Disney Just Chose Parking Over Cast Members in This Controversial New Permit

Disneyland Resort has filed a demolition permit for Team Disney Anaheim East, a large office building for cast members, to make way for a new parking garage. The permit, filed on February 11, 2026, reveals the sacrifices made for DisneylandForward’s billion-dollar expansion. The 70,732-square-foot building, located by the Manchester cast parking lot, will be replaced by the Eastern Gateway Parking Structure, which will have about 6,000 parking spaces for guests. Cast members will need to relocate as the building is demolished.

Supporting the DisneylandForward Vision

DisneylandForward is a major, long-term project to expand Disneyland Resort. The goal is to grow the original Disney theme park while keeping popular attractions intact. This project changes old planning rules set by the City of Anaheim, allowing Disney to build new attractions, themed areas, dining, and shopping options across the resort.

In 2024, the Anaheim City Council approved the plan after the Planning Commission supported it. Disney has made it clear that it is not looking for public funding, extra space, or more hotel rooms beyond what it already has approval for. The company just wants updated rules to allow for development across its properties.

This flexibility is now leading to specific actions, starting with the removal of buildings that take up space needed for important infrastructure.

Why This Disney Parking Garage Matters

The Eastern Gateway parking structure is crucial for DisneylandForward, with 6,000 planned spaces to handle increased guest traffic from new attractions. Construction will begin in fall 2026, requiring the demolition of Team Disney Anaheim East.

Utilities will be capped while the foundation remains to support plumbing and electrical services for pedestrian walkways and entry points in the new complex. Leaving foundations in place is a common practice to provide structural support and repurpose utility infrastructure.

The Attractions Driving This Need

Several high-profile additions are coming to Disneyland that will significantly increase attendance and require substantially more parking capacity.

Avatar Land is replacing the former Monsters, Inc. attraction with an immersive area bringing Pandora’s bioluminescent world to Disneyland. The land’s popularity at Disney’s Animal Kingdom suggests it will be a major draw in California.

Avengers Campus is expanding with two new attractions: Avengers Infinity Defense featuring heroes battling King Thanos through the multiverse, and Stark Flight Lab starring Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man leading guests through new tech tests.

The first-ever Coco attraction is coming as a boat ride set in the Land of the Dead. Given Coco’s massive popularity, particularly with Latino audiences, this attraction will drive substantial attendance increases.

All these additions require infrastructure supporting the guests they’ll attract. That means parking, pedestrian access, utilities, and support facilities. Sometimes existing buildings must go.

Where Will Disney Cast Members Go?

Losing the 70,732-square-foot office building impacts workspace for Team Disney Anaheim East, which handles administrative and operations functions. Employees will need to be relocated, but Disney hasn’t disclosed the new locations or how to accommodate the lost space.

This situation highlights how theme park expansions often prioritize guest needs over employee facilities, with new attractions garnering attention while office demolitions go largely unnoticed.

The Trade-Off Reality

Demolishing cast member workspace for guest parking feels uncomfortable despite being necessary for expansion. Cast members are essential to Disneyland’s operations and deserve better facilities. DisneylandForward aims to enable expansion and attract more visitors, requiring infrastructure such as parking that may conflict with existing uses. Disney could have built the Eastern Gateway elsewhere, but the Manchester cast parking lot site offers advantages that outweigh the costs of relocating cast operations.

First Concrete DisneylandForward Action

This demolition permit is one of the first actions following DisneylandForward’s 2024 approval. Since the City Council vote, Disney has been filing permits and preparing for expansion.

Due to the project’s scale and complexity, the process is slow, requiring modifications to decades-old planning restrictions and extensive coordination. With construction starting in fall 2026, visible progress is on the way, including construction walls, demolition, and the development of a new parking garage. The expansion is moving from concept to actual development.

What This Means for Disney Going Forward

As DisneylandForward continues, more situations like this will likely emerge where existing land uses give way to new priorities. Not every decision will feel comfortable to everyone affected. Cast members losing workspace to guest parking exemplifies trade-offs inherent in massive expansions.

The question is whether Disney adequately considers cast member needs in planning or whether employee facilities consistently get deprioritized for guest-facing infrastructure. One demolished office building doesn’t establish a pattern, but it’s worth watching as DisneylandForward progresses.

For now, Team Disney Anaheim East comes down for parking serving guests visiting Avatar Land, expanded Avengers Campus, Coco, and whatever else DisneylandForward brings over coming decades.