After two months of waiting, thousands of Disney Resort hotel guests can finally use one of their exclusive perks again. On Monday, May 12, Disneyland Resort reopened the gates to Disney California Adventure Park near Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Since March, the entrance has been closed for upgrades to the turnstile system, forcing many Disney Resort hotel guests to use alternative entrances. Now, those staying at Disney’s Grand Californian can once again enjoy the convenience of using this dedicated park entrance, designed to make park entry easier and faster.
The reopening of the Grand Californian entrance comes after months of work upgrading the old metal turnstiles into modern, high-tech “tapstiles” equipped with facial recognition technology, digital screens, and touchless gates. This upgrade is part of a broader initiative to streamline the theme park entry process at Disneyland Resort. The turnstile upgrades have been taking place at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park since late 2024, with the work done in phases to minimize disruption to guests.
However, as one entrance reopens, another closes. On the same day the Grand Californian entrance reopened, the Pixar Place Hotel entrance to Disney California Adventure Park closed for its own turnstile upgrade. Disney Resort hotel guests at Pixar Place Hotel will need to use other entrances to access the park until the new turnstile system is installed, with a reopening expected in mid-June.
Disneyland Resort cast members are using tablets and mobile devices to scan tickets as the new “tapstiles” are rolled out. The final upgrades are expected to be fully operational sometime this year, providing Disney Park guests with a faster and more seamless entry experience.
Theme park journalist Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) shared the following on X (formerly known as Twitter):
The Grand Californian Hotel entrance to Disney California Adventure Park has reopened following a two-month closure to upgrade the turnstiles.
A better look at the upgraded turnstiles at the Grand Californian Hotel entrance to Disney California Adventure Park.
A better look at the upgraded turnstiles at the Grand Californian Hotel entrance to Disney California Adventure Park. pic.twitter.com/LAzL5C1K7p
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) May 12, 2025
The Pixar Place Hotel entrance to Disney California Adventure Park will open sometime in mid-June, but Disney has yet to provide an exact date.
Have you visited Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park during the ongoing turnstile construction? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
