Disneyland starts construction on new parking garage
The project has been underway for a while now, but the Disneyland Resort today officially broke ground on its new parking garage and eastern gateway.
When complete, the new parking structure will provide spaces for 6,000 vehicles. It also will include a new transportation hub for shuttles and rideshare vehicles.
Today's groundbreaking ceremony. Photo courtesy Disneyland
"Today’s groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone for Disneyland Resort and the City of Anaheim," Disneyland Resort President Jill Estorino said. "This new parking structure and transportation hub will transform how guests arrive, creating a more seamless experience from the start of their day, while improving traffic flow throughout the resort area. We’re proud to continue investing in Anaheim, supporting local jobs and working alongside valued community and construction partners to bring this vision to life."
Ultimately, most visitors who park in the new structure will make their way to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure via a walkway over Harbor Boulevard. That bridge will lead guests into a newly imagined entryway on the east side of the resort.
Concept image courtesy Disneyland
Disneyland has not announced an opening date or timeline for the new parking structure, transportation hub, or resort entry area. However, for reference, the 5,000-space Pixar Pals parking structure took about 15 months to complete after site clearing. Throw in additional time for the bridge over Harbor, and I would guess that this Disneyland project could be ready by early 2028 - which might have it open for guests in time for the Avengers Campus expansion debut, which is set for that year.
Looking beyond, let's pencil in the Coco boat ride in DCA's Pixar Pier for 2029, with the New New New Tomorrowland project coming in time for Disneyland's 75th anniversary in 2030. That would leave the Avatar experience to follow in 2031 or 2032.
Again, none of these timelines are official - just my guesses. And we have no idea yet what specific projects or timelines Disney has in the works for the Toy Story parking area, which I expect to close for redevelopment shortly after this new parking structure opens.
The Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals parking garages will remain in use even after Disneyland completes this new structure.
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Replies (7)
If Disney hadn't sold the Angels and Ducks.... Sigh.
Them balls are getting smaller….
This is obviously a big first step, but as we know, construction progress can be slow and plodding in California. Even after the new garage and pedestrian bridge are completed, there will be significant work occurring on the eastern side of the Esplanade, especially since Disney hasn't even confirmed what they're going to do with a revamp of Tomorrowland seemingly jumping the line ahead of Avatar at DCA. This side of the park probably won't be in a truly finished state for possibly a decade, and we still have no idea what they're going to do with the Toy Story lot.
"Them balls are getting smaller…." HAHAHAHAHAHA
Hey Bobby - Does Disney Cali also charge to park if so how much and do they also add tax? I know I could Google but I want the answer from the Horses mouth...
It just now occurred to me that the delay of Avatar the Fantastical Experience of Water and Light might have more to do with waiting for all of this to get resolved than anything else. The plan has been to bump the north corner of DCA up into where the current transportation hub is for quite some time. Logistically if you're going to build a giant show building you want that space.
@the_man26: *ass
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I know i'm sounding like a broken record here, but as someone that used to work at DLR, one of my biggest pet peeves is the gigantic amount of wasted space there is in that area of Anaheim that could easily be printing money if Disney, the city of Anaheim, and the Angels all got together in a room and worked out a plan that works for everybody.
I guess this "eastern gateway" project is common sense and should happen, but considering the size of the market and the smallness of the parks, DLR could easily have another theme park and several more hotels and it would be a huge success. Disney would have much higher attendance, Anaheim would be getting much more tax revenue, the Angels would have a new stadium (that they badly want because their current one is ancient and not good), and transportation/logistics would be done in a way that works for everyone. Its so blatantly obvious, I feel like everyone needs to get their head out of their a** and make it happen. The fact that DLR is still as small as it is, while so much of the surrounding area is parking lot this one of the major failures of the modern Walt Disney Company.