Exciting changes are afoot at Disneyland Resort! If you’re planning a trip to the happiest place on Earth, be prepared for a new way to enter the magic. Guests visiting Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure will now need to go through Downtown Disney, the vibrant shopping and dining district at the heart of the resort. This is a notable swap from any prior entrance methods you might have used.
Disneyland Resort, unlike its counterpart over in Florida, is uniquely compact, making everything accessible by foot. To streamline security and ensure a seamless guest experience, everyone must undergo security screening before even setting foot in Downtown Disney. There are, however, exceptions for those staying at the Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel, which have their own separate security checkpoints.
Recently, Disneyland’s security process has encountered some hiccups, causing it to become somewhat of a timely affair. Visitors now need to adhere to a new protocol where security personnel manually handle belongings during the metal detection process, elongating wait times to around 45 minutes. This has led to the elimination of the decade-long “temporary” security entrance near the Disneyland Hotel, which MouseInfo recently highlighted.
In its place, a brand-new, permanent entrance has been unveiled, integrating beautifully with the district’s mid-century modern design. This cohesive style began with the live entertainment stage opened last November and continues with the soon-to-be Parkside Market food hall. Adding an artistic touch, former Imagineer Nikkolas Smith created a stunning mural for this new entrance, paying tribute to the legendary Herb Ryman and other notable Southern Californian architects of color.
With the area’s culinary landscape continually evolving, visitors are also in for some delectable treats. Expect to indulge in the creations of Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytan at Paseo, Centrico, and Tiendita, and eagerly await the summer openings of hotspots like Seoul Sister, Sip & Sonder, GG’s Chicken Shop, and Al Fresco Bar. Plus, food aficionados will rejoice with the arrival of Din Tai Fung and Porto’s Bakery & Cafe later this year, promising even more reason to savor every moment at Downtown Disney.
What are your thoughts on Disneyland’s new security checkpoint and these exciting new changes? Share your insights in the comments and help spread the magic by sharing this story! For more updates, stay tuned to Mickey News.
