As 2019 comes to a close, it is time to look back on both the good and the not-so-great changes made to Downtown Disney this past year. After closing several popular locations in preparation for a massive hotel project that ended up in the trash can, Disney quickly needed to climb out of the hole they buried themselves in and scrambled to fill some of the empty locations in the now barren West side of the shopping district.
At the end of 2018, both Earl of Sandwich and the west-end Starbucks location returned to their original spots. All eyes were on what Disney would do to fill the abandoned AMC, ESPN Zone, and Rainforest Cafe. Unfortunately, all three of those locations remained empty at the end of 2019, and continue to be a reminder of the terminated hotel project.
Food trucks were brought in to help obscure some of the empty spaces and provide some sense of activity in the area. However, even the food trucks were finally canceled as plans to open a more substantial Asian-inspired food service window in front of the old Rainforest Cafe were announced.
2019 introduced many new eateries and events in Downtown Disney, but not all of them were hits. Here are the top 5 changes that impacted Downtown Disney the most in 2019:
Top 5 Changes to Downtown Disney in 2019
5. Sugarboo & Co. replaces Disney Vacation Center
Continuing their 2018 mission of trying to repopulate the west-end of Downtown Disney, Disney announced that the charming home-goods store, Sugerboo & Co., would be opening in the previous location of the Disney Vacation Center. Sugerboo & Co. offers guests a unique shopping experience, specializing heavily in home decor and paper goods that all have a “hand-made” feel to them.
The new shopping location has a high-end feel and an odd mix of mostly useless objects. The location is rarely busy. It will be interesting to see if it is able to survive in the high-rent Downtown Disney landscape.
4. Naples Ristorante E Bar Renovations
Naples has been a highly successful establishment since Downtown Disney opened, but 2019 completely transformed the restaurant inside and out. The upstairs, downstairs, patios, bar, and quick service kiosk were all given top to bottom rethemes.
The changes modernized the look of the restaurant and added extra seating. The top floor and balcony offer a wonderful view of Downtown Disney below. A giant outdoor bar and alfresco seating area were also added. The 2019 renovations seem to have made the location even more popular with guests.
3. The VOID adds new VR scenarios
The VOID, one of the most exciting experiences Downtown Disney, added a new VR scenario in 2019: Avengers: Damage Control. Guests can now step onto the battlefield and fight with the Avengers.
The VOID uses state-of-the-art technology to put guests directly in the middle of thrilling adventures that could only happen with the use of virtual reality. The Downtown Disney VOID location also offers Star Wars and Wreck-it-Ralph adventures that the entire family can participate in. It is encouraging to see Disney continue to support this entertainment offering by adding an Avengers-themed adventure and we can only hope to see more updates in the future!
2. Ballast Point
With the closure of several high-capacity sit-down restaurants, Downtown Disney was in desperate need of new dining options to help handle the evening dinner rush. In January of 2019 Disney introduced Ballast Point, the first new restaurant to open since the loss of ESPN Zone and Rainforest Cafe. Ballast Point offers a wonderful balance of food options that cater to both adults and children, while maintaining an inviting environment that allows for great social interaction.
Ballast Point is a functioning brewery and has an extensive list of beers to choose from, as well as a broad menu that should please most everyone. The brewery welcomes both children and adults but beware that this location is more bar than restaurant and has extremely limited seating capacity. Waits can be very long, seek a reservation if you’d like a table (which is the more family-friendly side of the establishment).
1. Black Tap Craft Burgers and Shakes
Directly below Ballast Point is the most recent dining option added to Downtown Disney, Black Tap Craft Burgers and Shakes. Originally started in New York, Black Tap specializes in over-the-top burgers and specialty shakes that are as tasty as they are Instagram-worthy.
The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating and draws huge crowds. Black Tap earns our #1 spot of 2019 because of its fun menu and too-pretty-to-eat creations. In a time where food options were limited, Black Tap filled a void and became a welcomed addition to the resort.
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Let’s Hear From You
It is hard to look at the changes made in Downtown Disney this past year and view them wholly as a success. Many of these moves were out of desperation as Downtown Disney attempts to recover from the canceled hotel project. We are likely to see even more shuffling until Disney figures out what the long-term plans are for this end of the Disneyland Resort.
What were your favorite changes to Downtown Disney in 2019? Share your list with us? Was there anything in particular you didn’t like in Downtown Disney this past year? Let us know in the comments below.