Tag: Downtown Disney

Mulan to be Released on Disney+ Sept. 4th For Additional Cost

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized
Mulan Full Movie 2020 - Celebrity Tadka

It was just announced on the Disney earnings call that Disney plans to release Mulan on Disney+ Labor Day weekend, but for an additional cost. To be able to see the film you MUST be a Disney Plus subscriber but then have to pay an additional $29.99 to purchase the film.

It is a PVOD exclusive to a streaming service and I think that is a very interesting way to release movies for the time being. I wonder if other major Disney movies such as Black Widow will be doing the same thing if the situation does not improve in November? What do you think?

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Downtown Disney Rule Updates and Restaurant Openings!

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized

Disney today updated their face mask policy for Downtown Disney and the rest of the Disneyland Resort. Disneyland now matches Disney World with the mask restrictions that include the banning of neck gaiters and bandannas. Guests must also be stationary while eating and drinking. This avoids people walking around without their mask on and will be enforced when the parks reopen as well.

On some other news, two restaurants reopened in the shopping district with takeout and limited patio dining available. Those restaurants are Ballast Point and Tortilla Jo’s. Disney has plenty of seating set up in the AMC courtyard for guests on the West side of Downtown Disney to enjoy their food. Guests on the East side will struggle a bit with limited seating and to solve I suggest Disney set up tables in the Esplanade so guests can enjoy their meals while looking inside their favorite theme parks!

What do you guys think of the updated mask policy? What do you think of the outdoor seating situation at the district?

BREAKING: Disneyland’s Reopening Delayed

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized

Well well well, due to Gov. Newsom not giving any theme park reopening guidelines until after July 4th, Disney has released a statement saying that it is impossible for them to reopen July 17th. Downtown Disney and the hotels will reopen on schedule as they have already been approved.

I must say I am disappointed, but I can’t say I didn’t see this coming. There was tremendous pressure from the unions to delay the opening and Newsom listened to them. I just really hope everyone wears a face covering whether they like it or not and that everyone can come to an agreement to open up the parks sometime next month. This hereby “delays” Universal, Six Flags, and the other California theme park reopenings as all of the ones mentioned were preparing to reopen next week.

I will have a lot more to say in tomorrow’s livestream on my youtube channel so check it out and subscribe for all of my thoughts on that, but what do you think of this news? Let me know down below!

Downtown Disney Reveals Opening Procedures!

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized
Downtown Disney Hours Adjusted Starting Monday Due to Coronavirus ...

Disney has gotten approval to reopen Downtown Disney on July 9th. The Grand Californian and Paradise Pier Hotels have gotten approval to reopen July 23rd.

Disney has stated that all guests visiting Downtown Disney starting July 9th will have to only enter and exit through the Simba Lot and undergo temperature checks.

Not all stores and restaurants will be open July 9th, but Ballast Point and World of Disney have confirmed reopening dates of July 9th with more announcements I am sure that will come soon.

Orange County Moving to FULL Phase 2 Allows Downtown Disney To Legally Be Able To Reopen

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized
DOWNTOWN DISNEY® District - Park Place Inn Mini Suites

Today Orange County received approval to move forward with the full phase 2 reopening plan from Gavin Newsom. This plan includes open air shopping malls such as Downtown Disney.

Disney has made no announcement regarding the opening of the Disneyland Resort, but things are definitely heading in a positive direction. When Downtown Disney does reopen expect the same procedures that are being done in Orlando such as the temperature screenings and face masks.

Will you be heading out to Downtown Disney on opening day?

Disneyland Resort Only Accepting Reservations for Dates After July 1st

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized

Until recently, the Disneyland Resort was accepting reservations for hotel rooms and dining packages on June 1st and afterward. That date has now been pushed back to July 1st as we are in May and rapidly approaching the initial June date.

It is widely believed that Disney and Universal are going to open in Orlando first due to looser restrictions from the state government. It was even reported that Universal Citywalk will be opening May 11th after people spotted trucks delivering supplies to some of the shops and team members getting an email that they would be returning to work next week.

Shanghai Disney is reopening May 11th with some very strict restrictions. It is believed that other Disney parks are going to follow the same protocols when they reopen later this year. Hong Kong Disneyland looks to be the next Disney park to be opening its doors fairly soon.

When do you think Disneyland will be open again?

Former ESPN ZONE at Downtown Disney to become a Disney Performing Arts Studio

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized

We finally have an idea of what is going into the former ESPN Zone space at Downtown Disney. According to reliable insiders on the WDW Magic forums, Disney is making the ESPN Zone space into a Disney Performing Arts Studio.

In order to construct Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Toontown, Disney had to demolish the Entertainment building. Now it seems they will be relocating some of its services such as the rehearsal hall and other facilities for the Disney Performing Arts groups into this building.

What do you think of this development? Would you rather it be a retail space or restaurant everyone would be able to use? Let me know in the comments below and follow this page for more theme park updates!

Concept Art For New DVC Tower Revealed

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized

The O.C Register has revealed new concept art for the new DVC tower coming to the Disneyland Hotel. The tower will stand 12 stories and have 350 units which is the largest expansion of DVC units on the West Coast ever. The new tower is beautifully designed with a fresh modern take on the classic style of the older towers of the Disneyland Hotel.

Some people, including me, are speculating if this could be the eventual new design of the Disneyland Hotel towers as well. Ever since the now cancelled 4th hotel was proposed, rumors have been circulating that Disney was planning to tear down the older Disneyland Hotel towers one by one and the 4th hotel would be the new Disneyland Hotel. Now I still think Disney can proceed and do something similar after the DVC tower is built. They can tear one down tower at a time while keeping the other two in operation and rebuild them to match the style of the DVC tower for a brand new modern Disneyland Hotel by 2030.

What do you think will happen with the Disneyland Hotel? What do you think of the look of the DVC tower? Comment below your thoughts and follow this blog for updates on this project as well as other Disney projects!

Asian Streets Eats Now Open at Downtown Disney

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

At long last Asian Streets Eats has opened in front of the former Rainforest Cafe restaurant in Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort. This location looks like a glorified food truck and that tells me that this is temporary until they figure out what they want to do with the Rainforest Cafe building.

The menu for this establishment will of course be Asian dishes such as Scallion Pancake Wraps and Pot stickers.

Scallion Pancake Wrap from Asian Street Eats
All Photos courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Pot stickers from Asian Street Eats

Will you be trying out this new restaurant? What do you think of the food choices? Let me know down below!

Disney Files Plans for 12 Story DVC Tower at the Disneyland Resort

by socalthemeparkwizard, posted in Uncategorized
Image result for dvc tower disneyland

A couple of weeks ago Disney filed plans for a brand new DVC tower that they would like to build at the Disneyland Resort. Now this is not exactly a new plan, but more like a Resurrection of an old plan. Years ago Disney wanted to build a DVC only tower but pulled the plug.

In light of the cancelled 4th Disneyland Resort hotel, those plans are now back on and better than ever. This new tower would go on a plot of land that awhile back was earmarked for the fourth tower of the Disneyland Hotel. This tower would have 350 rooms in 12 stories and be Disney’s 17th DVC resort.

What This Could Mean For The Disneyland Hotel

A lot of people speculated that due to the original placement of the 4th hotel for the Disneyland Resort, that the original Disneyland hotel would be demolished right after the new hotel was completed. Now that those plans are cancelled, I still think a major demo and rebuild are in store for the Disneyland Hotel.

This placement of the DVC Tower would still allow for each tower of the Disneyland Hotel to be demoed and rebuilt one by one to allow for a completely remodeled hotel and I for one would be a big proponent of that idea.

What do you guys think of this new DVC Tower? What do you think it means for the future of the Disneyland resort? Let me know in the comments below!