Now that the Downtown Disney District has reopened at the Disneyland Resort, what is the guest experience like?”

Hi there, and welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! For the first time in forever, we’re so excited to experience the magic of the Disneyland Resort with the reopening of Downtown Disney District! My family visited a few days ago, and I’d love to share our experience with you.

My three Mouseketeers (ages 4, 6, and 8) and I headed to Downtown Disney District for lunch, and ended up staying until after dinner! We were impressed with the new health and safety measures, starting with our temperature screenings. We walked up to a Cast Member for our contactless screening without a wait, and were done in a matter of seconds. Next, we went through security screenings, which were fast and seamless. Once we passed the security checkpoint, I was immediately impressed with the availability of hand sanitizer and hand-washing stations throughout Downtown Disney.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Earl of Sandwich on the outdoor patio, where tables were nicely spaced. I also liked the helpful markers on the ground to maintain physical distancing while waiting to order.

Next, it was off to World of Disney to check out the new merchandise honoring the 65th anniversary of Disneyland Park. I loved the Mobile Wait List, which helped us avoid standing in the heat for too long while we waited for our turn to enter. All you have to do is provide your name and mobile number to a Cast Member, and you’ll receive a text message when it’s time to return. This Mobile Wait List is only necessary when some retail locations are at capacity, and is also being used at Marceline’s Confectionery.

We loved seeing all the new merchandise and new procedures inside World of Disney, including reduced capacity at cash registers, and enhanced cleaning between transactions. If you haven't already purchased your Disney Cloth Face Masks from shopDisney.com, I'm happy to report that they're being sold individually there, too! These masks are my family's favorites!

Later in the day, we enjoyed a wonderful meal from Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes. I loved the additional patio seating, which stretched all the way around the corner to Splitsville Luxury Lanes (which isn’t currently open).

The Esplanade between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park is an ideal spot for a fun photo shoot, as is the beautiful photo backdrop near the exit of Downtown Disney. Just listening to familiar Disney tunes on the loudspeakers, watching Cast Members wave and welcome us back, and seeing the familiar sights made my family feel at home once again!

Before your visit, don’t forget to check this page to find out everything you’ll need to know for a successful visit. You can also make dining reservations ahead of time for Naples Ristorante e Bar and UVA Bar & Cafe, which will guarantee parking in the Simba lot on a busier day. Parking is currently complimentary, so you can take your time soaking in the magic!

We can’t wait to see ya’ real soon!
Kristin

Downtown Disney District, an outdoor dining, shopping, and entertainment venue located in the heart of the Disneyland Resort, has opened with enhanced health and safety procedures. Everyone's a Super Hero, as Cast Members and Guests team up to make each Disney day Incredible. To learn more about special protocols currently in place at the Downtown Disney District, visit Disneyland.com/DTD. Also, use the Disneyland app to access the latest information, including store hours, restaurant menus, and more.

I was thrilled to enjoy a recent visit to the Downtown Disney District. We found plentiful parking at the nearby Simba parking lot. Plus, for a limited time, parking is complimentary! After parking, we went to the entrance, where a Cast Member read our temperature using a no-touch thermometer. We then proceeded to the security screening area, which features a streamlined process, including proper spacing between guests as well as safety barriers between Guests and screeners. To be honest, we have been prone to a lot of worrying during recent months since the COVID-19 outbreak has turned our lives upside down. But Disney really went above and beyond to put our minds at ease and make us feel as safe as possible while we enjoyed our visit.

One of the most important safety measures is the requirement that all Guests, Cast Members and others working at the Downtown Disney District wear proper face coverings. Now, let's be realistic: nobody loves wearing a mask. And since we were visiting on a day that was hotter than normal, we were a bit nervous about how it would go. But things went really well for us! We felt comfortable and safe wearing our masks. And seeing everyone else around us wearing their masks too helped us feel peace-of-mind that we were all in this together helping to keep each other healthy.

Cast Members are stationed throughout the Downtown Disney District to help answer any questions you may have. They are also helping Guests maintain social distance, guiding pedestrian flows, and reminding Guests to adhere to current rules, such as keeping face coverings over both mouth and nose at all times.

Tony's Tip: There are some places where Cast Members may not be able to help out. For example, to respect your privacy, Cast Members are not stationed inside restrooms. If you have younger Mouseketeers with you during your visit, you may want to accompany them when they go to the restrooms, even if they are mature enough to go on their own. That way you can help guide them in maintaining social distancing there as well.

My favorite thing to do at the Disneyland Resort is to eat delicious food. Now that the Downtown Disney District is open again, we can finally get back to my favorite pastime. We started our visit with yummy bowls and wraps from Asian Street Eats. We topped off our meal with the phenomenal gourmet ice cream from Salt & Straw. Properly-spaced seating was plentiful and the food was outstanding! Dining reservations for select restaurants can be made on the Disneyland Resort website.

I hope you enjoy your next visit to the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort. If you have any questions, please stop by the Disney Parks Moms Panel. We'd love to share the magic of the Disneyland Resort with you.

~Tony

Greetings and welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! A little bit of magic has returned to the Disneyland Resort with the recent re-opening of the Downtown Disney District! I can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself with all the newly implemented health and safety measures! 

Upon arrival, you’ll be directed to self-park your vehicle at the Simba Parking Lot. Then, head over to the temperature and security screening area. Don’t forget that in order to gain admission, all Guests age 2 and older are required to wear a face covering that is secured with ties or ear loops. ShopDisney.com sells some fun Disney, Marvel and Pixar Cloth Face Masks in packs of four. You can order some prior to your visit or they can be purchased individually at World of Disney!  

Once you’ve arrived you’ll notice a few operational changes. At some retail locations, including World of Disney and Marceline’s Confectionery, a mobile wait list system may be utilized in order to manage the number of Guests shopping. You’ll have the opportunity to provide your name and mobile number to a Cast Member and receive a text message when it’s your turn to shop!  

My favorite thing to do when visiting the Downtown Disney District is to eat! Salt & Straw and Asian Street Eats are two of my favorites! But, there are some table service restaurants open at this time as well! Following state and county guidelines, all seating is outdoor patio only. And, to promote physical distancing all parties will be seated at tables 6 feet apart. Also, all Guests are encouraged to use cashless payment options such as debit and credit cards, Disney Gift Cards and mobile wallet when making purchases at the Downtown Disney District.

For a list of which locations are open and to review all the new guidelines, please visit the Downtown Disney website before your visit. 

I know you're going to enjoy a fun-filled day at Downtown Disney!  

chEARS, Tiffanie 

Hello there and welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! The Magic has returned to the Happiest Place on Earth with the reopening of the Downtown Disney District!

As of right now, you’ll be able to park in the Simba Parking Lot and for a limited time parking is complimentary! What a way to start the day! You might then notice that a few things have changed in the guest experience to ensure the safety of guests and Cast Members! You’ll get a quick temperature check and touch less bag check through security. Masks with ear loops are required so I hope you’ve got a really cool print ready! I’ve got a classic Mickey Mouse and Star Wars Mask ready to go! 

If you want to add more variety to your masks you can purchase additional masks at the iconic World of Disney! Upon arrival, you can join a virtual queue line and you’ll receive a text message once your time is ready. Not only does that help with social distancing, but it leaves you free to grab an ice cream at Salt & Straw or shop at one of the other stores available. The merchandise for Disneyland’s 65th Anniversary is stocked and ready so if you're looking for that make sure to get there soon!

If you’re looking for a place to eat I highly recommended Ballast Point Brewing Co which is almost ready to open or Naples Ristorante e Bar which is already open and slicing up your favorite pizzas. Both have amazing food, drinks and beautiful outdoor seating to sit and relax during your meal.

Well, I hope this gives you a little glimpse into the Downtown Disney District and we hope to see you there soon!

Remember, always believe in the Magic!

Andres