The Anaheim Planning Commission met on Monday, March 11, 2024, to vote on the DisneylandForward Project proposal. DisneylandForward is a planned multi-billion expansion designed to add new entertainment, attractions, lands, and possibly even a third theme park to Disney’s California property.
The motion to approve DisneylandForward passed with 5 votes supporting and 1 opposing.
In the Planning Commission’s meeting agenda, the DisneylandForward is identified as being within an approximately 1,078-acre area of Anaheim, located west of the I-5 freeway, south of Vermont Avenue, east of Walnut Street, and north of Chapman Avenue, and including planned extensions outside of Anaheim.
Disney was requesting “approval of the Project to allow the transfer of uses permitted under The Disneyland Resort Project to other areas of The Disneyland Resort Specific Plan (DRSP) No. 92-1 and the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan (ARSP) No. 92-2 owned or leased by Disney or other subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company and to allow future streamlined review of Disney projects in these areas.”
“When Disney invests, everyone wins”
Appearing during the meeting to speak to the commission was Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock. Mr. Potrock asked the commission to imagine the possibilities if the project were approved, mentioning recent additions to Disney Parks worldwide like Zootopia in Shanghai Disneyland and World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland.
“When Disney invests, everyone wins,” Potrock said. He also spoke to the “thousands” of jobs that could be brought to Anaheim by Disneyland Resort if this project moves forward.
Now that the proposal has received approval, the next step would be to seek the final approval required by the Anaheim City Council, which is expected to take place in mid-April. The City Council will also vote on the “abandonment” of Magic Way.
The DisneylandFoward Project was first announced in 2021. To move forward on the proposed expansion, Disney asked Anaheim to essentially update the plans they put in place for the parks in the 1990s.
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. These specific plans created districts or zones that largely specified what type of development could be built where. It also established strict guidelines regarding development size, height limits and streetscape standards.
With the approval of DisneylandFoward, Disney is now able to choose where it will build new lands, hotels, and more within its existing footprint while guaranteeing the city a continued investment into Disneyland Resort.
Thinking big and leading the way is both our legacy and our best path forward. Now is the time to be bold, to dream, to believe, and to lead! The Disneyland Resort is poised to create new jobs and revenues for our community as well as new immersive entertainment and experiences for loyal fans and new audiences for generations to come.
– Ken Potrock, President, Disneyland Resort, via DisneylandForward.com
Disney first presented its development agreement at a City Council workshop in January. They are committed to spending $2.5 billion, with a minimum of $1.9 billion within 10 years, on the Disneyland Resort expansion. An additional $30 million will go to affordable housing, $40 million to street improvements in Anaheim, and $10 million to sewer improvements along Katella Avenue.
Glad that the DisneylandFoward Project has been approved by the Planning Commission?