Disneyland Ticket Booths Removed During Busiest Time of the Year Right in Front of Guests

Disneyland guests were shocked to see a sight of destruction and ticket booth removals as they attempted to enter the parks during the Holiday season.

Disneyland Ticket Booths Removed Forcefully During Busy Holiday Season

The unmistakable crunch of machinery echoed across the Esplanade — a sound few Disneyland guests ever expect to hear in such a sacred space. Bright orange construction vests contrasted sharply with the pastel hues of the park’s entryway as an excavator clawed through a familiar structure that once represented the start of a magical day.

For decades, these booths stood as small but mighty symbols of anticipation — where families bought park tickets, unfolded maps, and felt their first spark of Disney wonder. Now, those cherished portals are nothing but debris. What could be replacing this nostalgic piece of Disneyland history?

A Rare Sight: Demolition in the Daylight

Guests visiting Disneyland Resort this week were caught off guard as two longtime ticket booths were demolished right before their eyes. The area, located near the entrance to Downtown Disney District, suddenly became a live construction zone as crews moved quickly to clear space for a new addition — the highly anticipated Porto’s Bakery location.

The unusual daytime demolition was captured in a viral Instagram video posted by @worldofscreams, showing guests stopping mid-walk to watch the excavator tear the wooden booths apart. Major demolition work usually happens overnight, away from public view, making this moment all the more shocking for visitors on hand.

Disneyland has begun work to remove vacant ticket booths to make way for Porto’s Bakery. – @ScotttGustin on X

Disneyland has begun work to remove vacant ticket booths to make way for Porto’s Bakery. pic.twitter.com/PkiB3EvOI6

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) December 31, 2025

According to the City of Anaheim, Disney recently granted permission to remove the ticket booths after their official closure in November. The change comes as part of the ongoing reimagining of the Downtown Disney entry area — one of the Resort’s most visible and frequently updated spaces.

Goodbye La Brea, Hello Porto’s

While Porto’s Bakery was first announced for Downtown Disney in 2022, the project experienced repeated delays. Now, however, those early plans are finally becoming reality. In addition to the ticket booth teardown, Disney confirmed the demolition of the nearby La Brea Bakery building, which once served as a centerpiece dining spot at the district’s entrance.

Fans may recall that La Brea’s footprint housed a temporary Earl of Sandwich restaurant for more than two years before signage was quietly removed this fall. The area will soon undergo a full transformation to make way for Porto’s — a beloved Southern California institution known for its iconic cheese rolls, guava pastries, and potato balls.

Once completed, Porto’s will join a growing lineup of local favorites and high-end eateries at Downtown Disney, serving as a culinary welcome mat for visitors entering the happiest place on earth.

The End of a Disneyland Era

For longtime guests, the visual of those ticket booths disappearing carries surprising emotional weight. They weren’t just points of sale — they were part of the ritual. Families lining up early, trading cash for park hoppers, asking Cast Members for laminated park maps… those moments defined the “before the gates” magic that came before the Castle view.

With mobile tickets and app-based passes now standard, the booths had become relics of a pre-digital Disneyland. Still, their removal feels like the end of a simpler era — a reminder that progress at Disney often comes with a dose of nostalgia.

“I never thought I’d see them actually gone,” one fan commented online. “It’s like watching the start of Disneyland history fade, piece by piece.”

What This Means for Guests

Here’s what to know about the change:

• Ticket sales remain available in person. Guests can still buy day-of tickets or resolve reservation issues at the Lost and Found location near the entrance gates.

• Construction timelines remain fluid. Disney has not yet confirmed a completion date for Porto’s Bakery, though demolition progress suggests movement through early 2026.

• Expect some guest path adjustments. Walkways between Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney may be redirected temporarily as work continues.

A Symbol of Change — and Rebirth

The demolition of Disneyland’s ticket booths might feel bittersweet, but for many locals, Porto’s arrival signals a new chapter in the Resort’s evolution — one that values comfort food, community connection, and modern design as much as tradition.

For guests walking through the area today, it’s hard not to pause — to remember standing beneath those small white awnings with ticket in hand, surrounded by laughter and the hum of anticipation. Soon, those sounds will give way to the rhythm of espresso machines and the aroma of fresh-baked pastries drifting through the air.

The booths that once sold tickets to dreams are gone. But in their place, something new — and just as sweet — is on the way.