Disneyland, the iconic theme park that transformed Anaheim, California, into a bustling tourist destination, is set to undergo another major transformation with the ambitious project called DisneylandForward. This multiyear public planning effort aims to bring new lands, attractions, hotel rooms, entertainment, and more to Disneyland, ultimately creating more jobs and attracting more tourists to the city.
The Anaheim City Council recently voted 7-0 to approve the DisneylandForward plan, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress. While there are still additional procedural steps to be completed before ground can be officially broken on new developments, the unanimous council vote indicates strong support for the project.
DisneylandForward will not expand Disney’s current footprint but will instead shift current zoning codes to allow for the potential construction of a theme park, hotel, retail, dining, and entertainment locations on existing Disneyland-owned acreage. Disney envisions creating immersive and innovative experiences similar to those found at other Disney parks around the world.
With a commitment to invest a minimum of $1.9 billion in theme park lodging and experiences over the first 10 years of the agreement, Disney also plans to contribute significantly to the city of Anaheim. This includes funding for affordable housing projects, city park improvements, and traffic flow enhancements, among other initiatives.
While DisneylandForward is a long-term development plan spanning the next 40 years, visitors can expect to see new experiences like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the Pixar Place Hotel in the near future. As Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in this world.” With DisneylandForward, the magic of Disneyland is set to evolve in ways that even Walt himself may not have imagined.