Disneyland is currently in the middle of a period of ongoing expansion with new rides and shifts in the resort’s infrastructure. Today, we got news about a key milestone ahead of construction work. At Mickey Visit, we are constantly tracking the news, such as the most recent Disneyland closures and ticket price increases.
Today, we have news on a milestone ahead of the construction of a major change to Disneyland. This change is allowing for work to add four new rides to Disney California Adventure. We previously shared another key construction progress moment for the new Avengers Campus rides. Disney just hit another key milestone. Now, Disney is working on another major addition.
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Disneyland is Making First Progress on Major Addition
Last year, Disneyland got approval for their DisneylandForward initiative that rezoned land around the resort for theme park use and brought approval for a new parking structure and entrance area. We have already seen progress on these new additions. There are four new rides coming to Disney California Adventure, including an Avatar area, an expansion to Avengers Campus, and a new Coco boat ride.
The new parking structure and entrance area will completely change the current entrance process from the Harbor Boulevard side of the theme park. Parts of the current entrance area will become the new Avatar-themed land. That work likely can’t happen until the parking structure is complete.
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As you can see in the map below, the parking structure will sit behind the hotels on Harbor Boulevard and connect into Disneyland via a sky bridge. This will also bring in a new Disneyland marquee that will be inspired by the old school Disneyland signage.
Now, there have been the first signs of progress on this new parking structure. The first permit was filed for work related to the new parking structure, which indicates that the construction is moving forward. The permit is for a construction fence at the new transportation and parking area.
The new structure will add 6,000 new parking spaces, a new bus and rideshare drop-off area, and a new security checkpoint. This structure is being built on land currently occupied by Cast Member parking. The sky bridge is being built on a piece of property that was previously home to the Carousel Inn, which Disney purchased and tore down.
Here is the permit that was filed by Disney:
DLR – East Esplanade – Site Work: Install 15 ln ft x 8 ft high chain link fence and 128 ln ft x 8 ft high wood fence.
No start date was included with the permit.
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Previously, Disneyland shared with us that the target date for the beginning of construction on the parking structure was Fall 2026. We don’t know if having this permit filed now actually means that the work is beginning early or if this is just part of the ongoing preparation for the construction.
Above is a view towards the new parking structure work site from the Element by Westin, one of our favorite hotels near Disneyland. Hotels like this one will benefit from closer access to Disneyland security and what should be a more direct walking path to the theme parks.
In our look at when new rides will open at Disney California Adventure, we shared the below on the likely timeline for this addition.
The construction for the new parking structure is supposed to begin in fall 2026. At that point, it could take one year or longer to get that structure active. From what I have seen in past construction checks, the parking structures take far less time to build than a complex new attraction. It seems like they can be built in a modular way that allows for pre-work off-site. The new bridge over an active roadway and the changes to the Esplanade will be the most complex aspects to move forward. Only once the new parking structure is online and the bridge is active can they begin Avatar construction. This construction will also close another beloved Disney California Adventure ride.
So, we will have to wait and see if this construction is moving faster than was previously shared. Either way, we are quite excited to have this improved parking structure and entrance experience.
These are just the beginning of the additions coming for DisneylandForward. The former Disneyland president who led the approval of the project told me that this is a framework intended for the next 30-40 years of theme park expansion at the resort.
We will continue to monitor changes to Disneyland that are big and small here on Mickey Visit.
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Personally I’m still waiting for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Disneyland ride to close and the ride gets redone with more animatronic animals, birds and people. We still don’t have spoonbill birds, lady butterflies, a little bluebird, deer, crane bird, also we are still missing 2 fenner bros, Buford, Travis, Reggie, Darnell and 2 fingers, Lawrence, spooky shadow spirits, masks, dolls and Dr facilier spirit is still missing and a river boat from the princess and the frog film is missing on the ride. I think the dig a little deeper song at the dropoff is awkward and doesn’t fit which should be swapped out with either almost there or friends on the other side song. Also they need to pay respect for the 1927 Mississippi river flood victims. Then I’ll be more excited to reride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Who needs Avatar land? Yuck!
Will we be able to enter Disneyland from Harbour Blvd? Wondering if all the hotels on Harbour Blvd will be impacted/
Yes, you will still be able to enter from Harbor. That was actually a major sticking point on getting this approved
Here’s what I want to see come to the Downtown Disney District.
(FOOD) IN-N-OUT Burger, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Skyline Chili, Portillo’s, Slater’s 50/50, The Melting Pot: The Original Fondue Restaurant, Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown, Guy Fieri’s Chicken Guy, Gott’s Roadside, Curry Up Now, Fire Wings, Cereality, Exotic Snack Guys, Max Brenner Chocolate, Starbucks Reserve Roastery, Boudin Sourdough, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Hash House A GO GO, Primanti Bros, KOJA Kitchen, Mad Greens and Gideon’s Bakehouse.
(SHOPPING) Vans, Tom’s, Dooney & Bourke and COACH.
(ENTERTAINMENT) Cirque du Soleil, Aerophile Tethered Balloon & Aerobar, Fabbri Group 400ft Sky Walking, DEFY Trampoline and a 3,270.62 FT to 3,665.98 FT Zip-Line.
(RETURN) Haagen-Dazs, Rainforest Cafe and THE ESPN Zone.
Most of it can go in the small parking lot, that’s on the left side of the east end of the District and the Massive parking Lot, that’s on right side, of the east end of the District. After all, there’s that Disneyland Forward Idea in the works.
https://www.disneylandforward.com/possibilities