Disneyland Resort Update: Bowling for Piers

Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, CA

Last week, we split our Disneyland Resort construction update into three parts.  This week, we're doing it in two.  Yesterday was Disneyland, and today, we check out Downtown Disney and Disney California Adventure.  Half of this is a follow-up to things we looked at last week.  But hey, construction work has to end sometime.  And for a couple items, it has!  Lets get to it.

Splitsville (Soft) Opens

At this point, Splitsville may be actually be fully open.  But last weekend, it soft opened its first floor (the second floor was closed due to lack of occupancy permit).  There's the outdoor/indoor bar, dining on the first floor, and bowling lanes scattered across several locations. 

Rather than organize all the bowling lanes in one location like traditional bowling alleys, Splitsville splits (pun not originally intended) them up into three different alleys 2 to 4 lanes each.  It's more like a lounge-y bar that happens to have bowling than a bowling alley that happens to have a bar.  The interiors are clean and feature a mid-century revival look.  It's a safe design aesthetic--no real risks.  But it works for a dining establishment.  My only significant quibble is that the prices on the menu seem $2-3 more expensive than equivalent items at other equivalent style restaurants.

So Splitsville is open now.

See? Fancy sign and everything.

Here's the outdoor lounge area.

A fireplace for those (ten) cold winter nights in Southern California.

There's a little stage for live music.

Apparently, hobbit drummers are welcome (or this is exaggerated forced perspective).

Looking back at the fireplace.

The bar continues inside.

And a dining area behind it.

Here is one of the three separate set of bowling lanes.  This is at the back of the premises.

I see what they did there with the wall graphic.

Another set of lanes.

Balls.

These are apparently the fancy lanes?

Luxurious!  I guess.  The kitschy lights are cute.

The four-lane Golden Lanes out front are the most numerous set.

The upstairs was closed.  It wasn't quite finished yet (or it was and not yet approved for occupancy).

More photos of the interiors.

Details.

The bar again.

Back to the back.

There's a glimpse into the kitchen.

OMG ITZ A HIDDEN MICKEYS!!

Or an orgasmic orange.

The entry lobby, where diners and bowlers check in.

Here's a glimpse of the menu.  It's a little pricey for the items, but I guess that's part Disney upcharge, part unique venue experience.

Lets head outside.

The stage from the outside.

Looking back toward the entrance

Closer to the entrance...

Looking at the facade from across the way, upstairs at Tortilla Jo's.

The upstairs looks ready...

The other half of the upstairs dining.

If this looks like your jam, head on over to Downtown Disney to check it out in person!

Other Downtown Disney Work

Work continues on the new Ballast Point, new Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes, new Disney Home Store, and Naples Ristorante expansion.  They pretty much look the same as last week.

D-Street, which vacated its location for the Disney Home Store, has not gone away completely.  It's now a vendor cart right outside its former home, though most of the merchandise seems to be generic Disney wares, not the more stylized items D-Street used to sell.

And if you haven't checked out Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, what are you waiting for? It's a blast.  And it looks sexy at night!

D-Street is back!!!

Sorta.

These look like the same items one might find at World of Disney, so I'm not completely sure why they have a mobile cart location.  Probably to entice people.

Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire looks pretty fantastic at night.

Ooooo, that display...

Come and be a stormtrooper.  Or whatever.

Grizzly River Run Re-Opens

Over at California Adventure, the rapids ride at Grizzly Peak has reopened.  Grizzly River Run's refurbishment was not as extensive as Splash Mountain's, and it's back to cooling down riders in our Southern California winter.  You know, the one with Santa Ana winds and 80-degree weather.  Here's some eye candy of the returning attraction.

GRR is back open!

In fact, it's the only real water ride open at the Resort right now (excluding the Rivers of America attractions).

Just in time for these warm SoCal winters!

"Real" water ride means the type that goes splish splash.

It's good to have the rapids back.

It adds to the area's wilderness feel.

And it's always so photogenic.

Especially in the afternoon light.

Last week, I posted a photo of the drop dry.  Here it is filled back up with water.

It's Disney-nature, but it's beautiful.

Ker-sploosh!

Sonoma Terrace Refurbishment

Correction on last week's update.  It's not the Wine Country Trattoria that's being refurbished.  It's really just some shade structures that front the area and face the main pathway from Buena Vista Street to Pacific Wharf.  A side benefit of this work, though, is that the still-open Sonoma Terrace is now a bit of a tranquil oasis from the main walkway, and ignoring the aesthetically less pleasing work walls, the outdoor lounge environment is actually pretty serene.

The entrance to Sonoma Terrace is pretty constricted these days.

Once inside, though, the space opens back up.

The work walls do provide a nice sound barrier from the outside.

No change from the main pathway.

Also, these gulls were having a bread battle over in the water by Pacific Wharf.  That's what happen when you tread on bird turf.

Pixar Pier

Finally, work continues along the back of Paradise Pier.  The most noticeable changes come from Ariel's Grotto and the old Treasures in Paradise shop (I just call it the Duffy Bear Store anyway).  The roof spires have been removed in the short time between the two weekends that I took this and last week's update photos.  In addition, the launch at California Screamin' is completely gone now, and the boardwalk walkway planks along the Paradise Pier games behind Mickey's Fun Wheel has been removed.  They'll be moving fast on this project to get it ready in time for the summer season, just like they did for Tower of Terror's transformation into the Guardians of the Galaxy ride last year.

Notice anything different?

There has been a significant reduction of spires from these two buildings.

Ariel's Grotto is turning into a Toy Story themed establishment, so there's no place for seashell roof anymore.

It didn't take long for them to come down.

The same applies to Treasures in Paradise across the way.

What about over by the Fun Wheel?

Hard to see specific progress from this view.

They've apparently employed an army of seagull construction workers, though.  They're great.  For when asked who's responsible for every task, they're always eagerly calling out, "mine!"

Work continues on the facade of Toy Story Midway Mania.

I imagine mostly new paint for Toy Story.

A crane has shown up over by the midway games.

The wooden planks along the walkway have also been removed.

Work continues over by the launch of California Screamin' as well.

No major changes at the station yet.

But it does look like they're starting to remove a bit of the standing seam roof.

Work on the station is sure to pick up relatively soon.  They don't have that long to transform it.

There will be absolutely zero launches today at Paradise Pier.

Lets come back to the front of Paradise Bay.

This will be the back drop for the next few months.

Hope it turns out nicely!

One more follow-up from last week...

I implied uncertainty with King Triton's Carousel, since it had not shut down.  But it does appear that it will be transformed into a Toy Story themed ride for sure.

That work hasn't begun yet.

And the unnamed future Inside Out attraction will stand where the old Maliboomer used to be.

Mr. Incredible seems excited about all the changes.

Perhaps he appreciates the synergy, since he'll be in a new movie this summer that opens right as Pixar Pier debuts.

For the second year in a row, they're transforming part of DCA to coincide with a new movie release.  Like or not (and I'm not that thrilled myself), it's the new strategy under the current Disney regime.

That is it for the week.  The Lunar New Year Celebration continues at DCA this weekend and the next.  It's a pretty fun event, and great to have Asian culture with more exposure.

Those who can't quite make it to Disney can also visit Knott's Peanuts Celebration, going on weekends only (plus Presidents Day) through Sunday, February 25.  That's a pretty fun overlay as well.

In the meantime, have a good weekend, and don't be jerks.  And enjoy the Olympics or whatever.  Or not.  I'm not the boss of you.

Boowl Bah!!