This is an entry for “the Esplanade” in our Disneyland 101 Glossary: Disneyland Resort definitions in under 101 words, from Mouse Brief. Following this brief glossary entry, we have some frequently asked questions about the Esplanade at Disneyland.
The Esplanade is the stretch of land between the entrances to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in Disneyland Resort. You do not need to have a ticket to enter the Esplanade itself, but you do need to pass through security. The Esplanade offers guest services like ticket booths, restrooms, stroller rentals, ECV and wheelchair rentals, lost and found and locker rentals.
Thanks for reading this entry in our Disneyland 101 Glossary. For advice on finding your way around Disneyland, see 5 Powerful Tips for Navigating the Disneyland Resort. For tips planning your Disneyland visit, read our free and complete Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep. And for frequently asked questions (and probably more than you ever needed to know) about the Esplanade at Disneyland Resort, keep reading.
FAQs About the Esplanade at Disneyland Resort
What is the Esplanade at Disneyland?
The Esplanade is the stretch of land between the main entrances to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. On its east side, it is bordered by a security checkpoint, and to its west is the parking tram “station” and the Downtown Disney District.
What is the purpose of the Esplanade at Disneyland?
The Esplanade at Disneyland Resort serves as an entrance plaza for both of the parks. Guest can line-up here to enter the main gates. The Esplanade is also home to many guest services including: restrooms, rental lockers, lost and found, stroller rentals, ECV rentals, wheelchair rentals, ATMS, guest relations and ticketing services. There is also a picnic area.
If you need to handle something with Disney guest relations without using your Disneyland admission, you can visit the Esplanade.
Is there anything to do in the Esplanade at Disneyland Resort?
The Esplanade is mostly a practical area for the guest services listed above.
However, some folks gather here in the evenings to get a view of the fireworks show in Disneyland Park. The view is obstructed, but it is free. You do not need to pay for park admission in order to linger in the Esplanade during the fireworks.
The landscaping and background music around the Esplanade are both very nice, and at the time of writing, there is a sculpture in the Esplanade in celebration of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary. Frequently, you will see banners or seasonally appropriate decor around the Esplanade.
Do I need a ticket to enter the Esplanade at Disneyland Resort?
No, you do not need a Disney theme park ticket or any kind of paid admission to enter the Esplanade at Disneyland Resort.
Do I need to go through security to enter the Esplanade at Disneyland Resort
Yes, you do need to go through a security checkpoint in order to enter the Esplanade at Disneyland Resort.
How do I get to the Esplanade at Disneyland Resort?
The Esplanade at Disneyland Resort is between the main entrance to Disney California Adventure Park and the entrance to Disneyland Park. You will find yourself on the Esplanade if you are entering or exiting the parks this way.
To reach the Esplanade from outside Disneyland Resort, you can enter through the pedestrian entrance and security checkpoint off Harbor Boulevard or arrive through the Downtown Disney District on the other side. If you are a guest at the Disneyland Resort Hotels, you can reach the Esplanade through the Downtown Disney District. The parking tram from the the Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals Parking Structures deposits you on the west side of the Esplanade, and shuttle buses from the Toy Story Parking Area will bring you to the east side.
The Esplanade is not labeled on the map in the Disneyland app or on the Disneyland website, but you can identify it because it is the open area between the main entrances to the two parks.