Disney unveils theme park expansion plan to add more immersive attractions
Disney is hoping to add a host of new and exciting attractions to its California theme park.
Imagine walking in the snowy world of "Frozen," or the busy city from "Zootopia". This could happen if Disney obtains approval from local officials to expand its Anaheim resort over the coming decades.
The plan isn't to make Disney's land bigger or to change what they can already build. Instead, they want to use a big parking lot develop new attractions. They would then put cars in a new multi-floor car park. This way, everything fits in the space Disney has now.
"We know there are stories out there we haven't told yet, like 'Wakanda' or 'Coco' or 'Frozen' or 'Zootopia'," said Rachel Alde, Disney’s senior vice president of global development and finance. "We know what kind of stories we would love to tell. We need to get the guidance on what we can build there so we can understand how."
The city of Anaheim's planning commission is set to look at the plan this week. Disney wants to spend at least $1.9 billion over the next 10 years on the theme park, hotels and shows. But first, the city council has to say yes.
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Disney wants to create immersive attractions where visitors feel like they're really in the story, just like the Star Wars : Galaxy's Edge that opened in California in 2019. They haven't decided which stories they'll use yet, but think about how "Zootopia" looks in Shanghai Disneyland, with all the animal characters and a city that looks just like the movie.
This is the first time since the 1990s that Disney has asked for permission for a major development at its California theme park. Back then, they got permission to turn Disneyland into a resort area. They added another park called Disney California Adventure Park and a place with shops and entertainment called Downtown Disney.
Disneyland, which opened in 1955, was the second most visited theme park in the world in 2022. A total of 16.8 million people walked through its gates, according to a report by the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM.
Disney's parks are a big draw for tourists in Southern California, especially in Anaheim. This city is the most populated in Orange County, home to over 345,000 people, a major league baseball team and a national hockey league team.
Hotel revenue usually makes up about half of Anaheim's income, and it's predicted to rise to $236 million this year, says the city's estimates. "Visitors generate a tremendous amount of revenue for our city that allows us to invest in our neighborhoods," said Erin Ryan, a spokesperson for the city of Anaheim. "Disney brings a lot of tourists here."
The plan also means the company would have to spend tens of millions of dollars on improving streets, affordable housing and other city infrastructure. Disney has held workshops to answer residents' questions about the proposal, including worries about the company's plan to take over a local road into the theme park.
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