Hi Rochelle! Boy oh boy, welcome to planDisney! I’m not
Lion, I am so glad you brought this great question to us!
How fun to be able to visit
Disneyland Resort while your son is at his convention! A little retail therapy in the
Downtown Disney District sounds like pure magic. Make sure to stop by
World of Disney for all your Disney must haves! I also recommend checking out the
Disney Home shop. It is honestly so hard for me to not want to bring everything home from there! For a cute and unique souvenir, stop by
Nectar Life. The sweet tooth themed bath and body products are adorable, and I love that they are plant based, US made, and cruelty free.
Rochelle, the
Simba Parking Lot is the dedicated parking area for Downtown Disney District Guests. The parking hours follow the same schedule as the District itself. For April 23, the hours are 7:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. They do offer a limited number of Disabled Parking spots for Guests with a valid parking placard or license plate. Current parking rates are $10 for the first hour and $14 for each additional hour, charged in 30 minute increments, with a minimum of $7. The maximum daily rate or lost ticket fee is $66. You are eligible for parking validation discounts with qualifying purchases. You will receive 3 hours of parking with a $20 minimum purchase and validation from a Downtown Disney District shop, and up to 5 hours of parking with validation from a Downtown Disney table service restaurant.
If you do want to enjoy some delicious flavors during your visit, hop on your Disneyland Mobile App or the Disneyland website to make an
advanced dining reservation. My favorite is
Naples Ristorante e Bar. Their pastas, salads, and pizzas are fantastic, and my go to is the Quattro Formaggi. It is so delicious.
One more Downtown Disney tip: while you wander, check out the
Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage for musical entertainment. The calendar may not show showtimes quite yet, but check back to see what you might be able to move and groove to while you relax!
Rochelle, thank you for allowing me to help you with your upcoming visit! I hope you get to experience all that Downtown Disney District has to offer. Even without a Theme Park ticket, there is so much fun waiting for you in all the wonderful shops and eateries. I hope your son has a great convention, and that you come home with a new favorite souvenir! Stop back by if I can help with any more questions!
See ya real soon!
Kimberly