The Anaheim City Council has given the thumbs up to a massive Disneyland expansion plan that could see visitors strolling through the wintry village of Arendelle from "Frozen" or the animal-packed cityscape of "Zootopia".
The council's green light means Disney can pour at least $1.9billion into revamping its 490-acre Southern California site, marking the most significant growth spurt for the parks in years, with the aim to offer guests more engrossing adventures. Disney's not just splashing cash on rides and attractions; they're also set to fork out a hefty sum for street upgrades, affordable housing, and other city infrastructure as part of the deal.
After a meeting that kicked off on Tuesday night and rolled into the early hours of Wednesday, the council gave their unanimous nod to the project. But it's not all done and dusted yet a final vote in May will seal the deal for Disney's grand plans. This isn't about Disney spreading out but transforming what they've already got.
They're planning to shift parking to a brand spanking new multi-storey car park and rework the current sprawling lot, alongside other tweaks to how they use their land. Disney has plans to massively revamp Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and the Downtown Disney shopping area, which are located near freeways and residential areas in a city around 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
The company deems this renovation crucial for the future development of new attractions. "We are thrilled that the City of Anaheim has agreed to work together on this legacy project," said Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock in a statement, whilst eagerly anticipating the final vote in May, "We look forward to our bright future together! ".
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Public opinion about Disneys proposition to purchase a public street near the theme park and transform it into a pedestrian walkway was heavily discussed at the city council. Additionally, Disneys plan to install a crosswalk on a neighbouring street.
Local resident, Cassandra Taylor expressed her excitement for the new rides the expansion will offer, yet expressed worries about Disney's idea to privatise a city street. She found out about this plan just last month through a newspaper article despite having attended two information presentations, "They might have a pedestrian walkway planned now, but once it is theirs, they could just as easily remove it," she noted. "It will be theirs and theirs entirely. Voters will have no say in its future use."
Over the past 20 years, Disney has poured money into its Southern California parks, introducing attractions like Cars Land, Pixar Pier, Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, and Avengers Campus. While the entertainment giant hasn't revealed which stories will be spotlighted in the new expansion, it's clear that the project will unfold over several years.
This marks the first significant overhaul of Disney's Californian attractions since the 1990s when approvals were secured to transform the original Disneyland parkopened in 1955 and famously known as "the happiest place on Earth" into a full-fledged resort destination. This expansion included the creation of Disney California Adventure Park and the Downtown Disney district.
In 2022, Disneyland claimed the title of the world's second-most visited theme park, with 16.8 million visitors, as reported by the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM. Anaheim, the most populous city in Orange County and home to 345,000 residents, not only hosts major league baseball and national hockey teams but also relies heavily on hotel revenue, which is projected to hit $236million this year, per city forecasts.
California's Governor Gavin Newsom hailed the decision, anticipating it will generate a wealth of job opportunities in the state, which boasts a population of 39 million. "We look forward to cultivating more Disney magic and building opportunities for all as this investment drives billions of dollars in revenue for our state and local communities," Mr Newsom said in his statement.
Anaheim city spokesman, Mike Lyster, has said that the plan would directly result in much-needed funds for police, fire, libraries and other community services. "Whenever Disney invests in Anaheim, we see city revenue grow and our economy expand," Lyster stated. "This is a milestone vote for our city."
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