NEW Entrance and Security Checkpoint NOW OPEN at Downtown Disney

Expansion is on the horizon at the Disneyland Resort, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to wait years to start seeing some changes!

Downtown Disney

Both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure will see some MAJOR changes over the next decade and we’ll be there every step of the way! With that said, the changes happening aren’t just limited to the theme parks. Downtown Disney District, Disneyland’s non-theme park dining and shopping district, will also look different — starting NOW!

Before DisneylandForward was even approved, the Disneyland Resort began construction on a Downtown Disney expansion. As it turns out, that expansion includes a new security checkpoint that opened this past weekend.

New Downtown Disney Entrance

The new Downtown Disney entrance/security checkpoint officially opened on Friday, May 31st, 2024 near the Simba Parking Lot, replacing the previous security entrance across from the Disneyland Hotel.

Those looking to visit Downtown Disney will now use this checkpoint

The entrance is modeled after the aesthetic of the newly added area, including a live entertainment stage and what is soon to become the Parkside Market. Featuring four Levy Restaurants, this market will include Korean cuisine-inspired Seoul Sister, Caribbean-inspired Sip & Sonder, GG’s Chicken Shop, and a second-story bar.

©Disney

A new mural by artist and former Disney Imagineer Nikkolas Smith was also revealed this past weekend and was highlighted in an Instagram post by Smith, in which he wrote, “I wanted to create an homage to the legendary Herb Ryman, and highlight many of the things that Downtown Disney’s new redesign will have to offer. I still get chills seeing my Legacy Tower as a focal point to this area, and I’m loving the family vibes of the entertainment on the rolling lawn, plus the new retail/dining additions. I always told myself I’d paint a piece in the iconic Ryman style.”

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A post shared by Nikkolas Smith (@nikkolas_smith)

Smith alluded to the new Legacy Tower, which officially opened alongside a stage in November 2023.

Additionally, Downtown Disney intends to install a new two-story Earl of Sandwich location, with a quick-service shop on the ground level and a table-service gastropub upstairs. The current Earl of Sandwich will be moved from its spot at the east end of the Esplanade to a temporary location near the Star Wars Trading Post, as the east end location will become a Porto’s Bakery.

Temporary Earl of Sandwich location at Downtown Disney

We’re excited to see the evolution of Downtown Disney and will continue to keep you posted on construction updates as they develop. In the meantime, stay tuned right here at the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disneyland Resort news, tips, reviews, and more!