DisneylandForward

[Nickm2022]

Looks like they're trying to get everything (except Avatar) done by the Olympics. Also note Coco construction being moved up to this fall (previously early 2026).

Also noticed Coco is coming quicker, have a feeling they feel that attraction will be easier to build and are prioritizing that over Avatar. I agree tho Avengers and Coco will be done for the 2028 games. I also have a feeling new Tomorrowland if F4 does well. I do find it interesting how Tomorrowland looks different in the concept art

 

[Disney Irish]

Looks like they're trying to get everything (except Avatar) done by the Olympics. Also note Coco construction being moved up to this fall (previously early 2026).

Coco is easier of a project as it’s similar to the Avengers Campus expansion meaning there isn’t a lot of prep work backstage to do. Unlike Avatar which requires at least Hollywoodland to close and start clearing. So that is likely going to take a lot longer.

 

[Disney Irish]

Right. So this could move fast once it starts. Fall 2026 could mean… spring 2028?

I would suspect so, as I imagine they want it ready before the Olympics.

 

[Disney Irish]

The pedestrian bridge and new entry needs to likely be mostly ready to go for Avatar to really be a thing, as I think we all agree they’ll be expanding DCA outward.

I suspect they will be doing a lot of the EGW and Avatar at the same time, as I predicted previously. As why else do you close HWL and Monsters Inc at the same time as you start construction on the EGW in early 2026, if not to start prep on Avatar at the same time.

 

[CoastalElite64]

Hopefully:

Avengers - Summer 2027
Coco - Spring 2028
Avatar - Summer 2029
Disneyland 75th - 2030

 

[Dayoldbread16]

I just hope that really soon they’ll show off more info about the avengers infinity defense ride. I understand they aren’t going to show everything about the ride; but it’s kinda annoying that we barely got any info on it, meanwhile they showed off tons for the wdw stuff like the monsters inc load station, etc.

I think the main thing that makes it harder to be patient, is that we have been waiting for the avengers e ticket ride since 2019. Yet it’s mid 2025 and we only have small bits and pieces of info on it. Hopefully soon they’ll show off more about it at another event or on a social media post but I doubt it

 

[JohnD]

• Given the bridge's height, I would expect the security checkpoint on the east side to be located in an upper floor of the parking structure. This would eliminate the need for guests to go down to go up, but may be challenging for busloads of transit riders, who would presumably be dropped off at ground level and would need to go through some sort of confined area (escalator and/or elevator) prior to clearing security.

If they did this, then people coming off the pedestrian bridge would have to be in a walled off walkway separate from the pedestrians crossing or coming up the street from the hotels. They'll still have to walk through security. Those coming down the walkway would already be in the security perimeter.

• The big win of this design is that it keeps pedestrian access on the west side of Harbor Blvd with an additional checkpoint over there, so that people coming from the hotels don't have to backtrack to get to security. This creates an entrance that is much better integrated with the surrounding area, rather than turning it into a 'blank wall' in the original plan. Curiously the image cuts off just before the existing crosswalk, which may imply they're still planning on having people from the hotels on the east side of Harbor Blvd use the checkpoint at the parking structure.

I believe this is what I was referring to. Those coming down the pedestrian bridge would need to be on the right side of the esplanade already inside the security perimeter and able to walk past the current security checkpoint if there is a security area in the parking garage. Those walking directly from Harbor Blvd. would need to be on the left side with a wall separating those from the walkway as they'll still need to go through security, probably where it already occurs now.

• It's difficult to discern the scale of things in the image, but the wall along the bridge over Harbor Blvd and the new marquee both appear to be massive. I would hope they're more human-scale in the final design, but they appear to be 20'+ tall, which would tower over guests and lead to a jarring shift in scale when traveling from there to Main Street or Buena Vista Street.

I get it. It's going over a busy highway. I wouldn't be surprised if they got input from the city that the last thing they need is a stupid guest throwing stuff from over the walkway down to the road, possibly hitting cars or pedestrians.

• At risk of reading too much into the background of the art, there's some wacky stuff going on with the Astro Orbiter and Main Street. It's likely just a byproduct of bad 3D rendering, but could be a hint at future plans.

I wouldn't read anything into blue sky art beyond its intended purpose. I think it's just for orienting the viewer.

 

[DCBaker]

Wowwww such a heavy news drop out of nowhere lol

Thomas Mazloum shared the news at a community meeting in Anaheim last night - here's what he had to say afterwards:

Tonight was incredibly special as I shared exciting news with our community leaders about The Happiest Place on Earth!

As I near my first 100 days at Disneyland Resort, I’ve been struck by the importance of its legacy, and the impact it has had not only in California, but around the globe.

70 years later, we’re still honoring Walt Disney’s vision that Disneyland would be “a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”

We are also a significant contributor to the Southern California economy. In fiscal year 2023, our resort generated $16.1 billion in economic impact! We also support over 102,000 jobs in the So Cal region – nearly 1 out of every 20 jobs in Orange County – and generate $279 million in tax revenue for the City of Anaheim.

Knowing that every investment Disneyland Resort makes represents economic growth, I am even more thrilled to share updates on upcoming expansion projects at the resort:

A new parking structure and transportation hub that will feature 6,000 parking spaces and a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard, leading to an all-new esplanade arrival experience that will improve parking and traffic flow throughout the resort area.

And in Disney California Adventure park, the new Avatar destination will find its home in the Hollywood Backlot area, and construction begins on the first ever “Coco” ride in a Disney theme park this fall.

We are incredibly fortunate to be in the business of making people happy. And the best part of this job is experiencing how that happiness translates into new memories that last a lifetime.

Our bold future is ahead, and this is truly just the beginning.

 

[NobodyElse]

I never really had "Pedestrian Bridge Going Over The Monorail" on my Bingo card.

 

[Disney Vault]

Back to the garage being smaller than needed at 6000 spaces.

Toy Story Parking lot is 5,400

The hotel district has 5,900 parking spots

Cast member parking lots have 4,100

For the eastern gateway project to really free up space for Disneyland forward it should at least have the capacity to replace Toy story and the hotel district.

I really hope this is phase one of two for parking garages in that area.

 

[mickEblu]

I never really had "Pedestrian Bridge Going Over The Monorail" on my Bingo card.

I don’t think anyone did. Seems like at some point between D23 and now they just said screw it, let’s not reroute the monorail. Hahah

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I don’t think anyone did. Seems like at some point between D23 and now they just said screw it, let’s not reroute the monorail. Hahah

I'm beginning to think Disney is incapable of building new monorail track. Besides, if they proved they could still do it, think of the calls they'd get for expanding the WDW lines.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm beginning to think Disney is incapable of building new monorail track. Besides, if they proved they could still do it, think of the calls they'd get for expanding the WDW lines.

lol yeah I’m ok with this. The new entrance plaza looks pretty nice in the artwork. The less they tinker with the old stuff that works the better in my book.

 

[truecoat]

• The elevator tower is...interesting. It draws a lot of attention to itself with the tall structure and large roof, but is ultimately a fairly bland structure. I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't the final version. I also don't fully understand the traffic-flow purpose of the stairs and elevators there; it looks like there's a ground-level exit to the west side of Harbor and the bridge carries guests to the east side, so it may be more of a failsafe for people who missed their turn 800' earlier in the Esplanade.

There appears to be a wall on the bridge separating people using the elevator or walkway from the other side.

 

[truecoat]

Back to the garage being smaller than needed at 6000 spaces.

Toy Story Parking lot is 5,400

The hotel district has 5,900 parking spots

Cast member parking lots have 4,100

For the eastern gateway project to really free up space for Disneyland forward it should at least have the capacity to replace Toy story and the hotel district.

I really hope this is phase one of two for parking garages in that area.

The Pixar Pals parking structure was built to replace the originally planned garage when the EG fell through the first time. Another one could be planned for the future when DLF is closer to starting.

 

[Misted Compass]

I'm beginning to think Disney is incapable of building new monorail track. Besides, if they proved they could still do it, think of the calls they'd get for expanding the WDW lines.

When was the last time they rerouted the monorail? 1995 for Indy?

 

[DrStarlander]

I'm beginning to think Disney is incapable of building new monorail track. Besides, if they proved they could still do it, think of the calls they'd get for expanding the WDW lines.

If they do modify the monorail, I wouldn't be sad if they made the monorails electric vehicles with batteries (given recent technologies) and had re-charge at the stations...and got rid of the unattractive electrical on the tracks.

 

[NobodyElse]

If they do modify the monorail, I wouldn't be sad if they made the monorails electric vehicles with batteries (given recent technologies) and had re-charge at the stations...and got rid of the unattractive electrical on the tracks.
View attachment 862677

If you don't use an odd mirror-image photo, they disappear completely.

 

[sfmichaelo]

Disney should consider having a Skyliner go from the new parking lot to above the Garden Walk and into Pixar Parking lot that can then be a 3rd park.

 

[britain]

Disney should consider having a Skyliner go from the new parking lot to above the Garden Walk and into Pixar Parking lot that can then be a 3rd park.

That may be why this is just a 6,000 car garage and not using up the entire block. 10 years from now might be time to build Phase 2 in conjunction with whatever they do in that lower east area.