ANAHEIM, Calif. – With live entertainment, lush landscaping and innovative architecture, the Downtown Disney District is the ideal location for guests to experience a shopping spree, dining excursions or simply a stroll through a unique Disney environment. Downtown Disney, a public esplanade leading to the entrances of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks offers a lively, colorful array of unique restaurants, diverse shops and dynamic entertainment venues.

The 300,000-plus square-foot Downtown Disney District (no admission fee required) includes such distinctive locales as ESPN Zone, House of Blues, La Brea Bakery Café, LEGO Imagination Center, Rainforest Café, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, Build-a-Bear Workshop, AMC Theatres, World of Disney and coming this summer, Earl of Sandwich.  Other dining highlights include the Mediterranean-inspired Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar; Tortilla Jo’s, offering tempting Mexican specialties and music; the festive Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, featuring the famed cuisine of southern Italy; and Napolini, a gourmet Italian deli.

Downtown Disney features more than 50 shops, restaurants, boutiques and snack locations, plus a travel center with offices for the Walt Disney Travel Company, Travelex and Alamo Rent-A-Car.

The diverse menu of unique retail, dining and entertainment options at Downtown Disney offers something for everyone. AMC Theatres is a nationwide operator of popular multiplex cinemas and entertainment centers. Its Downtown Disney locale features a 12-screen, Art Deco inspired megaplex theater, featuring stadium-style seating and the finest in moviegoer amenities.

The House of Blues, where food, music and art intersect showcases the Crossroads at House of Blues menu created by renowned celebrity chef, Aaron Sanchez. The menu features a fresh twist on some House of Blues staples like jambalaya, slow-smoked pulled pork, signature burgers, classic salads and premium-cut steaks.

Rainforest Café, “A Wild Place to Shop and Eat” offers distinctive food, entertainment and unique shopping in a tropical rain forest setting featuring a combination of live and animated wildlife and other special effects.

Combining a spicy mix of traditional New Orleans cuisine and hot jazz, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen at Downtown Disney is presented by The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, a tradition in the New Orleans’ fine-dining restaurant scene. With its French Quarter inspired architecture, the restaurant is an authentic slice of the “big easy” in the middle of Southern California.

World-renowned chef Joachim Splichal, known through Southern California for his European-influenced fine cuisine served in the Patina and Pinot restaurants, presents Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar at Downtown Disney.  The two-story restaurant serves the flavors of the Mediterranean in a relaxing and chic environment.

Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria brings an authentic taste of Southern Italy to Downtown Disney.  The restaurant features an open kitchen in which diners can observe the preparation of a variety of Italian dishes, including pizza baked in wood-burning ovens.  Nearby is Napolini, a gourmet Italian deli offering fresh salads, pastas, pizzas and sandwiches.

Tortilla Jo’s showcases traditional Mexican dishes, strolling mariachis playing folk ballads and an outdoor cantina serving margaritas and sangrias.

La Brea Bakery and Café, known throughout Los Angeles for its unique breads and pastries, brings the bakery/cafe concept to Downtown Disney.

ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney is the ultimate sports dining and entertainment destination. The Zone is composed of three distinct areas: the Studio Grill, serving great American grill food in an authentic ESPN studio setting; the Screening Room, offering any game on the air in the ultimate sports-viewing environment; and the Sports Arena, which challenges fans with the latest in interactive and competitive attractions.

Opening this summer is Earl of Sandwich, the first location in California. The restaurant has historical ties to the inventor of the sandwich, the Sandwich family. Here, signature hot sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps and desserts also are on the menu in addition to a vast array of hot and cold beverages. Breakfast sandwiches and pastries are available in the morning and a variety of catering options will be offered.

A colorful, distinct and diverse collection of shops adds to the late night and daytime fun of Downtown Disney.  At 40,000 square-feet, World of Disney at Downtown Disney is one of the biggest Disney shopping experiences on earth, second only to its sister store at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It offers an incredible selection of Disney toys, souvenirs, accessories and collectibles in a variety of colorful and imaginatively decorated themed shopping areas.

Other Downtown Disney venues include favorite snacking stops as well as boutiques for jewelry, fashion, sunglasses, fragrances, art, gifts, food items and souvenirs:

• Build-A-Bear Workshop - Guests create their own stuffed animals as they “choose, stuff, stitch, fluff, name and dress” their way through a series of bear-making stations.
• D Street – A fusion of urban chic with Disney flair. D Street is the place guests find trendy, modern apparel, merchandise, artwork and vintage inspired apparel.
• Disney Vault 28 – This couture boutique features notable designs from Mighty Fine, Tank Farm and Harajuku Lovers, offering guests the hottest handbags, jewelry and apparel.
• Fossil – Guests get a polished retro look from a variety of clothing, wallets, purses and classic Fossil watches.
• Häagen-Dazs – Guests enjoy famous premium ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, brownies, cookies, soft drinks, juices and specialty coffee drinks.
• Jamba Juice – This shop celebrates the flavors of life while serving a variety of healthy and refreshing smoothies and juices.
• LEGO Imagination Center – Recently remodeled with more fun, this store offers a huge variety of the latest Lego imagination products that enable guests to create and build.
• LittleMissMatched – Here, guests “think outside the socks!” Creativity and color rein as they mix-and-match a variety of unique sock options, as well as totes, pajamas, hair accessories and t-shirts. Solving the mystery of the lost sock, all socks come in threes!
• Marceline’s Confectionery – Inspired by Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri, this nostalgic sweet shop is stuffed with freshly, hand-made goodies, candy and fanciful assortments.
• Pearl Factory – Guests create authentic pearl jewelry at the Pearl Factory, Hawaii’s Original Pearl-in-the-Oyster. This kiosk features more than 135 jewelry mountings for a one-of-a-kind treasure.
• Quicksilver - Offers hundreds of stylish goods from such leading designers as Billabong, Hurley, Ripcurl, Quicksilver, Oakley and more.
• RIDEMAKERZ – Guests design their own custom ride, choosing from hundreds of options to style their own toy car or truck from body types, wheels, sound effects, colors and accessories.
• Sanuk – Best known for its Sidewalk Surfers, with patented sandal construction that allows feet to move in natural comfort, Sanuk offers a variety of stylish and innovative footwear for the outdoor community.
• Sephora – This specialty store, originated in France, offers countless fragrances and cosmetics, with demonstrations on how to apply them.
• Something Silver – A first-of-its-kind shop in California, this venue features a collection of silver jewelry that is out of the ordinary.
• Studio Disney 365 – Guests experience the glitz and glam of Hollywood by getting the look of some of their favorite Disney Channel stars as they choose from hair, makeup and wardrobe makeovers.
• Sunglass Icon – Certified sun fashion consultants assist guests as they select their style. Choices include a variety of designers, such as Chanel, Oliver Peoples, Gucci and Oakley.
• Wetzel’s Pretzels - This state-of-the-art pretzel house offers a world-class selection of the hand-rolled treat, dips and beverages.
• WonderGround Gallery - This distinctive and eclectic setting provides the ultimate venue where unique art collections, works from a new generation of artists and unexpected finds in home and lifestyle merchandise take center stage.

The Downtown Disney District parking lot is conveniently located next to the action and offers free parking for up to 3 hours — or up to 5 hours of free parking with validation from participating locations.

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ABOUT THE DISNEYLAND RESORT
Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three hotels are the 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the 969-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. With 23,000 Cast Members, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County’s largest employer and generates $4.7 billion for the Southern California economy. The Resort has welcomed more than 600 million guests since opening on July 17, 1955. For detailed information about the Disneyland Resort, please visit www.disneyland.com.