The Anaheim Metropolis Council gave closing approval at this time to DisneylandForward, the $1.9 billion, Disney’s multi-decade enlargement plan for Walt’s authentic park. At the moment’s 7-0 procedural vote got here after a unanimous vote approving the challenge in April. The zoning and different modifications laid out by the plan to take impact in 30 days.
These modifications embrace zoning that can enable blended use improvement the place it doesn’t exist now. The proposal permits the redeployment of some 57 acres of parking and unused land. Artists’ renderings of the plans supplied by Disney, whereas conceptual, present one main improvement to the west of the present parks close to the Disneyland Lodge and one other to the southeast of California Journey. Each plots are at present devoted principally to parking.
Disney
That may enable theme park points of interest alongside lodges on the west aspect of Disneyland Drive. See rendering beneath.
It might additionally enable theme park points of interest alongside new purchasing, eating and leisure to the southeast on what’s at this time the Toy Story Parking Space at Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. See rendering beneath.
Earlier this 12 months, Disney CEO Bob Iger supplied a short first take a look at the “potential” new Avatar-themed space on the Anaheim park. Pandora – The World of Avatar, has been up and working at Disney World in Florida for years and Iger stated it’s the firm’s “intention” to make it a brand new characteristic of Disneyland. “We’re thrilled about many potential new tales that our visitors may expertise in Walt’s authentic theme park, together with the chance to embark on all-new Avatar adventures with a go to to the world of Pandora,” he stated. “Doable” is the important thing time period there.
At a six-hour Anaheim Metropolis Planning Fee assembly in March concerning the corporate’s request for zoning “flexibility” in relation to town’s 1994 “Resort Particular Plan” governing the realm in and round Disneyland, a string of native residents questioned to the fee and Disneyland honcho Ken Potrock why they’re being requested to permit a $1.9 billion revamp of the park with scant particulars on what particular points of interest and experiences are being added. (The corporate’s plan for the park has been dubbed DisneylandForward.)
“With DisneylandForward and extra flexibility inside our present properties, new lands and adventures like these underway at Tokyo DisneySea and Shanghai Disneyland may encourage new experiences right here,” reads the copy on DisneylandForward.com. Examples given are Frozen land and the Tangled and Peter Pan points of interest for the unique park and Zootopia, Tron and Toy Story components for Disney’s California Journey. These are simply examples, nevertheless. Disney brass, together with Potrock in his responses to Anaheim residents, haven’t dedicated to any of them.
Disney wants the challenge for its flagship park as a result of, whereas its Parks and Experiences unit continues to throw off money, many of the excellent 10% income progress the unit has seen prior to now three months is because of its abroad properties.
Disneyland, regardless of rising attendance and per capita spend, noticed outcomes dip year-on-year on larger prices, together with labor, stated CFO Hugh Johnston on a Q2 earnings name with analysts early at this time.
A giant shock — he stated Parks progress within the present fiscal third quarter will probably be flat for a couple of causes together with “some normalization of post-Covid demand because it pertains to demand. Whereas shoppers proceed to journey in document numbers and we’re nonetheless seeing wholesome demand, we’re seeing some proof of a worldwide moderation from peak post-Covid journey.” Wall Avenue didn’t fairly know what to do with that and the inventory fell because of this.
Disney is simply beginning ten-year, $60 billion funding cycle in Parks and Experiences. Step one is the $1.9B DisneylandForward plan. “We’re extremely excited for the numerous potential new tales our visitors may expertise at Walt’s authentic theme park,” Iger stated in his opening remarks on the decision.
For extra particulars on DisneylandForward, click on right here.
Some positives for Anaheim residents embrace that Disney is required to speculate a minimal of $1.9 billion in theme park, lodging, leisure, purchasing and eating inside 10 years. Additionally included are $30 million for reasonably priced housing in Anaheim, with $15 million within the first 12 months and $15 million in 5 years; $10 million: for sewer enhancements alongside Katella Avenue; $8 million for Anaheim parks inside the first 12 months.
Relying on what’s constructed, Anaheim is projected to see $15 million to $244 million in further yearly income at full buildout of what’s allowed beneath DisneylandForward.