HUGE Difference in Crowd Levels as Disneyland Resort Bans Eating

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Downtown Disney

Credit: Five Fires

As of yesterday, Monday, December 7th, Downtown Disney had to change around their operations to comply with California’s latest stay-at-home order — and the crowds are definitely a reflection of the times.

Downtown Disney
Credit: Five Fires

The new stay-at-home order set out by Governor Newsom allows Downtown Disney to remain open but prohibits eats and drinking. This doesn’t mean you can pick up a Starbucks, stand off to the side, sip it, and then put your mask back up — you are literally not allowed to remove your mask for any reason whatsoever.

That being said, you can imagine why most eateries have been shut down in terms of dining. Some locations are still running take-out options, but as we discussed, those items have to be consumed once you are back home. At this time you can purchase some beignets for a snack, for example, but you can’t take off your mask and eat them in Downtown Disney; you have to take them home.

With this huge cutback to the Downtown Disney District, we were quite curious to see how crowds would react to the change, and if the stay-at-home order would lower attendance, and it most definitely has.

Youtuber Five Fires went to Downtown Disney to check out what the crowds were looking like, and it is pretty sad to see because the only open part of Disneyland Resort is pretty empty.

The photo below shows an empty area of DCA that has been closed off, as it was previously used for outdoor dining when Buena Vista Stree first reopened.

Downtown Disney
Credit: Five Fires

It seems that Guests are still going into the shops to shop, but considering Downtown Disney was hitting capacity more often than not prior to the stay-at-home order coming into effect, these crowds are quite shocking.

In the below photo, there are actually more Cast Members than Guests visible! And although we do love to see Cast Members at Disneyland, considering that another 350 CMs have been furloughed again, seeing no crowds is worrisome.

Downtown Disney
Credit: Five Fires

Outdoor food stands have been shut down in order to ensure Guests do not break any rules. That being said, we can see how seriously Disney is taking the Governor’s mandate. They could be offering the food and telling Guests to eat it once home, but to avoid any problems altogether and to ensure Buena Vista Street Guests are complying with rules, Downtown Disney is theoretically falling on their own financial sword when it comes to food carts.

Downtown Disney
Credit: Five Fires

There is also new signage up that ensures Guests that due to the California State Order, you cannot eat or drink on Disneyland Resort property at this time.

As we reported, available take out dining at this time will include the following:

  • Ballast Point Brewing Company
  • Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes
  • Earl of Sandwich
  • Jamba
  • Salt & Straw
  • Sprinkles
  • Wetzels Pretzels
  • Jazz Kitchen Express

Related: Amid Stay-at-Home Order, Downtown Disney Encourages Guests to Visit

Downtown Disney
Credit: Five Fires

So for now, it seems the stay-at-home order is taking a large toll on Disneyland. As the holidays encroach closer, it will be interesting to see if crowds start back up again.

You can take a look at the videos below to get an idea of current weekday crowd levels at Downtown Disney without any outdoor dining offered. Note, however, that this weekend will likely bring in more Guests, although Californians are being encouraged to stay at home as much as possible right now.

Will you be visiting Downtown Disney?

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