Construction continues for the reimagining of the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort, with a number of projects making visible progress. Space Age structures reminiscent of the architectural style used in California around the 1950s and 60s are rising, and the Disneyland Monorail station is covered in extensive scaffolding.
Monorail Station Scaffolding
Over at the Downtown Disney Monorail station, scaffolding can now be seen along the rail and platform area.
What appears to be a makeshift platform has been set up, with scaffolding reaching up to the underside of the overhang.
A truck has also been parked in this area and barricades have been set up to block this section off. The Disneyland Monorail is currently closed for refurbishment, and is anticipated to reopen August 31.
Walls have gone up around the former ESPN Zone, which originally closed to guests in 2018. A new resort hotel was originally intended to arrive in this area, though complications between Disneyland Resort and the local government effectively shelved the idea.
A permanent awning of sorts is also being erected behind these construction walls, roughly near where the AMC Theatres once were.
This entire area is intended to embrace a Space Age look in the concept art we’ve seen, and this particular structure itself is one of the first conceptual ideas we’ve witnessed enter reality.
This planter has been revealed from behind the walls, which have moved back a little.
A massive tree stands with new types of grass planted, and some concrete seating.
This tree should provide a nice bit of shade for guests visiting Downtown Disney.
The updated pavement has also begun appearing, offering a stone mosaic-style path in dark gray and white colors.
Downtown Disney District Overhaul
The Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort is currently undergoing a transformation including several new shops and restaurants. The areas set to be constructed and refined are inspired by the mid-century Space Age look that enjoyed remarkable popularity in California throughout the 1950s and 60s.
This process has slowly progressed over the last few years, though Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock has now revealed an 18-month completion time-frame, which roughly sees the District fully embracing its fresh face around the end of 2024.
All of this work on the resort’s entertainment, shopping, and dining hub is merely one minuscule portion of larger plans connected to the DisneylandForward initiative — a multi-year public planning effort that seeks to map out the next thirty years of vision with the City of Anaheim and Orange County.
DisneylandForward primarily aims to obtain more flexibility for land the resort received approval to develop in the 1990s, ideally adding a mix of theme park, hotel, retail, dining, and entertainment on the eastern and western edges of the resort. Currently, Disneyland has used less than half of the millions of square feet already approved for development, according to the Orange County Register. All plans stay within the existing 500-acre property in Anaheim with no physical expansion or additional acreage.
What are your thoughts on this transforming space? Let us know in the comments.
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