Club 33’s balcony, the Star Wars Trading Post, the old Earl of Sandwich site and the Grand Californian all went behind scrim.
Disneyland had a busy week for construction walls, and if you are visiting soon it is worth knowing where they went up.
Four separate spots got walled, scrimmed or torn up between Sept. 16 and Sept. 17. None of them close a ride. Two of them are in Downtown Disney District, which means they are in front of you whether you buy a park ticket or not.
What is happening at Club 33 in Disneyland?
Halloween, apparently.
Scrim now wraps three sides of the balcony above Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square. That balcony belongs to Le Grand Salon, part of Club 33, the members-only club tucked into the square.
The stated purpose is balcony enhancements to the dining experience that will coincide with Halloween, and the work runs through Friday, Oct. 16. Le Grand Salon service is not being disrupted.
One thing to be clear about, because it is being reported wrong in a few places. Cafe Orleans is not closed and is not being refurbished. The restaurant sits below the balcony and is operating normally. If you have a reservation there, keep it.
Why is the Star Wars Trading Post walled off?
Disney has not said.
Construction walls went up around the Star Wars Trading Post in Downtown Disney District on Sept. 16. The shop is one of the district’s anchor retail spots, and there has been no announcement about what happens to it.
A day later, crews tore up the pavement at the former Earl of Sandwich pop-up site nearby.
Two footprints going under construction in the same district within 24 hours reads like a coordinated retail reshuffle. Downtown Disney has been churning for a while, with a Gordon Ramsay restaurant at The Carnaby announced earlier this month.
That said, Disney has confirmed nothing about what replaces either space.
What is going on at the Grand Californian?
The exterior refurbishment got bigger.
Construction walls now extend to the GCH Craftsman Grill, which remains open. Scaffolding has gone up on balconies overlooking the Disney California Adventure entrance, and in some sections scaffolding is already coming back down, which suggests the work is moving in phases rather than stalling.
Is the Grand Californian pool closed?
Yes, and Disney has not explained why.
The front pool is still full of water but inaccessible to guests. No cause has been given and no reopening date has been announced. For a hotel where a room runs well into the hundreds per night, an unexplained pool closure is the kind of thing that should come with a note at check-in.
If you are booked there in the next few weeks, ask when you arrive rather than assuming.
Is anything happening in Tomorrowland?
Construction started on a monorail station ramp, and the PeopleMover track was covered with a tarp. Neither is an announcement. Both are the sort of infrastructure activity that tends to show up before something larger, which is why Disneyland regulars noticed.
Tomorrowland has been the subject of rebuild speculation for years. The land is the oldest-feeling part of the park, DisneylandForward opened the door to serious redevelopment, and fans have been reading tea leaves about it for a long time. A tarp is not a plan.
What else changed at Disneyland this week
Some good news alongside the walls.
Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island reopened after a short refurbishment. Downtown Disney put up Encanto and Coco floral displays for Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month.
And the resort released a limited-edition Disney Vacation Club 35th anniversary pin, plus a Hunchback of Notre Dame 30th anniversary Esmeralda doll.
Nothing on this list should change a trip. It is mostly a matter of knowing which photo spots are behind scrim before you get there.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WDW News Today, the Club 33 balcony scrim with its stated purpose and Oct. 16 end date, the Star Wars Trading Post walls, the Earl of Sandwich site pavement removal, the Grand Californian scaffolding and pool closure, and the Tomorrowland monorail ramp and PeopleMover tarp
Disney Parks Blog, the Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby announcement
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