Disneyland guests have been venting their objections online due to a growing problem with disruptive behavior outside the resort entrance. This is an issue we’ve recently experienced ourselves, and its escalation has led some Disney fans to even say it “ruins the mood” of their park mornings.
Let’s get into this problem that is unique to Disneyland because of its location in Anaheim and go over what Disney fans are sharing online about their experiences. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the newest details and sailing date revealed for the Disney Believe and the most recent information on the latest round of Disney price increases.
Solicitors Outside of Disneyland Entrance Ruining the Magic
One of the things that makes Disneyland unique, especially when compared to Walt Disney World, is its location. Disneyland sits in the heart of Anaheim, with its main pedestrian entrance off Harbor Boulevard and hotels, restaurants, and other businesses lining the surrounding streets. Unlike Walt Disney World, which spans a much larger resort area, Disneyland is integrated into the surrounding city. This means that many guests, especially for so many that stay at nearby hotels, end up walking to the resort and walk under this archway on Harbor Boulevard.
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However, the location of Disneyland’s pedestrian entrance also creates an unusual situation. Since these sidewalks outside the entrance are considered public property, people can use this area to distribute religious and political materials, offer paid photo opportunities, and sell items such as light-up toys and bottled water.
Since these activities are taking place on public property beyond the private-property boundaries of Disneyland, Disney’s ability to control what happens in this area is different from its authority inside the resort. So this creates a large opportunity for solicitors of all kinds to set up shop in front of the entrance as thousands of guests walk past them each day.
On my most recent week-long trip to Disneyland, I encountered far more solicitors than I have ever seen at the parks due to the popular summer season, which was also taking place during popular events in the area. My family encountered various groups, from those selling toys and bottled water to aggressive religious groups and even a paid photo op with tropical birds which appeared to be heavily sedated. Seeing these birds treated with such cruelty drew plenty of concern from my family, along with other families walking past, especially since we had to walk within just steps of them as we crossed the road.
Disneyland fans online consistently talk about this issue in popular Facebook fan groups and Reddit communities. On a recent Reddit thread in a popular Disneyland group, many fans described how uncomfortable walking past these groups can be and, in some cases, can put a huge damper on a Disneyland trip.
One commenter shared a recent experience with religious solicitors that was using a speaker to amplify their voices: “I put my fingers over my ears because the guy was on a microphone and SUPER LOUD. It was hurting my ears. So, he started harassing me about not wanting to hear the truth blah blah blah. I said, “You’re just too loud!” He continued to rant about how I needed to find Jesus etc etc. I was like dude, I used to sing in the praise team at church. What I NEED is for you to stop being obnoxious!”
Another comment described how aggressive the religious solicitors can be, describing, “I was once in a large group where someone approached them and kindly said “I totally get it, my dad’s a preacher” they put the megaphone in their face and yelled “your dad is going to hell!” So basically I don’t get it at all. They don’t even want people who are ok with what they’re doing?” Another comment replied, saying, “They are sent out to be confrontational so they can get reactions. Whether that’s emotional or physical, they monetize and sue anyone who touches them. They’re all up and down the west coast.”
A cast member also described what it’s like to walk past these groups as they’re just heading into work for the day, saying, “I work at Disney and I get to be told every day when they’re there that I’m going to hell for working there. Yeah, sure dude, I’m just trying to pay my rent. I wish Anaheim would do something about it.”
Many Disneyland fans describe how unsettling walking past these groups can be, whether you’re entering the parks for the first time for the day or leaving at the end of the night. It truly does put a damper on the Disney magic, and for those of us who are familiar with the “bubble” of Disney World, which isolates you from this type of behavior, it really puts Disneyland at a stark disadvantage.
Future Disneyland Transportation Hub Might Help
Disneyland is in the process of completing a major transportation project that will change how guests enter the parks. This planned eastern parking structure and transportation hub will include approximately 6,000 parking spaces, dedicated shuttle and rideshare areas, security screening, and a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard leading to a new arrival area. The project will help improve traffic flow and allow for a more streamlined entrance experience.
The redesigned pedestrian routes will change how people encounter other groups, like these solicitors, when entering Disneyland. The new pedestrian bridge will provide access to Harbor Boulevard, but solicitors will likely not be able to set up camp on it since it will be considered Disney property. This will disrupt how these groups access guests currently and hopefully create some distance from how close these groups can get to Disneyland. For guests using rideshare, this might also mean bypassing these outside groups entirely by using Disneyland’s designated rideshare area. Currently, even guests using rideshare at Disneyland still walk past these solicitors as they enter.
Even with this addition, there will still be an exit and entrance to Harbor Boulevard in the same location with sidewalk access. We could still see these solicitors, but the change in the area may allow Disney to strategically push them away from some services. We don’t yet have a full view into the layout of the new addition.
The good news is that guests using rideshare currently can avoid these groups by using the new temporary location for rideshare drop-off located just outside the Lululemon store on the west side of Downtown Disney. This location in general is better than the Harbor Boulevard location, especially at the end of the night when rideshare lines are long and congested.
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Let’s hope this problem improves soon in the future, especially now that Disneyland has broken ground on this new transportation project.
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Disneyland is a disaster. I stayed at the grand California and to walk into the place I had to pass through a Mexican street corn stand set up literally on the entrance path to the hotel. It was to the point that it blocked the path into the hotel yet they just let him set up there. No vendor licence or anything just a guy selling food. But that was ok becasue as you walk down the street about 15 minutes before closing time of the parks out of nowhere you see guys laying down cardboard and then laying on them just in time for the people to walk back over to their hotels. They set up for the closing crowd, I guess it was time to “go to work.”. So always nice to see homeless men who may or may not be dangerous or ok drugs set up outside your hotel down the block from the unregulated unlicensed corn vendors. I wouldn’t expect anything less in such a well run state like California. With leadership like that I’m surprised Disney is still there. Disney loves causes that California seems to love until it affects the $