Hi Kimberly,
Welcome to planDisney! I just got back from a visit to Downtown Disney, and I love that I still get my Disney excitement even from the downtown area. I see that you're planning your own trip very soon—how exciting!
In my experience, many stores and restaurants in Downtown Disney and in the Disneyland Parks still accept cash. There are also
ATMs located inside Disneyland and California Adventure, as well as in the Downtown area and in each hotel, in case you’d like to tap into your reserves.
This weekend, I was finally able to visit the
D-Lander store, and it was a Disney Adult’s dream. It felt like curated items from the World of Disney, but more trendy, fashionable, and mature. There were also items that felt very unique to the store. There was a small Pandora selection in the back, and many high-end Disney items, like
Dooney & Bourke ears and bags and the amazing V
era Wang Minnie ears.
The
Storyland Boutique felt like quite the opposite experience. I haven’t been able to step into this store yet (mostly because it’s packed), but from what I saw, it has a lot to choose from. There were sections of the store where you could get various items all themed to one character. That section was filled with popular park characters, plush toys, and included a build-your-own headband station. I also hear there are special items from the Disney Store in Japan, making for a unique shopping experience!
While you’re in Downtown Disney, I recommend visiting the new
Vista Parkside Market. I went upstairs to sit in the upper lounge and was able to order food from all the eateries below (GG's Chicken Shop, Seoul Sister, and Sip & Sonder). I had a drink called “On the Wing,” and it was delicious—it even comes in a cute bird-shaped glass!
Kimberly, I hope this information is helpful. If you have any other questions or need help planning other aspects of your trip, feel free to write back to me or one of my fellow panelists. We’d be happy to share our thoughts.
Wishing you a magical vacation!
-Melinda