Downtown Disney is considered a secure area, which means you must go through a security checkpoint. The rules for Downtown Disney are the same as they are for the Parks of the Disneyland Resort. That means you must follow all of the rules of what you can and can't bring into Disneyland.

Since 2016, both Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort in California and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World in Florida have required all guests to pass through a security screening checkpoint before entering the district. At Disneyland, these checkpoints are located at the entrances near the parking lots and hotels; you must pass through a metal detector and have your bags inspected (often via high-tech X-ray scanners that allow you to keep items in your bag). This "security bubble" is designed so that once you are in Downtown Disney, you can move toward the theme park entrances without needing a second, more intensive bag check. At Disney Springs in Florida, there are multiple security stations located at the parking garage entrances and the surface lots. While you do not need a ticket or a reservation to visit these shopping and dining districts, you must adhere to Disney’s prohibited items list, which includes weapons, large strollers, and alcohol not purchased on the premises. The screening is typically very fast, but on busy weekend evenings, you should allow an extra 10–15 minutes for the queue.