Downtown Disney Has it Improved

[AussieNSW]

Last time we were in downtown Disney nearly 18 months ago a lot areas had closed down. It looked a bit sad closer to the Disneyland hotel. I remember going to ESPN and Rainforest cafe and saw Moana at the movie theatre there after going to Thanksgiving lunch at the Disney Hotel. They were great memories but the last time we visited the area was just a shell.
I know that it all had to do with the new hotel that didn’t happen.
Have they improved it yet? I was hoping for some more reasonably priced fun family eateries both sit down and quick service.

 

[Where's Wall-E]

Earl of Sandwich is open again (same spot), but ESPN Zone and Rainforest Cafe are still closed, as is the AMC Theater. The area used by ESPN Zone is now used for temporary "photo rooms" (for lack of a better term - different rooms with different Disney-related backgrounds so you can take fun photos.) This has paid admission.

There are now a number of new eateries - Black Tap burger/craft beer, Salt & Straw ice cream and Splitsville bowling and restaurant.

 

[maleficent55]

Jumping in this thread to ask...is splitsville any good? Is it a happening place?

 

[SensitiveDragon]

Jumping in this thread to ask...is splitsville any good? Is it a happening place?

I went back in September of 2018, so unless things have changed considerably, it’s pretty good. The bowling is of course fun, I liked that the lanes were spread out through the building, so it doesn’t feel like a typical bowling alley, it really is more of a hybrid restaurant. We ended up with the two lanes next to ours empty the whole time, so it felt almost private. And you pay by the hour and not the game which I like. The food was a little pricey, but I can attest that the portion sizes we got for some of the items were huge. I got the nachos as my entree, and even though it is technically an appetizer it was a mountain of chips and meat. I didn’t finish all of it. The poke plate was also a mountain of fish, so good value. It wasn’t mind blowing food but I had no complaints and would go there again if we wanted to bowl.

 

[maleficent55]

I went back in September of 2018, so unless things have changed considerably, it’s pretty good. The bowling is of course fun, I liked that the lanes were spread out through the building, so it doesn’t feel like a typical bowling alley, it really is more of a hybrid restaurant. We ended up with the two lanes next to ours empty the whole time, so it felt almost private. And you pay by the hour and not the game which I like. The food was a little pricey, but I can attest that the portion sizes we got for some of the items were huge. I got the nachos as my entree, and even though it is technically an appetizer it was a mountain of chips and meat. I didn’t finish all of it. The poke plate was also a mountain of fish, so good value. It wasn’t mind blowing food but I had no complaints and would go there again if we wanted to bowl.

We always start with Ralph Brennan’s jazz kitchen, so maybe we will try this to stir things up...

 

[Where's Wall-E]

Jumping in this thread to ask...is splitsville any good? Is it a happening place?

We didn't bowl, but took a park break and had lunch there. It was honestly one of the best salads I've had. (It was the ahi tuna salad).

 

[Aurora0427]

Jumping in this thread to ask...is splitsville any good? Is it a happening place?

Splitsville is actually one of the few table service restaurants we’ve eaten at on property that we left not feeling ripped off. The concept is pretty cool, the decor is modern and fun, big menu and the food is surprisingly good. The bowling lanes are scattered throughout the restaurant, and they have toddler lanes which are great if you have small children. If I’m remembering correctly they have a pretty huge bar and lots of outdoor seating.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... The area used by ESPN Zone is now used for temporary "photo rooms" (for lack of a better term - different rooms with different Disney-related backgrounds so you can take fun photos.) This has paid admission...

The Mickey Pop-Up has closed. There is nothing currently inside the ESPN Zone space. There is a new Asian "restaurant" take out place right in front of the Rainforest Cafe building. It is getting good reviews.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Last time we were in downtown Disney nearly 18 months ago a lot areas had closed down. It looked a bit sad closer to the Disneyland hotel. I remember going to ESPN and Rainforest cafe and saw Moana at the movie theatre there after going to Thanksgiving lunch at the Disney Hotel. They were great memories but the last time we visited the area was just a shell.
I know that it all had to do with the new hotel that didn’t happen.
Have they improved it yet? I was hoping for some more reasonably priced fun family eateries both sit down and quick service.

Have you looked at the DLR website recently? Downtown Disney District -- recent listings for restaurants, shops, and things to do.

 

[wendlle]

I'm still annoyed they got rid of Build-a-Bear

 

[Where's Wall-E]

The Mickey Pop-Up has closed. There is nothing currently inside the ESPN Zone space. There is a new Asian "restaurant" take out place right in front of the Rainforest Cafe building. It is getting good reviews.

Right! Thanks for the clarification. We saw the food truck in early May, but I completely forgot.

 

[Kender]

I'm still annoyed they got rid of Build-a-Bear

I used to buy a new outfit for Peking (stuffed panda bear in my profile picture) every trip

 

[AussieNSW]

Maybe I am just getting old. I remember buying department 56 Christmas decorations from a shop in downtown Disney. Had a look at the list of things available at downtown Disney and felt underwhelmed. Bowling although fun is something I can do at home. Went to Disney Springs and loved the food variety but it was annoying to get from our resort and the shopping was not unique enough. The shopping variety was like going to a mall. We now have grandkids and the things I was looking forward to sharing with them are gone such as build a bear.

 

[midnight star]

I honestly still find DTD boring and kind of bleh! Granted I haven't spent much time down there, but the times I have spent, it wasn't that amazing. My friends and I have eaten at Catal during happy hour, which was decent..but I am not sure if I would pay full menu prices for it. I want to try Ballast, but just haven't gotten around to try it.

Salt and Straw is yummy, but there's one near where I live so it isn't that much of a treat for me.

 

[Aurora0427]

We think DtD is kind of boring too..... there are a few cute Southern California shops that are fun for us new SoCal residents from Texas. I actually kinda forget it’s there sometimes when we stay on Harbor, although World of Disney is fantastic!

 

[gerilyne]

I miss all the unique stores that DTD used to have where you could find more unique things and not just Disney mass produced items.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I'm still annoyed they got rid of Build-a-Bear

I heard that they moved fairly close by:
Outlets of Orange
20 City Blvd W
Spc 1430
Orange, CA 92868-3100

 

[QuartL]

I went in Sept 2018 and then Sept 2019, and I would say it has definitely improved in that year. It's still not anything great though

 

[Christina-B-Na]

I heard that they moved fairly close by:
Outlets of Orange
20 City Blvd W
Spc 1430
Orange, CA 92868-3100

Wonder if they sell any Disney related stuff at this location or if it’s just the same as all the other BABs. My kids just recently did build a bear here locally and we were looking forward to going to the one in downtown Disney to buy some outfits or unique accessories as souvenirs.

 

[LAS2AMS]

While I very much enjoy walking through Downtown Disney, it's always extremely crowded, and the shops & restaurants are overpriced compared to what's available in the general area. Sprinkles Cupcakes, for example, was charging $1 more per cupcake than the Newport Beach location, and the few times we've enjoyed them, they were never very fresh.

Wonder if they sell any Disney related stuff at this location or if it’s just the same as all the other BABs. My kids just recently did build a bear here locally and we were looking forward to going to the one in downtown Disney to buy some outfits or unique accessories as souvenirs.

I've never personally been to the Orange location, but a blogger reviewed the location shortly after it relocated from Downtown Disney and noted that while most of the staff was the same, it was now a typical BAB location. Knott's recently opened a location that's suppose to tie into the park's theming, and might be worth checking out.