Disneyland has begun testing a new automated entry gate system as part of a $4.8 million project that will overhaul visitor entrances for theme parks, hotels, the monorail and Downtown Disney later this year.
Disneyland has installed a test entry gate at Disney California Adventure for a short period that will be removed to make way for construction and installation of the complete system later this year.
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“The test entry gate installed at Disney California Adventure park will enable our teams to get hands-on experience that will help inform the final install beginning later this year,” Disneyland Arrival Experience General Manager Kevin Gidden said in a statement.
Work to remove the turnstiles at the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure entrances and install 62 new automated entry gates will begin later this year and be completed in phases to limit the impact of construction.
Disneyland crews will tackle one turnstile bank at a time to minimize impacts to arriving visitors.
The project is expected to start at Disney California Adventure before moving across the esplanade to Disneyland’s main entrance, according to MiceChat.
Disneyland will remove the existing entrance turnstiles and install 38 new automatic entry gates, according to Anaheim building reports. Disney California Adventure will install 24 automatic entry gates after removing existing entrance turnstiles, according to the building reports. City documents estimate the cost of the project at $4.8 million.
The entry update will make the gates stroller and wheelchair accessible.
Disneyland’s new automated gates will be similar to the ones installed at Disneyland Paris in 2019 with clear doors that open once visitors successfully scan a theme park ticket, annual pass or MagicBand and the system takes a photo of the visitor.
Disneyland and DCA employees will be waiting inside the gates to ensure tickets are valid and to help handle any issues.
The Disneyland resort automated entry gate project is expected to be complete in 2025.