Disneyland Hits Fans With End-of-Year Thunderbolt — Millions Brace for Major Fallout

Disneyland just made an unexpected yet fascinating announcement just days before 2026 arrives.

Disneyland To Bring About Major New Expansion for 2026

Before sunrise on Harbor Boulevard, construction markers line the sidewalk across from Disneyland’s esplanade. Most Guests passing by won’t notice them — but those small stakes represent the beginning of something enormous. For fans who’ve been following the DisneylandForward vision, this could be the clearest sign yet that the next major expansion is finally moving forward.

What exactly is Disney building, and what does it mean for the resort’s future?

New Permit Reveals Plans for 8-Story Parking Structure

The Disneyland Resort has filed a new construction permit with the City of Anaheim calling for an eight-story, 3.2-million-square-foot parking structure — one of the largest Disney has ever built in California.

This new garage, located near Harbor Boulevard, is part of the previously announced Eastern Gateway transportation hub, designed to completely reimagine how Guests arrive at the resort. When completed, the project will include:

• Roughly 6,000 parking spaces

• Dedicated rideshare and shuttle areas

• New guest security screening facilities

• Improved traffic flow via Disney Way and Harbor Boulevard

• Over 300 charging stations for electric vehicles

A central feature of the plan is a pedestrian bridge crossing Harbor Boulevard, connecting visitors directly to a brand-new esplanade and security zone at Disneyland Resort. The goal: to make the Guest arrival process smoother, safer, and more efficient than ever before.

Timeline and DisneylandForward Connection

According to city filings, construction is expected to begin in fall 2026 and will take several years to complete. The permit specifically references the “core and shell” construction phase, indicating that this is only the beginning of a multi-phase effort supporting DisneylandForward, a decades-long redevelopment and expansion blueprint for the Anaheim property.

Disney has already teased several major projects that will follow this parking expansion, including:

• Two new attractions expanding Avengers Campus

• A “Coco” ride inspired by Pixar’s hit film

• An “Avatar”-themed land coming to Disney California Adventure Park

While details and timelines for these expansions remain fluid, the parking structure effectively sets the stage for them — providing the infrastructure needed to welcome significantly larger crowds in the coming years.

A Sign of Confidence in Disneyland’s Future

Though parking expansions rarely generate fanfare on their own, this one signals Disney’s renewed confidence in the Southern California resort’s long-term growth. Post-pandemic recovery has been strong across Disney Parks, and improving access is a practical step toward supporting larger attendance capacity as new attractions open.

The inclusion of 302 electric vehicle chargers also aligns with Disney’s broader sustainability goals, emphasizing both modernization and environmental responsibility.

Local city leaders and tourism groups have long voiced support for projects like this, which can ease traffic near hotels and neighborhoods in the surrounding Anaheim area. The Eastern Gateway effort, which was originally proposed years ago but stalled due to logistical challenges, now appears to be back on track in a form more integrated with Disney’s current infrastructure goals.

Guest Perspective: The First Step Toward a Bigger Disneyland

Frequent visitors already know the frustration of navigating Disneyland’s parking and arrival process during peak travel days. For many, this project feels like long-awaited relief — and an exciting clue about what’s to come.

As the resort looks ahead to expansions based on Coco, Avatar, and Marvel stories, this new arrival experience represents the groundwork for the next generation of Disneyland. Future visits could look and feel completely different from today, with Guests entering through a brand-new esplanade framed by immersive lands that extend beyond the current footprint.

By the time bulldozers roll in during late 2026, construction crews won’t just be pouring concrete. They’ll be laying the literal foundation for Disneyland’s next 50 years of storytelling.