Disneyland Resort Update — New Security Procedures Arrive Along with Holiday Crowds

By far the biggest update to the Disneyland Resort for this month is the new security stations that were rolled out on December 15th. The Mickey and Friends loading area has been reconfigured, and now every guest entering Downtown Disney must pass through one of two security screening areas.

New security kiosks were in place and operating on December 15th

This area is directly adjacent to the original tram loading area

Trams still load at the south end of the original station

The loading areas to the north have been closed

It is no longer possible to walk directly from the escalators to the tram loading area

At the north side of Mickey and Friends, work has been done near the security building

This also served to open up areas immediately to the west of the esplanade that had not been enjoyed by the public for over a decade. Meanwhile, other checkpoints have been added to the end of Downtown Disney near the Disneyland Hotel.

The night of December 14th crews began dismantling the security kiosks on the west side of the esplanade

These “temporary” stations had been in place for over a decade

Signs and structural elements were set aside

For many guests, this was a familiar part of the Disneyland experience

By light of day, the structures were gone

This month work continued on Star Wars Land and unexpected opening of the Big Thunder Trail offered some new perspectives on the work being done on the Frontierland side of the site. For more photos of the what can be seen from the Trail, be sure to see our separate report.

The trail was opened in response to the crowds that have filled Disneyland during the final weeks of the holiday season. New Year’s will not mark the end, but rather the start of the final week of the Disneyland holidays. January 8th is the closing day for many venues.

Disneyland has been very crowded during the holidays, even on a Thursday afternoon

King Arthur’s Carousel rises above Fantasyland guests

Entering Tomorrowland is no small feat

Once inside, Tomorrowland is just as crowded

Adventureland is just as crowded

Other changes to the Resort include the demolition of the House of Blues to prepare the structure for conversion to Splitsville Bowling Alley, and the opening of the new Pandora shop. Mid-month also saw the arrival of Walt Week at Disneyland Park.