but Raglan’s is the only one that lets your host do the honors and carve tender prime rib, roast pork, roast chicken or roast leg of lamb (OK, you can just relax and let the chef do it).

My husband played along and put on the toque and apron to carve the perfectly roasted rib of beef served with Yorkshire pudding, horseradish cream and rosemary jus that we chose for our Sunday lunch. The food flows to the table – generous cast-iron bowls of balsamic-glazed carrots, tiny potatoes roasted super-crisp in duck fat, crunchy green beans, gooey potatoes au gratin with an extra bit of Dubliner cheese. If a side runs out, the server quickly replenishes. No one goes hungry.

Best of all, the champion Irish dancers and Creel, the house band imported from Ireland, bring a real joy to the place, a happy combo of tradition and flair. It’s hard to imagine such skilled, synchronized movement, especially while you’re sitting still, enjoying crispy potatoes and thick cuts of meat. Beautiful costumes and engaging Irish tunes are like a fancy bow around the family gathering.

We could have chosen the roast pork loin with cider port jus, applesauce and apple chutney (with an added side of decadent pork cracklins’). Or the roast leg of lamb stuffed with sage and onion, served with mint sauce and red wine jus. Or roast lemon thyme chicken with chicken and wild mushroom pie.

But that prime rib was just right – and the traditional Irish Sunday lunch favorite. And we finished with a generous Gran Marnier fruit and custard trifle (a strawberry and apple crumble is the other option, offered gluten free if desired). But the whipped cream and cool fruit seemed like the perfect ending – and segue to an afternoon nap!

Cost is $55 per person for roast rib of beef, $47 per person for roast pork loin, $45 per person for lamb and $35 for chicken. An 18 percent gratuity will be added.

To reserve a table for your family and friends, call 407-938-0300 at least 24 hours in advance. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Tagged: Dining, Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Disney Dining, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

Heading to the Walt Disney World Resort April 13-14? If so, be sure to add Art of Disney in the Downtown Disney Marketplace to the list of places you will want to visit during your stay.

Disney Fine Art artists Rob Kaz, Tim Rogerson and Michelle St. Laurent will be on hand for special appearances and signings, Saturday, April 13, from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., and again on Sunday, April 14, from 1-4 p.m., to sign artwork published exclusively by Collectors Editions.

Here’s a look at some of the new art heading your way.

 
For information on this merchandise event, Art in the Garden, Ridley Pearson and more taking place at the Walt Disney World Resort this month, visit www.ArtofDisneyParks.com.

Tagged: Art of Disney, Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Art of Disney, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

I’m a big believer that good ideas can come from anyone. That’s why, when I got the green light to write for the Disney Parks Blog, I asked my co-workers to come to me with any story suggestions they had. (My theory is: if they think it’s cool, you will too!)

My friend Louis told me about the talents of a few cast members on our Guest Show Team. Not only do they keep Downtown Disney nice and tidy, they also entertain our guests with their amazing artistic skills. Take a look:

Hayes, featured above, is one of 15 or so cast members who has learned to “paint” Mickey, Minnie and other classic Disney characters using nothing more than his broom and water.

Hayes told me that it’s not uncommon for guests to gather around and snap photos of his work. I’ll admit, I was mesmerized watching him do this! Though I would have guessed he’d been doing it forever, Hayes has only worked at Downtown Disney since January. As part of the Disney College Program, he jumped at the chance to attend an optional training class to acquire this unique skill. (I think I would have too … if you ask me, it’s the ultimate “party trick”!)

The moral of the story is this: the next time you visit Downtown Disney, be on the lookout – that friendly custodial cast member you see just may be more than meets the eye!

Has a cast member ever dazzled you unexpectedly? Share your story in the comments below – I’d love to hear it!

(And if you want to be wowed by a daily dose of Downtown Disney news, follow us on Twitter at @WDWDowntown.)

Tagged: Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

Hey everyone. I’m Darcy, former Community Manager for the Walt Disney World Resort Facebook page and the newest Disney Parks Blog author, sharing updates from the heart of Downtown Disney. (Literally, my office is smack-dab in the middle of the property. I love my job!) Just over a month ago, I accepted a brand-new position here, and with the recent Disney Springs announcement by Tom Staggs, I couldn’t have come at a better time.

From day #1 in my new role, I knew I wanted to share some of the “hidden gems” of Downtown Disney with all of you. I’m discovering many of them alongside you, so we’ll be finding fun from the West Side to the Marketplace – and everywhere in between – together. Additionally, as there are new updates on Disney Springs, check back here on the Disney Parks Blog.

First up? Characters in Flight, Operated by Aerophile. I’ve seen the balloon in the sky a million times, but I never tried it. Until last week. And you know what? It was way cooler than I expected. I naively thought I wouldn’t be able to see ‘that much’ from the sky, but I was wrong. And I loved every minute of it. Here’s why:

I got lucky and went up on a really clear day. No joke, I could see from the top of La Nouba all the way to the outskirts of Disney property. Spaceship Earth, Tower of Terror, The Contemporary. – I saw them all, and from a totally different vantage point. (After 10+ years at Disney, I thought I had seen the parks from every angle but boy, was I wrong!)

The ride wasn’t scary at all; it was actually sort of calming. When I got all the way up to 400 feet, I felt like I was taking a short break from reality. Even though it was a full flight, it was really quiet up there, and peaceful. You know that feeling you get when you’re in an airplane and you look down to see tiny houses and highways – like you’re part of it but somehow removed? – It was like that, but instead of a strange town, I was looking at one of my favorite playgrounds.

It was just the right amount of time. My flight lasted about 10 minutes and it was perfect – I got to walk around and check out the 360 degree view, plus had a few minutes to snap some photos (digital photography is one of my hobbies!). I didn’t feel rushed, which is always a nice feeling when you wait in line for something you’re excited about.

One of these days I’d love to go up at night. Maybe start with a margarita from Paradiso 37, take a ride, and then top off the evening with a sweet treat from Candy Cauldron. (And if you’re more of a morning person, you’ll be excited to hear that right now – when you purchase tickets and ride before 10 a.m. – you pay only $10!)

Have you experienced Characters in Flight? Tell me how you liked it in the comments below – it’s always fun to compare notes!

For a daily dose of Downtown Disney news, follow @WDWDowntown on Twitter.

Tagged: Disney Springs, Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

This week back in 1975, shopping took on a whole new meaning as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village (you might know it as the Downtown Disney Marketplace) opened.

The LBV Shopping Village was home to shops such as Toys Fantastique, The Flower Garden and The Pottery Chalet pictured below. What I wouldn’t give to purchase a treasure offered at The Pottery Chalet today!

Although the area has grown and changed over the years, it’s still a great place to spend the day shopping, dining, and playing at Downtown Disney.

Tagged: Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Disney History, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort