Disney Downtown

December 23, 2013

Disney Downtown

Yesterday we left the rig around 4 p.m. for Disney Downtown. The ride over was quick and we easily found parking, something we were told could be a problem. Disney Downtown is basically just an outdoor mall with a Disney theme and  shops, some directly tied to Disney and others not. Entrance is free, which is why we went. Even at four o'clock the place was packed, with some of the folks we saw looking bedraggled like they had been at it all day. If you are not really into Disney, and we are not, and don't want to spend $95 and up for a ticket this is a way to do Disney.

Several years ago Peg got to go on a "backstage" tour as part of a conference she attended. Disney is very much into giving presentations to various groups on how they manage their organization. The tour, as she described it, would have been much more interesting to me than a visit to the park. And I must say, just walking around their "mall" I was impressed by the thought that went into the design and build of the place and the seamless way it seems to be run. Of course it's a kind of con: look over here at the pretty lights while I gently pick your pocket. But it's a con with willing parties on both sides, so I can't fault Disney for doing it. Each party gets what they want. The centerpiece of the place is a store called World of Disney and it is chock-a-block with anything and everything Disney could find to put a logo or character on.

Queuing for Santa

 And the place was packed. I couldn't believe how many people would willingly pay to carry around, wear or use something that is basically free advertising for Disney.

Old Town Kissimmee

The day before we went to a local attraction called Old Town Kissimmee. A picture of several of the rides is above. It wasn't bad, better looking than the carnival that comes to the local state fair, but basically the same genetics. It is reminiscent of the type of place Disney worked so hard to get away from when he first conceived of Disneyland. Disney gets rapped for being bland, homogeneous, white bread, etc. It's all true, but they do it so well, and the attention to artistry and craft in everything they do gets my attention and earns a grudging respect.

I would have loved to do the Disney backstage tour, but it takes 7 hours costs $249, a price I could probably justify, but would never pay. The real deal killer was "no photography allowed". I ask you, what is the point of going someplace if you can't take pictures?

We hung around until after sunset when the holiday lights came on. We had been there an hour, maybe an hour and a half, and were Disney overloaded, and that wasn't even the park. What had seemed crowded wasn't anything compared to what was trying to get into the five parking lots. Tour buses, even. We were glad to get out of there and go find a quiet place for pizza and beer, someplace without any mouse ears in sight. But you know what? We had a good time.

Pizza Uno

Lego Dragon

Sunglasses Princess

After a day of Disney