One of the biggest pieces of the current Disneyland expansion plans is a place to park, and it may take longer to finish than many fans hoped. Disneyland told nearby residents that construction on the Eastern Gateway parking structure should continue into early 2029, according to the Orange County Register. That timeline would leave the garage behind two major milestones coming to Anaheim in 2028. Here’s the latest.
Disneyland Eastern Gateway Parking Structure Construction Expected to Continue Into Early 2029
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- The new construction timeline Disneyland shared for the Eastern Gateway garage
- What the 2029 timeline means for Avengers Campus and the 2028 Olympics
- What the finished parking structure and transportation hub will include
The Eastern Gateway garage is the first major piece of DisneylandForward, and crews officially started building it this summer. Based on what Disneyland told its neighbors, guests shouldn’t expect to park there before early 2029. That’s a long wait for a project Disney called the first step in the resort’s next phase of construction.
Construction Into Early 2029 for the Eastern Gateway Garage
Disneyland officials shared the timeline at a recent community meeting with nearby residents, according to the Orange County Register. Construction on the roughly 6,000-space parking structure is expected to take nearly three years and continue into early 2029. That puts the garage’s debut after the Avengers Campus expansion and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Officials said the timeline could change as construction moves along, and Disneyland still hasn’t announced an opening date.
Disneyland broke ground on the Eastern Gateway parking structure on August 24th, with Disneyland Resort President Jill Estorino on hand. The ceremony marked the start of vertical construction on part of the former Manchester cast member parking lot. At the time, Disney said construction would take multiple years but didn’t name a completion date. An early 2029 finish would come roughly two and a half years after that first shovel hit the dirt.
Once it opens, the structure will hold about 6,000 parking spaces, along with shuttle and rideshare areas, security screening, and dedicated access off of Disney Way. A pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard will connect the garage to an all-new esplanade arrival area. The general public will be able to use that bridge too. Disneyland’s existing bus drop-off and pick-up area on Harbor Boulevard will also move to the Manchester lot, according to the Register. Last December, Disney filed a permit for an 8-story, 3.2 million square foot parking structure that included 302 electric vehicle chargers. An updated permit filed in October trims the garage to seven levels and raises the charger count to 316.
Missing Avengers Campus and the 2028 Olympics
The new timeline matters most immediately for the Avengers Campus expansion at Disney California Adventure. At D23 in August, Disney said Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab will both open in 2028. Disney says the expansion will double the size of Avengers Campus. When Disney first revealed the Eastern Gateway plans in June 2025, it described the garage as infrastructure needed to welcome more guests as new experiences open. If the current timeline holds, the Avengers expansion will open before the garage meant to help handle its crowds.
The 2028 Olympics are the other milestone the garage will miss. Honda Center will host indoor volleyball for the 2028 Summer Games, according to the City of Anaheim. Matches will take place over two weeks in July 2028. That puts Olympic crowds a short drive from Disneyland Resort while the Eastern Gateway is still a construction zone.
Story So Far
- June 5, 2025: Disney announced the Eastern Gateway parking garage and transportation hub as the first major project of DisneylandForward, with construction slated to begin in fall 2026.
- December 23, 2025: Disney filed a permit for an 8-story, 3.2 million square foot parking structure, including 302 electric vehicle chargers.
- June 9, 2026: Disney shared plans to close the Manchester cast member parking lot to clear the way for construction.
- August 24, 2026: Disneyland broke ground on the Eastern Gateway parking structure in a ceremony led by Jill Estorino.
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