Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
The “Blue Sky” era of Disneyland speculation is officially over. As we enter the first week of January 2026, The Walt Disney Company has shifted from theoretical presentations to physical groundbreaking. A series of massive construction permits filed in late December 2025 and early January 2026 have confirmed that the long-awaited DisneylandForward initiative is moving into high gear, forever altering the landscape of the Anaheim resort.
For decades, the idea of a third theme park in California was dismissed as impossible due to Disneyland being “landlocked.” However, the latest filings for the Eastern Gateway project prove that Disney has found a way to unlock hundreds of acres of prime real estate.
The Eastern Gateway: The Foundation for Growth
The most significant development for the 2026 season is the filing of permits for a massive new 6,000-space parking structure and a multi-modal transportation hub. Located on the east side of the resort, specifically on the former Manchester Cast Member lot, this project is being called the “Eastern Gateway.”
But this is more than just a place to park cars. The project includes a high-tech security screening area and a brand-new pedestrian bridge stretching over Harbor Boulevard. This bridge will connect guests directly to the main esplanade, creating a seamless arrival experience that bypasses the current congestion.
By building this new hub, Disney is executing a brilliant logistical maneuver: they are preparing to vacate the massive Toy Story Parking Lot. Once those 50+ acres of asphalt are cleared, Disney will have the necessary footprint to build a third theme park gate or a massive, “Disney Springs West”- style entertainment and hotel district.
Avatar and the “Hollywood Backlot” Transformation
While the parking structure builds the foundation, the first major “new” destination is already claiming its territory. Disney has confirmed that a portion of the Hollywood Backlot in Disney California Adventure will be transformed into an immersive Avatar destination.
To make way for the world of Pandora (inspired explicitly by The Way of Water and Fire and Ash), a classic attraction is nearing its final curtain call. Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! is officially slated to close in early 2026. While an exact date hasn’t been posted on the 2026 refurbishment calendar yet, insiders expect the scream-processing factory to shut down by April 2026, allowing for vertical construction on the Avatar project to begin by the fall.
The 2026 Expansion Pipeline: Coco and Avengers Campus
The expansion isn’t limited to Pandora. Disney is currently managing three major vertical projects simultaneously:
- The Coco Attraction: Located near Paradise Gardens Park and Pixar Pier, construction on the first-ever Coco-themed ride is being fast-tracked. Vertical steel is expected to rise by mid-2026, with the ride utilizing high-tech boat systems similar to those found in Pirates of the Caribbean in Shanghai.
- Avengers Campus Double-Down: Work is well underway on two new attractions—Avengers Infinity Defense and the Stark Flight Lab. These additions will effectively double the size of the Marvel-themed land, with a projected opening window of late 2027.
Disneyland 70 and the Future of the “Third Gate”
The timing of these permits is no coincidence. As Disneyland continues its 70th Anniversary celebration through 2026, the resort is using the milestone to bridge its historic past with a futuristic vision. The DisneylandForward agreement gives Disney the “mixed-use” flexibility to build theme park attractions alongside hotels and shopping districts on land they already own.
By rezoning the property, Disney has effectively removed the “walls” that kept the resort small. Whether the Toy Story lot becomes a standalone third park or an “integrated expansion” of the existing gates, the result is the same: Disneyland is entering its most aggressive growth phase since its 1955 opening.
As of January 4, 2026, the message to fans is clear: The “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” is about to get a whole lot bigger.
Which new land are you most excited for: the Avatar destination, the Coco attraction, or the rumored Villains Land expansion? Let us know in the comments!
