Over the weekend, the Starbucks in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort unexpectedly closed. The location, which opened over a decade ago, remained closed on Monday morning after initially closing on Saturday. It remained closed all day Sunday with stanchions blocking the patio seating area and doors. The patio also had all of its furniture removed.
A sign on the door said the following: “Our location is temporarily closed. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please visit one of the locations inside Disneyland Park or Disney’s California Adventure Park. Thank you.”
The Disneyland Resort confirmed that the location is closed due to staffing.
Starbucks Worker Dispute
The closure appears to be related to a dispute between workers and management. On Sunday, workers protested on Harbor Boulevard outside of the entrance to the Disneyland Resort. In a post on social media, Starbucks Worker United said: “Baristas at Downtown Disney couldn’t stand another day of their managers’ unfair labor practices & kicked off our nationwide strike this weekend. These workers have shut down one of largest Starbucks stores in the country — and we’re just getting started! #NoContractNoCoffee”
The strike comes after an authorization for Starbucks Workers United members to strike on November 13, 2025. Also known as Red Cup Day, this is always a very big day for Starbucks, and the strike on Thursday undoubtedly aims to disrupt the day and garner attention. It appears that the workers from the Downtown Disney District Starbucks are the only workers who have decided to start the strike early.
Since unionizing, the Downtown Disney District Starbucks has seen occasional disruptions to its operations as workers have spoken out on the floor in protest on multiple occasions. This has not led to the complete closure that is currently being seen.
Starbucks Workers United Demands
According to Starbucks Workers United, their demands are as follows:
For over six months, Starbucks has stonewalled union baristas by refusing to put forth new proposals to address their core demands:
- Better hours to improve staffing in our stores. Understaffing is rampant, leading to longer wait times as customer orders stream in. Yet too many baristas still aren’t getting enough hours to pay the bills or meet the threshold for benefits. Starbucks needs to invest in increasing barista hours.
- Higher take-home pay. Too many baristas struggle to get by, while executives make millions. Starbucks needs to put more money toward barista’s take-home pay.
- Resolution for hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practice charges for union busting. The coffee giant has committed more labor law violations than any employer in modern history. Starbucks needs to fully resolve legal issues impacting baristas.
Negotiations Stalled
In the last couple of years, since Starbucks stores began to unionize, there have been attempts at negotiations. These have not led to a contract for the unionized members. The negotiations appear to have broken down after union members attempted to stream private negotiations and then rejected an offer from the coffee company. Starbucks currently states that it is ready and willing to talk. It has also stated that it currently offers “the best job in retail.” Workers can get benefits when they work 20 hours or more, which include healthcare, parental leave, and tuition for online classes at Arizona State University. At this point, it seems that a solution between both sides is at an impasse. It is also unknown when the Downtown Disney District Starbucks will reopen. Daps Magic is currently seeking out more information about this closure and how long it could last. As more details are known, the news will be shared.
Outside of Anaheim
Outside of Anaheim, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is working on a plan to “get back to Starbucks.” This has led to initiatives to return Starbucks to being a third-place destination for its consumers. Part of this initiative includes investments in the workforce. In a letter announcing the initiative, Niccol said, “For our partners, we’ll build on our tradition of leadership in retail by making Starbucks the best place to work, with career opportunities and a clear path to growth.” In Washington, D.C., lawmakers have written a letter to Starbucks seeking a solution to this conflict. It urges the company to resume talks with the union. Starbucks has made it clear that it is open to talks.
Coffee at Disneyland Resort
The Downtown Disney District Starbucks is one of two that have been in the Downtown Disney District. Another Starbucks could once be found on the west side of the district, basically where the new Parkside Market can be found. For those who are looking for coffee in Downtown Disney District, the Parkside Market has a coffee shop that remains open. Coffee can also be purchased at the Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, or Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. In the parks, there are Starbucks locations on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland and on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. Joffrey’s Coffee can also be purchased at multiple locations throughout the Disneyland Resort in person or by utilizing the Disneyland App.
Daps magic will continue to closely watch this story and provide any updates that become available.
