Walking Tour of Downtown Disney West Side

» Navigation » Disney World Vacation » Downtown Disney World

The Downtown Disney West Side district features some of the best dining, shopping and entertainment all in one location. You’ve got Planet Hollywood, Disney Quest, Cirque du Soleil, AMC 24 Theaters, a two-story Virgin Megastore, and much more to enjoy here. The West Side offers a wealth of activities for those seeking to spend a day away from the busy theme parks.

Planet Hollywood

This national chain or restaurants makes its most unique mark in the heart of Downtown Disney. It is known for its unmistakable exterior, awesome theming, and the great memorabilia scattered throughout the three levels inside of the restaurant.

The food isn’t bad, either. You will find a great variety of salads, chicken, seafood, sandwiches, pasta, and desserts to fulfill any appetite. They are known to have great burgers.

Rates:
$ 10 - 22 daily Lunch
$ 10 - 22 daily Dinner

Bongos Cuban Café

When Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio, set out to merge the tropical design of the Caribbean with a little South Beach glamour, no one could have expected them to get it this right. Everything about the architecture of the building screams 1940’s-1950’s Havana…complete with a great Desi Arnaz impersonator who takes the stage each night.

Bongos remains a favorite of tourists and locals alike who value great Caribbean dishes at reasonable prices.

You can enjoy great cocktails and red hot rhythms at the full-service bar. On some nights, you may even be surprised to find a live band playing your favorite latin hits of yesterday and today in the upstairs dining area.

The full serve restaurant is open Monday - Thursday from 4:00pm till 11:00pm and on Friday and Saturday from 11:00am till midnight with the bar remaining open until 2:00am. Live bands on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:00 to 2:00pm. On Sundays the hours are 11:00am till 11:00pm.

Wolfgang Puck

This world-famous restaurant focuses on fresh ingredients with a distinct California flavor. From the moment you walk up to the building, it oozes a feeling of fun through the use of bright colors and bold shapes.

The curious crowd may find it useful to know that the kitchen is in clear view of the main dining room. If you’d prefer to have a little fresh air along with your meal, there is plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the water.

It is important to note that in May 2009, a new general manager was brought in and since then this restaurant is receiving rave reviews.

Wolfgang Puck is open Sunday & Monday 11:30am - 10:30pm; Tuesday - Thursday 11:30am - 11:00pm; Friday & Saturday 11:00am - 11:30pm.

AMC 24 Theatres

This enormous movie theater complex boasts an incredible 24 separate auditoriums with stadium seating in 18 of those theaters over a total of over 110,000 square feet.

Here you can enjoy the latest blockbuster hits from Hollywood’s finest in one of the hippest and most high-tech movie theaters in the world.

All of your favorite movies are shown using the latest technology including: THX Surround Sound and Sony Dynamic Digital Sound.

DisneyQuest

The ultimate interactive adventure; Videogame lovers will have an absolute blast at DisneyQuest. Essentially, it is a five-story interactive arcade complex which can be enjoyed for one, all-inclusive price.

The busiest times tend to be at night and during rainy days. Try to make an effort to get to Disney Quest around 11am-noon so you can experience everything inside before the evening crowd files in.

We highly recommend Cyber Space Mountain and the new Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Adults will be pleased to know that Disney Quest devotes an entire section of arcade games solely to the classic titles of the 70s and 80s.

Price Range: $ 29.00-$ 35.00

Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba

As soon as the show starts, the action is non-stop for over 90 minutes. Some of the world’s most well-trained acrobats and stage performers will ‘wow’ you to the beat of a pulse-pounding soundtrack.

The 1,600-seat arena offers great views from anywhere you sit. Though all seating is reserved, be sure to arrive about 30 minutes before showtime. There is a hilarious pre-show that you will not want to miss. If you need a booster seat for your child, just ask one of the ushers and they will help you out.

All of the acts and performers delight the crowd but the one act that seems to win the loudest applause are the four very young Chinese performers who juggle, toss and slide wooden spools to each other all while executing somersaults and flips. As each one outdid the other, the audience cheered louder and louder until the applause reached a fever pitch.

Although a bit pricy, this show is certainly not to be missed!

 Another article of interest is Downtown Disney Marketplace.

Call 1-800-641-4008 to book
Orlando Hotels near Disney!