Disney’s ‘Toy Story’ Restaurant Gets an Opening Date!

An official opening date and menu details have been revealed for the long-awaited Toy Story-inspired restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios… and we can’t wait!

Walt Disney World Resort is preparing for a new Disney dining experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that will feature one of its most popular franchises… Toy Story!

Get ready to experience a fun rodeo-themed table service restaurant that the beloved Andy from Toy Story (1995) has built for his pals, including Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep, and more. The colorful interior is a perfect match with its location in the Disney Park’s Toy Story Land.

The big news coming from @DisneyParks, as they shared on social media, “Howdy, partners! Get ready for some mouthwatering BBQ and all the fixin’s at Roundup Rodeo BBQ opening Mar. 23.”

Keep in mind while there are colorful images of Toy Story characters throughout the Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant, this is not a character dining experience. Instead, the table-service restaurant will feature family-style dishes for the whole party to enjoy.

And if you’re a fan of mouthwatering BBQ and fixin’s to go along with it, the menu for Roundup Rodeo BBQ looks delicious! Disney Parks Blog reports the menu with images as follows:

Salads

Roundup Rodeo BBQ salads
  • Tomato Salad: Tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled red onions tossed in a white balsamic vinaigrette and garnished with fresh dill (plant-based)
  • Rex’s Romaine and Kale Salad: Romaine and kale mixed with green apples, pumpkin seeds, and dried cranberries tossed with green goddess dressing
  • Watermelon Salad: Cubed watermelon garnished with freshly torn mint leaves (plant-based)

House-Smoked Meats

Roundup Rodeo BBQ meats
  • Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, slow-cooked for hours in our onsite smokehouse 
  • Buttercup’s Beef Brisket: Hand-sliced beef brisket, smoked then slow-cooked to juicy perfection
  • There’s a Sausage in My Boot: Spiced pork sausage fire-grilled over live oak to give it an added kick 
  • BBQ Chicken – with Style! Chicken brined for 48 hours, rubbed with our secret backyard BBQ spice and smoked to tender juiciness

Plant-Based Offerings

Roundup Rodeo BBQ plant-based offerings
  • Slow-smoked Cauliflower topped with sweet harissa drizzle and crunchy walnut gremolata 
  • Oven-roasted “Bratwurst” that is tender and juicy, sliced to perfection
  • Impossible “Rib Chop” seasoned with spices, then roasted and glazed with sweet BBQ sauce and skewered on a sugar cane “bone”

Choose Four Sides for the Table

Roundup Rodeo BBQ sides
  • The Married Spuds: Loaded potato barrels drizzled with green goddess dressing, cheese sauce, and seasoned BBQ spices
  • Force Field Fried Pickles: Jumbo pickle spears coated with a dill-flavored breading and fried to perfection
  • Slinky Doooooooooog Mac & Cheese: Spiral pasta in a creamy house-made cheese sauce topped with crumbled cheddar crackers 
  • Buckin’ Baked Beans: A traditional BBQ picnic favorite (plant-based)
  • Cowpoke Corn on the Cob: Grilled and seasoned with a chili-lime spice blend, cilantro, cotija cheese, and lime juice
  • Mean Old Potato Salad: Homestyle with red-skinned potatoes
  • Veggie Slaw: Crunchy shredded veggie slaw that is a summertime favorite! (plant-based)
  • Campfire-roasted Vegetables: A variety of roasted seasonal vegetables (plant-based)

Desserts

Roundup Rodeo BBQ desserts
  • Cupcake à la Forky: Forky is up to something sweet! A classic chocolate cake with a gooey chocolate ganache center topped with velvety graham cracker buttercream and a sugar cookie
  • Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake: An iconic creamy dessert that balances the tanginess of the cheesecake with the natural sweetness of blueberries and lemon
  • Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie: Layers of graham cracker crust and silky chocolate mousse topped with chantilly cream
  • Goat’s Apple Pie: A picnic classic! Tart apples and warm pie spices balance perfectly with the creamy sweet filling under a crumble crust
  • Gruff’s Peach-Strawberry Pie: With its silky sweet peaches and tartness of strawberries, this dessert is a fruit-centric delight! (plant-based)

Cocktails

Roundup Rodeo BBQ cocktails
  • Snake Eye Margarita: Inspired by a summertime BBQ featuring watermelon, smoke, and a bit of spice! 
  • Rum Punch: Rum punch with vibrant flavors of passion fruit and pineapple finished with a smoky spiced garnish
  • Chocolate with a Grown-up Twist: A blend of chocolate rum, horchata liqueur, cocoa, and flavors of toasted marshmallow
  • Frozen Peanut Butter & Jelly: A fun frozen twist on the classic peanut butter & jelly featuring peanut butter whiskey 
  • Whiskey Lemonade: A fresh take on a strawberry lemonade made with Tennessee whiskey and Italian bitter aperitif
  • The Rodeo Mule: A classic “patio sipper,” this mule mixes vodka with fresh juices and ginger beer

Nonalcoholic Offerings

  • Molly’s Frozen Iced Tea: A frosty concoction with iced tea and citrus flavors
  • Frozen Cocoa: A frozen blend of cocoa and vanilla topped with miniature marshmallows
  • Partysaurus Rex: Strawberry lemonade is even more fun when you garnish it with gummy worms!
Roundup Rodeo BBQ food

It all sounds so enticing! With the opening on March 23, 2023, booking dates for reservations have yet to be announced. We do suspect, however, that when dining reservations do open for Roundup Rodeo BBQ, they will be extremely popular.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land is a very busy portion of the theme park as Disney welcomes Park Guests to explore Andy’s backyard, which is filled with “toys” such as the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster, Alien Swirling Saucers attraction, and the fan-favorite Toy Story Mania ride experience. Additionally, Woody’s Lunch Box is a quick-service restaurant in Toy Story Land that has proven to be a very popular restaurant option. We expect the same popularity for Roundup Rodeo BBQ.

Foodie Guide to Celebrate Soulfully Treats and Eats

Throughout the year, Disney Parks honor Black heritage and culture with Celebrate Soulfully, where our cast members bring their cultures to life in our parks through authentic food, music, and experiences.

During the month of February, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort join together to honor and experience Black culture through cuisines, one bite and sip at a time – with many offerings inspired and created by our diverse Disney cast members. Both coasts bring these delicious flavors and traditions to the plate and glass for people of all ages and backgrounds to join in on the soulful celebration. No detail is too small when it comes to our Celebrate Soulfully cuisine!

At Disneyland Resort, enjoy new can’t-miss chef inspirations such as the Shrimp & Grits from Café Orleans and the Peach Cobbler Donut from Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. Over on the East Coast, Walt Disney World Resort is bringing back popular dishes from last February’s Cooking With Soul feature and highlighting new food and beverage  creations infused with Walt Disney World cast stories and heritage carried by Black-owned distillers. This February, Guests can try dishes returning with a twist such as the Peach Cobbler Whiskey Cake at Tiffins Restaurant or brand-new Soulful Sunday Dinners at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. While visiting, Guests can keep an eye out for other soulful offerings across property to continue celebrating soulfully throughout the year.

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Park

Cafe Orleans (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Shrimp & Grits: Andouille-fava relish, cheesy grits, and shrimp sauce (New)

Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe (Available Feb. 1 through 28; mobile order available)

  • Peach Cobbler Donut: Vanilla-dipped donut filled with peach compote, topped with a cinnamon sugar puff (New)

River Belle Terrace (Available Feb. 1 through 28) 

  • Southern BBQ Platter: Brisket, fried chicken, burnt ends pork belly, mashed potatoes, baked beans, slaw, and a house-baked biscuit (New)

Troubadour Tavern

  • Fried Chicken Bowl: Spicy honey-glazed fried chicken served with four-cheese mac ‘n cheese, smoked turkey collard greens, and sweet potato cornbread (Available Feb.18 and Feb. 25 only; mobile order available) (New)
  • Red Velvet Bundt Cake with chocolate mousse, cream cheese frosting, and chocolate chips (Available Feb.18 and Feb. 25 only; mobile order available) (New)

Fantasyland Popcorn Cart and Troubadour Tavern  

  • Simba Popcorn Bucket (mobile order available)

Hotels of the Disneyland Resort

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Hearthstone Lounge (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Baked Andouille Mac & Cheese: Pasta with white cheese sauce, chopped herbs and Andouille sausage (New)
  • Apricot Manhattan: Uncle Nearest 1884 Whiskey, Giffards Abricot du Roussillon, and Amaro Nonino garnished with maraschino cherries (New)
  • Spiced Fizz: Hanson of Sonoma Habanero Vodka, ginger beer, lime juice and raspberry syrup garnished with raspberries and a Lime wedge (New)

Downtown Disney District

College Boy Cheesesteaks (Available Feb. 9 – Mar. 5)

  • Black-owned food truck College Boy Cheesesteaks will serve up Philly Cheesesteaks from local Philadelphians

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen

  • Peach Pie Old Fashioned: Whiskey, peach liquor, bitters, and brown sugar garnished with a peach slice

Wings ’N Waffles (Available Feb. 9 – Mar. 5)

  • Black-owned food truck Wings ‘n Waffles will serve up delicious sandwiches, plates, and more

Walt Disney World Resort

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

ABC Commissary (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Gumbo: Chicken, Andouille sausage, okra, and seasonings simmered in chicken stock served over rice (New)

Dockside Diner (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • South African Hot Dog: South African boerie topped with sweet and spicy chakalaka relish on a brioche bun served with house-made chips (New)

Hollywood Scoops (Available Feb. 1 through Mar. 31)

  • Tiana Mardi Gras Milkshake: Cinnamon vanilla milkshake topped with a Mardi Gras king cake doughnut (New)

Hollywood & Vine

  • Poulet Mariné Au Four (Baked Marinated Chicken): Baked chicken marinated in assorted spices served with red and green peppers and onions. This dish was created by our cast members at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to celebrate Haitian Flag Day and is now featured on the Hollywood & Vine buffet for guests to enjoy!

Woody’s Lunch Box (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Sweet Potato Lunch Box Tart with cinnamon-brown sugar icing, toasted marshmallows, and pecans (New)

50’s Prime Time Cafe

  • Shrimp & Grits: Creole-seasoned shrimp with peppers and onions served over cheese grits

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Flame Tree Barbecue (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Creole Smoked Sausage Sandwich: Smoked Andouille sausage on a roll with piccadilly relish and stewed black-eyed peas (New)
  • Soul Cupcake: Vanilla cake with bananas foster filling, vanilla marshmallow buttercream, Joe Gardner white chocolate medallion, edible paper music notes, and multi color crispy pearls

Nomad Lounge (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • The Ginger Whiskey: A cocktail featuring Uncle Nearest 1856 Whiskey with notes of ginger and brown sugar (New)

Pizzafari and Restaurantosaurus (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Soul Cupcake: Vanilla cake with bananas foster filling, vanilla marshmallow buttercream, Joe Gardner white chocolate medallion, edible paper music notes, and multi color crispy pearls

Tiffins Restaurant

  • Spiced Shrimp & Grits: Spicy shrimp & corn grits with bacon jam and crispy radish
  • Peach Cobbler Whiskey Cake: Peach cobbler cake, honey vanilla bean ice cream, and brown butter whiskey caramel (Available Feb. 1 through 28)
  • The Ginger Whiskey: A cocktail featuring Uncle Nearest 1856 Whiskey with notes of ginger and brown sugar (New) (Available Feb. 1 through 28) 

Tusker House

  • Braised Collard Greens with smoked bacon (Available Feb. 1 through 28)
  • Jollof Rice with Plant-based Sausage
  • Harira Soup

Dawa Bar, Restarauntosaurus Lounge, and Thirsty River Bar (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Mint Julep: Pineapple mint julep

EPCOT

Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue

  • Tiana Banana Pudding

Coral Reef Restaurant

  • Shrimp & Grits: Sautéed shrimp, cheddar grits, local corn succotash, andouille sausage, and Creole spice emulsion

Fife & Drum

  • Half Note Float: Layered Fanta Wild Cherry, Minute Maid Lemonade, and Fanta Blue Raspberry Slushy with vanilla ice cream and Half Note White Chocolate

Magic Kingdom Park  

Cinderella’s Royal Table

  • Select wines from McBride Sisters Wine Company (a Black-owned and female-led wine company), including:
    • McBride Sisters Sparkling Brut Rosé, Hawke’s Bay                
    • McBride Sisters Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
    • McBride Sisters Chardonnay, Central Coast 

Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen 

  • Kungaloosh! African-inspired chocolate cake with caramelized bananas and cashew-caramel ice cream topped with coffee dust
  • Golden Haze Margarita: Teremana Blanco Tequila, Grand Marnier Liqueur, Hella Cocktail Co. Smoked Chili Bitters, lime, and agave.

Disney Springs

Amorette’s Patisserie (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Soul Petit Cake: Chocolate chiffon cake, dark chocolate mousse, raspberry pate de fruit, raspberry mousse, and white chocolate crispy pearls 

B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. (Available Feb. 1 through 28) 

  • Chicken Jambalaya Dog: Chicken jambalaya dog with smoked sausage, roasted corn, lemon caper aïoli, and Tuscan roll (New)

Dockside Margaritas and Outdoor Bars (available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Royal Sunset: Empress 1908 Gin, grapefruit juice, cane sugar, and cherries 

House of Blues (available Feb. 1 through Mar. 1)

  • Celebrate Soulfully Specials: Featuring two beers (pilsner and IPA) from Green Bench Brewing, Florida’s only Black-owned brewery and chardonnay from Brown Estates, Napa Valley’s first Black-owned estate winery

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Chicken on the Egg: Buttermilk fried chicken, deviled eggs, and hot honey sauce
  • Fried Sweet Potato Pie: Sweet potato-filled pastry, spiced cinnamon sugar, maple bourbon sauce, and roasted pecan crumble

Poutine (Available Feb. 1 through 28) 

  • Jamaican Jerk Chicken Poutine with sweet ‘n’ hot jerk marinated chicken, pineapple salsa, scotch bonnet aïoli, and fries (New)

The Ganachery (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Soulful Pralines: Pecan pralines enrobed in our custom dark chocolate “jazzed” up with some chocolate musical instruments and decor featuring Joe from Disney and Pixar’s animated film Soul

Local Green Orlando Food Truck

  • Delicious vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian menu items made with love and soul including the Monsta Shrimp Burger, Rappers Delight Salmon Philly, and more
  • For a limited time during the month of February, visit the Local Green Orlando Food Truck near the entrance to Orange Garage 

The Polite Pig (available Jan. 31 through Feb. 28)

  • The Soulfully Chef Special: Fried pork belly, beef empanadas, and pikliz

Vivoli Il Gelato (available Jan. 16 through Feb. 28)

  • Candied Yam Cannoli: A crispy Italian shell filled with a sweet cream of ricotta cheese and candied yams topped with pecans
  • Carver’s Peanut Butter Explosion: Peanut butter milkshake with a chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, and a chocolate peanut butter cake on top

Walt Disney World Resorts

Available at Various Resorts (Available Feb. 1 through 28) 

  • Southern Fried Chicken Bowl: Fried chicken thighs, candied sweet potatoes, rice, smoked collards, mac and cheese, and a corn muffin(New) Available at the following:
    • World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
    • Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
    • End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
    • Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
    • Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
    • Everything POP at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
    • Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
    • Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

World Premiere Food Court, Intermission Food Court, and End Zone Food Court (Available Feb. 1 through 28) 

  • Banana Pudding Cheesecake: Banana cheesecake with vanilla pudding, vanilla wafer crust, and a brûléed banana (New)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Sanaa (Available Feb. 1 through 28) 

  • Sanaa Spiced Shrimp: Benne seed-spiced shrimp, creamy pap, stewed okra, boerewors, and charred corn kachumbari (New)

Disney’s Contemporary Resort 

Contempo Café (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese: Four cheese baked macaroni and cheese (New) 

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort}

Barcelona Lounge (Available Feb. 1 through 28) 

  • Whiskey Tart: Orange-cardamom infused cake, dark chocolate mousse, and diplomat cream infused with Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Premium Whiskey with a candied orange garnish (New) 

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Comeback Chocolate Cake: Slice of German-style chocolate cake with a salty pecan-coconut topping (New)

Scat Cat’s Club – Lounge (Available beginning Feb. 1)

  • Berry Beignet: Mickey-shaped beignet with fresh mixed berry compote, house-made Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Premium Whiskey caramel sauce, mint, and powdered sugar (New)

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Riverside Mill Food Court (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Comeback Chocolate Cake: Slice of German-style chocolate cake with a salty pecan-coconut topping (New)

Various Signature Restaurants and Lounges Across Resorts Including:

Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, Cítricos, Jiko-The Cooking Place, and Yachtsman Steakhouse (Available Feb. 1 through Mar. 30)

  • Golden Cocktail: Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Premium Whiskey, pineapple juice, almond, agave, and aromatic bitters (New)

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa  

The Artist’s Palette (Available Feb. 1 through 28)

  • Soulful Sunday Dinner: A traditional soul food dinner of barbeque chicken with collard greens, black eye peas, and house-made cornbread (available Sundays in Feb.) (New)
  • Traditional Pound Cake: A slice of classic vanilla pound cake (New)

Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

The Market at Ale & Compass and Beach Club Marketplace (Available Feb. 1 through Mar. 30)

  • Tiana Praline Cupcake: Vanilla cupcake filled with pecan praline filling, vanilla buttercream, and chocolate décor (New)

Various Pool Bars and Table Service Locations Across Resorts Including Geyser Point, Banana Cabana, Scat Cat’s Club – Lounge, Boatwright’s Dining Hall, Olivia’s Café, Turf Club Bar & Lounge, Outer Rim, Hurricane Hanna’s, Boma – Flavors of Africa, Oasis Pool Bar, and many more! (Available Feb 1. through Mar. 30)

  • Pineapple Mule: Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Premium Whiskey, Hella Cocktail Co. ginger bitters, pineapple juice, ginger beer, and mint

(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.)

California Grill Is Changing Their Menu

Disney’s 50th Anniversary celebration is coming to an end, and with it, many of the special limited-time events are ending as well. The celebration officially ends on March 31, 2023, and when it does, the special menu to commemorate the event at California Grill will end with it. 

Beginning April 1, 2023, the Contemporary Resort’s signature restaurant will debut an all-new menu. While this isn’t particularly shocking (menus change at Walt Disney World all the time), the format is, and some guests aren’t happy about it. According to Disney, the new menu will consist of “contemporary, market-inspired cuisine.” We aren’t quite sure yet what that entails as Disney has yet to release the details of the new menu, but the photos they’ve shared look amazing! 

Disney has stated that the new menu at California Grill will be prix fixe. The menu will include a three-course meal for one price with alá cart options no longer offered. The 50th-anniversary menu was also prix fixe, so this change isn’t technically new,  but many expected the restaurant to return to alá carte dining once the limited-time menu was done. 

The new format has led to many airing their frustrations online. 

Some expressed confusion at the format:

While others just wanted the option to order sushi (we can’t blame them that spicy kazan roll is delicious):

California Grill

This user straight up doesn’t want that price fix (and brings up an excellent point…that brunch was outstanding): 

California Grill

While this pricing structure was always present at family-style dining experiences like Garden Grill and Liberty Tree Tavern, prix fixe is a direction many other restaurants at Disney World are going in, particularly their fine dining establishments. Recently we reported that Monsieur Paul would also be adopting this format. Keep in mind this new pricing structure does not mean the restaurant will become family-style. You’ll still have options on the menu, which is nice. You’ll simply pay one price and choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert from the menu options.  

Tiana’s Palace Coming to Disneyland Later This Year

Tiana fans will be pleased to learn that an all-new restaurant, Tina’s Palace, is coming to Disneyland later this year.

From a Disney Cast Member;

Just as Tiana transformed an old sugar mill into her dream restaurant in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, “The Princess and the Frog,” soon the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland park will be reimagined into Tiana’s Palace!

As we initially shared at D23 Expo, we are excited for the opportunity to tell even more Tiana stories in New Orleans Square. We recently opened Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets, a new retail shop that Tiana opened with her mother, Eudora. Up next will be Tiana’s Palace later this year, followed by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the thrilling attraction that will open in Disneyland park in 2024.

Tiana’s Palace will be the newest restaurant on Orleans Street. Within its peach-colored walls and fancy green wrought-iron balconies, you’ll find elegant fixtures and appointments reminiscent of Tiana’s life and friendships. The new Tiana’s Palace will have much of the same pinch of pizzazz and flair as the restaurant from the film, offering authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures in this quick-service style restaurant. While Tiana’s Palace is not a character dining location, guests may find Tiana in New Orleans Square.

The menu at Tiana’s Palace will expand on many of the current favorites served in the location, explore seasonal flavors and, of course, offer some New Orleans classics. Tiana’s Palace is sure to be a gathering place for friends and family to enjoy great food and celebrate together, just like Tiana and her father James dreamed of.

Disney Imagineers are partnering with Disney Animation artists from the original film to bring this story to life at Disneyland park. In fact, the film designers took inspiration from the exterior of the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square when designing Tiana’s Palace for the movie, so this is a long-dreamt homecoming.

To begin this work, French Market Restaurant (and Mint Julep Bar) will be closed beginning February 17, 2023, and will reopen as Tiana’s Palace (alongside Mint Julep Bar with its famous mint juleps and Mickey beignets) later in the year.

Popular Disney Eatery Closes Its Doors

In 2001, a massive Disneyland Resort expansion was finally complete, and the Downtown Disney District was open for business. Downtown Disney is a great shopping and dining area that connects Disneyland Resort’s three hotels — the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel (soon to be Pixar Place), and the Grand Californian — with Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.

While a lot of stores and restaurants have come and gone in those more than 20 years, there is one popular restaurant that has been a staple for the area — La Brea Bakery & Café. Sadly, on January 9, La Brea announced that they were closing the doors on the Café, effective immediately.

La Brea Bakery did not say exactly what led them to close their doors at Downtown Disney, but the press release did say that they would be focusing on their in-store bakeries found at supermarkets.

After 34 years at our flagship location on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, and more than two decades in Downtown Disney, Anaheim, Aspire Bakeries has made the difficult decision to permanently close La Brea Bakery Café. This morning, meetings were held at our Los Angeles and Downtown Disney Café locations to announce the closures, which are effective immediately. 

Consistent with our strategy, Aspire Bakeries will exit the restaurant business and continue the focus on growing our thriving La Brea Bakery business in retail (grocery in-store bakeries) and foodservice. While we will no longer be operating the Cafés, consumers can still find our delicious La Brea Bakery artisan breads, both fresh baked and Take ‘n Bake, at their local grocery’s in-store bakery and at other restaurant locations that serve artisan breads. 

La Brea Bakery

Not long after the closure of La Brea Bakery was shared, Disney made an announcement, thanking the company for its long relationship with Disney and its Guests. Disney also shared that Earl of Sandwich would be returning to occupy the space for a limited time. Earl of Sandwich had been located at the other end of Downtown Disney, but was torn down as Disney began its major shopping and dining expansion project.

Downtown Disney Renovation

La Brea also acknowledged that the closure would affect many loyal employees. To help those who were now unemployed, the company teamed up with Disney to host a job fair immediately after the closure was announced. Disneyland Resort is currently hiring for multiple positions.

Downtown Disney is currently undergoing a major renovation and will see several new eateries coming to the area, including the incredibly popular Porto’s Bakery and the hit Chinese restaurant Din Tai Fung.