In a move that will help prepare for the expected 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.

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. Guests parking there are shuttled over to the theme parks’ entrance.

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

“We’re pleased to be able to offer even more parking options for our guests,” said George Savvas, a Disneyland spokesman.

Disneyland received approval to add 455 parking spots at the Toy Story lot next to the Anaheim Convention Center. (By Joseph Pimentel, SCNG)

A Public Hearing notice about the addition of 455 parking spots was posted in front of the Toy Story lot (Photo by Joseph Pimentel)

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Disney will add 455 parking spots to its Toy Story lot. (Courtesy: city of Anaheim)

According to the this document submitted by Disney to the Public Commission, this is how the new 455 parking spots will be laid out. (Courtesy city of Anaheim))

Disneyland received approval from the Anaheim Planning Commission to add 455 parking spaces at the Toy Story lot. A fence currently blocks the area where the new lot will be located. (Photo by Joseph Pimentel, SCNG)



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. 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, otherwise it will 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.

The additional parking spaces – even as few as 455 spaces – are much needed in the Disneyland Resort area.

At peak times, visitors unable to get into Disney’s 10,000-spot Mickey and Friends parking structure or the Toy Story lot find themselves in a spider web of limited options around Disneyland. On some occasions, guests are funneled into the nearby GardenWalk or the Anaheim Convention Center. In rare times, the employee parking lot is used and workers have to park at Angel Stadium and be shuttled over to the park.

And that was occurring before the announcement of Disneyland’s much anticipated new land, Galaxy’s Edge, which is slated to open in the summer of 2019.

With the Convention Center expansion just about to be completed , and GardenWalk adding more retailers, Disney might not have those overflow parking options available for visitors much longer.

To make room for the expected crush heading for the new “Star Wars” attractions, Disney is planning the Disneyland Eastern Gateway project. The project, on the east side of Harbor, includes a seven-story, 6,800-spot parking structure and a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard to funnel guests straight into the esplanade area between the two theme parks.

But the gateway proposal is on hiatus after neighboring businesses on Harbor Boulevard raised concerns.