In the 1990s, the City of Anaheim approved specific plans that would guide the growth of the Disneyland Resort and businesses in the newly formed Anaheim Resort area. And while those plans resulted in major improvements to the entire Anaheim Resort, their “traditional” district/zone approach does not allow for the diverse, integrated experiences theme park visitors now seek, severely limiting Disney’s ability to continue investing in Anaheim.
Today hotel, theme park, retail and dining are all part of one immersive experience. Guests expect that the future of entertainment will seamlessly weave all uses together in ways that were hard to imagine 25 years ago when the city created these specific plans.
To be clear, Disney is not seeking any public funding for DisneylandForward, nor are we seeking additional square footage or hotel rooms beyond what is currently approved and allowed.
Rather, we are simply working with the city and community to update our existing approvals to allow for integrated development to be located and built throughout Disney properties.
DISTRICT CAPACITY
The existing Disneyland Resort Specific Plan, approved in the 1990s, created districts for growth and limited the types of uses allowed in each district. Approvals generally required new hotels to be located in the Hotel District and traditional theme park uses to be located in the Theme Park District. But guests now seek a more integrated experience for the entirety of their stay.
From Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Avengers Campus to the Pixar Pals parking structure, Disney has spent billions of dollars over the last two decades investing in theme park experiences and infrastructure. While Disney has the development rights and the desire to continue investing in Anaheim, the space to develop innovative attractions and immersive experiences is severely limited. Without broadening the uses allowed within each district or demolishing and replacing many beloved attractions, further integrated development and theme park investment are not possible.
Future
New Immersive Experiences are Possible in the Future with DisneylandForward
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway images are artist renderings and for illustrative purposes only.
