Disneyland suspicious bags held marbles and Disney crowns, police say

Two bags left near Disneyland’s Harbor Boulevard shuttle area Monday night brought out a bomb squad and shut the east exit. They turned out to be harmless, and Anaheim police are looking for the man they believe left them.

Two suspicious bags near Disneyland brought out a bomb squad Monday night. What was inside turned out to be marbles and a bunch of Disney crowns.

The bags were found just outside the parks, near the Esplanade area where shuttles drop off guests near Harbor Boulevard, the Anaheim Police Department told NBC Los Angeles.

A county bomb squad “determined there was no explosive threat,” NBC Los Angeles reported. Nobody was reported hurt.

What was in the bags at Disneyland?

Not much, it turns out. Disneyland employees spotted the bags, according to police.

• The first bag had exposed wires and marbles, police told NBC Los Angeles. KTLA reported it was a satchel-style bag sitting on a dolly.

• The second bag was sealed with duct tape, with objects sticking out of it. KTLA, citing police, reported it held “Disney-branded crowns” and other pointed items.

Investigators believe the bags were “intentionally placed to appear suspicious,” KTLA reported.

Are police looking for a suspect?

Yes. Anaheim police are searching for a man, KTLA reported. They’re working from surveillance video and witnesses.

Police haven’t identified the man or released any images, and no arrest had been reported as of Tuesday morning.

Even a fake can cause real trouble. This one tied up a bomb squad and kept guests from leaving the east side of the resort late into the night.

What happened at Disneyland Monday night?

The bags were reported around 9:30 p.m. Monday near a fence at the east entrance roundabout, KTLA reported, citing police.

Guests on the way out of the parks couldn’t leave toward Harbor Boulevard. They were sent through Downtown Disney instead, WDW News Today reported, based on videos from fan account The Disneylanders.

The account also reported a big police presence, with helicopters and drones overhead, according to WDW News Today.

By about 11:24 p.m., one side of the Disneyland Park exit was closed. Later, the whole exit closed, and Cast Members pointed guests to an overflow path next to the firehouse, WDW News Today reported.

Guests didn’t appear to be evacuated. They could still leave when they wanted to, just not toward Harbor.

Officials declared there was no threat at about 11:45 p.m., according to KTLA.

Did Disney say anything?

Not publicly. Disney hadn’t commented as of Tuesday morning, IBTimes UK reported. For now, Anaheim police are the ones doing the talking.

Where is the Disneyland Esplanade?

It’s the big open plaza between the gates of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. Guests coming from the Harbor Boulevard side walk through the security area and into the Esplanade.

The bags turned up near the shuttle drop-off on that east side.

What’s being built on Disneyland’s Harbor Boulevard side?

A lot. Disneyland broke ground on its Eastern Gateway project on Aug. 24, BlogMickey reported. It’s a parking garage with about 6,000 spaces plus a transportation hub, and it’s the first big piece of the DisneylandForward expansion.

“The arrival experience is an important part of every guest visit,” Disneyland Resort President Jill Estorino said at the groundbreaking.

It’s going up on the site of a former Cast Member parking lot. While it’s under construction, shuttle and ride-share spots on that side have been shifting around, Disney Tourist Blog reported.

Disneyland also opened a new west-side ride-share drop-off near Downtown Disney in September, Mickey Visit reported. The Harbor Boulevard drop-off is still an option, too.

How does Disneyland security work?

Disney conducts bag checks and maintains security checkpoints at the entrances to its parks, Downtown Disney and its hotels, according to Disney’s security page.

Disneyland added metal detectors and explosive-sniffing dogs in December 2015, CBS Los Angeles reported at the time. Disney says it doesn’t “broadly discuss the specifics” of its security.

This time, though, it wasn’t a checkpoint that flagged the bags. Disneyland employees noticed them outside the security area.

Has this happened at Disneyland before?

A few times. These are the recent ones we could confirm:

• Dec. 9, 2023: Disney closed its Harbor Boulevard entrance during a protest, and police called in a bomb squad for a suspicious bag. Nothing in it was dangerous, Spectrum News reported.

• Dec. 21, 2023: A fake active-shooter report brought police to a Disneyland hotel, FOX 11 reported.

• March 10, 2026: Seven Cast Members went to hospitals after building materials reacted backstage near Star Tours, NBC Los Angeles reported.

• March 11, 2026: A swatting call reported a mass shooting and bomb threats at the resort. It was a hoax, FOX 11 reported.

• May 26, 2026: An overheated chemical tank in Garden Grove forced evacuations nearby. Disney said the resort was about 5 miles away and outside the evacuation zone, FOX News reported.

What should guests do if they see something suspicious?

Tell a Cast Member or security officer right away, and keep your distance. That’s what Disneyland employees did Monday night.

If you’re leaving the parks late and an exit is closed, follow Cast Members’ directions. Monday’s reroute through Downtown Disney added some walking, but guests got out.

A bag of marbles turned into a late-night shutdown. Police are hoping a few frames of surveillance video turn into a name.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• NBC Los Angeles, Oct. 13, 2026: Suspicious bags found near Disneyland lead to bomb squad response

• KTLA, Oct. 13, 2026: Disneyland suspicious packages and Anaheim police search

• WDW News Today, Oct. 13, 2026: Disneyland closes exits and reroutes guests after suspicious device found near Harbor Boulevard

• Disneyland Resort: park security measures page

• CBS Los Angeles, Dec. 17, 2015: Disneyland metal detectors

• IBTimes UK, Oct. 13, 2026: Disney comment status

• Spectrum News 1, Dec. 9, 2023; FOX 11, Dec. 21, 2023, and March 11, 2026; NBC Los Angeles, March 10, 2026; FOX News, May 26, 2026: past incidents

• BlogMickey, Aug. 24, 2026: Eastern Gateway groundbreaking; Disney Tourist Blog: Eastern Gateway construction changes; Mickey Visit, Sept. 15, 2026: new ride-share area

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