I Went to Downtown Disney During a Pandmic...Here's What It Was Like
I LOVE Disneyland! I used to be an Annual Pass holder and giving that up was one of the worst things ever.
I’m used to going to Disneyland multiple times a year, so when COVID-19 hit and all of the theme parks closed, I was heartbroken. Sure, Disney World in Florida is open, but I wouldn’t dare go there with the current state of the world. Instead, I live vicariously through my favorite Disney YouTuber, Prince Charming Dev, who gives me a weekly dose of Disney that is much needed.
Along with Prince Charming Dev, I like to watch some California-based Disney YouTubers like this fun couple, Magic Journeys. Lately, they’ve been going to Downtown Disney and vlogging their experiences. I’ve watched so many that I was convinced to go explore Downtown Disney myself. That, and also because they just released all of their Disney Halloween merch and there were many items I NEEDED.
So, this past weekend, Arjuna and I headed to Downtown Disney - on a Saturday, which is one of their busiest days. Overall, I actually had a good time and was able to get my Disney Magic fix! I was able to go into the shops I wanted, get some tasty snacks, and, of course, buy out the World of Disney Store.
My hope for this blog is to give you guys a look into my experience, and allow you to decide whether or not visiting Downtown Disney during the pandemic is for you. While reading this, please keep in mind that this experience is based off of a Saturday trip to Downtown Disney, which is by far the busiest day of the week to visit.
Cons:
Waiting. Waiting. You guessed it. Waiting. From the moment you arrive in Anaheim, you will be waiting. You will be waiting to get into the Simba Parking lot, and you might even have to drive around the block a few times before they even let you in. Arjuna and I had to drive around three different times! Then, once you get into the lot, you have to wait another 10 minutes to even be let through the gate which takes you to the parking spaces. After you’ve parked your car, it’s time to wait in the hour-long line to get through security and have your temperature checked before being let into the district. Lastly, you will have to wait in virtual queues in order to enter ANY and ALL shops in Downtown Disney. That’s right. You enter the park and must visit each store you intend to go into and provide the cast member with your phone number so they can contact you when it’s your turn to enter the store. The day I went, the shortest wait I had was just over an hour, and the longest was about three hours long.
Crowds. You’d think COVID-19 would stop people from gathering in one central location, but not even a global pandemic can stop die-hard Disney fans. If you’re planning to visit Downtown Disney any day between Friday and Sunday, you have to be prepared to be in crowds that are comparable to about 70% of a regular, non-pandemic Saturday in the district.
Pros:
Disney Magic! Obviously, the biggest pro of going to Downtown Disney right now is that you get to have a little taste of Disney Magic and happiness during this unfortunate time. Going to Disney is one of my favorite pick-me-ups. If you’re anything like me, spending even a few hours here will cheer you up.
Change of Scenery. We have been cooped up inside for months and being in the same environment for so long can really drain you! Sometimes you need to mix it up, and instead of taking a risk by going to a nearby restaurant, I decided to take that same risk, but in a place, I love way more.
Solid Regulations & Safety Precautions. One thing that really impressed me was Disney’s adaptation of COVID-19 safety regulations. They had hand sanitizers and handwashing stations littered throughout the district. Their virtual queue was an efficient way to promote social distancing. And the cast members were constantly monitoring people to ensure masks were being worn at all times. I was surprised by the fact that 95% of the people I saw had their masks on properly at all times.
It’s Halloweentime! Ummm hello!! This is the main reason I came! For Halloween!!! If you want to get into the spooky mood and are bummed about missing out on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween nights like me, then going to Downtown Disney at this time is perfect. I had a blast shopping for all of the new Halloween merchandise and you might too! Here’s a look at all the spooky stuff I got!
Tips, Tricks, & Hacks:
Go Hungry. As I’ve learned, you will be waiting in virtual queues for hours, and during that time, the only thing left to do in the district is to eat! Or, you can just sit on a bench and mind your business, but if that’s too boring for you, you’re going to want to eat. Have some lunch or grab a snack while you wait to be called into your stores.
Go Early. We got there about an hour after the district opened, and we had to wait in so many lines. On top of that, the later you get there, the longer it may take for you to be able to get into stores. From the time we parked to the time we were accepted to go inside the Home store, it had been five hours. I’m not joking. It’s really true that the early bird gets the worm.
Make a Dining Reservation Well in Advance. While waiting in the security check line for an hour, I learned of an amazing hack to skip the security wait line. Those who had dining reservations within the next half hour or so were permitted to cut the hour-long security checkpoint line and head straight into the district upon passing the temperature check. My teeth were seething with jealousy when I saw couples passing me by while I waited under the hot sun for an hour. But I took a mental note, so I am passing this along to you!
Strategize your Virtual Queues. If your main goal for visiting Downtown Disney is to go shopping, then you better get in the virtual queues as soon as possible, and in a strategic order. The catch with virtual queues is that you have to physically be in front of each store in order to get on the waitlist. But, after talking with a cast member, I was advised to sign up for the virtual queues in this order from the busiest/most popular stores, to the least.
World of Disney
Star Wars Trading Post (AKA WonderGround Gallery)
Disney Home Store
Marceline’s Confectionary
The Disney Dress Shop
The Lego Store
Review the Guidelines. There have been some important changes to Downtown Disney, so it’s best that you brush up on Disney’s official updates regarding Downtown Disney. You can find those guidelines here.
There you have it. My guide for conquering Downtown Disney on it’s busiest day during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heed my advice and pass it along to any of your friends who are thinking of going to Downtown Disney right now. If you end up going, tell me about your experience in the comments below or by sending me a DM on the Borderline Millennials Instagram!