Disneyland told neighbors the Eastern Gateway garage will stay under construction into early 2029, after the new Avengers Campus rides and the LA Olympics.
If you were hoping to park in Disneyland’s shiny new garage by 2028, you may want to adjust that plan.
Disneyland officials told nearby residents that work on the Eastern Gateway parking structure should last into early 2029. The Orange County Register reported the news on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from a community meeting. Several Disney fan sites picked up the report the same day.
Nexstar reporter Scott Gustin shared the update’s wording on X: “construction impacts from the new Eastern Gateway parking structure are expected to continue into early 2029.” He added that “the timeline was shared as an estimate for neighbors, but no opening timeline has been announced,” and that “the schedule could shift as work progresses.”
So treat this as a construction estimate. Disney was telling the neighbors how long the noise and the trucks will stick around.
Here’s a recent look at the construction site from The Disney Path, filmed in late October:
What is the Eastern Gateway at Disneyland?
It’s a big new parking garage and arrival hub on the east side of Harbor Boulevard. It’s the first major project of DisneylandForward, the long-term plan to grow the resort that the Anaheim City Council approved in 2024.
The garage is going up on the old Manchester cast member parking lot. Disney tore down the Team Disney Anaheim East office building to clear room, MickeyBlog reported. Crews broke ground on Aug. 24, 2026, with Disneyland Resort President Jill Estorino on hand, according to BlogMickey.
When it’s done, the hub is supposed to hold about 6,000 cars. The plans also call for:
A pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard into the resort
Spaces for shuttles and rideshare drop-offs
A security screening area
Its own access road off Disney Way
Did Disney shrink the garage?
A little, at least in height. A December 2025 permit described an eight-story structure covering about 3.2 million square feet, with 302 electric vehicle chargers, according to BlogMickey. An October 2026 permit update cut it to seven levels and raised the charger count to 316.
Nobody has published a new parking space count since that change. So the “about 6,000” figure comes from the earlier plans, and it could move.
Why does a 2029 timeline matter for Disneyland fans?
Because 2028 is going to be a very busy year in Anaheim.
Disney announced at D23 in August that two new rides, Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab, are coming to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure in 2028. Disney says the expansion will double the size of the land. That’s the kind of opening that brings huge crowds.
Then there’s the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. BlogMickey points out that the Honda Center, just down the road in Anaheim, is set to host indoor volleyball for about two weeks in July 2028.
If the garage work really does run into early 2029, both of those happen while the new parking hub is still a construction zone. The resort’s current lots, including the Mickey and Friends structure and the Toy Story lot, would have to carry that load.
What happens to the Toy Story parking lot?
Nothing yet. KTLA reported that under DisneylandForward, the Toy Story lot near Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard could eventually make way for more shopping, dining and entertainment. Disney hasn’t set any date for that. For now, it’s still a parking lot with shuttle service to the resort.
The Eastern Gateway is supposed to pick up some of that load once it opens.
Is this connected to Disneyland’s new security checkpoint?
Yes, in a way. The east side of the resort is already changing. Pirates & Princesses reported on Monday, Nov. 2, that Disneyland’s new security checkpoint is taking shape on that side, and the finished Eastern Gateway is supposed to include its own screening area.
Disney calls this parking, transit and arrival work the first step in its next phase of construction, KTLA reported. The council approved the plan as a $1.9 billion expansion.
Could the 2029 date change?
Sure. Gustin said the timeline was shared as an estimate, and every report notes it could shift. Construction schedules tend to move in both directions, though big ones rarely get shorter.
For now, if you’re planning a 2028 trip for the new Avengers rides, plan to park where you park today. And maybe pack a little extra patience for the tram line.
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:
Orange County Register (Nov. 3, 2026), the early 2029 construction timeline from Disneyland’s community meeting
Scott Gustin, Nexstar (Nov. 3, 2026, via KTLA), the wording of the update, the Toy Story lot plan and Disney’s description of the work
BlogMickey (Nov. 3, 2026), groundbreaking date, permit changes, Avengers Campus and Olympics details
MickeyBlog and WDW News Today (Nov. 3, 2026), garage features and the demolished office building
The Disney Path (YouTube), late October construction footage
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