Disney Security Lines Stretch Late Into the Night, Guests Stranded Outside Park
As Disneyland70 continues drawing record-breaking crowds, security checkpoints are buckling under the pressure, leaving guests waiting outside Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park late into the evening.
The Disneyland70 festivities kicked off on May 16, 2025, well ahead of the Southern California Disney Resort’s official July 17 anniversary. The resort-wide celebration includes exclusive food and drinks, new character experiences, refreshed attractions, nighttime entertainment offerings, and themed merchandise across Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
Guests at Disneyland Park can catch the “Celebrate Happy” cavalcade starring rare characters Duffy and ShellieMay, watch the “Tapestry of Happiness” projection show on “it’s a small world,” and enjoy the return of the beloved “Paint the Night” electrical parade. Meanwhile, Disney California Adventure Park is offering a refreshed Toy Story Midway Mania!, the return of “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration,” and a new version of the popular “World of Color” nighttime spectacular.
But the excitement is proving difficult to manage. Last week, Reddit user u/Development-Fiesty arrived at Disneyland Resort just after 7:00 p.m., only to find that the security line to enter the resort was still stretching far beyond expectations. They shared a photo from the scene, simply captioned, “7pm security line.”
Other Disney Park guests echoed the experience in the comments.
“I was there Thursday,” said u/JustLo619. “It was on[e] of the most crowded nights I’ve seen in my 40 plus years going to the park.”
Many point to the resurgence of “Paint the Night” as a major driver of the evening crowds. “People don’t remember or didn’t experience it, but a decade ago, paint the night brought crowds Every. Single. Night. The entire time it ran,” u/stellalunawitchbaby2 wrote.
With the celebration ramping toward Disneyland Resort’s actual birthday, crowd levels may only grow. On July 17, “it’s a small world” will debut a new verse written by the legendary Sherman brothers, and the Main Street Opera House will launch “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” The brand-new show features the first-ever Walt Disney audio-animatronic and will rotate with Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln following its initial run.
The Disneyland70 celebration continues through summer 2026, but if the current crowd surge is any indication, guests hoping to enjoy the magic may want to arrive much earlier than usual…or risk being stranded outside looking in.
What’s the longest security line you’ve dealt with at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
