We received complimentary meals to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Downtown Disney District is one of our favorite places to get our Disney fix, even on the days we aren’t visiting the parks. Shopping at the World of Disney, soaking up the magic magic, and eating yummy food. It’s a fabulous way to feel whisked away.

Black Tap is perfect for a staycation worth celebrating or an Instagrammable meal to share with friends back at home.

Black Tap, the New York burgers and beer location, has opened a brand new location in Anaheim. Next door to Ballast Point, the burger parlor combines craft burgers with a hip vibe.

Black Tap’s Grand Opening at Downtown Disney

My children and I were thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of Black Tap Anaheim at Downtown Disney. The interior has captured the bold style of other locations with black and white stripes, punched with happy colors. It has nods to other stores, while still feeling totally unique.

Trays upon trays of delicious food were brought to our tables. Although we chose a table indoors, we could easily hear the DJ spinning outside on the patio. Was she carefully transporting me back in time to my own childhood with a reverse chronological playlist? Possibly.

Some very magical celebrities came out to officially open the new Black Tap location at Downtown Disney. Mickey and Minnie Mouse were joined by Chef Goofy and Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical).

Black Tap Anaheim Menu

The Black Tap Anaheim food menu features burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings, salads, sides, and snacks.

Craft Burgers & Chicken Sandwiches

Try The All-American Burger or The Texan Burger for a upscale twist on favorites flavors. I sampled The Vegan Burger, and it was INSANELY delicious. Finding vegan options that aren’t generic frozen burgers makes this lady so happy (for the record, I’m vegetarian but skip the dairy unless it comes topped with whipped cream). All around there were big smiles brought on by these big burgers.

Also on the menu are two chicken sandwiches, the Crispy Chicken Sandwich and the Baja Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

Craft Salads

Skip the bun (but I don’t know why you’d want to miss out on the potato bun) and grab a burger salad instead. Four salad options include Black Tap Burger Salad, Turkey Burger Salad, Vegan Burger & Quinoa Bowl, or the Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad.

Snacks, Wings, and Sides

If “guacamole is life,” you’ll want to order a side of chips & guac to share. My kids were obsessed with the fried mozzarella triangles and worked on perfecting the cheese pull.

Some of the other options:

• Fried Pickles
• Crispy Brussel Sprouts
• Teriyaki Broccoli

Kids meals including popular favorites like chicken tenders and grilled cheese sandwiches are also available.

CrazyShakes – Black Tap Milkshakes

Anyone who has spent time here on Clementine County knows that dessert is my favorite meal of the day. I was so excited to try out the CrazyShakes from Black Tap, and the milkshakes lived up to their hype.

The CrazyShake is literally over-the-top. The ice cream concoctions come topped with everything from a full slice of candy to piles of candy. The $15 price tag is more than I’d typically shell out for dessert, but the artistry and abundance makes it a fun treat to celebrate life’s sweetest moments (birthdays, end of school, Tuesdays).

Tip: Just here for shakes? Use the walk-up window for to-go orders.

My kids and I sampled a few varieties with the Brooklyn Blackout and The Cookie Shake being our favorites. In addition to the CrazyShakes, Black Tap also offers classic shakes for $9.

Black Tap Anaheim Reservations

Reservations aren’t needed for the casual dining establishment. Orders are placed at the counter, and then delivered to your table.

The restaurant provides both indoor and outdoor seating. Plus, a to-go window allows for shake orders outside the restaurant.

Anaheim exclusives: Strawberry Shortcake Shake and a vegan shake base.

The new Anaheim Black Tap location is NOW OPEN at Downtown Disney. What are you most excited to try off of their craft burger & CrazyShakes menu?

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The Disneyland Resort always tops the list as one of the most Instagrammable places on the planet. The new Pop-Up Disney experience will cement DLR for a long time coming.

Pop-Up Disney

Housed in the previous ESPN Zone restaurant, the experience transports guests into 7 themed rooms filled with themed walls and interactive props, all designed to celebrate our favorite mouse.

Upon arrival, we were given a color coded card for our group. Start snapping photos the second you walk into the lobby. The waiting room is filled with great walls, Mickey-shaped ottomans for relaxing on while watching Mickey cartoons, and a listening station complete with Mickey’s 90th Anniversary Edition Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones.

When our scheduled time arrived, we were led by an employee upstairs. The Disney employees are present in each room and are able to suggest photos to take and serve as your photographer.

TIP: Some rooms are on the darker side, so bring your best low-light camera. I skipped my DSLR and depended solely on my phone.

7 Rooms of Mickey Magic

Each of 7 rooms is uniquely themed to celebrate Disney magic! Although the focus is obviously taking photos with the imagineered backdrops, seeing Mickey through the years and his impact was heartwarming.

Time is not limited in each room, and your group will have sufficient time to snap your selfies. You should plan on approximately 90 minutes to experience the full exhibit.

The themed rooms include: Mickey and Minnie’s Love, It All Started with a Mouse, Mickey’s Friendships, Sorcerer Mickey’s Magic, Mickey Around the World, Forever Mickey, Mickey at Disneyland.

Mickey and Minnie’s Love

An over-size Minnie bow sofa, polka dot wall with yellow Minnie bows, and framed Mickey & Minnie photos await you in Mickey and Minnie’s Love. There are also adorarable hearts to blow kisses in this room.

It All Started with a Mouse

By land or sea, you’ll want to race over for the room honoring the black and white cartoons that catapulted Mickey into stardom. Rest on a wall of Steamboat Mickey plushies. Get behind the wheel of Steamboat Willie’s ship (whistling encouraged) or pilot his plane.

Mickey’s Friendships

Say “Hiya, Pal!” to Mickey’s BFFs in this themed room. Chip & Dale, Pluto, and the rest of Mickey’s besties share the stage.

Why am I angry? Because the 90’s are back…

Sorcerer Mickey’s Magic

Walk through a wave to enter Sorcerer Mickey’s Magic. The small room features features a blue wall with Mickey casting a spell and a Minnie in dots that I really want to recreate for a Minnie birthday party.

Mickey Around the World

Beloved around the world, Mickey Mouse goes international with Asian and Latin-inspired rooms. I’m legit obsessed with the papel picado’s bright happy colors.

Forever Mickey

Mickey is forever, and this room brings in technology in new ways. Light up ears and metallic Mickey are the centerpieces. It’s energetic and fun, but wasn’t my favorite of the rooms.

Mickey at Disneyland

Are you a Disney foodie? This is the room for you! The wall is filled with Disney treats! Plus, there are Mickey balloons for photo ops including a gigantic balloon to climb inside. Snap photos with you both inside and outside the balloon.

TIP: Be on the lookout for Hidden Minnies in each room. Yes, I said Hidden Minnies!

Tickets to Pop-Up Disney

Tickets for the Disneygrammers’ delight are available starting at $30, and must be purchased in advance. 

• $30 Weekdays — Monday to Thursday before 4 PM
• $38 Evenings and weekends — Monday to Thursday from 4 PM to closing and all day Friday to Sunday

There’s no closing date listed. However, if your vacation plans are set, I wouldn’t wait to nab your tickets. Tickets can be purchased at Disneyland.com.

Is Pop-Up Disney for Kids?

Tickets are not required for children under 3. The event is absolutely kid-friendly. My preschooler will adore the experience, snapping photos and pretending to be her favorite mouse. One of my tweens is going through a no-photo phase, so this would not be worth it for her. You will have to decide which family members justify the ticket.

It would make for an amazing night out with friends. Stop by Trader Sam’s for a tiki-themed cocktail or a Naples for dinner.

Other Information

Free 5-hour parking is included at Downtown Disney. Attending the pop-up experience also includes exclusive access to special treats from Marceline’s Confectionery. We sampled Mickey-shaped marshmallows and a Mickey-shaped white fudge pop. The pop was our favorite!

There’s a gift shop available additionally. Grab your commemorative Pop-Up Disney merch here!

Not sure what to wear? Try Disneybounding as Mickey or Minnie. You can also check out #PopUpDisney on social media to get outfit inspiration. There are restrooms available, but not conveniently located were you trying to do quick outfit changes. I noticed people in my group did change, but that’s some straight up Sorcerer Mickey magic.

Looking for discount tickets to Disneyland?

Check out the great deals from Get Away Today.

Use code CC10 for $10 off your packages!

Get ready to say cheese with Mickey Mouse and his pals at Pop-Up Disney! Will you be joining in the fun?

All thoughts and opinions are my own.

We are a family of dessert connoisseurs.  Fortunately living in such close proximity to the Happiest Place on Earth means we have amazing flavors at our fingertips.  Mickey-shaped concoctions, white chocolate-capped lemon soft serve, and the kitchen sink over at Clarabelle’s — each as sweet as the next.

Downtown Disney’s newest resident, Salt & Straw, brings artisanal ice cream flavors to the neighborhood.

In what I will call our inaugural visit because there will be repeat tastings, we were met with a wait time of approximately 30 minutes.  My preschooler is accustomed to lines and the lure of sugar nearby kept her attention, although I must admit the time went quickly reading the flavor options again and again.

Flavors at the Downtown Disney District Location include: 

Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons

Double Fold Vanilla

Chocolate Gooey Brownie

Strawberry Honey Balsamic

Honey Lavender

Salted Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Pots of Gold & Rainbows

Sightglass Coffee Cashew Praline

Black Olive Brittle

Roasted Strawberry Coconut

Freckled Mint TCHO-colate Chip

Dandelion Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies & Cream

Additionally, three seasonal options were available titled “The Spooktacular Series.”  Picture a scoop of The Great Candycopia as salted butterscotch with all of the best pieces of your kids’ trick-or-treat buckets mixed up inside.   The Creepy Crawly Critters matcha ice cream is a different kind of treat  — with chocolate covered crickets and coconut toffee-brittle mealworms.  Bugs not your thing?  The Mummy’s Pumpkin Spiced Potion is a safer holiday flavor.

Prior to ordering, sampling is available and encouraged.  We opted to order a variety, all in the name of research.  The Pots of Gold & Rainbows is filled marshmallows and breakfast cereal.  With its sweet cream, it tastes like a childhood Saturday morning.  The seasonal pumpkin was another selection made, and offered just the right amount of pumpkin to feel festive.

Always on the hunt for vegan treats, I loved that there were multiple vegan and gluten-free selections available on the menu.  I selected the Roasted Strawberry Coconut which fits both dietary needs. Homemade strawberry ice cream is a favorite of mine, and one that I often make at home.  But I’ve got a thing or two to learn about how roasting the strawberries adds a layer of  depth through the caramelization. The crowd favorite, however, was the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons.  It’s no surprise it’s a top seller.  Another top seller is the Honey Lavender, which we have yet to try.

Knowing that Salt & Straw partners with local farmers and producers to create in-season, farm-to-scoop-shop sweets makes it even more delicious.

The single scoops ran $6 each, with waffle cones and toppings extra.  Pre-packed pints are available for purchase also, which would be ideal for resort guests looking for a sugar rush.  Home delivery is also available.

Salt & Straw delivered what I’d expect from a Disney destination — unique flavors, high quality, and an experience to remember.

Which Salt & Straw flavor will you sample first? Share the sweet combination that’s calling to you in the comments. 

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please  read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Downtown Disney is ever evolving.  New restaurants and entertainment have been announced including sweet scoops from Salt & Straw, the retro fabulous bowling alley Splitsville, and best brews from Ballast Point.  With the planned addition of two new hotels, everything west of the monorail will be removed.  It’ll be exciting to see the updates to the area, making each visit feel brand new.

I was thrilled to see the that the fun happening right now at the Disneyland Resort, Pixar Fest, doesn’t stop at the park gates.  Pixar Fest celebrates the stories, characters, and frienships of our favorite Disney/Pixar films.  From themed treats to adorable merchandise, updated parades to a fantastic fireworks spectacular, Pixar Fest is an energetic event that you won’t want to miss within the resort.  But what can you expect at Downtown Disney?

Pixar Fest at Downtown Disney

Themed Topiaries

The planters around Downtown Disney are great people watch.  They’re also great places to Pixar watch.  Enjoy the stylized topiaries featuring the characters from films including Finding Nemo and The Incredibles.

LEGO Store

Always on display at the LEGO Store are the Disney characters we adore built brick by brick in true LEGO fashion.  Check out the Buzz Lightyear and Woody outside the store for a fun photo op.

WonderGround Gallery

My husband’s favorite spot in the Downtown Disney dining and shopping area is the WonderGround Gallery.  If you’ve checked out our living room, you know that we’ve picked up many pieces from this Disney themed art gallery.  With artists in residence and an ever changing collection, you never know what you’ll find on display.  In addition to limited edition pieces, you’ll find some great merchandise.

Monorail

The Monorail received a makeover for Pixar Fest!  Check out the Pixar themed designs as they zoom through Downtown Disney.  If you’re popping into the parks, you can enter from the Downtown Disney station.

World of Disney

There’s tons of adorable Pixar Fest merchandise available within the parks.  But the World of Disney also has terrific options for souvenirs.  I’m loving the Buzz Lightyear Bubble Blower.  The alien plush and adorable accessories would make for darling ways to remember your visit also.

The Disney Dress Shop

Featuring vintage-inspired dresses, skirts, and accessories, the Disney Dress Shop offers Disney lovers adorable options for a dapper day strolling through the park.  If you’re looking for a Pixar-themed option, try the Monsters Inc. dress with door design print.

Downtown Disney is a great extension of the fun happening now at the Disneyland Resort!

Before your visit, you may want to rewatch your favorite Pixar movies!

Looking for more Pixar Fest fun?

Everything You Need to Know about Pixar Fest

Best Pixar Quotes

DIY Pixar Headband

Pixar Pier Updates

The celebration of all things Pixar is happening now through September 3rd at the Disneyland Resort.  Which Pixar character is your favorite?

From perfectly placed pumpkins to tasty treats, you’ll want to add a stroll through the Downtown Disney district to your Fall Bucket List.  Check out what’s in store just outside the Disneyland Resort.

Pumpkins Galore! 

The planters of the Downtown Disney district are covered in piles upon piles of pumpkins.  I love the variety of colors represented and the colorful flowers that accompany them.

We really enjoy our casual strolls through Downtown Disney.  It’s easy to spend an afternoon window shopping and picking up a treat.  Although always lovely, I’ve felt an increased effort in seasonal plantings as you would experience with the resort.

These happy pumpkins seem ready to be turned into carriages for any princesses who may need a ride to the ball.

Holiday Treats

Head to Marceline’s Confectionery for unique holiday desserts.  Pumpkin Spice Pretzels or packaged candy corn are available to grab and go. Or instead try one of the hand-crafted treats.  Watching the candy apples being crafted could keep my kids entertained for hours, but eating them seems to happen instantaneously.

You may also want a Pumpkin Spice Blitz from Wetzel’s Pretzels or a holiday themed collection of cupcakes from Sprinkles.  I won’t judge if you have them all.

Fill Up With Fall Food and Drink

It’s true that Southern California doesn’t get as cold as parts of the country, but when the mercury dips below 75 I’m ready for comfort foods that warm the soul.  Perhaps soup and a sandwich from Earl of Sandwich or a hearty pasta dish from Naples would be just right for an autumn adventure.

The signature drink of the season continues to be the PSL, or Pumpkin Spice Latte.  Stop by one of Downtown Disney’s two Starbucks locations to refuel.  Adults may want to check out the UVA Bar’s themed cocktails.

Shop for Halloween Decor

Halloween is a big deal in our house, so we tend to go a bit overboard with decor.  Despite having numerous boxes of holiday decorations, we’re always on the hunt for fun new items.  The World of Disney is happy to oblige!  Check out the costumes, home decor, and all around Halloween fun.

You’ll find awesome Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise at both the World of Disney and at the Disney Vault 28 store.  Look for some fun Nightmare Before Christmas posts coming your way in the next few weeks as we prep here in Clementine County for my daughter’s 10th birthday party.

If you’re heading to the parks, consider making a DIY Dumbo Bow for an easy & inexpensive Disneybounding look.

Will you be visiting the Downtown Disney district this fall?