Okay, so if you’ve been following the Porto’s Bakery saga at Downtown Disney, you know it’s been A JOURNEY. Disney announced back in 2022 that the beloved Cuban-American bakery was coming to Disneyland Resort, and everyone lost their minds with excitement because Porto’s is basically a Southern California institution. Their cheese rolls, guava pastries, Cuban sandwiches – everything they make has people lining up at their existing locations for HOURS.
But then… nothing happened. For YEARS. La Brea Bakery closed in January 2023 like it was supposed to, and everyone thought “great, Porto’s construction is starting!” Except nope, Disney put Earl of Sandwich in there instead as a “temporary” solution while they figured out Porto’s plans.
And that “temporary” Earl of Sandwich stayed there for literal years. Multiple times it looked like Earl was finally leaving, multiple times Disney postponed the closure, and Porto’s fans just kept waiting and waiting and WAITING for something, anything to actually happen. It became this running joke in the Disney community about whether Porto’s would ever actually open or if it was just going to be one of those announced projects that never materializes. Finally, FINALLY, in November 2025, Earl of Sandwich closed for real and Porto’s construction actually started. Demolition began, construction walls went up, and it looked like after three years of delays and false starts, Porto’s was genuinely happening. But now that construction is in full swing, there’s a new problem nobody saw coming, and it’s affecting literally everyone trying to get in and out of Downtown Disney, whether they care about Porto’s or not.
The construction on Porto’s Bakery has reached a point where they had to close the main pathway that connects Disneyland’s esplanade to Downtown Disney. Guests are now being forced to walk along the tram loading route instead, and it’s creating absolute pedestrian traffic jams at night when everyone’s leaving after fireworks.
What’s Actually Happening Right Now
So the traditional way to get from Disneyland’s esplanade into Downtown Disney is this direct pathway that’s super convenient and handles crowds pretty well. That pathway is now completely blocked by Porto’s construction fencing.
Disney’s solution? Route everyone along the tram loading route instead.
During the day, this works fine. There aren’t huge crowds, the trams aren’t constantly running, and people can walk along that route without major issues. It’s a little less convenient than the direct path, but whatever, it’s manageable.
But at NIGHT? Specifically after Disneyland’s fireworks when literally thousands of people are trying to leave at the exact same time? Total disaster.
The tram route wasn’t designed to handle massive pedestrian crowds all trying to funnel through at once. So you’ve got this situation where everyone’s stuck in these pedestrian traffic jams trying to get to Downtown Disney, their cars, their hotels, wherever they’re going. People are getting frustrated, kids are tired and cranky, and what used to be a simple walk has turned into this whole thing.
And the worst part? Disney hasn’t said how long this is going to last. The pathway is blocked “temporarily,” but construction timelines aren’t public, so nobody knows if we’re talking weeks, months, or longer before the normal route reopens.
The Three-Year Wait That Led to This
Let’s recap the absolute SAGA of how we got here because it’s honestly ridiculous.
2022: Disney announces Porto’s is coming to Downtown Disney. Everyone’s excited. It’s supposed to take over the La Brea Bakery space.
January 2023: La Brea Bakery closes. Construction should start any day now, right? Wrong.
2023-2025: Earl of Sandwich moves in as a “temporary” tenant. This arrangement lasts for YEARS even though it was supposed to be short-term. Multiple times it looks like Earl is leaving, multiple times Disney postpones it.
Summer 2025: Looks like Earl of Sandwich is finally vacating! Except Disney postpones again.
November 2025: Earl of Sandwich actually closes for real this time. Porto’s construction FINALLY begins.
Now: Demolition is done, real construction is underway, and the pathway closure is the result.
Three years from announcement to actual construction is WILD for a restaurant opening. Like, entire theme park attractions get built faster than this. But at least something’s finally happening instead of just endless delays and Earl of Sandwich squatting in the space.
All The Other Construction Happening at Downtown Disney
Porto’s isn’t even the only construction mess at Downtown Disney right now. The whole district is basically under renovation with multiple projects happening simultaneously.
The old Tortilla Jo’s space: Being converted into TWO new restaurants – Arthur & Sons Steak and Bourbon plus Pearl’s Roadside BBQ, both from Michelin-starred Chef Joe Isidori. Construction is almost done on these.
Permanent Earl of Sandwich building: Since Earl had to leave the temporary Porto’s space, they’re getting a permanent two-story location with a quick-service Earl of Sandwich downstairs and something called “Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby” (a British-themed tavern) upstairs.
Random landscaping near Salt & Straw: There’s green scrim-covered fencing around what appears to be new tree and shrub plantings. You can actually see through these barriers unlike most Disney construction walls, so you can watch them working on landscaping. Disney hasn’t said anything official about this project.
So basically, Downtown Disney is a construction zone right now with multiple things happening at once. Porto’s is just the biggest and most disruptive because of the pathway closure.
Why This Matters More Than You’d Think
Here’s the thing: that pathway from the esplanade to Downtown Disney isn’t just for people who want to shop or eat. It’s THE main route for getting to parking, hotels, basically anywhere outside the theme parks.
So when you close it, you’re not just inconveniencing people who wanted to browse the LEGO store or grab Starbucks. You’re affecting literally everyone trying to leave Disneyland, whether they care about Downtown Disney or not.
During the day when crowds are lighter, the tram route works as an alternative. But after fireworks when EVERYONE leaves at once? That alternative route gets absolutely overwhelmed.
And there’s no way around it. You can’t just skip Downtown Disney entirely. The pathway is closed. You HAVE to use the tram route. So everyone’s funneling through this bottleneck that wasn’t designed for peak pedestrian traffic, and it shows.
Disney hasn’t announced any special crowd management measures or additional staff directing traffic or anything like that. They just closed the pathway and said “use the tram route instead” and hoped it would work out.
Spoiler: it’s not working out great after fireworks.
The Bigger Picture on Disney Retail
The fact that Disney’s investing this much in Downtown Disney construction – Porto’s, the new restaurants, permanent Earl of Sandwich, all of it – says something about their confidence in the district’s future.
Retail in general is struggling. Malls are dying. Shopping districts are closing. But Disney’s doubling down on Downtown Disney by bringing in highly anticipated tenants like Porto’s and Michelin-starred chefs.
That investment makes sense if they believe improved dining options will drive more traffic and spending. Porto’s alone will probably pull people who wouldn’t otherwise visit Downtown Disney just because of the bakery’s cult following.
But the construction phase is ROUGH. Multiple projects happening at once means barriers everywhere, redirected pathways, aesthetic impacts from work sites, and operational chaos like the current pathway closure situation.
The bet Disney’s making is that once everything’s done, the improved tenant mix will be worth the construction pain. Whether that pays off depends on whether these new places actually drive the increased traffic and revenue Disney’s expecting.
What You Should Know If You’re Visiting
If you’re going to Disneyland Resort while this construction continues, here’s what you need to know:
During the day: The tram route alternative works fine. It’s slightly less convenient than the direct path, but not a big deal.
After fireworks: Plan for CROWDS and congestion. The redirected route gets jammed with people all trying to leave at once. Either leave early before the crowds hit, or wait a while after fireworks until the rush dies down.
No timeline: Disney hasn’t said how long the pathway will stay closed. Could be weeks, could be months. Just assume it’ll be blocked for your entire trip and plan accordingly.
Porto’s still has no opening date: Despite construction finally happening, Disney hasn’t announced when Porto’s will actually open. Don’t plan your trip around eating there because nobody knows when it’ll be ready.
Other construction: There are multiple projects happening, so expect barriers, detours, and general construction aesthetic throughout Downtown Disney.
Basically, if you can avoid needing to go through Downtown Disney during peak times, do it. If you can’t avoid it, just mentally prepare for crowds and slower movement than usual.
Was the Wait Worth It?
The big question everyone’s asking: after three years of delays, will Porto’s actually be worth it when it finally opens?
If the Downtown Disney location is anything like existing Porto’s bakeries, absolutely yes. Their food is THAT good. The cheese rolls alone justify the hype.
But the construction pain is real right now. Pathway closures, pedestrian jams, years of waiting – it’s been a mess getting to this point.
The optimistic view is that once Porto’s opens, everyone will forget about the construction headaches and just be happy they can finally get Cuban pastries at Disneyland Resort. The pessimistic view is that this whole saga shows how complicated it can be to add new tenants to established districts, and maybe Disney will think twice before doing something like this again.
If you’re visiting Disneyland soon, just factor in the pathway closure and potential crowds when planning your exit strategy, especially if you’re staying for fireworks. The construction is annoying but temporary, and honestly, once you’re finally eating those famous Porto’s cheese rolls everyone’s been waiting three years for, you’ll probably forgive Disney for the inconvenience. Probably. Maybe. We’ll see how long this pathway stays closed.
