Downtown Disney District -- Borrowing a page from central Florida's successful Disney compound, the Downtown Disney District is a colorful (and very sanitized) "street scene" filled with restaurants, shops, and entertainment for all ages. Options abound: Window-shop with kids in tow, have an upscale dinner for two, or party into the night. The promenade begins at the amusement park gates and stretches toward the Disneyland Hotel; there are nearly 20 shops and boutiques, and a dozen-plus restaurants, live music venues, and entertainment options.
Highlights include House of Blues, the blues-jazz restaurant/club that features Delta-inspired cuisine, big-name musicians, and the hand-clapping Sunday Gospel Brunch; Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, a spicy mix of New Orleans traditional foods and live jazz; ESPN Zone, the ultimate sports, dining, and entertainment experience, including an interactive game room with a rock-climbing wall; and World of Disney, one of the biggest Disney shopping experiences anywhere, with a vast and diverse range of toys, souvenirs, and collectibles. There is also an AMC Theatres 12-screen multiplex, the LEGO Imagination Center, a Sephora cosmetics store, and more.
