What to Know about Disneyland's New Entry Gates

If you’ve ever visited the Disneyland Resort, you might remember the classic turnstiles at the main entrance of both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. The turnstiles are nostalgic to the entry gates when Disneyland first opened in 1955. But on your next visit to a Disneyland Resort theme park, you might be welcomed by new automatic entry gates!

The Disneyland Resort has been busy replacing the turnstiles at both theme parks with new modern entry gates. And now that the phased project is coming to a close, Disneyland has released several facts about the new entry gates and what you need to know when entering the theme parks from the esplanade.

How to use the New Entry Gates at Disneyland?

Each entry gate has screens and MagicBand+ scanners that guests will use to enter the theme parks. Here are the steps you will take to enter the theme parks with a ticket:

Step 1: To enter each theme park, you will scan your ticket using the screen at the entry gate. Each ticket in your group will need to be scanned.
Step 2: Once each ticket has been scanned, each guest in your group will then use the screen to take their own picture by pressing the camera icon on the screen to capture their photo. Each entry gate is equipped with camera technology that will automatically adjust to each guest’s height while you are snapping the photo! So no matter what your height is, the camera technology will automatically adjust to your height for the photo.
Step 3: Once your ticket is scanned and the photo is digitally attached to your ticket, the entry gates will automatically swing open for your party to head into the park together.

The steps above are the same whether you have a paper ticket or a mobile ticket on your Disneyland App.

Re-Entry Facts

If you have a multi-day ticket or a Magic Key pass, you will only have to take your picture one time—the first time you use your multi-day ticket or Magic Key pass with the new entry gates. After your first entry using the new gates, all you have to do is scan your ticket or tap your MagicBand+ and the gates will open to the Happiest Place on Earth.

The process remains the same for all guests when re-entering the parks with a theme park reservation and a valid ticket for the same day.

Other Facts

All guests under the age of 3 do not need a valid admission ticket or theme park reservation to enter a Disneyland Resort theme park. Guests under the age of 3 will enter the park with another guest over the age of 3 who will follow the process of scanning their ticket and capturing a photo when entering the gates.

When the gates open and you enter the park, make sure you watch the screen at your entry gate. Animated clips of Mickey Mouse will welcome guests at Disneyland Park. And at Disney California Adventure Park, watch for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to welcome you on the screen. Plus coming soon, animated clips of Disney characters will bid guests farewell when exiting the theme parks.

If you have trouble at the gate or are unclear exactly what to do during your first time using the new entry gates, a Cast Member will be nearby to help with the new process. So don’t worry, a Cast Member will sprinkle a little pixie dust and assist you with you entry to the Happiest Place on Earth.