food IS a theme park
Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure is known for Southern California-inspired cuisine, specialty cocktails, and entree prices around $50. Whew.
Carthay Circle Restaurant
But what if we told you there’s another way to experience this iconic Disneyland spot WITHOUT breaking the bank? We’re headed to the accompanying Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining to try out the much-loved bar service and small plates — with a more palatable price tag.
If you have tickets to A Touch of Disney and you’ve been hoping to grab a dining reservation for Carthay Circle Lounge Alfresco Dining or Lamplight Lounge…it’s likely been a long morning. Frankly, today made the process of buying tickets to A Touch of Disney look like a walk in the park!
©Disney
We suspected dining reservations would be a hot commodity since every date of A Touch of Disney is currently sold out, but nothing could prepare us for what actually transpired! Over four HOURS after the virtual queue opened up for dining reservations, we were successful in grabbing a table for Lamplight Lounge! But the way we were able to get a reservation totally took us by surprise!
With the stay-at-home order now lifted, guests can once again eat and drink at Disneyland Resort.
Carthay Circle at California Adventure
Recently, we saw a few restaurants announce when they would reopen for in-person dining and dining reservations became available at those spots. We then shared that Carthay Circle Lounge would be reopening soon for its Alfresco dining experience, and two other Disney restaurants would be reopening on Buena Vista Street. Well, if you’ve been wanting to make reservations for Carthay Circle, the wait is over! Reservations for this Disney spot are now available.
In late 2020, Buena Vista Street reopened as an extension of Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort.
Carthay Circle at California Adventure
We were once again reunited with corn dogs from Award Wieners, and more! We even got to try the new Carthay Circle Lounge — Alfresco Dining experience. Bot too long after, dining was prohibited at Disneyland due to a stay-at-home order. But, the stay-at-home order has now been lifted and restaurants have started offer in-person dining again at Downtown Disney. And now Carthay Circle and 2 other Buena Vista spots have official reopening dates!
We’ve been hard at work scoping out all the news for you this week. Today we have the details on the latest in the Disney theme parks and MORE!
Minnie Peppermint Cookie
See all of our coverage on Disney park reopenings HERE. We still have a LOT to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in… .
Disney dining can be a curious thing, and at times it can almost seem like a tale of two dining experiences. On the one hand, you can easily find your fair share of cheeseburgers, pizza, plastic cheese, chicken fingers, and corndogs. On the other hand, Disney is no stranger to cranking out solid signature dining restaurants with top-notch service and dishes that would rival many fine-dining restaurants around the world.
Carthay Circle
Our recent visit to Buena Vista Street in Disney’s California Adventure, the newest extension of Downtown Disney to reopen on November 19th, was a perfect example of this juxtaposition. After chowing down on our beloved corndogs over at Award Wieners and eating a rather…sad…cheeseburger at Smokejumpers Grill, we sat down at Carthay Circle Lounge Alfresco Dining for a “total 180.”
Disneyland Resort reopened a small portion of Disney California Adventure Park for shopping and dining.
Carthay Circle
Buena Vista Street welcomed guests last week with modified gift shops and outdoor dining options. The Carthay Circle Lounge was adjusted to fit the California health mandates that require restaurants to seat diners outdoors. The lounge is now serving guests on a new make-shift patio. Upon opening, the lounge was only taking walk-up reservations for guests visiting Buena Vista Street…until now!
Aside from shopping at the Disneyland Backlot Premiere Shop, we haven’t stepped foot INSIDE a Disneyland Resort theme park since March!
Disney California Adventure Park
But that is all about to change TODAY! It may not be the same as running through the park and riding Radiator Springs Racers or the Incredicoaster, but today we’re going to have the chance to walk down Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure for some shopping and dining and we could practically cry of excitement (tears may or may not have already been shed). Come along with us and take a virtual trip to the reopening of Buena Vista Street!
When Disney California Adventure partially reopens for select shopping and dining tomorrow, some things are going to be a LOT different.
Carthay Circle Marquee
For starters, guests can only visit Buena Vista Street for select shopping and dining experiences — no attractions will be open. And some of those stores and restaurants are going to look pretty different than before Disneyland Resort closed.
When Buena Vista Street reopens next Thursday, November 19th, it’ll be the first time Disneylanders step food inside the parks in some capacity in over eight months! With the exception of the Stage 17 Backlot Premiere Shop, the parks have been totally off-limits as California is keeping its larger theme parks closed for the time being.
Disney California Adventure Park
Besides the fact that we’ll be able to take in the sights and sounds of Buena Vista Street next week, there are some incredible returning FOOD items that are a HUGE deal to us!
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