
A big demolition is coming to Disneyland, and guests will likely have a front-row seat to the terror if past events are relived.
As Walt Disney once famously said, “As long as there’s imagination left in the world, Disneyland will never be complete”. This sentiment has proven to be true not only for Disneyland but for the entire Disney park brand as a whole. While Walt knew of the creation of Magic Kingdom and Disney World, he may have never guessed that he would inspire parks in Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
Disney parks are also constantly evolving with new attractions, offerings, and locations. At Disneyland Resort, Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel opened earlier this year, after the remodel from Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel was completed, which is just one example of many that proves the theme parks will never stay “as is”.
At Disneyland, in particular, one of the most prominent crowd-favorite locations is Downtown Disney, which connects both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.
Downtown Disney Overhaul
Downtown Disney is set to welcome four new stores this winter, offering a range of Marvel superhero gear, trendy Disneyland merchandise, sweet treats, and Japanese-inspired slime toys, as the shopping district continues its ongoing transformation.
The new shops—Avengers Reserve, D-Lander, Wonderful World of Sweets, and Kawaii Slime—are scheduled to open between Christmas Week and late March at the Anaheim outdoor mall adjacent to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Avengers Reserve will feature Marvel-themed clothing, toys, collectibles, and comic books, complementing the nearby Star Wars Trading Post. D-Lander will offer fashion-forward Disneyland apparel and jewelry, providing a trendier alternative to the World of Disney.
Both Avengers Reserve and D-Lander will occupy new retail spaces under construction near the Downtown Disney stage and the upcoming Parkside Market.
The Disney Wonderful World of Sweets shop will be a reimagined and expanded version of the former Marceline’s Confectionery. It will feature an exhibition kitchen where visitors can watch the creation of churro toffee, caramel apples, sour balls, lollipops, and caramel popcorn. In the meantime, a Marceline’s Confectionery cart will offer select treats during construction.
Kawaii Slime, a cart selling stretchy, foldable, and twistable slime toys in unique scents like Unicorn Butter and Watermelon Sugar, will also be part of the new lineup. The slime cart is the creation of a Nevada-based company founded by a mom with a multicultural heritage and a passion for Japanese “super cute” Kawaii culture.
These additions come as Downtown Disney continues to evolve, replacing several retailers that closed following the pandemic, including Tortilla Jo’s Mexican restaurant, Sprinkles cupcakes, California Sole shoes, and The Void VR gaming experience.
New details have surfaced about the much-anticipated steakhouse and BBQ restaurants set to replace Tortilla Jo’s, both helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Joe Isidori. The steakhouse will offer full-service dining in an elegant, sophisticated setting, with a menu featuring prime beef cuts, chops, fresh seafood, sandwiches, chopped salads, and expertly crafted cocktails.
The BBQ spot will provide quick-service options, serving traditional-style barbecue dishes like pulled pork, beef brisket, and smoked wings, all enhanced with homemade sauces and spices. An outdoor bar will complement the BBQ experience, offering a wide selection of craft beers and moonshine cocktails.
Now, guests are speculating what will happen with the teardown of Tortilla Jo’s.
Recently, Theme Park IQ confirmed that Disney has filed a permit to demolish the old location.
“BREAKING News! Disneyland has filed a permit to demolish Tortilla Jo’s!
DTD – Tortilla Jo’s/BLDG #A – Demolition: 10,450 sq ft ground level and 8,460 sq ft second level restaurant to be demolished and utilities to be capped. Basement level to remain as-is with stair and elevator shaft to remain.”
BREAKING News! Disneyland has filed a permit to demolish Tortilla Jo’s!
DTD – Tortilla Jo’s/BLDG #A – Demolition: 10,450 sq ft ground level and 8,460 sq ft second level restaurant to be demolished and utilities to be capped. Basement level to remain as-is with stair and elevator… pic.twitter.com/cw5A4m1yv8
— Theme Park IQ (@ThemeParkIQ) August 30, 2024
Disneyland creator Fresh Baked! shared the X post above, stating, “Disney appears finally to be set for the demo of Tortilla Jo’s. The fountain demo was just the beginning of this process. This is going to be something to witness, as this is an enormous building. Demo will take a little while, and it will be spectacular. I’d love to be on site when the big vehicles pull up to begin the job.”
To give some context, Fresh Baked! shared a video of the Earl of Sandwich takedown that happened, calling it violent.
“You guys remember the takedown of the original Earls and AMC Theaters. Anyone in the area just stopped and watched the violence. I’d buy a ticket to watch the Tortilla Jo’s demo.”
You guys remember the takedown of the original Earls and AMC Theaters. Anyone in the area just stopped and watched the violence.
I’d buy a ticket to watch the Tortilla Jo’s demo. pic.twitter.com/Z3btt7ZIVa
— Fresh Baked! (@FrshBakedDisney) August 30, 2024
So, it appears that due to the sheer size of Tortilla Jo’s it will likely be impossible to hide the demolition from guests, even with construction walls, as we can see in the video above.
More Changes Coming to Disneyland Resort
During the recent D23 event, even more changes were announced for the Disney parks as well.
Get ready, aspiring superheroes! Avengers Campus is set to double in size with two exciting new attractions. Construction on the expansion is scheduled to begin next year. The first attraction, Avengers Infinity Defense, will take you on a multi-world adventure through Asgard, Wakanda, New York City, and more.
With King Thanos stealing the technology that allows the Avengers to jump between worlds, you’ll join the heroes in stopping him. The second attraction, Stark Flight Lab, will feature Tony Stark himself (with Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role!). You’ll board two-person pods, which a robotic arm will grab for a simulated test flight, ensuring each experience is unique.
A new mission featuring Mando and his youngling is coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at both Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Park in Disneyland Resort. Powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine, this adventure will launch once The Mandalorian and Grogu film hits theaters in 2026.
Disney California Adventure will also introduce the first-ever experience inspired by Coco, taking guests on a vibrant journey to the Land of the Dead. Groundbreaking is set for 2026.
In addition, the first Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney is being created for a new show titled Walt Disney — A Magical Life, set to premiere in the Main Street Opera House in 2025. Following its initial run, the show will alternate with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
An Avatar experience is also on the way, transporting guests to a new water destination in Pandora, inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water and upcoming films. This ride will be located in Disney California Adventure.
Finally, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open on November 15, 2024, in a newly reimagined Bayou Country. The area will also feature The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, and the newly reimagined Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree.
Are you sad to see Tortilla Jo’s be demolished forever?