Disneyland Expansion Faces Parking Dilemma

ANAHEIM, CA — Parking at the Galaxy's Edge. That's what it might feel like when you arrive late to the park, and must make the trek from the far reaches of the Toy Story lot. With an onslaught of visitors to its "Star Wars" land opening in two years, Disneyland Resort is adding more parking spaces to its off-site parking lot, it was reported Wednesday.

Disneyland got unanimous approval from the Anaheim Planning Commission last week to add an additional 455 parking spaces to its Toy Story lot off Harbor Boulevard and Convention Way, the Orange County Register reported.

The Toy Story lot will increase to 5,378 parking spaces, according to the newspaper. Disney currently charges a $20 parking fee.

As part of the agreement with the city, Disneyland will replace 6-foot walls separating the parking area from nearby apartment complexes with a 16- foot-tall sound wall made of masonry blocks and will landscape with rows of Canary Island Pine trees, The Register reported. Disney plans to add new lighting for the parking lot and a ramp that would connect to its tram depot.

The extra space at the southeastern corner of the parking lot will serve only as an overflow parking area and continue to be used as a storm water detention basin. On the days it rains, guests will not be allowed to park in that section.

Photo, courtesy Renee Schiavone