Downtown Disney - Anaheim explodes with free entertainment
appreciative of good service, budget-conscious traveler
Pros
Free entertainment everywhere, Very family friendly, Great date destination, People everywhere, Great people watching, Good shopping choices, Good dining selection
Cons
Crowded
NOV
25
2007
Downtown Disney - Anaheim, CA —
Disneyland in Anaheim, California was not our destination. We were staying in Anaheim for a conference and was able to take a $3 shuttle ride to Downtown Disney. It's free to enter this area, which is located between Disneyland and California Adventure parks.
Like a destination shopping mall, Downtown Disney features quite a few themed restaurants, including Rainforest Cafe and House of Blues.
Being the Friday before Thanksgiving, the place was packed with families, young couples and groups of teens -- you name it! Everyone was there, so it was slow walking into enjoy the festive atmosphere. There were security checkpoints to pass through, which I assume are in part due to the entryways to the theme parks.
There were musicians performing on every block, and they sang and played their hearts out. As it's a Disney establishment, the performers were top notch. I was thrilled to hear a few tunes by the US Air Force Mobility band while everyone danced on the plaza. We also stopped to hear an amazing violin player. A great guitar player finished his set while we were there.
What's great about DD is that everyone is there for the same reason -- to have fun. The energy is positive, and there were families everywhere. The people watching was awesome. We may have been at the bar alongside some of the Pirates performers from the theme park.
My companion and I ate at the Uva Bar in the open air. What a treat to eat outside in November for someone from the Midwest! The food was pretty good, though I'd skip the fritto misto as the calamari was a little chewy.
While we didn't want to go to the parks during our trip, we did want to have some fun, and this was a great choice. There were a lot of shopping opportunities and between shops, you could smell the amazing scent of kettle/caramel corn. People were dressed up, down and all around, depending on their destination and activities for the night.
So for a fun, music-filled, possibly romantic, or silly, night on the town, you might try Downtown Disney when you're in Anaheim.
