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

Stevek

Well-Known Member
Curiously watching some live streams of Downtown Disney. Boy, did I underestimate the crowds/ demand. There are lines snaking around the entrance and along harbor. And that’s not even people that parked! I have a reservation this evening at 8pm at Naples (first time!) but if this keeps up, I may not get in/ want to go.

Probably a lot of ebay resellers trying to get their merch as well as a lot of folks that just want to experience "Disney" again. Many folks have clearly missed it.
 

Askimosita

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
Probably a lot of ebay resellers trying to get their merch as well as a lot of folks that just want to experience "Disney" again. Many folks have clearly missed it.
I get it. That’s why I’m going tonight 😂 I’m one of THOSE people, I know, where even hearing the Disney music playing in the esplanade of someone’s live stream yesterday swelled my lil heart. ❤️ I am just excited that WDW has been able to open the parks for previews successfully, and we have been able to open DTD today. Every single thing that opens is one step closer for us.
 

Emmanuel

Well-Known Member
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Darkbeer1

Well-Known Member

>>Long lines that would put Space Mountain to shame greeted shoppers returning to Downtown Disney on Thursday morning, July 9 after a nearly four-month closure of the outdoor mall next to Disneyland.

Socially distanced, mask-wearing crowds emphatically answered the question on the minds of Downtown Disney merchants: Will any shoppers come to the outdoor mall while Disneyland remains closed indefinitely?

An endlessly snaking line with parties 6 feet apart wound its way from the entrance of the World of Disney past the ticket booths, across the esplanade between the two parks, ran in front of the shuttered Disney California Adventure gate and continued to coil as the mall officially opened at 10 a.m. Thursday. World of Disney opened early just after 9:30 a.m. to accommodate the anxious crowd of shoppers.

The mall had been closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The return of Downtown Disney marks the first stage of Disneyland’s phased reopening plan — only no dates have been announced for those next stages.

Disneyland was forced to postpone a proposed July 17 reopening of its Anaheim theme parks and delay a planned July 23 reopening of two hotels while it awaits theme park reopening guidelines from the state.

Disney decided to stick with the Thursday reopening of Downtown Disney after keeping the mall shuttered for more than six weeks since the state allowed shopping malls in Orange County to resume operations in late May. Since then, the state has reinstated prohibitions on indoor dining and close bars in O.C. back down again amid an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

The orderly security checkpoint on Thursday now included a temperature check with a handheld contactless digital thermometer pointed like a gun by cast members at each shopper’s head. Then came a tent where a security dog sniffed each arriving visitor.

The now-familiar post-9/11 security checkpoint has now added plexiglass protection for guards and dispensed with having guests empty their pockets into a tray before walking through a metal detector. Crews were continuing to work on the cement next to one newly erected tent, cutting down the capacity for dealing with the crowds of shoppers ready to step foot on Disney property for the first time since mid-March.

The crowds extended to the streets around Disneyland where those arriving by car waited at least 45 minutes to enter the Downtown Disney parking lot.<<
 

Disney Irish

Premium Member
We'll see what happens over the next week. But clearly I think many here underestimate the draw of "any" Disney experience even if its just a mall with the Disney name slapped on.
 

el_super

Well-Known Member
I am shook that DTD is packed, as many on here said it would not be, as it is normally dead.

I guess people just want a little bit of Disney? The parks are gonna be interesting when they open...

Eh some of the drama this morning were just due to poor planning (the streets backed up because the parking lot opened late).

An hour later, and there's no line to get in.

Reopening isn't the hard part. The hard part will be surviving the next few weeks/months until tourism rebounds.
 

Darkbeer1

Well-Known Member
The major news outlets (CBS, NBC, Telemundo) have been parked out in front of the entrance to Simba all morning. It's big news!

Well, two trucks, CBS 2/9, and NBC/Telemundo. Surprised Disney's ABC 7 wasn't there.

No news group had permission to step onto the property, so not the easiest story to cover.

The alternative location, the Anaheim Hotel looking at DCA, to get guest interviews would be totally dead.
 

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
Is it really that great a turnout? This is going to give Cheapek the wrong idea when he comes out of his personal tanning machine.

"You mean we can just open up stores and restaurants without these expensive amusement park rides?"
There was a plan to turn most of DCA into an extension of DTD with free admission and ticket booths for B & C ticket rides. The bigger rides would be closed or turned into shops.
 

el_super

Well-Known Member
The corner of Harbor and Disney Way?

The sidewalks are busy?

If so, happy to hear the Pizza Press is getting more customers.

Yeah. I'm not sure if the Disney parking lots are open on the east side, or if people are just parking at the Anaheim Hotel and walking over, but it looks like a decent enough crowd... at least more than it has been.
 

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