SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- California Adventure will open its gates to the public for the first time in seven months after the deadly coronavirus pandemic forced park officials to shut down.
In a release, Disneyland Resort officials announced the Nov. 19 expansion of its Downtown Disney District that adds the shopping and dining section of California Adventure, Buena Vista Street.
Guest favorite dining options will include the Carthay Circle Restaurant, Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe, Award Wieners, and Smokejumpers Grill.
For those looking for Disney park apparel and gifts, the shops on Buena Vista will open their doors just in time for the holidays.
"Disney magic brings a nostalgic throwback to the 1920s and ’30s," said park officials. "The boulevard depicts a typical Los Angeles neighborhood where a young Walt Disney lived and worked after arriving in Southern California in 1923."
"This idyllic setting captures the quaint 'mom-and-pop' shops of the time and a big-city department store including Elias & Co., Julius Katz & Sons, Kingswell Camera Shop and Trolley Treats, where you can find unique Disney apparel and gifts."
The Downtown Disney District reopened in early July under strict state health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Employees and guests 2-years-old and older are required to wear face coverings, and all must clear temperature screenings before entering the resort. Officials have heightened cleaning and disinfecting, and are providing hand sanitizer for guests and employees.
In accordance with California's physical distancing guidelines, guest traffic is metered limiting the number of guests allowed into Downtown Disney, sometimes creating long wait times to enter the resort.
"The number of guests visiting the Downtown Disney District and its locations, including the shopping and dining experiences along Buena Vista Street, will be limited to promote physical distancing," the park said. "We may at times use the mobile wait list system when Buena Vista Street and/or its queue are at capacity, similar to the process at some retail locations in the Downtown Disney District."
Also, only outdoor dining is allowed and bars must be closed for the next few weeks under recent state guidelines to deal with the surge in COVID-19 cases.
"Carthay Circle Restaurant, known for its upscale cuisine, is introducing Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining, a new outdoor dining environment and menu featuring Mediterranean-California light fare, with small plates that can be shared or enjoyed separately," said park officials.
Park at the resort has been free but that will change Nov. 19. There will be a $10 fee per car for parking at the Downtown Disney District in the Simba Lot, according to park officials.
Because Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are still closed due to the state’s COVID-19 restrictions, guests will not have access to any rides or attractions within the theme parks.
For dining
If you haven’t visited the Downtown Disney District lately, be sure to visit Disneyland.com/DTD to learn important information about updated experiences and other details including health and safety measures such as the requirement for all guests, ages 2 and older, to wear a face covering.
