A big change has arrived at the Disneyland Resort! On Thursday, December 15, a new west security checkpoint opened at the far end of the Downtown Disney District, near the ESPN Zone. The old checkpoint between the esplanade of the theme parks and Downtown Disney has be dismantled – essentially moving the bag check and metal detector screening point from one end of Downtown Disney to the other. Those guests coming from the west side of the resort – the Disneyland Hotel, Downtown Disney Parking Lot, or the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure & Tram Area, will now be screened before entering the Downtown Disney area.
They look ready to open tomorrow!
Not only does this decision greatly increase the safety in the resort area by continuing all the way throughout Downtown Disney, but it also makes coming-and-going between Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and the Downtown Disney area much easier and more enjoyable by keeping visitors from having to go through the screening process as often – those west side checkpoint lines can get very long!
The east side security screening checkpoint (between the theme parks and the transportation area) will remain in place for the time being.
You can really see where the checkpoint is in relation to the Disneyland Hotel.
Being a visitor that typically stays on the east side of the resort, it has been frustrating in the past to have to go through security twice if I’m just wanting to run to Downtown Disney and back. I would also hope that they might have increased the size of the screening area so the lines don’t get quite so backed up – but we shall see about that. Either way, I would call this an early Christmas present!
How do you feel about Disney moving the security checkpoint? Is it a good decision or do you see some drawbacks to the change?
