What Happened to Disneyland Resort?
Disneyland Resort, a premier theme park destination in Anaheim, California, has continued its evolution with significant expansions and celebrations through 2026. Key developments include the approval and initial construction phases of the multi-year DisneylandForward project, the resort's 70th Anniversary Celebration, and the introduction of new attractions and guest experiences, alongside updates to operational policies and a strong financial performance for its parent company's Experiences segment. The resort is actively preparing for future growth with new infrastructure and themed lands.
Quick Answer
Disneyland Resort is currently undergoing its most significant expansion in decades, driven by the DisneylandForward initiative, which received final approval in May 2024. The resort celebrated its 70th Anniversary from May 2025 to August 2026, introducing new entertainment and experiences. As of August 2026, construction has begun on a new parking structure and several new attractions, including an expansion of Avengers Campus and a 'Coco'-themed ride, with an 'Avatar' land also planned for Disney California Adventure. The resort continues to update guest policies and reported record revenues for its Experiences segment in Q2 fiscal 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Pixar Place Hotel Opens
The Pixar Place Hotel, a reimagining of Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel, officially opened, offering guests a new Pixar-themed accommodation experience.
DisneylandForward Project Receives Final Approval
The Anaheim City Council unanimously approved the DisneylandForward initiative, a multi-year expansion plan allowing for significant future development and investment in the resort.
Fantasmic! Returns to Rivers of America
The popular nighttime spectacular 'Fantasmic!' made its highly anticipated return to the Rivers of America in Disneyland Park, featuring new scenes and effects.
Combined Resort Attendance Surpasses 1 Billion
The all-time combined attendance of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure likely surpassed 1 billion visitors, based on unofficial estimates.
Disneyland Resort 70th Anniversary Celebration Begins
The Disneyland Resort launched its 70th Anniversary Celebration, honoring seven decades of magic with new entertainment, food, merchandise, and a new nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure.
Construction Begins on 'Coco' Themed Attraction
Preparatory construction work began backstage for the first-ever 'Coco'-themed attraction, a boat ride slated for Disney California Adventure near Pixar Pier.
Early Entry Perk Ends; Pixar Place Hotel DCA Entrance Closes
The 'Early Entry' perk for Disneyland Resort hotel guests was replaced with a single Lightning Lane Multi Pass per stay, and the Pixar Place Hotel's direct entrance to Disney California Adventure permanently closed.
Disneyland Park Reaches 900 Million Guests
Disneyland Park celebrated a major milestone, having welcomed 900 million individual guests since its opening in 1955.
New Guest Code of Conduct Introduced
Disneyland Resort implemented a new 'guest code of conduct' aimed at reducing ride disruptions and improving overall guest experience, addressing a rise in behavioral issues.
Disney Experiences Segment Reports Record Q2 Revenue
The Walt Disney Company's Experiences segment, which includes Disneyland Resort, reported record revenue and operating income for Q2 fiscal 2026, driven by increased guest spending.
New Mandalorian & Grogu Mission Debuts
A new mission featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu was added to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
Disneyland's 70th Anniversary Celebration Concludes
The extensive 70th Anniversary Celebration at Disneyland Resort, which began in May 2025, officially came to an end.
Groundbreaking for New Eastern Gateway Parking Structure
Disneyland Resort officially broke ground on a new parking structure as part of the Eastern Gateway project, a key infrastructure component of the DisneylandForward expansion.
2026 Holiday Season Plans Announced
Disneyland Resort announced its plans for the 2026 holiday season, running from November 13, 2026, to January 6, 2027, including new character outfits and a new Santa Claus location.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Disneyland Resort, a cornerstone of the Walt Disney Company's 'Experiences' segment, has been a hub of activity and transformation from 2024 through mid-2026, marking a period of significant investment and expansion. A pivotal development was the unanimous approval of the DisneylandForward project by the Anaheim City Council in May 2024. This long-term planning framework allows Disney to redistribute existing development rights across its Anaheim landholdings, paving the way for new theme park attractions, hotels, entertainment, dining, and crucial supporting infrastructure, with a committed investment of at least $1.9 billion over the next decade.
In the immediate aftermath of the DisneylandForward approval, the resort saw the return of popular seasonal events and the debut of new offerings. Pixar Fest returned from April 26 to August 4, 2024, celebrating friendship with new parades and character experiences. The beloved nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic!, also made its return on May 24, 2024, after a hiatus. The Pixar Place Hotel officially opened on January 30, 2024, enhancing the resort's accommodation options.
2025 was dominated by the kickoff of the Disneyland Resort 70th Anniversary Celebration, which began on May 16, 2025, and continued through summer 2026. This extensive celebration featured limited-time entertainment, specialty food and beverages, and collectible merchandise across the resort. During this period, the combined attendance for Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure likely surpassed 1 billion visitors in February 2025, underscoring the resort's enduring popularity. Construction for new attractions also began to ramp up, with the 'Coco'-themed attraction starting backstage work in Fall 2025, slated for Disney California Adventure near Pixar Pier.
As of 2026, the DisneylandForward initiative began to manifest with tangible construction. In early 2026, the 'Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!' attraction closed permanently to make way for a future 'Avatar' land in Disney California Adventure. January 5, 2026, also marked the end of the 'Early Entry' perk for hotel guests, replaced by a single Lightning Lane Multi Pass per stay, and the permanent closure of the Pixar Place Hotel entrance to Disney California Adventure. By January 2026, Disneyland Park alone had welcomed 900 million guests since its opening in 1955.
Recent operational changes include a new 'guest code of conduct' introduced in April 2026 to address ride disruptions and enhance guest experience. The Walt Disney Company's Experiences segment reported record revenue and operating income for Q2 fiscal 2026, with revenue up 7% and operating income up 5% compared to Q2 fiscal 2025, driven by increased guest spending despite a slight dip in domestic park attendance. In May 2026, a new 'Mandalorian & Grogu' mission debuted on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and 'Soarin' Across America' premiered at Disney California Adventure.
The most current developments, as of August 2026, involve the groundbreaking of a new Eastern Gateway parking structure on August 24, 2026, a critical first step in the DisneylandForward infrastructure plan. This project includes a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard and a new transportation hub. Demolition of existing ticket booths in the Esplanade also commenced in late August 2026 to facilitate this new arrival experience. Furthermore, the resort announced its 2026 holiday season plans, running from November 13, 2026, to January 6, 2027, featuring new character outfits and a new Santa Claus location.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Disneyland Resort made different choices?