Walking through the frozen, snowy hamlet of Arendelle in Frozen or the bustling metropolis full of creatures in Zootopia will someday be a possibility for visitors to Disney's California theme parks. I might.
That's only if Disney gets approval from local officials to expand its Anaheim resort over the next 40 years.
The proposed expansion would not increase Disney's 490-acre footprint in Southern California, nor would it change anything for which the company already has construction permits. But it could help the company develop new attractions. It would also place rides and entertainment options on what is currently a vast 50-acre parking lot, moving Disneyland's parking to a high-rise structure and keeping it within the resort's boundaries surrounded by residential neighborhoods. You can do it.
“We know there are stories yet to be told, from Wakanda to Coco to Frozen to Zootopia,” said Rachel, Disney's senior vice president of global development and finance.・Alde said. “We know what kind of story we want to tell. We need to get guidance on what we can build there to figure out how.”
The City of Anaheim's Planning Commission is scheduled to consider a proposal Monday for Disneyland, which has been dubbed the “Happiest Place on Earth.” The project, which would require Disney to invest at least $1.9 billion in theme parks, lodging, entertainment and related uses over the next 10 years, must be approved by the City Council to take effect.
Disney's goal is to create what it calls a more immersive experience for tourists, similar to the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge attraction that opened in California in 2019. The company said it does not yet know which stories will be the focus of the new development. However, the idea is to create a “Zootopia”-like area at Shanghai Disneyland, where animal characters walk through a vibrant cityscape similar to the setting of the movie.
For now, Alde said, the original Disneyland in California has no plans to add anything large-scale to the original Disneyland without affecting the existing attractions enjoyed by longtime loyal visitors to the company's oldest theme park. There is not enough room to build one.
This is the first time Disney has required major changes to its California theme parks since the 1990s, when the company received approval to turn its first park into a resort hub. A second park, Disney California Adventure Park, and a shopping and entertainment area called Downtown Disney were later added.
Disneyland, which dates back to 1955, will attract 16.8 million visitors in 2022, making it the world's second-most-visited theme park, according to a report from the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM.
Disney parks are a tourist attraction for Southern California, especially Anaheim. Anaheim is Orange County's most populous city, with a population of over 345,000, and is home to a Major League Baseball team and a national hockey league team. Hotel revenue, which typically accounts for about half of Anaheim's revenue, is expected to reach $236 million this year, according to city estimates.
“Tourists bring tremendous revenue to the city and allow us to invest in our neighborhoods,” said Erin Ryan, a spokeswoman for the city of Anaheim. “Disney brings a lot of tourists here.”
The plan also calls for the company to invest tens of millions of dollars in road improvements, affordable housing and other infrastructure improvements in the city. Disney held a workshop to answer residents' questions about the proposal, including concerns about the company's plans to absorb local roads into the theme park.