DrAlice
Well-Known Member
Well, not completely. We did have a fabulous month-long road trip across 5 states and 2 provinces. I really can't complain.
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Downtown Disney Reopens July 9th - Tracking The Changes & Closures
- Thread starter TP2000
- Start date
Well, not completely. We did have a fabulous month-long road trip across 5 states and 2 provinces. I really can't complain.
mandelbrot
Well-Known Member
None of those restaurants are opening on the 9th. As far as I know they won't be opening very soon unless Downtown Disney attracts good sized crowds for at least a couple weeks straight. That is unlikely to happen, though.
Salt & Straw announced a couple weeks ago they will open on the 9th. Unless something has changed recently I would expect to them open right away. I think I remember Sprinkles saying they'd open but I'm not sure now. I'm still not sure if Wetzels's, either Starbucks, or Jamba will open.
Black Tap has expanded their patio and will also be using Splitsville's patio if needed. All food ordering will take place at the shake window to keep people from going indoors though I guess they are allowing restroom access. The Uva bar top will actually be open with seating very spaced out. I think Naples will do the same thing. For the time being those will be the only two bars open in the resort.
Darkbeer1
Well-Known Member
These are the 26 Downtown Disney shops and restaurants that will reopen Thursday
Downtown Disney is set to reopen on Thursday, July 9. An employee preview of the reopened outdoor shopping mall will be held on Wednesday, July 8.
www.ocregister.com
>>
Here are the Downtown Disney businesses that plan to reopen on Thursday:
Food and Beverage
- Asian Street Eats
- Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes
- California Churro
- Earl of Sandwich
- Jamba
- Kayla’s Cakes
- Marceline’s Confectionery
- Naples Ristorante e Bar
- Salt & Straw
- Starbucks
- Starbucks West
- Uva Bar & Cafe
- Wetzel’s Pretzels
- Wetzel’s Diggity Dog
- Curl Surf
- Disney Dress Shop
- Disney Home
- Disney’s Pin Traders
- Lego Store
- Pandora Jewelry
- Rinse Bath & Body Co.
- Sephora
- Sugarboo & Co.
- Sunglass Icon
- WonderGround Gallery
- World of Disney
- Ballast Point Brewing Co.
- Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
- Splitsville Luxury Lanes
- Sprinkles
- The Void virtual reality experience
>>Only a few kiosk vendors like California Churro and Disney’s Pin Traders are included in the reopening list. A number of Downtown Disney vendor kiosks are currently stored in the Stitch cast member parking lot along Magic Way. <<
>>Downtown Disney operating hours will be limited to 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. <<
Mac Tonight
Well-Known Member
Salt&Straw better not go under. It's one of the few remaining reasons to visit DtD. Most of the other scoop shops around LA have re-opened (albeit with reduced hours) so I'd be shocked if this one of all places gets closed.
Thank you for the Register article Darkbeer!
But they left off a few locations, and they are the biggest and some of the most long-serving restaurants, from their list of closed restaurants. The actual list of closed restaurants at DTD is;
But they left off a few locations, and they are the biggest and some of the most long-serving restaurants, from their list of closed restaurants. The actual list of closed restaurants at DTD is;
- Catal
- Tortilla Jo's
- Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
- Splitsville Luxury Lanes N' Bad Sushi
- Ballast Point Brewing
- La Brea Bakery Cafe
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I made a beautiful map to help illustrate what will be closed at Downtown Disney, and what will be open. It's not a pretty picture, and again I'm reminded of a few other folks here who are wondering "Why bother???"
I've had a few recent conversations with folks intimately involved in OC's commercial real estate and property management game, and they have first hand knowledge of how shaky and scary the financial situation is for most of these tenants who are desperate to get some cash flow going. And I've previously been preaching how important it is to get something, anything, reopened at the Anaheim Resort District this summer.
But when I look at the lists and a map like this of what's open and what's closed... I have to agree that a valid sentiment would be: Why bother???
I've had a few recent conversations with folks intimately involved in OC's commercial real estate and property management game, and they have first hand knowledge of how shaky and scary the financial situation is for most of these tenants who are desperate to get some cash flow going. And I've previously been preaching how important it is to get something, anything, reopened at the Anaheim Resort District this summer.
But when I look at the lists and a map like this of what's open and what's closed... I have to agree that a valid sentiment would be: Why bother???
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Darkbeer1
Well-Known Member
And remember, the majority of visitors will be coming from the Simba Parking Lot from the West, and the vast majority of open places are on the East End, so they will have to walk through the mostly closed section to get to the open stuff.
The parking and logistics situation for locals at Downtown Disney is horrible. It's always been horrible, TDA didn't care because the crowds poured in anyway, and Covid hasn't made it any less horrible. What Covid has done is entirely remove the tens of thousands of tourists visting every day from the 25,000 nearby hotel rooms.
Now what's left is a bad parking situation far away that leaves a silent canyon of abandoned Big Box dining and retail you must walk past from the parking lot. Once the Disney bloggers get done with it this weekend, who would willingly go to this place with the current small retail/dining lineup?
The walking distance from the middle of the Simba Parking Lot to the west entrance doors of World of Disney is just over one half of a mile. Mostly past abandoned stores and restaurants, closed hotels, and empty surface parking lots. Fun!
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I also have to chuckle that two (2!) of the smattering of open businesses will be Starbucks. Two of them. 
After World War III ends, there will still be a couple of Starbucks open.
They'll probably come up with a Nuclear Winter Spiced Latte to celebrate.
There will only be two sit-down type dining offerings open to start with; Naples and Uva Bar. Napolini, the make-your-own pizza bar attached to Naples hasn't been mentioned in any of the reporting.
All of the rest will be either snack bars, take-out windows, or churro carts.
After World War III ends, there will still be a couple of Starbucks open.
They'll probably come up with a Nuclear Winter Spiced Latte to celebrate.
There will only be two sit-down type dining offerings open to start with; Naples and Uva Bar. Napolini, the make-your-own pizza bar attached to Naples hasn't been mentioned in any of the reporting.
All of the rest will be either snack bars, take-out windows, or churro carts.
- Naples Ristorante e Bar = Table Service Patio Dining!
- Uva Bar & Cafe = Table Service Patio Dining!
- Asian Street Eats = Snack Bar
- Jamba Juice = Snack Bar
- Salt & Straw = Snack Bar
- Wetzel’s Pretzels = Snack Bar
- Starbucks = Full Menu Starbucks
- Starbucks West = Limited Menu Starbucks
- Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes = Take-Out Window/Instagrammable Moments
- Earl of Sandwich = Take-Out Window
- California Churro = Churro Cart
- Kayla’s Cakes = Churro Cart
- Wetzel’s Diggity Dog = Churro Cart
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Askimosita
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
I know that there was a separate thread created for 65th anniversary merchandise, but Disney released not just the merchandise, but what the procedure will look like to purchase and pick up.
It seems that purchase will be online (oh dear) open on July 14 at 10am PT until sold out. Pick up will be July 23-27 in former ESPN zone. So SOMETHING will be going on in that part of DTD, even if for a few days
It seems that purchase will be online (oh dear) open on July 14 at 10am PT until sold out. Pick up will be July 23-27 in former ESPN zone. So SOMETHING will be going on in that part of DTD, even if for a few days
Askimosita
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
I know that there was a separate thread created for 65th anniversary merchandise, but Disney released not just the merchandise, but what the procedure will look like to purchase and pick up.
It seems that purchase will be online (oh dear) open on July 14 at 10am PT until sold out. Pick up will be July 23-27 in former ESPN zone. So SOMETHING will be going on in that part of DTD, even if for a few days
If you don’t live nearby, you can always pay shipping. Just FYI
MarvelCharacterNerd
Well-Known Member
As usual, I'll be the lone voice of dissent.
Simba lot is my fave place to park in the resort as I think it's the most convenient and quickest walk into DTD and then to the parks. It's been ages since I've parked there - it used to be a nice little overflow lot that I could sometimes avoid M&F and go straight into. I'm quite looking forward to parking there again the one or two times I'll go to DTD before the parks reopen.
I say one or two simply because the drive and gas and $ makes it impractical for me to visit more than that right now. If I were local to it, I'd go there every few days for a taste of Disney. I'd be so happy to be able to pop in and grab a sandwich from Earl's or a sweet at Marceline's.
It's not remotely comparable to Disney Springs, but like Citywalk, it's a nice little area to hang out and enjoy the open air in the summertime if it's made easy (with free parking).
I'll also note that the west end has the two places I tend to spend the most time in DTD at: the stage where the bands play and the pin store. lol So I like walking in the west end - it's a happy place for me.
As usual, I'll be the lone voice of dissent.
Simba lot is my fave place to park in the resort as I think it's the most convenient and quickest walk into DTD and then to the parks. It's been ages since I've parked there - it used to be a nice little overflow lot that I could sometimes avoid M&F and go straight into. I'm quite looking forward to parking there again the one or two times I'll go to DTD before the parks reopen.
So you will actively seek out visiting Downtown Disney and walking one half of a mile from the parking lot to World of Disney, because?.... It can't be because there are two different Starbucks to visit there.
I have no doubt that Downtown Disney will get plenty of bloggers, website owners, and bored looky-loos this weekend. I'm planning to go myself, bloggers be damned. But unless they announce Disneyland is opening in a couple weeks, I just don't see how the physical logistics of getting to Downtown Disney can be a viable business model for them through the rest of the summer.
It's got two patio restaurants, a bunch of Disney stores selling the same stuff, three churro carts and a couple of snack bars. And two Starbucks.
It's a tiny shell of its former self, barely operating at 25% of its designed capacity. With a half mile walk in from the parking lot. Someone nudge me when Disneyland finally opens.
mandelbrot
Well-Known Member
I would like to add that Summertime, even when the resort is packed, is considered the slow season for Downtown Disney. One major reason is the heat. Most guests who dine during the day in summer want to be in an air conditioned space to cool off. Downtown Disney patios are notoriously empty during the day in the summer in a good year.I also have to chuckle that two (2!) of the smattering of open businesses will be Starbucks. Two of them.
After World War III ends, there will still be a couple of Starbucks open.
They'll probably come up with a Nuclear Winter Spiced Latte to celebrate.
There will only be two sit-down type dining offerings open to start with; Naples and Uva Bar. Napolini, the make-your-own pizza bar attached to Naples hasn't been mentioned in any of the reporting.
All of the rest will be either snack bars, take-out windows, or churro carts.
- Naples Ristorante e Bar = Table Service Patio Dining!
- Uva Bar & Cafe = Table Service Patio Dining!
- Asian Street Eats = Snack Bar
- Jamba Juice = Snack Bar
- Salt & Straw = Snack Bar
- Wetzel’s Pretzels = Snack Bar
- Starbucks = Full Menu Starbucks
- Starbucks West = Limited Menu Starbucks
- Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes = Take-Out Window/Instagrammable Moments
- Earl of Sandwich = Take-Out Window
- California Churro = Churro Cart
- Kayla’s Cakes = Churro Cart
- Wetzel’s Diggity Dog = Churro Cart
Now that ONLY patios will be open just as the summer heat kicks in means business will be dreadfully slow during the day. The fact that they are closing down at 8pm, just when Downtown Disney restaurants usually get busy in the summer, means the best hours of the day for revenue are lost.
So Downtown Disney businesses face many specific challenges by opening right now:
1. The main drivers of DTD attendance (the parks) are closed, possibly for much longer than people are anticipating.
2. All resort hotels and most area hotels are closed until further notice.
3. The Anaheim Convention Center (a MAJOR driver of DTD attendance most of the year) is closed.
4. Half of DTD is not opening thus reducing visitor interest.
5. Dining options are only outside and during the day in summer heat.
6. Parking is inconvenient (but free!) as is having to go through security and health screenings just to shop and dine at a few locations.
7. Closing down at 8pm denies restaurants their best revenue hours.
8. Breakfast service is normally also a good revenue source during summer (for those that offer it) but DTD locations aren't opening for breakfast since the parks are shut down.
Opening like this will mean doom for many DTD businesses. They would have lost less money by staying closed which of course is why many are choosing to stay closed. There will be initial interest this opening weekend and then there will be virtually nothing. I'm going tomorrow to check things out (wearing my lovely LA Angels mask) and I'll report what I experience.
PS: Napolini is not opening. Their parent company is testing the waters by only opening two out of six locations.
MarvelCharacterNerd
Well-Known Member
I will be actively driving too darn long in stupid traffic because the only things I care about in DTD (other than the stage) will be open:So you will actively seek out visiting Downtown Disney and walking one half of a mile from the parking lot to World of Disney, because?.... It can't be because there are two different Starbucks to visit there.
So I will go to get a CrazyShake at BlackTap, possibly a sandwich at Earl's if I don't get an app at BlackTap too and get too full to eat any more. I will probably buy a sweet from Marceline's to take to go and see if they are trading at Pin Traders. I will wander through all the shops and smile at the CM's (forgetting that I'm wearing a mask and they can't see it) and greet them warmly and welcome THEM back and thank THEM for being there doing their damndest to make a little magic in Anaheim that's been missing it sorely. I will assure any wandering managers with their trash sticks that I will be spending money and coming back when I can and that I'm glad they reopened and thanking THEM for being there too.
I don't go to Disney for rides.
I go to Disney for magic. Which for me is the cast. Even nervous cast doing their best to sell dresses and plastic toys and mouse ears and candy apples in the middle of a pandemic.
Would I like more open? Yes. Of course.
But will I do what little I can to support what I care about? Oh hell yes I will.
Great insight, thank you!
I was baffled by the 8pm closing time. Especially in summer when folks eat dinner later. So much of this reopening strategy just doesn't make any sense!
I'm going to wait a week or so and check in with my friend in the commercial real estate biz. It should be interesting to hear his take on how the numbers stabilize after the opening weekend blogger fest clears out.
But it appears that one thing I heard over a month ago is a big part in this baffling reopening strategy; Disney as the property manager had to attempt a reopening of DTD to prevent themselves from future legal hassles from failed tenants. Malls can legally reopen in Orange County, so Disney has to make a good faith effort to reopen their mall to prevent themselves from being sued by Patina, Lego, Brennan's, Sephora, Starbucks, etc. Even though the parking and logistics for what's left of their customer base is pure junk. They still have to attempt a reopening or get sued.
Otherwise, almost all of this current business plan and operating strategy makes no sense.
The parent company is the Patina Group, owned by Delaware North. They are not in a good place financially right now.
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Stevek
Well-Known Member
Stevek
Well-Known Member
If you want really good Mexican food (after it reopens), I wholeheartedly suggest Mexi Casa on Lincoln. Cash only, kinda dumpy inside but a staple in Anaheim for many, many years.
Triple...go big or go home. Of course, it may cost you $20
Please, stop peer pressuring me! I've got a very caring doctor at the VA who I'm convinced implanted a chip in my butt that knows every time I put on an extra pound and triggers him to send me a nagging email asking if I'm walking daily.