The Anaheim Metropolis Council gave remaining approval as we speak to DisneylandAhead, the $1.9 billion, Disney’s multi-decade enlargement plan for Walt’s authentic park. At present’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 embody zoning that can permit blended use growth 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 growth to the west of the present parks close to the Disneyland Lodge and one other to the southeast of California Journey. Each plots are presently devoted largely to parking.
Disney
That may permit theme park sights alongside inns on the west facet of Disneyland Drive. See rendering under.
It will additionally permit theme park sights alongside new procuring, eating and leisure to the southeast on what’s as we speak the Toy Story Parking Space at Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. See rendering under.
Earlier this yr, Disney CEO Bob Iger provided a short first look on the “doable” 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 function of Disneyland. “We’re thrilled about many potential new tales that our friends 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 relating to the corporate’s request for zoning “flexibility” in relation to the town’s 1994 “Resort Particular Plan” governing the realm in and round Disneyland, a string of native residents puzzled 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 sights 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 sights 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 development 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 as we speak.
A giant shock — he stated Parks development within the present fiscal third quarter might be flat for just a few causes together with “some normalization of post-Covid demand because it pertains to demand. Whereas shoppers proceed to journey in report numbers and we’re nonetheless seeing wholesome demand, we’re seeing some proof of a world moderation from peak post-Covid journey.” Wall Avenue didn’t fairly know what to do with that and the inventory fell consequently.
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 various potential new tales our friends 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 embody that Disney is required to speculate a minimal of $1.9 billion in theme park, lodging, leisure, procuring and eating inside 10 years. Additionally included are $30 million for inexpensive housing in Anaheim, with $15 million within the first yr and $15 million in 5 years; $10 million: for sewer enhancements alongside Katella Avenue; $8 million for Anaheim parks inside the first yr.
Relying on what’s constructed, Anaheim is projected to see $15 million to $244 million in extra yearly income at full buildout of what’s allowed underneath DisneylandForward.
