Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California

There's more to Disneyland than just its two theme parks. There's an area that not many may think of as recreational, but in fact, can be really fun! It's called, "Downtown Disney". It's open to the public, and you don't need a ticket to get in. (You will, however, have your belongings searched for weapons, before entering. This is fairly standard for almost any Disney property. Actually, it makes me feel much safer when I'm on Disney property to know that everyone's been searched for grenades and knives and what-not.)

Anyway, what is, "Downtown Disney"? Well, it's essentially an outdoor mall. But because it was created by Disney, it feels much more special than any run-of-the-mill shopping area. There are interestingly designed buildings, fountains, pleasant music, and unique stores. There's the LEGO store, the Rainforest Café, memorabilia stores, and even a beautiful multiplex theater. The Downtown Disney area is almost %100 foot traffic, with the exception of trams going from Disney hotels to the parks. So no worries about cars or smog interrupting your shopping or dining experience.

This Downtown Disney area is located right in between the Disney hotels and the parks. So if you have the time, you should definitely take the chance to walk down to the Grand Californian Hotel and give yourself a little mini-tour. This may sounds strange to some people, but my thoughts on the matter are, if you can't afford to stay at one the Grand Californian, it would be a terrible shame not to at least see it while you're still there. Walk into the hotel and you'll understand why. It's vast, it's beautiful, it's rustic, and the huge construction of the hotel is quite the spectacle. There are display cases with artifacts from California history, gift shops, firesides, and plenty of places to just sit and relax. When you're in Downtown Disney, there aren't a lot of cool places to just grab a seat. But the lobby of the Grand Californian is nice and cool, and it's a great place to duck out of the crowd for a bit. (Also, it's a fantastic place to take a restroom break!)

I also highly recommend the AMC Theater for a nice cool two hour rest. The theater, like everything else at Downtown Disney, is clean and beautiful. I've never been to a larger theater with a better sound system than this one, it's breathtaking and makes me long for the days of privately-owned movie theaters. (You know, like that scene in, "Annie".)

There's just something utopian about hanging out in Downtown Disney. There's no litter. There's no nearby traffic, everyone around is there on vacation to relax, and overall it's just a very pleasant experience. I recommend ducking out of the park for a meal at Downtown Disney, visiting if you'll be in California for a longer time than you'll be visiting the parks, or taking your significant other out on a breezy date night to have some alone time during a vacation with the kids. You won't regret it!