It’s official: the DisneylandForward project will go into effect 30 days from Tuesday, May 7, 2024, following its final approval from the Anaheim City Council this evening.
DisneylandForward Approved in Final City Council Vote
The motion to approve DisneylandForward in its final procedural vote passed with 7 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
The project was initially approved in its first vote by the Anaheim City Council on April 17. Now that it has been approved a second time, the plan will go into effect 30 days from now on June 7, 2024.
DisneylandForward was first proposed three years ago, and Disney held public workshops in October 2023, January and February 2024. The Anaheim Planning Commission first approved the project on March 11 after hours of public comment. The vote then moved over to the Anaheim City Council following a community informational open house held on April 10.
With DisneylandForward, Disney has committed to spending at least $1.9 billion on Disneyland Resort over the next 10 years, up to $2.5 billion. Disney has also committed $30 million to go toward affordable housing, with $15 million in the first year and $15 million in five years; $10 million for sewer improvements along Katella Avenue; and $8 million for Anaheim city parks within the first year. The plan does not grant Disney any new, additional land to be developed.
Disney will also pay $40 million to obtain Magic Way, which spans 1,150 feet in length from Disneyland Drive to Walnut Street, and two entry drives into Disney parking at Hotel Way and Clementine Street.
This approval allows Disney to choose where it will build new lands, resort hotels, retail locations, and more within its existing Disneyland Resort footprint. One experience already teased is a new “Avatar” experience; its first piece of concept art was revealed during Disney’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Other potential IPs that have been suggested but not confirmed include “Tangled,” “Frozen,” “Zootopia,” “Black Panther,” “Toy Story,” “Peter Pan,” “Coco,” and “Tron.”
Whatever plans Disney has in store for expanding Disneyland Resort could likely be shared during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in August.
Disney CEO Bob Iger commented on the vote on Tuesday morning during the company’s Q2 FY24 earnings call ahead of the bell:
We are focused on turbocharigng growth with a number of long-term strategic investments. That includes our DisneylandForward initiative — the first step in our expansion plans at Disneyland Resort, which received unanimous preliminary approval by the Anaheim City Council last month.
We’re incredibly excited for the many potential new stories our guests could experience at Walt’s original theme park, including the much-anticipated opportunity to bring Avatar to Disneyland.
Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company
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