All over Disney property you see the signs for Downtown Disney, you’ve heard of Pleasure Island, but don’t forget to check out the West Side. Part of the Downtown Disney area, West Side has renewed itself as an “every age” Disney area.
There is no charge for parking or entering the Downtown Disney, Pleasure Island or West Side entertainment venues, so head over and take advantage of the Disney attractions, entertainment, shopping and eating.
Disney’s West Side has been in the process of opening some new stores that are a must-stop-spot for the collector or the remote control car enthusiast.
D Street is the first Vinylmation featured store and offers up an urban edge.
D Street is THE place to find Vinylmation figures for your Disney collection. Photo by Rori Paul.
For those not part of the Vinylmation craze, these little plastic painted Mickey figures are all over Disney, waiting for you to collect them. Buy one box from a series and you never know which one you may go home with. It’s the luck of the draw. Buy the whole series’ box and you are guaranteed two of each featured Vinylmation figure, plus a “chaser”.
The Chaser is a mystery figure that is not advertised as part of the series. Either way you choose to collect, these figures are adorable, fascinating and people love to collect them.
Check out all of the differt Vinylmation series characters at D Street. Photo by Rori Paul.
There are special, hard-to-get figures, just like in Disney Pin Trading. Some of these Vinylmation characters are already retired and only available on Ebay. Others are only available to cast members, D23 members or on the Disney Cruise Line. D Street will give you a run-down what Vinylmation is, all of the different series lines available, as well as new figures coming out, plus they will help you start your collection.
(For a quick view of D Street and these collectibles called Vinylmation, check out the Vinylmation Spring 2010 video on RoriTravel’s Florida.)
Are you a fan of tricked out cars and trucks? Would you love to create one of your own that you can control? Another new store that just opened on the West Side is Ridemakerz. Choose your own style of car, truck or even monster truck, and customize it to your heart’s content.
These vehicles are not just for sitting on a shelf. They are battery operated, remote control cars that look like a lot of fun. No, I did not build my own, but did ask many questions of the sales associates working there.
Ridemakerz is a great way to design and play with a kick azz car or Truck. Photo by Rori Paul.
The remote control has a range of around 100 feet and do not need a wide open space in order to have them work. The double joystick controller allowed the sales person to run the car all around the store, around display cases, through customer legs and out the door and back in again, while turning, spinning, going forward and back and looking like a lot of fun.
The average cost for a final product is around $80 and uses AA batteries in the remote control. These batteries are rechargeable and last for about and hour and a half of play time.
Don’t think you have to leave your girls at home. These cars and trucks come in a variety of colors and decals, including pink.
Check out these new Disney stores as well as the many other attractions, such as the Characters in Flight hot air balloon ride, entertainment like Cirque du Soleil or House of Blues, and tempting restaurants like Bongos Cuban Cafe, that are available for you to enjoy on the West Side of Downtown Disney.
