Downtown Disney Reopens July 9th - Tracking The Changes & Closures

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Are you thinking of Gabbi's? It's near the Army/Navy Store and across from Haven. That one? It is terrific!

That's it!

 

[TP2000]

That's it!

@Askimosita you really do need to check out downtown Orange, known colloquially as the "Orange Circle" because the downtown core is built around a circular park and traffic circle. It's a great place to explore and dine!

And except for a Starbucks and a Blaze Pizza, it doesn't have a national chain in sight; it's all local restaurants and small businesses that deserve our patronage.

 

[Curious Constance]

3 days until I get to watch dozens of Downtown Disney opening videos!!!!

 

[mickEblu]

3 days until I get to watch dozens of Downtown Disney opening videos!!!!

I’ll need to be there on opening day to see if there is any Splash merch I can get my hands on.

 

[Curious Constance]

I’ll need to be there on opening day to see if there is any Splash merch I can get my hands on.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I have a 2020 Disneyland park map with Splash Mountain on it from the last week the park was open. Asking $500 with free shipping. It is lightly used as I had no idea where to find vegan options.

 

[mickEblu]

View attachment 481895

Lol I’m kidding. Kind of. I’m so bored.

But seriously they won’t have anything except mayyyyybe a few pins if you re like one of the first 5 people that get there in the morning.

 

[Askimosita]

Thank you everyone for the recommendations! Much appreciated! I’m making a list on my dry erase board of new recommendations to try/ visit, and I’m adding those to the list during my time here! If you guys have anything that you recommend seeing and doing around here as well, feel free to reach out! I’m a Disney parks fan, but I also want to take advantage of being in California.

I’m going to try to be in DTD this Thursday evening or Friday evening after work and dinner

 

[TP2000]

Thank you everyone for the recommendations! Much appreciated! I’m making a list on my dry erase board of new recommendations to try/ visit, and I’m adding those to the list during my time here! If you guys have anything that you recommend seeing and doing around here as well, feel free to reach out! I’m a Disney parks fan, but I also want to take advantage of being in California.

I’m going to try to be in DTD this Thursday evening or Friday evening after work and dinner ☺

Oh, you just gained major style points for having a dry erase board that you write important lifestyle tips on! I love that.

Welcome to Southern California and Orange County! When it all gets back to normal later this year and into 2021, I think you'll really enjoy it here. It's not cheap, but it's fun.

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

And what's the name of the GREAT Mexican place in the Orange Circle? Ate there once and it was terrific!

Taco Bell?

 

[SuddenStorm]

@Askimosita you really do need to check out downtown Orange, known colloquially as the "Orange Circle" because the downtown core is built around a circular park and traffic circle. It's a great place to explore and dine!

And except for a Starbucks and a Blaze Pizza, it doesn't have a national chain in sight; it's all local restaurants and small businesses that deserve our patronage.

The antique shops in Downtown Orange are absolutely amazing, and have tons of vintage Disneyland stuff.

 

[Communicora]

The antique shops in Downtown Orange are absolutely amazing, and have tons of vintage Disneyland stuff.

And when it opens, the Hilbert will be a great museum to visit. I went for a Mary Blair show, but also loved the other work they had on display. You'll spy a lot of Disney artists on those walls.

 

[Phroobar]

See there is more to Anaheim and Orange than a giant rat trap.

 

[Phroobar]

Carolina's?

This place was downtown and felt upper class.

 

[TP2000]

And to amplify how misguided DTD's opening this week is, most restaurants are staying closed. If anyone heads to DTD they can look forward to dining at Uva, Naples, Black Tap, or Earl of Sandwich. The rest aren't opening. World of Disney is opening along with some of the other shops but, yeah, what's the point of opening without the parks? It's going to be so dead that everything will shut down again within two weeks.

I'm transposing this helpful quote from another thread, because it applies here.

@mandelbrot, have you heard about Salt&Straw? I heard from that friend I referenced that they are one of the tenants struggling and might not return to Downtown Disney as they just try to keep their crumbling empire in Portland afloat. Brennan's is also in a very tough spot and struggling to stay alive right now.

I just checked opentable, and mandelbrot is entirely accurate. The only location available for reservations this weekend is Naples. Uva Bar, Black Tap and Earl were never on opentable.com, as obviously they are just walk-up fast food type places.

But the following have no ability to make reservations in July on opentable.com

Catal
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
Splitsville
Ballast Point
Tortilla Jo's

 

[Curious Constance]

I'm transposing this helpful quote from another thread, because it applies here.

@mandelbrot, have you heard about Salt&Straw? I heard from that friend I referenced that they are one of the tenants struggling and might not return to Downtown Disney as they just try to keep their crumbling empire in Portland afloat. Brennan's is also in a very tough spot and struggling to stay alive right now.

I just checked opentable, and mandelbrot is entirely accurate. The only location available for reservations this weekend is Naples. Uva Bar, Black Tap and Earl were never on opentable.com, as obviously they are just walk-up fast food type places.

But the following have no ability to make reservations in July on opentable.com

Catal
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
Splitsville
Ballast Point
Tortilla Jo's

I'm ready for some good news this year.

 

[Little Green Men]

I'd hate to see Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen close, I've eaten there every DL trip

 

[TP2000]

I texted my friend and was told Salt&Straw has plans to reopen at Downtown Disney. He wasn't sure what the exact timeline was or that they'll make it by July 9th, but they are working on reopening the Anaheim location.

There's some good news! I was hoping to get a scoop (or two) on my next Downtown Disney visit.

 

[DrAlice]

Sure hope Salt & Straw doesn't close. We haven't even had a chance to try them yet!

While we had a fabulous alternative vacation last year, part of me is regretting last year's "we'll skip DL this year because Galaxy's Edge will be too crowded" decision.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

While we had a fabulous alternative vacation last year, part of me is regretting last year's "we'll skip DL this year because Galaxy's Edge will be too crowded" decision.

You screwed up worse than Disney did that Summer.