Tag: Downtown Disney

Mickey’s Toontown News and New Restaurants and Shopping Coming to Downtown Disney

Recently Disneyland Resort announced another new look at the exciting shopping and dining coming to the west side of the Downtown Disney District. Disney recently began work on the latest transformation to introduce more innovative shopping, dining and entertainment experiences.

Drawing inspiration from Southern California mid-century modern architecture, the west-end area will become a beautiful blend of vibrant color palettes, design elements and patterns influenced by the region, and will include an open lawn for relaxation and future events, and an even broader and diverse collection of dining and shopping.

Disney will be diversifying their offerings to meet the needs of today’s guests.

The world-renowned restaurant Din Tai Fung will join the district to offer guests their soup dumplings hand crafted right on site. This family-run restaurant will bring flavorful Chinese cuisine to Downtown Disney, where guests can enjoy dishes served family style in a creative space near the new lawn pavilion.

Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytan will bring his inclusive vision of Mexican cuisine to Paseo and Centrico in the locations currently occupied by Catal & Uva Bar, brought to life by Patina Restaurant Group. The restaurant and central courtyard bar and dining area will offer guests a multi-sensory journey to the heart of Chef Gaytan’s homeland.

Disney is also working with Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen to finalize an evolution that incorporates vibrant California energy and a fresh approach to the menu, while staying true to the heart of New Orleans for this guest-favorite location.

Even more exciting news, the fan favorite Earl of Sandwich will also pop into the district in a special sandwich walk-up location, offering guests the classics they know and love for a limited time beginning later this year.

Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland park is undergoing a reimagining of its own, and will debut with new experiences and more play for guests, with a focus on families and young children, in early 2023.

Important Update: More Disney Closures due to COVID-19

Late Sunday night Disney announced that they would be closing all Disney Stores in North America beginning March 17. Guests will still be able to shop at shopDisney.com. Disney will also be closing all of it’s owned and operated locations at Downtown Disney in Anaheim and Disney Springs in Orlando, beginning March 17. Individual tenants […]

Late Sunday night Disney announced that they would be closing all Disney Stores in North America beginning March 17. Guests will still be able to shop at shopDisney.com.

Disney will also be closing all of it’s owned and operated locations at Downtown Disney in Anaheim and Disney Springs in Orlando, beginning March 17. Individual tenants will be making decisions on whether to close, continue operating or adjust operations.

In addition, all Disney owned and operated hotels at Walt Disney World Resort and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort will be closing at 5 PM on March 20.

Disney Parks Going Smoke-Free May 1st

In the Disney Parks Blog today Disney made a series of announcements that will affect many guests.  The biggest of which was that beginning May 1st, smoking will no longer be allowed inside Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks, water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex or Downtown Disney in California.  In the announcement Disney stated that designated smoking areas will be available outside the entrances of the areas listed above and at Disney Springs in Florida.  For guests who have room or dining reservations, smoking areas are also available at Disney Resort hotels.

The next announcement was in regard to strollers.  Also beginning May 1st, Disney is requiring that strollers be no larger than 31″ (79cm) wide and 52″ (132cm) long.  According to the announcement many strollers on the market, including many double jogging strollers, fit within these size guidelines.  They also reminded guests that wagons will not be permitted in the parks beginning May 1st.  According to Disney, these updates are designed to help with guest flow and ease congestion.  While Disney is stating that this is an “adjustment” to the stroller guidelines, I’ve been told that this might actually be an “emphasis of enforcement,” but I don’t have definite information on that.

The final announcement affects guest bringing in coolers into the parks.  Beginning today, loose or dry ice are no longer permitted in the parks.  Ice packs will be permitted though.

Disneyland New Upscale Hotel Indefinitely Put On Hold

According to the Orange County Register the new hotel that was planned to begin construction at Anaheim’s Downtown Disney last month has been indefinitely put on hold after Disney and the City of Anaheim could not agree over the terms of the development.

From previous reports the new upscale hotel had been slated to have 700 rooms spread over the west end of Downtown Disney. This included the site of the former Rainforest Cafe, ESPN Zone sports bar and restaurant, the AMC Theatres and the popular Earl of Sandwich restaurant, which closed in June to make way for the new construction.

Construction had been expected to start July 1.  The new hotel was scheduled to open in 2021, making it the fourth Disney-owned hotel at the Disneyland Resort.

According to the Orange County Register, Disney pulled the project because  they could not reach an agreement with the City of Anaheim over terms under which the hotel was to be constructed.

Disney’s move was in response to an August 6 letter in which Anaheim City Attorney Robert Fabela told Disney that a change in the site plan would make the hotel ineligible for expected tax incentive rebates.

“Given the city’s position that our project does not comply with the requirements of the Agreement, you have given us no other choice other than to put construction of the hotel on indefinite hold,” David Ontko, chief counsel for Disneyland Resort and International Parks & Resorts wrote to the city attorney Wednesday.

It was unclear late Thursday whether the city would revisit the issue, now that the hotel has been removed from the planning agenda.

What is not known is how this development will affect any construction already under way and the what will happen with locations that formerly housed the above restaurants and theater.

 

 

Disneyland Resort Announces Closing Date for Downtown Disney Establishments

Last year the Disneyland Resort announced that it would close several restaurants and the theaters in Downtown Disney because they were building a new luxury hotel that will be located between the existing Disneyland Hotel and the Downtown Disney monorail station. The new hotel is scheduled to open sometime in 2021.

Disney has confirmed that the AMC Theaters, Rainforest Cafe, westside Starbucks, Earl of Sandwich, and the ESPN Zone all will close by June 30.  Disney has also stated that this does not mean that all of the locations will remain open through the end of June, some may close before that.

All of the locations must close by the deadline because demolition will begin shortly after June 30.

Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District to Get New Dining , Retail and Entertainment in Early 2018

Lots of exciting changes are arriving at Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort in early 2018! With new dining and entertainment experiences, here’s a peek at what to expect at the beginning of next year.

The new, groundbreaking hyper-reality experience, Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire by ILMxLAB and The VOID, will transport guests deep into the Star Wars universe, walking freely and untethered throughout the multisensory experience with friends and family. In groups of four, teams will go undercover as stormtroopers to capture Imperial intelligence vital to the budding rebellion’s survival. Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire will open on January 5, 2018. Tickets available now at TheVOID.com.

Splitsville Luxury Lanes is a dynamic recreation destination offering a unique combination of dining, drinks, bowling and entertainment. The Downtown Disney District location will feature 20 bowling lanes interspersed throughout the location, four dining areas (indoors and out), more than 25 flat screen TVs, and the ability to host both live performers and DJs. Splitsville will open in early 2018.

Also, D-Street will close on January 2 and reopen in early 2018 as a reimagined retail space that offers Disney fans a variety of Disney-themed home goods. Guests will find a curated assortment of products that will change with each season. Not to worry, most of the unique items found at D-Street are available throughout the resort and shopDisney.com!

From the Disney Parks Blog

New Hotel Coming to the Disneyland Resort in 2021

For the first time in almost two decades, we will open a new Four Diamond hotel! Set to open in 2021, this hotel will transform the west end of the Downtown Disney District and anchor a new gateway to the Disneyland Resort.

The stunning 700-room hotel will feature a sophisticated design and be a game-changer for Anaheim, creating a dynamic dining, entertainment and hotel experience for resort visitors and local residents. Extensive landscaping and water elements will create a resort oasis, showcasing nature on every level of the hotel. The hotel’s location embraces the iconic Disneyland Monorail with a dedicated platform inside the hotel for direct transport into Disneyland park.

Guest rooms, public spaces and gardens will provide views of the Downtown Disney District. In addition, an upper-level restaurant and lounge will give guests a view of the popular Disneyland park fireworks.

The ground level of the hotel will include shops and restaurants opening onto an expansive landscaped plaza complete with playful water features, creating a gathering place for guests and visitors. The new hotel also connects all four Hotels of the Disneyland Resort through lush gardens and beautifully landscaped walkways, transforming the gateway on the west side and creating a welcoming entry for our Disneyland Resort guests.

And that’s not all. This new hotel creates great benefits for the community, generating approximately $25 million in new taxes in its first five years of operation that go directly to Anaheim’s general fund. It also will create thousands of additional construction and permanent jobs and attract new hotel guests to the resort area.

Construction is scheduled to start in summer 2018, with a grand opening slated for 2021. Check back here for updates!

 

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Trailer Premiere Event Tomorrow to be Held at Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort

The trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi will debut during ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” tomorrow, Oct. 9, during halftime of the National Football League (NFL) game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears in Chicago, which starts at 5:15 p.m. PDT/8:15 p.m. EDT. And today we’re excited to invite you to be among the first to see this new trailer at the place where Star Wars lives – the Disneyland Resort!

Join your fellow Star Wars fans at the Downtown Disney District tomorrow, Oct. 9, to watch the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer on a giant screen outside AMC Downtown Disney 12 Theatres. The fun begins at 5 p.m., with a live DJ, trivia and giveaways – all counting down to the trailer premiere. Following the trailer premiere, Star Wars: The Last Jedi tickets will be on sale online and at the AMC Downtown Disney 12 Theatres box office.

Disneyland Resort is your destination to experience your Star Wars favorites. Board a Starspeeder 1000 and explore the galaxy in the immersive adventure, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue; encounter some of your favorite characters and more at the Star Wars Launch Bay interactive experience; and bring your young Padawans to test their skills at Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.

If you can’t make it to this special premiere party, tune in to ESPN to watch the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer during “Monday Night Football,” and be sure to purchase your tickets online in advance for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, in theaters December 15.

Star Wars: Secrets of The Empire Hyper-Reality Experience Coming Disney Springs and Disneyland’s Downtown Disney

Lucasfilm, ILMxLAB, and THE VOID today announced a new hyper-reality experience called Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, which promises to plunge fans into the Star Wars universe. Created by ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s immersive entertainment division, in collaboration with THE VOID, it will open to the public at two new VOID Experience Centers at Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort beginning this holiday season. Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire will allow fans to move freely in an untethered, social, and multi-sensory experience, including interaction with friends, fans, and Star Wars characters.

“At THE VOID, we combine the magic of illusions, advanced technology and virtual reality to create fully immersive social experiences that take guests to new worlds,” said Curtis Hickman, co-founder and chief creative officer at THE VOID. “A truly transformative experience is so much more than what you see with your eyes; it’s what you hear, feel, touch, and even smell. Through the power of THE VOID, guests who step into Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire won’t just see this world, they’ll know that they are part of this amazing story.”

“At ILMxLAB, we want people to step inside the worlds of our stories,” explained Vicki Dobbs Beck, executive in charge of ILMxLAB. “Through our collaboration with THE VOID, we can make this happen as guests become active participants in an unfolding Star Wars adventure. By combining Lucasfilm’s storytelling expertise with cutting-edge imagery, and immersive sound from the team at Skywalker Sound, while invoking all the senses, we hope to truly transport all those who experience Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire to a galaxy far, far away.”

From StarWars.com

Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort Closing Three Popular Stores

According to a Disneyland Resort spokesperson Build-A-Bear Workshop, Chapel Hats and Ridemakerz will be closing soon in Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort.

According to Disney the three neighboring shops are closing to make room for more dining facilities in the area.

The shops are popular, and not being closed due to poor performance issues, officials said.

Disney has said there currently is no space to relocate the shops, but if a situation arose showing where they could be put, it would be evaluated.