Disneyland’s new security checkpoint gets its roof

Disneyland’s new East Esplanade security checkpoint now has a roof, and fan sites expect it to open this month. Here’s what’s changing at the entrance, from shuttles to a 6,000-space garage.

Disneyland’s front door is in the middle of a makeover. The new security screening building on the East Esplanade now has blue roofing over its frame, WDWNT reported from the monorail on Oct. 31.

Crews were working under it with ladders and scissor lifts, with tarps over freshly worked concrete nearby. WDWNT said not much had changed in the dug-up area farther back since its last look.

It’s the most visible piece of a much bigger project fans call the Eastern Gateway. That plan adds a new parking garage, a pedestrian bridge and a new way in from the east side of the resort.

Here’s a late-September look at the esplanade construction from YouTube channel The Disney Path:

When does the new Disneyland security checkpoint open?

Disney has only said “fall 2026,” according to Disney Tourist Blog. The blog expects the East Esplanade screening to open sometime in November, likely before Thanksgiving, but that’s the blog’s own estimate.

The new checkpoint sits where the old esplanade ticket booths stood. Those booths have been torn down on both sides, Disney Tourist Blog reported.

Until it opens, expect walls and some rerouted walkways. Disney Tourist Blog said the East Esplanade entrance stays open with phased closures, and Disability Access Service has moved to Ticket Booth 6.

What is the Disneyland Eastern Gateway project?

It’s a new parking structure with about 6,000 spaces on part of the old Manchester Cast Member lot, with access from Disney Way, according to BlogMickey and Disney Tourist Blog. It will have areas for shuttles and rideshare, plus its own security screening.

A December 2025 city permit lists 302 EV charging spaces, BlogMickey reported. The same permit describes an eight-story structure, though MickeyVisit has reported seven parking levels.

A covered pedestrian bridge will cross Harbor Boulevard to a new arrival area on the esplanade, BlogMickey and Disney Tourist Blog reported. It’s also supposed to give people who aren’t parking there a way in from Harbor.

When will the new Disneyland parking garage open?

Disney hasn’t said. Disneyland broke ground on Aug. 24, 2026, with Anaheim’s mayor and council there, and Disney has only said construction will take “multiple years,” per BlogMickey.

Disney Tourist Blog has guessed 2028. Again, that’s the blog’s guess.

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

Is the Eastern Gateway part of DisneylandForward?

BlogMickey calls it the first DisneylandForward project. Anaheim’s City Council gave final approval to DisneylandForward on May 7, 2024, after a 7-0 vote in April. Disney committed to spend at least $1.9 billion in Anaheim over 10 years under the plan.

The plan allows more parking east of the parks and new pedestrian bridges over Harbor Boulevard. No cost for the Eastern Gateway itself has been reported.

What changes for Disneyland shuttles on Nov. 2?

Starting Monday, Nov. 2, Good Neighbor and other outside hotel shuttles move to a new spot in the Downtown Disney District, according to Disney Tourist Blog and Laughing Place. It’s near Lululemon, by the Disneyland Hotel valet loop. Guests will walk through Downtown Disney to the gates.

PNP covered that move on Oct. 30. The three north bus loops on the esplanade close, while Disneyland Resort’s own buses stay on the East Esplanade.

Toy Story lot shuttles also stay near the East Esplanade but shift a little north, toward Harbor Boulevard, MickeyVisit reported. Harbor Boulevard rideshare stays put for now.

What does this mean for your next Disneyland trip?

Give yourself extra time at the entrance for the next few months, especially if you’re coming by shuttle. The routes are moving, and the construction walls aren’t going anywhere soon.

The payoff Disney is promising is a better arrival, with thousands of new parking spaces on the east side. For now, though, there’s a big construction zone between you and the castle. Pack patience.

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:

• WDWNT (Oct. 31, 2026), the security checkpoint roof and aerial update

• Disney Tourist Blog (Sept. 22 and Oct. 30, 2026), timing estimates, entrance changes and shuttles

• BlogMickey (Aug. 24, 2026), groundbreaking, garage details and Estorino quote

• MickeyVisit (Oct. 23, 2026), Toy Story lot and rideshare changes

• Laughing Place (Oct. 29, 2026), the shuttle move date

• The Disney Path (Sept. 27, 2026), the esplanade construction video

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