Good news: California theme parks may be able to start re-opening as soon as April 1. But if you’re so eager to get back to Disneyland Resort that you can almost taste it, here’s more good news: You can literally sample it in March, too.
Tickets are on sale now for A Touch of Disney, which launches March 18 at the Anaheim resort’s Disney California Adventure Park. The event will run Thursdays through Mondays from noon to 8 p.m. until at least April 5; there is no end date set yet, but future dates will be released on a rolling basis. The festival promises to be somewhat similar to past years’ Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, with a menu of specially made small dishes such as duck confit empanadas, carrot-cake funnel fries, or a pastrami-spiced Impossible burger. This year’s selections will also include some of Disneyland’s iconic foods for superfans hungry for the classics: think smaller versions of the famous Monte Cristo sandwiches, colorful churros, and classic Dole Whip.
Here’s how it works: For your $75 admission, you get a $25 credit for dishes at 25 kiosks and restaurants around California Adventure, as well as parking and unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos. Beyond that, you can use contactless payment options and mobile ordering on the Disneyland app to buy more à la carte dishes or adult beverages. The safety protocols include a much lower crowd capacity, an online-reservations-only admission system, temperature checks at the gates, and a requirement for face coverings.
While you’re strolling and noshing, listen to the new soundtrack of reimagined Disney songs, browse the shops, and be on the lookout for characters—whom you can greet from a safe distance—along with special photo-op locations.
And take heart that this event is something of a prelude to a full reopening at a date still to be determined.
“We are always looking at options for our guests and ways to get cast members back to work, and this idea has been in development for a while,” according to a Disneyland spokesperson. “We’re excited to bring this new experience to life with enhanced health and safety measures as aligned with guidance from health authorities (such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and appropriate government agencies) while our theme parks remain closed. We continue to evaluate the environment and will work with state and county officials on when we can reopen our parks with health and safety measures in place.”
Until that time, you could also make a day of exploring the resort’s Downtown Disney, where shopping and dining requires just a $10 fee to park in the Simba lot. Don’t miss the new Star Wars Trading Post, which offers the kind of intergalactic gear and toys you might otherwise find in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and includes plenty of merchandise related to The Mandalorian.
