Downtown Disney is full of different shops and restaurants to explore.

Recently we’ve seen a few spots close temporarily while a few new restaurants have opened their doors. But now, you’ll notice something different the moment you walk up to enter — there’s a NEW entrance sign!
Right when you walk into Downtown Disney now, you’ll go through security underneath this massive sleek sign that reads “Downtown Disney.”

We personally love this new look — it really feels like a grand entrance into the shopping and dining district!

Disneyland Resort as a whole is in the beginning stages of undergoing a massive transformation called DisneylandForward. This is a “multiyear public planning effort with the City of Anaheim to update existing development approvals that will allow Disney to meaningfully invest in Anaheim for years to come and meet the future demands in entertainment.”

Just under a month ago, the Anaheim City Council gave its final approval to Disney’s plans, meaning we’ll be seeing expansions taking place in the coming years!

But just HOW big is this expansion? Oh, just $1.9 BILLION! Plans are still in early development, however, Disney has teased projects around Coco, Black Panther, Tangled, Frozen, Zootopia, Peter Pan, Tron, and Toy Story. Read all about those updates here!

In the words of Dennis Speigel, owner and founder of International Theme Park Services, a global consultant for theme park projects, “This is long overdue – this is decades overdue.” He noted that the expansion could allow Disneyland Resort to go from an estimated 25 million visits per year to 40 million over the next 20 years, which is a massive 60% increase in attendance.

So what does this mean? Well, if you’re planning a visit before all these updates happen, you won’t be able to experience the (hopefully) cool new experiences coming to the park, BUT you’ll get to experience lower crowds. However, if you’d like to hold off for another year (or take one trip now and one trip in a decade), you’ll get to experience a (potentially) more crowded Disneyland with new attractions to explore.
Of course, we’ll be keeping you updated on all the latest Disneyland Resort news as it comes out to help you prepare for your upcoming trips. Looking for more recent Downtown Disney news? We’ve got you covered!
More Downtown Disney News!
- 5 Defunct Disney World Terms We REFUSE To Stop Using
- It Was Fun While It Lasted: Another Disney Restaurant Is Permanently Closing Soon
- Disney Canceled a BIG Project for Downtown Disney and Is Still Living with the Fallout
- Disney Canceled 3 BIG Projects for Disney Springs
- NEWS: Permits Filed for Demolition in Downtown Disney
Be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney World and Disneyland news — when we find out what’s going on, we let you know ASAP!
Check out the opening timeline for Downtown Disney’s new Din Tai Fung restaurant!

What’s your favorite part of Downtown Disney? Tell us in the comments!
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