TIPS FOR DOWNTOWN DISNEY

Avoid the noontime restaurant crowds in the parks and take a short walk or monorail ride to Downtown Disney District for lunch.

If you plan to eat at the Rainforest Café, consider joining their Landry's Select Club. For a small fee you get priority seating and rewards just for joining. Visit http://www.rainforestcafe.com or join on the spot.

Most shops and restaurants here stay open late, so spend more time in the parks, then head “downtown” after the parks close.

You'll find plenty of parking in the lot adjacent to Downtown Disney District, and the first two hours of parking are free. You can get an extra two hours free with validation from certain table-service restaurants or the movie theater. Additional hours cost $12, with a maximum of $36, so don't try to park here to visit the theme parks. Valet parking is available after 5:00 pm for another $12. As of August 16, 2017, Disney no longer allows you to park free for up to two hours in the Downtown Disney lot; the hourly $12 parking fee is now calculated in 30-minute increments, allowing for just a 15-minute grace period for drivers who are dropping off or picking up passengers. But you can can get two hours of free parking in the lot if you spend at least $20 in one transaction at any Downtown Disney shop, kiosk, or quick-service restaurant. Or get up to four hours of free parking with validation from the AMC Theaters, or one of the table-service restaurants in Downtown Disney.

NOTES

Thanks to the parking validation mentioned above, the locals tend to visit Downtown Disney District on “date nights,” which makes the weekends very busy with long waits at eateries.

Disney Dollars and Gift Cards are legal tender at all Downtown Disney District shops and restaurants. If you’re at a Disney hotel, purchases can be delivered to your hotel (request delivery before ringing up).

Almost all of the table-service restaurants here have priority seating (Rainforest Cafe,  on page 228, is the exception). Make reservations online at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining or call 714-781-3463 to make priority seating up to 60 days in advance.

GETTING THERE

By Bus—The Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) offers shuttles from area resorts to Downtown Disney District.

By Car—From I-5 South, exit at Disneyland Drive and follow the signs to Downtown Disney District. From I-5 North, exit at Katella Avenue, turn left, proceed about 1.5 miles to Disneyland Drive, turn right, and follow the signs.

By Foot—It’s a short walk from anywhere within the Disneyland Resort area to Downtown Disney District.

By Monorail—Board the monorail at the Tomorrowland station in Disneyland Park, and get off at the Downtown Disney station.

By Tram—From the Mickey & Friends parking structure, the parking tram drops you off across from the World of Disney.