Earl of Sandwich is coming back to Disneyland

September 14, 2018, 6:49 PM · How about a do-over?

Months after Earl of Sandwich closed along with several other restaurants and the movie theaters on the western edge of Disneyland's Downtown Disney, the popular sandwich shop will reopen at its original location, Disney announced tonight.

The Downtown Disney establishments closed to make way for construction of a planned fourth hotel at the resort. But when the City of Anaheim pulled back a tax incentive for the project, all hell broke loose, and now the hotel project is off the table.

Well, at least for now. Which, not coincidentally, is pretty much the operating plan for Earl of Sandwich. Disney says that the chain "will be returning soon" and "for a limited time" at its original location.

Whether that means the restaurant will close permanently after that limited time, or move elsewhere within the resort, or what that limited time will be anyway... all remains to be seen. As does pretty much everything else involving the fourth hotel and Disneyland's political relationship with the City of Anaheim.

Until then, though, enjoy a sandwich!

Replies (9)

September 14, 2018 at 11:24 PM

Limited time should mean several years. This is not a limited delay. I would think Disney should just build the hotel as a deluxe rather than a luxury, but new plans still take time. What a mess.

September 15, 2018 at 1:30 AM

Best news I've heard all year!

September 15, 2018 at 8:27 AM

So they need a handout to build a hotel...after they bought Fox?!
This is the saddest company in the world.

September 15, 2018 at 8:51 AM

That's why I haven't been back there for over a decade. Pure greed.

September 15, 2018 at 10:40 AM

Omg a handout!?! The city was Giving incentives to Get the Diamond resorts They wanted. Wasn't til the makeup of the city council changed that they started calling them handouts. Incentives that other companies took and are still receiving to build their new fancy hotels. So now without the restrictions of the incentives why wouldn't Disney go back to the drawing board and come up with something they really want for that space!?! Probably will still include a new hotel just not a five diamond one. Now that they don't fall under the living wage ballot measure I'm sure they are still a very happy company. Sorry OT

September 16, 2018 at 12:48 AM

OT is right.

Universal seeking the same type of tax incentives for feature films, television production and theme park expansion; not to mention property tax reductions MAKES Universal Resorts ANOTHER “saddest company in the world”!

September 16, 2018 at 12:52 AM

Anton M. is right!

“What a mess.”

Just like Universal Orlando selling land and then buying back the same land.

OR

Just like Universal Orlando Resort’s continually changing Nintendo plans. Construction walls up and then down. Nintendo here and then there.

What a mess.

September 16, 2018 at 2:41 PM

Pure Greed?! Yeah right! The city of Anaheim offed a tax incentive. Disney decided to take advantage of the tax incentive, something just about any business would do. The city cried fowl after the location had to be changed because of another issue between The two. So Disney delays the hotel project. The city of Anaheim were the greedy ones. Over the last 60 years, Disney has been a far greater benefit for Anaheim than Anaheim has been to Disney. If Disney could put the resort on a trailer and move it somewhere else, they’d be gone tomorrow. Don’t offer a tax incentive if you’re not going to honor it! Disney has a lot of money, but it isn’t unlimited.

If I were Disney, I would focus more on Disney World and hurting the city of Anaheim. Raise the daily admission prices for Disneyland so they’re much more than Disney World, except for those staying at a Disneyland Hotel. The non Disney hotels will lose business and only people at Disneyland will be passholders and people staying on Disney property. The city may lose taxes from the revenue lost. Disney’s theme park will not be affected, more of it will just come from Disney World. The only loser will be Anaheim.

September 17, 2018 at 7:22 AM

Just build this stuff already, Disney! Leaving money on the table, real long-term profits, because you didn’t get a city subsidy/tax break/incentive is silly. There’s a demand for parking, hotels, park attractions, etc. Go ahead and meet it! Every year that they sit on plans, the price goes up, and potential profit is squandered away.

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