Buena Vista Street reopens for the holidays 2020 at the Disneyland Resort

Popcorn, churros, corn dogs and MORE!!! Buena Vista Street is open to the public, no ticket required for holiday shopping and dining.

UPDATE on Buena Vista Street! It will remain open to the public through March 14, and will be closed beginning March 15. Beginning March 18, Buena Vista Street will become part of A Touch of Disney.

Exciting news Disneyland fans! Buena Vista Street reopened on Thursday Nov. 19, at the Disneyland Resort with more shopping and dining experiences. Think of it as an extension of what has already been open in Downtown Disney. Even though this area is inside Disney’s California Adventure it is open to the public at no additional fee. Only certain shopping and dining experiences along Buena Vista Street will be accessible at this time, as Disney California Adventure park is currently closed. See further below for what’s available at this time.

Here’s a map of what is open at this time.

If this is your first time going to Downtown Disney since they reopened in July then you should read this blog post. It will help you know what to expect, what’s open and all the NEW procedures in place. The post includes tips for your visit on parking, dining and more.

General Information

There is now a $10 fee per car for parking at the Downtown Disney District in the Simba Lot. Another option is to park at the Anaheim hotel on Harbor for a fee and walk 5 minutes. Read more here about this parking option. The number of guests visiting the Downtown Disney District and its locations will be limited to promote physical distancing. Once Buena Vista Street has reached capacity you will need to join the virtual waitlist. Find the sign that looks like the one below.

You will give the cast member your phone number. They will text you when it is your time to return. It will also tell you how many groups are ahead of you. If visiting Buena Vista Street is on your to do list I recommend getting on the wait list when you first arrive. While waiting for a text back you can enjoy the rest of Downtown Disney. For what’s available in Downtown Disney check out this post. Let’s take a look at what is open on Buena Vista Street!

Hours of Operation

Operating hours are normally 10 am to 8, 9 or 10 pm. You can check the Disneyland app for sure on the day you plan to visit. Scroll all the way down on the home page and click on All Hours. Then click the date you plan to go and it will tell you the hours for Downtown Disney. Make note that the dining locations on Buena Vista Street close an hour BEFORE the posted Downtown closing time.

Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining

Enjoy expanded outdoor seating and amazing views of Buena Vista Street at Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining. This sit-down outdoor dining option features a new Mediterranean-California light fare menu, with small plates that can be shared or enjoyed separately. You can now reserve dining ahead of time for this location which I highly recommend. Guests with proof of reservation to Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining may enter Buena Vista Street up to an hour prior to their reservations with their full party, when Buena Vista Street is at capacity. Another option is to go to the restaurant once you’re inside the park to see if they have available spots. Find the cast member at Carthay and join the wait list. Guests will be able to provide their name and mobile number to receive a text message when they are able to return.

Pro tips for getting a hard to snag dining reservation to Carthay Circle.

This location is the only restaurant currently inside Buena Vista that offers advanced dining reservations. So it is very popular. To check for dining reservations you can use the official Disneyland app or check the website. I used the app. I opened up the dining tab and then clicked reserve dining as shown below.

The app asks you to choose how many people in your group and then what day. When I checked to get a reservation on the day I want to go it said there were no reservations available when I just chose LUNCH as shown below …

But yet when I chose the specific time option for 3:00 p.m. it gave me two time slots within the lunch hour time frame. It gave me availability for 2:40 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. yet above it said there were no lunch reservations available! Lunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 3:55 p.m., so the system should have given me these time slots to choose from the first time, but it didn’t.

My point in showing you this PRO TIP is don’t choose LUNCH or DINNER when you’re looking for dining times. Always check every time slot on the day you want to go. You never know what will pop up. And with popular dining you take what you can get if it’s on the day you plan to be there. You can always cancel or continue to look for a better time up until the day before. Don’t forget to cancel your reservation if you can’t go. The credit card provided at the time of reservation will be charged $10 per person if you forget!

Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe

UPDATE: This location is currently closed. I will change once it’s reopened. Grab your favorite StarBucks drink at Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe. In addition to yummy hot chocolate they have cranberry orange scones, breakfast sandwiches and more.

Award Wieners

Place your mobile order (learn how to mobile order) for corn dogs, apple pie funnel cake fries or soft drinks at Award Wieners. The only way to get food here is to mobile order. Plus great news you can use a Disney gift card in the app now to pay. And your Annual Pass discount is automatically applied even if your pass has expired. So make sure you have the app downloaded before you go! Also placing a mobile order on the Disneyland App will not grant you access to Buena Vista Street.

This location also has the cute Mickey Jingle bell glow cube for sale. Here’s the one I got in Hollywood Studios at ABC Commissary in Orlando. They have a red and green one. UPDATE: This specialty item is no longer available. Check the app they have other options now.

Smokejumpers Grill

If you’re looking for bacon cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, onion rings, waffle fries, kids’ meals or shakes Smokejumpers has it all! Again the only way to get food is to mobile order in the app. Don’t worry it’s so easy. For more tips on mobile ordering check here. And you can now use a Disney gift card to pay in the app. Read how to save even more buying Disney gift cards ahead of time! It’s important to note that placing a mobile order on the Disneyland App will not grant you access to Buena Vista Street.

Trolley Treats

If you’re looking for all the holiday treats look no further than Trolley Treats. They will offer tasty holiday goodies including caramel apples, marshmallow wands, rice crispy treats and of course my favorite churro toffee!

Vending Carts

In addition to dining locations, vending carts will be open! They will offer popcorn, churros, turkey legs, chimichangas, cotton candy and a few frozen snacks. The popcorn vending carts will sell popcorn buckets as well. And Willie’s Churro Cart is now serving the Fluffernutter specialty churro.

Shopping

Make sure you come ready to do some shopping at Elias & Co., Julius Katz & Sons, Kingswell Camera Shop and Off the Page. You can find unique Disney apparel and gifts. Many of the items sold out on Shop Disney will be available in these shops so don’t miss out on this opportunity.

AP Corner

Inside Kingswell Camera Shop you will find the Annual Passholders Corner. Stop by to see what exclusive gifts are waiting for you.

Holiday decor

While the giant Christmas tree is not up on Buena Vista Street you can still enjoy garlands and more adorned all over. You can even see the Red Car Trolley all decorated. And yes we are missing the rides, Festival of the Holidays, characters and the Holiday Toy Drummers but I’ll take what I can get in 2020! UPDATE: All holiday decor has been taken down now since the holidays are over.

If you get a chance to enjoy this holiday opportunity on Buena Vista Street please be sure to follow the rules. Keep your masks on, stay 6 feet apart and wash your hands frequently. State officials are watching your posts, stories etc and we don’t want to give them any reason to shut down this experience. Plus we want to show them that we can comply and are ready for them to let Disneyland open! So happy we get to see Walt again in the parks!