New Disneyland Resort Esplanade

The newest offerings at Disney California Adventure are about to be revealed to the world. Besides the new entertainment, the new themed lands look to be immensely successful in terms of design and detail. It seems to me that the weakest link in all the newness is the area between the two parks: the Esplanade.

At the moment, it contains a compass, personalized bricks, strangely designed ticket booths, and temporary security eyesores.

So it's time for something new, something that compliments the transition but is also inviting in its own right. In addition, a number of Disneyland fans aren't quite so happy with the removal of the Carnation Plaza Gardens. So I decided to do a bit of old and new in the redesign.

Original size

In the center is the new Carnation Plaza Gardens. During the day, it offers a wonderful place to sit and wait for your friends and family to arrive at the park or a central meeting place when your groups are busy parkhopping. At night, swing bands are all the rage. Like the carousel through the castle, the lights and music coming from the middle of the esplanade draw you away from the hassle of trams, buses, and security check points to act as a prelude for the Act One of Main Street or Buena Vista Street. The current personalized bricks will surround the area.

(As a side note, my crazy brain imagines that the roof would be able to retract from the center, like closing a Japanese fan, for everyone to view the fireworks.)

The new (and permanent) security checkpoints will offer a larger and more efficient layout. Detailed ironwork, shingled roofs, and popcorn lighting all compliment the existing infrastructure.

Security Checkpoints

For me, the layout for the current ticket booths are strange and difficult to traverse. I've witnessed many cast members unable to herd the crowds into the right lines even on lighter days. I propose a two-fold solution. First are the ticket kiosks. These 8 structures offer guests touchscreen self-checkout for simple transactions, such as purchasing 1-, 2-, and 3-day tickets with a debit or credit card.

Ticket Kiosks

On either side of the entrance to Disney California Adventure are the Ticket Centers. These centers offer guests direct interaction with a cast member for more complicated transactions, such as renewing annual passports or purchasing specials or package deals. Guests will be able perform any type of transaction currently available at the existing ticket booths.

Ticket Centers

My main goal is to create a transitionary place for guests that is also 'magical' in its own right without conflicting with the theme of either park to the north and south.