If you’re trying to figure out where everything is in Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort, the layout is simpler than it first appears.
Downtown Disney is essentially a long pedestrian district running between the Disneyland Hotel area on the west and the entrances to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure on the east. Restaurants and shops line the promenade, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel sits along the south side, and the Downtown Disney Monorail station is toward the Disneyland Hotel end.
The map below is most useful if you think of the district from west to east rather than as a collection of unrelated restaurants and stores.
Download the Downtown Disney map PDF
You can also open Disney’s official interactive Downtown Disney map for live location listings.
Current Downtown Disney Map: How the District Is Laid Out
The easiest way to understand Downtown Disney is to divide it into three general areas:
| Area | What You’ll Find | Best Approach |
|---|---|---|
| West End | Disneyland Hotel, Downtown Disney Monorail station, newer dining and shopping | Disneyland Hotel or Simba parking side |
| Central District | Major restaurants, shops and entertainment | Either direction |
| East End | World of Disney and access toward the Disneyland Resort esplanade | Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure side |
The entire district is outdoors and pedestrian-only once you’re inside the secured resort area.
If you’re already visiting Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney extends west from the esplanade between the two theme parks.
If you’re coming from Disneyland Hotel or the Simba parking lot, you’ll approach the district from the opposite end.
Where Is Downtown Disney at Disneyland?
Downtown Disney District is inside Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, immediately west of the main entrances to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.
You do not need to drive somewhere else after visiting the parks. From the esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure, you simply walk west into Downtown Disney.
At the opposite end, the district reaches the Disneyland Hotel area. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa borders the district along the south side.
If you’re approaching from somewhere else in Anaheim, my guide to how to get to Downtown Disney covers driving, walking and rideshare options separately.
Downtown Disney Entrances
Most visitors approach Downtown Disney from one of two directions rather than needing to find a single front entrance.
Park-Side Entrance
The eastern end of Downtown Disney connects to the Disneyland Resort esplanade between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.
This is the side you’ll naturally use if you’re coming from either theme park or from transportation and parking routes that deliver you near the main park entrances.
World of Disney is one of the major landmarks near this end of the district.
Disneyland Hotel and Parking Side
The western approach is the one I would use when coming from Disneyland Hotel, the Downtown Disney Monorail station or the Simba parking area.
This side has changed considerably as Downtown Disney has expanded, with newer dining and shopping clustered around the west end.
Disney currently identifies Parkside Market as part of the west end of Downtown Disney. The food hall includes Parkside Market Coffee, GG’s Chicken Shop, Seoul Sister and the upstairs Vista Parkside Market.
Earl of Sandwich has also moved into a newer two-story location, with Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby upstairs.
If you’re staying nearby, see my guide to the hotels closest to Downtown Disney.
Downtown Disney Directory
The exact tenant list changes as restaurants and stores open, close or move, so I would use the map for location and a current directory for the individual businesses.
Disney currently lists 27 dining locations and 22 places to shop in Downtown Disney District.
The major categories are:
- Table-service restaurants
- Quick-service food and snack locations
- Disney merchandise stores
- National retail brands
- Specialty shops
- Bars and lounges
- Live entertainment and bowling
For the complete tenant lists rather than just their locations, use my Downtown Disney restaurant directory and Downtown Disney store directory.
Downtown Disney Restaurants Map: Where the Main Dining Areas Are
You don’t need to memorize every restaurant before arriving, but knowing the main dining zones makes the map much easier to use.
The expanded west side now contains several newer restaurants and the Parkside Market food hall. The central portion of Downtown Disney contains many of the district’s established sit-down restaurants, while additional quick-service and table-service options continue toward the park end.
Current Downtown Disney dining includes locations such as Din Tai Fung, Paseo, CĂ©ntrico, Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio, Naples Ristorante e Bar, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes, Ballast Point Brewing Co., Earl of Sandwich and the four Parkside Market concepts.
If you’re picking a restaurant rather than trying to locate one you’ve already chosen, use the complete Downtown Disney restaurant list. Disney’s current dining directory is also useful because individual restaurant hours can vary.
Downtown Disney Stores Map: Major Shopping Landmarks
World of Disney is the easiest shopping landmark to recognize on the east side. It is the district’s major Disney merchandise store and sits close to the theme park side of Downtown Disney.
Other current stores include The LEGO Store, Disney Home, Disney Storyland Boutique, The D-Lander Shop, Avengers Reserve, Star Wars Trading Post, WonderGround Gallery, lululemon, Sephora and several specialty retailers.
If you’re looking for one specific store, my Downtown Disney stores directory is easier to scan than a long list on this map page.
Downtown Disney Parking Map: Where the Simba Lot Is
Disney’s designated parking lot for Downtown Disney is the Simba Lot.
The lot is located off Disneyland Drive between West Katella Avenue and Pixar Place Hotel, which means you approach Downtown Disney from the western side rather than from the theme park entrances.
Current Downtown Disney parking starts at $10 for the first hour. After that first paid hour, qualifying validation can extend your parking.
- A $20 minimum purchase with validation from a Downtown Disney location provides 3 additional hours of same-day parking.
- Validation from a Downtown Disney table-service restaurant provides up to 5 additional hours.
After the validated period, Disney currently charges $14 per additional hour in 30-minute increments, with a $66 maximum daily parking and lost-ticket fee.
Parking rules change often enough that I keep the details on my separate Downtown Disney parking guide. If you’re specifically trying to understand the validation rules, see how Downtown Disney parking validation works.
How Downtown Disney Connects to Disneyland Park
Downtown Disney connects directly to the main Disneyland Resort pedestrian area, so you can walk from the district to both park entrances without leaving the resort complex.
There is also a Disneyland Monorail station inside Downtown Disney toward the Disneyland Hotel side of the district.
With valid Disneyland Park admission and the required park reservation, you can board there and ride directly to the Tomorrowland station inside Disneyland Park.
The Monorail is useful if you’re already on the west side of Downtown Disney, particularly for Disneyland Hotel guests, but operating hours and temporary closures can affect availability.
How Downtown Disney Connects to the Disneyland Hotels
The Disneyland Hotel sits immediately beyond the west side of Downtown Disney, making the district the natural walking route between the hotel and the theme parks.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa borders Downtown Disney and has entrances connecting the hotel with the surrounding resort area.
Pixar Place Hotel is southwest of the district, near the Simba parking area and Disneyland Drive.
If you’re deciding where to stay based on access to this area, compare my guide to the closest hotels to Downtown Disney.
Is Downtown Disney Free to Enter?
Yes. Downtown Disney does not require a theme park ticket or a separate admission fee.
You can visit the restaurants, stores and entertainment without entering Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure.
Parking, dining, shopping and some activities still cost money, of course. I explain the admission question separately in my guide to whether Downtown Disney is free.
Use the Map Differently Depending on Where You’re Coming From
If I’m coming from Disneyland or Disney California Adventure, I enter from the east and use World of Disney as an immediate landmark.
If I’m coming from Disneyland Hotel, I enter from the west and pass the newer west-end section before reaching the central district.
If I’m parking specifically for Downtown Disney, I use the Simba Lot and approach from the hotel side.
If I’m looking for a specific restaurant or store, I check the live Disney map before walking the length of the district because tenants and individual locations can change.
For current operating hours, use my guide to when Downtown Disney closes. If you’re deciding what to do once you’re there, the separate things to do in Downtown Disney guide covers that intent without turning this map page into a general attraction roundup.
For live pins and the most current business locations, Disney’s interactive Downtown Disney District map is the final reference I would check before visiting.
