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Disneyland's $1.9 Billion Expansion Plan Moves Forward
A rendering of a possible immersive theme park expansion on the existing surface parking area near the Disneyland Hotel, Downtown Disney District and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.
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Courtesy of DisneylandForward
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Disneyland’s $1.9-billion expansion plan is one step closer to being realized, which could bring theme parks, lodging, entertainment, shops and restaurants over the next 10 years.
The Anaheim Planning Commission approved the 5-1 in on Monday. The proposal will now go before the city council in April for final approval.
The expansion, however, will not add acreage to the Disney property or additional hotel rooms. Rather, the Planning Commission approved “development to shift across Disney properties.” With the DisneylandForward plan, development would intermingle restaurants and hotels, creating more “immersive experiences,” according to the plan’s website. The resort has also requested an increase of around 4,300 parking spaces.
Who's going to pay for this?
No public funds are required for Disneyland's expansion. In 1993, the city adopted the Disneyland Resort Specific Plan and in 1994 the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan. Under those plans, Disneyland is allowed to use “6.85 million square feet of theme park uses in the theme park district and 5,600 hotel rooms in the hotel district. To date Disney has used approximately 45% of their approved density,” according to city staffers.
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How would Anaheim benefit from the plan
In a presentation to Planning Commissioners, city officials said Disneyland’s expansion would bring investments from Disney: $30 million for affordable housing, $8 million for Anaheim parks, as well as $45 million for street and transportation improvements and $10 million for sewer improvements along Katella Avenue. The development would also result in public safety agreements with the city’s police and fire departments.
That would be in addition to the $40 million Disney would pay the city if the sale of three public streets: Magic Way and two entry drives into Disney parking, goes through.
The city is set to hold a public hearing in April to hear from residents on how the public streets deal could affect them.
According to city officials at Monday's meeting, around 15,000 cars use Magic Way each day, most of them Disney visitors.
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