Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort has been under disrepair for over a year now but we’ve slowly got some more clarity on what’s coming and when it will be there. The construction walls were never at Epcot levels but they do make guests bob and weave like they’re practicing for a low stakes game of dodgeball. That said, progress is being made and we found out more details today. In this post, I’ll share those details and add some of my own commentary!

We’ll start with the news via the Disney Parks Blog!

First Look at Parkside Market!

Here’s a first look at renderings for the new Parkside Market, a curated collection of four diverse culinary concepts from Levy Restaurants, all under one roof, as part of the expansion of the district on the west end. Parkside Market will bring Seoul Sister, a fast-casual modern eatery that will serve a Korean-forward menu based on bibimbap (Korean rice bowls); Sip & Sonder serving lattes, fresh treats, frozen drinks and Caribbean-inspired bites; GG’s Chicken Shop with chicken sandwiches, salads, and classic dinner table sides; and a second story bar with great views of the district to sip signature craft cocktails and mocktails paired with tantalizing appetizers.

Earl of Sandwich News!

Earl of Sandwich fans, great news! Plans are in the works for an all-new, two-story location in Downtown Disney District, with a quick-service Earl of Sandwich shop on the ground level and a table-service gastropub upstairs. We can’t wait to share more details about this project in the future.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for a temporary Earl of Sandwich pop-up opening soon near Star Wars Trading Post. Here, you will be able to pick up sandwiches such as The Original 1762, The Full Montagu or my personal must-have, the Holiday Turkey, as well as hand-crafted wraps, salads and sweets.

As we previously shared, Earl of Sandwich will be relocated from its temporary location on the east end of the district near the Esplanade to make way for the design and construction of an all-new Porto’s Bakery.

Sneak Peek at Paseo and Céntrico, and Announcing Tiendita!

Next, let’s take a sneak peek at what’s coming to the center of the district later this spring – the new Paseo and Céntrico – and announcing, Tiendita! With menus created by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán, the Paseo upstairs dining room and the first floor Céntrico courtyard bar and restaurant will offer upscale Mexican cuisine and tequila-based cocktails, while next door, Tiendita will offer Chef Gaytán’s Mexican heritage flavors on-the-go, with quick-service Mexican street-food staples.

We’ve been talking about what’s to come, and of course, there is so much to enjoy now! One of the new spots to relax and listen to music is at the Downtown Disney LIVE! stage and lawn. You can dance and sing along to various genres of music including Motown, rock, jazz, pop and reggae. Be sure to check the entertainment schedule for seasonal and specialty performances throughout the year.

Commentary

There’s some new bits of information in here so we’ll go from top to bottom. The concept art of Parkside Market is nice enough and fits in with the other architecture in the area. To be honest, I don’t find the modern architecture in that area appealing but having some continuity is a good thing.

This particular area looks to be pretty inviting, with an open air feature and a variety of seating. More than anything, I’m eager for Downtown Disney to have some decent counter-service options. That hasn’t happened in the area since… Well, I don’t think it’s ever had good counter-service options. I’m hoping this will be done around summer time but haven’t seen a date on it.

Moving onto Earl of Sandwich, I’m not sure that I should be the one to comment on the restaurant. I really don’t get the love for the restaurant that so many Disney fans seem to have. The saga of the Downtown Disney Earl of Sandwich is pretty funny at this point. I don’t think this is all an elaborate prank to see if Earl of Sandwich can be a tenant in every single building but I wouldn’t be shocked if that was the case. Anyway, congratulations to all of you Earl of Sandwich lovers, it won’t be leaving you!

Paseo and Centrico look good and the concept art looks very similar to what’s already there. I’m thinking that Paseo will be the most expensive restaurant in Downtown Disney but I hope it’s still approachable. The real announcement here is that Tiendita will be joining the slate and that’s great news. In essence, these 3 restaurants will be replacing Tortilla Joe’s and that should be an upgrade. I’m curious what will take over that place.

Finally, there’s that new stage and grass area and I don’t think I’ve actually commented on it even though it’s been open for a while. It looks pretty nice! The stage is an interesting design but I was really just happy to see some green in the area and different texture. This will be a nice area once all of it is open to explore. Downtown Disney is improving and I’m excited to see the finished product.

Are you excited for the Downtown Disney additions? Let us know, along with any questions you might have, in the comments below! If you are planning a trip to Disneyland Resort then check out our planning guide. Looking for discount Disneyland tickets? Check out this site! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. You can do all of that on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!