In 2021, a new Four Diamond hotel will open to guests visiting Disneyland Resort.
New Disneyland Resort Hotel Concept Art ©Disney
This new hotel will connect all of what will be four Disneyland hotels with walkways lined by lush gardens, completely transforming the west end of the Downtown Disney District. Construction is set to begin this summer.
New Disneyland Resort Hotel Concept Art ©Disney
This construction, of course, requires space. And that space will come with the closure of several restaurants and businesses in Downtown Disney. According to the ocregister.com, the following spots will close by June 30th (with some spots possibly closing earlier) to make way for construction:
- AMC 12 Theatres
- Rainforest Cafe
- ESPN Zone
- Earl of Sandwich
- Alamo Rent-a-Car
- Starbucks (on the west side only)
Two Disney-operated businesses — Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney Travel — will continue to run in other locations.
Also according to ocregister.com: “Essentially, everything on the Downtown Disney property west of the Lego store and Disneyland Drive will be demolished, until the boundary of the Disneyland Hotel is reached.”
It’s anticipated that the much-loved Earl of Sandwich will stay open through June 30th, and it’s also being reported that the sandwich shop’s employees will have the opportunity to be considered for positions at Buca di Beppo.
Earl of Sandwich in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney
Though closures are impending, construction continues to take place in other areas of Downtown Disney, providing new dining experiences. We recently checked out the new Splitsville Luxury Lanes, for example. And Ballast Point and Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer are slated to open later this year.
Find out all the Disneyland food news here!
Source: ocregister.com
So, what are your thoughts on the upcoming changes? Please let us know with a comment!
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I am absolutely devastated. The rainforest cafe is my favourite restaurant and I’ve been going there since I can remember. I was hoping to go backboard next year for my 21st birthday celebrations and eat there. I’m really disappointed to hear some of the originals EE being demolished
Does DisneyLAND also have an identical Disney springs/downtown Disney? I thought downtown Disney was only at Disney WORLD
D, Downtown Disney Anaheim is a fun shopping and dining district at Disneyland Resort. It is not identical to Disney Springs, which is much larger.
Thank goodness we went to Disneyland in 2017 for my daughters high school grad holiday. Any excuse to go Disneyland. Very sad to hear that the Rainforest Café will be demolished for this new hotel. Will it be rebuilt somewhere else. This is such a great family restaurant, its always busy.
Sad to hear that the AMC and ESPN Zone are closing. We have enjoyed visiting both on multiple occasions during our Disneyland trips. We were just there at Spring Break, and had I known ESPN was going to be closing, I think we would have popped in one last time, as the friend that was traveling with us would really have enjoyed it as well.
I can say that from my side of the street ESPN Zone and Rainforest Cafe will not be missed. I heard they were moving ESPN Zone in on the top floor where Build A Bear (rip) was but it looks like a bar is going in there. Any idea if any of those closures will be returning or relocating? I’d be surprised if they didn’t reopen AMC or integrate it into the hotel building in some way.
The Earl of Sandwich was the cheapest (and one of the tastiest) spot to dine in the resort. Sad to see it go. Rainforest consistently has a line to get in and is a fun dining experience. I’m surprised they didn’t incorporate it into the new hotel. I’ll miss that one the most. Also surprised they’re doing away with the AMC. Especially for those with annual passes or families staying for multiple days, catching a movie was a great coda to a fun day. I’ll be especially glad when the creepy moving sports busts on the outside of ESPN Zone go bye bye.
Matthew Artson- yes about the sports busts! Lol! Those will not be missed.
Am I the only one confused about Earl of Sandwich employees being considered for jobs at Buca di Beppo what does that have to do with Downtown Disney? There’s no Buca di Beppo and I haven’t heard any reports of them coming to downtown Disney especially since there’s already an Italian restaurant there anyways
Earl of Sandwich is owned by Buca di Beppo, so assuming they are offering the employees losing their jobs at Earl another place to work at.
“Am I the only one confused about Earl of Sandwich employees being considered for jobs at Buca di Beppo what does that have to do with Downtown Disney? There’s no Buca di Beppo and I haven’t heard any reports of them coming to downtown Disney especially since there’s already an Italian restaurant there anyways”
Can’t believe they would tear down great restaurants for more hotel rooms. The park is over crowded now, why add more people??? So sad. Loved to eat at all of them. Please re think about this decision.
Another overpriced Disney hotel? I am surprised they don’t just do away with Downtown Disney altogether and extend the new hotel even further. It’s not bad enough they raise the ticket prices TWICE in one year (Feb 2018 and Jan 2019), now they get rid of businesses that were busy and turning a nice profit. Disneyland used to be affordable for families. Now it costs over $600 for a family of four with 2 teens! Walt would be turning over in his grave if he knew his *family theme park* was nothing but a money pit for the rich!
Robyn, they actually ended up cancelling their plans for this hotel!
Hello DFB Sarah! My Mom and I were at the parks 2 weeks ago and ate at Ballast Point. We really enjoyed everything about it.
That said, I haven’t heard anything lately about what is happening/going to happen to that part of D’town Disney now that the hotel is off the table. Have you heard anything?
Maggie, nothing has been officially announced, and after the hotel was cancelled, Earl of Sandwich reopened, and the ESPN Zone is now Pop Up Disney!. Nothing else seems to be happening at present in AMC or Rainforest Cafe.
Thanks DFB Sarah! ESPN was never my thing, but I know it mattered to a lot of people so I’m glad there’s a Pop Up of it. Well, I’m pretty sure there’s some kind of legal tango going on behind the scenes between Disney and Anaheim; I just wish they’d get it worked out.
@Maggie They worked it out and Anaheim won’t give Disney the tax credits at that site so Disney isn’t building there. It really hurts us, Disney and the city of Anaheim. I think Disney is now just waiting for new officials that are friendlier to them to be elected. It was really a huge mistake on Anaheim’s part to block this, it would have created so many jobs and had so many more people coming through Anaheim.