Disney just laid out the DisneylandForward project.

©Disney

This new project focuses on an expansion of Disneyland within the current space that the resort already covers. It’s in very early stages, but teams hope to explore the creation of new theme park attractions, dining, retail, hotel, and more in Disney’s original resort. Now, we’re taking a look at some of the concept images for DisneylandForward.

At this time, Disneyland does not have any concrete plans for expansion in Disneyland Resort, instead, DisneylandForward is a multi-year public planning effort with the City of Anaheim to update planning approvals so that the park may expand. If approvals go through, this would allow teams to explore a wide variety of expansions for the resort.

Let’s take a look at the concept art and see what we can unpack. The clearest aspect of this art shows added connections between Disneyland and the current parking lot area and Disney California Adventure and a current parking lot area. In both instances, the parking lot has been replaced with themed experiences.

Concept Art ©Disney

This expansion is clearer when you look at the DisneylandForward map. Again, this is all proposed, but this map shows the removal of several parking lots in favor of expansion at other existing parking areas and possible new parking areas where backstage areas exist currently. Expanding parking elsewhere, perhaps through new parking structures, would allow for the current parking lot space to be used for theme park, retail, and hotel expansion.

The DisneylandForward map is a little bit confusing but it shows the proposed expansion of Disneyland Park into what is now a parking area, limited expansion of Downtown Disney into what is now a parking area, expansion of Disney California Adventure into what is currently a parking area, and an entirely new retail and hotel area with a theme park experience in what is currently a parking area.

©Disney

©Disney

The DisneylandForward site even shares an image of what one of these new parking structures might look like. Disneyland may need approval from the city to make such largescale changes to the parking structures which could be a large part of the efforts of Disneyland Forward.

©Disney

To help you understand the concept art, we took the satellite image from Google Maps and overlayed it with what the expansion might look like. You can see Disneyland in orange, Disney California Adventure in blue, new and expanded parking areas in yellow, existing and new retail areas (including Downtown Disney) in purple, and existing and new hotel areas in green.

© Google Maps | DFB

Again, this planning project is in VERY early stages but it could mean SERIOUS expansion in Disneyland Resort. We’re working on breaking down this news right now so stay tuned to DFB for more information on DisneylandForward and what it could mean!

Click here to learn more about DisneylandForward!

What do you think of this expansion? Let us know in the comments! 

The post PHOTOS! Breaking Down the CONCEPT ART for the Disneyland Expansion first appeared on the disney food blog.

Disneyland Resort hasn’t even reopened yet, but there are BIG plans in the works for the theme parks!

Concept Art ©Disney

Although Disney California Adventure is currently hosting the A Touch of Disney dining and shopping event that opened up every part of the park EXCEPT for the rides, Disneyland will reopen both parks (including rides) on April 30th, over a year after it initially closed. Today, we got news that Disneyland is already planning for the future, though. Disney recently revealed some new “long-term plans for theme park, retail, and parking expansion.”

The company is also working with the city of Anaheim to “reimagine what the resort district will look like over the next couple of decades.”

©Disney

That sounds pretty exciting, right? Well, now Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock has made a statement about that expansion in a letter to the Anaheim community. He wrote, “At Disneyland Resort, we are taking this time to dream beyond the now and think boldly about the future because bold ideas and thoughtful leadership aren’t just our legacy, they’re our best path forward.”

You can see the full email below.

Letter from Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock

He also announced a public planning effort with the city of Anaheim called DisneylandForward. Disney will work with the city to “continue to be an industry leader in bringing first-of-a-kind offerings to Anaheim, which in turn will create thousands of new jobs and help support Anaheim’s funding for important services such as fire, police and public schools.”

©Disney

Potrock did explain that Disneyland isn’t seeking public funding for the expansion and that the company isn’t looking to develop any additional property or hotel rooms beyond what has been previously allowed. The idea is to work with the city of Anaheim to update the approvals already in place to expand the resort.

This Ken Potrock quote is also listed on the new DisneylandForward website. 

©Disney

We’ll continue to follow the news about Disneyland’s expansion and keep you updated!

Read ALL about the Disneyland expansion!

What do you think of the Disneyland expansion? Let us know in the comments!

The post NEWS: Disneyland Resort President Comments On Expansion first appeared on the disney food blog.

Disneyland’s theme parks have been closed for over a year (except for some limited access through A Touch of Disney and the prior reopening of Buena Vista Street). But, Disneyland is already looking WELL into the future.

This gate will soon be open again!

Disneyland has now actually shared a look at their long-term plans for a theme park, retail, and parking expansion. YES. You read that right. Buckle up — we’re unpacking what we know right here!

According to the Orange County Register (OCR), “Disneyland has unveiled long-term plans for theme park, retail and parking expansion.” Disneyland is now reportedly preparing to work with the city of Anaheim to reimagine what Disneyland Resort will look like over the next few decades.

Hello View!

According to the DisnelandForward website, “DisneylandForward is a multiyear public planning effort with the City of Anaheim to update existing development approvals that will allow Disney to meaningfully invest in Anaheim for years to come and meet the future demands in entertainment.”

As part of these plans, Disney will actually be asking the city for more flexibility when it comes to some older plans that were approved in the 1990s. That flexibility would then allow them to add a “mix of theme park, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment on the eastern and western edges of the Disneyland resort.”

Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle

Also, it’s important to note that the current “DisneylandForward conceptual development plan stays within Disney’s existing 500-acre property in Anaheim with no physical expansion or additional acreage.” As one Disney official put it, “We’re not changing the size of the toast, we’re just spreading the peanut butter around.”

So, the plan is more focused on obtaining flexibility and rezoning areas to allow for certain expansions within the physical space they have.

Olaf, Anna, and Elsa

A Disneyland representative has indicated that the DisneylandForward plan includes “what could be possible” for the future of Disneyland Resort if they are able to get more flexibility and approvals from the city.

What’s included in these plans? Well, the westside expansion “envisions a theme park on the Downtown Disney and Lilo and Stitch parking lots woven amid the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel.” But, it seems Disney officials have described this west-side site as more of an expansion than a third park.

We’ll Go Tractor Tipping Next Time Bud!

The concept art shared seems to show a mountain in one section surrounded by water and various buildings. A mountain ridge then appears to separate the theme park from neighborhoods that are nearby.

The OCR notes that “The west-side site links up with Downtown Disney near the unused AMC Theater and ESPN Zone.” There’s also much more that appears in the concept art.

Concept Art ©Disney

A Disney executive has noted that “guests need and want more...In order to give guests what they want, we need more flexibility here in Anaheim.”

Lamplight Lounge!

According to the Disneyland portfolio executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, Jeanette Lomboy, Disney is not announcing anything specific today as part of DisneylandForward. Instead, Lomboy noted, that the projects they showed in their media briefing today, which included the Tangled and Peter Pan areas coming to Tokyo Disneyland in Japan and more, “should give you a flavor of the types of industry-defining integrated experiences and story-rich lands that we want to bring to Anaheim.”

As the OCR notes, Disney’s plans for future expansion will need to be signed off by Anaheim city leaders. There will be a back-and-forth planning process about these efforts that is expected to last 2 years before any decisions are finalized.

Disney California Adventure

A spokesman for Anaheim noted that the city is receptive at this point to updating the zoning around Disneyland and some surrounding areas.

Hey There Tink!

We’re continuing to look for more news on this project and will update this page and share more info as we learn more.

Click here to read about Disneyland’s upcoming reopening!

What do you think about this expansion news? Tell us in the comments! 

The post BREAKING: Disneyland EXPANSION Announced first appeared on the disney food blog.