Downtown Disney

Mickey Fountain

A jumping fountain which makes the water splashes into the shape of a Hidden Mickey.

Mouse Topiaries

It's the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival at this time of year and there are some topiaries around Downtown Disney as teasers - Mickey and Minnie smile near the fountain.

The Genie in the Chimney

Genie pops from a chimney high above Downtown Disney.

The Smiling Spud

First day of the holiday is always a relaxed and easy affair as we recover from the inevitable delay with Virgin, after a quick run around Target we ventured to Downtown Disney to pick up park tickets and soak up some of the cheapest Disney atmosphere available - free parking too! Mr Potato Head sits outside the "Once Upon A Toy" store, and is already a hit with Megan after she got the chance to build one inside the store.

Buzz

Close-up of the life-size Buzz Lightyear outside Once Upon A Toy.

Woody's Roundup

High above the Mr Potato Head stand is a giant Woody (no pun intended) swinging his lasso in the rafters.

Ferryboat Reflected

Fulton's Crab House sits across the water from Downtown Disney, a shot to try and get good reflections in the water.

Come and get me!

A giant Stitch above World of Disney spits water at us on hot days. Today was a hot day.

World of Disney

Pluto looks to be hanging on for dear life on this flying contraption high above one of the entrances to the World of Disney store.

Mickey the Water Carrier

A taupiery of Mickey Mouse would be the second Mickey to be spotted by Megan on the holiday - the first being the giant roadside Mickey as you enter the World. Cue much screaming and odd noises from row three of the car!

Nessie

The Loch Ness monster looms from Village Lake, smiling happily at the Lego Store on the other side of the sidewalk.

Hi Ho Hi Ho

The Lego Seven Dwarves look almost demonic in the harsh light around Downtown Disney.

A Monster of a Meal

Owned by the same people who've perfected the Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex is a dino-themed restaurant in the old Pleasure Island part of Downtown Disney.

Modern Orchestra

Performing outside Fulton's Crab House.

Raglan Road

The main entrance of the Irish restaurant in Downtown Disney, moody lighting to entice you in. Great restaurant.

Characters in Flight

The tethered balloon is well and truly tethered today, as the wind and weather prevented any operations from the West Side pier in Downtown Disney.

HOT AIR BALLOON!!!

Being big enough to see out of the car and shout is a big plus while on holiday, Megan is forever seeing this balloon rising above the horizon even from a few miles away, and I'm sure the people in the gondola can hear her screams. She was asleep when we wandered to Downtown though, so still hasn't seen it up close and personal yet. Lots of trickery here - a five-shot HDR image for the water and buildings, and then a single image for the balloon at high ISO converted to a three-shot HDR and layered in Photoshop. Phew!

Margaritas

To honour the runners in the WDW Marathon Downtown Disney was running all sorts of special stalls and offers. Not sure margaritas were what was required, but hey.

Bottled Illumination

In the upstairs bar at Paradiso 37 are these unusual lights - upturned bottles!

Ice Creams

Mini ice cream cones, neatly stacked in a special holder. Mmmmm mmmmm mmmmm.

Planet Hollywood

Long exposure shot of the fountain by Planet Hollywood on a grey drizzly day - one of only 2 rain days on our entire holiday.

Bongo's Cafe

Viewed from Village Lake as we took the water taxi back to Marketplace. Bongo's is a Cuban/Latino restaurant in West Side.

The West Side

More people here which made getting a shot tricky but this is a HDR image of the West Side area of Downtown Disney. Harley Davidson, Haagen Daas to mention but two of the shops as the thoroughfare heads towards the cinema and ultimately Cirque du Soleil.