Disneyland's $1.9 billion plan for new lands and attractions gets final approval by city council
Editor's Note
In the early 1900s, Anaheim, California, was a rural community with endless rows of orange groves. Of course, that all changed when Disneyland opened July 17, 1955, and transformed the town into one of the world’s most well-known tourist destinations.
Now, Disney has set out to transform the city again with an ambitious project called DisneylandForward.
DisneylandForward is a “multiyear public planning effort” that will bring new lands, attractions, hotel rooms, entertainment and more to Disneyland; as a result, it will bring more jobs and tourists to Anaheim.
The plan received preliminary approval during an Anaheim City Council meeting held April 17, and on May 7, city council members voted 7-0 to approve the project. Disney has a 30-day waiting period before officially breaking ground on any new developments. However, Tuesday's unanimous vote was the final hurdle Disney needed to clear to make DisneylandForward a reality.
On the DisneylandForward website, Disney suggests the project is necessary to “evolve the way we entertain today and mix together theme park, entertainment, shops, restaurants and hotels within the same experience throughout Disney properties in the future.”
In a message posted on the DisneylandForward site after the announcement, Disney shared that the project is "expected to create up to 4,584 new jobs during operations and 8,960 new construction jobs during development, along with potentially generating up to $30 million in new annual revenues for the city."
Related: Best Disneyland hotels in and near the park
The DisneylandForward project will not expand Disney’s current footprint. Instead, it will shift current zoning codes and give Disney more flexibility to potentially build a theme park, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment locations on the roughly 500 acres of land Disneyland already owns or operates on, as seen in the map above.
Disney has not yet revealed any of the lands or attractions it hopes to build now that DisneylandForward is guaranteed to come to fruition. However, it has shared that the purpose is to bring immersive, innovative developments similar to those already underway at other Disney parks to Disneyland.
Disney has specifically pointed to Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs expansion, which features experiences themed to “Tangled,” “Peter Pan” and “Frozen;” Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen; Shanghai Disneyland’s “Zootopia”-themed land and Toy Story Land; and Walt Disney World’s Tron Lightcyle Run as possible inspirations for the future of Disneyland.
Related: TPG goes behind the scenes as Disney unveils $60 billion toward future of theme parks
The developments mentioned above are part of Disney’s $60 billion, decade-long plan to grow its theme parks, cruises and other experiences. That, of course, includes Disneyland. However, there are certain projects Disneyland could not move forward with until DisneylandForward was approved and parts of the property could be rezoned.
So far, Disney has dangled one carrot: an all-new “Avatar”-themed experience at Disneyland. It has not announced where this experience will be, which attraction(s) will be built or even when it might open. However, it did share a piece of concept art and an appeal to give DisneylandForward the green light in an April blog post.
“We are excited about the stories our guests could experience at Walt’s original theme park destination after approval of DisneylandForward – including the chance to experience all-new Avatar adventures with a visit to Pandora,” Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro wrote in the post.
DisneylandForward will not require any public funding, as Disney will fully fund the project. The company has committed to invest at least $1.9 billion in theme park lodging and experiences in the first 10 years of the agreement.
Disney has also promised significant investment in the city of Anaheim, including a $30 million contribution to fund affordable housing projects within the first five years of DisneylandForward, $8 million for city park improvements in Anaheim and $85 million to improve traffic flow, pedestrian circulation and safety. It will also continue Disney’s mentorship and career development program for Anaheim residents.
Additionally, Disney will pay $39.6 million to the city of Anaheim to take over maintenance and management for Magic Way and two smaller road segments — roads that mostly serve Disneyland guests and cast members. This will improve pedestrian access to Disneyland and reduce cut-through traffic to the area.
Don’t expect to see major changes at Disneyland on your next visit now that DisneylandForward is approved. Though some projects will certainly come to fruition sooner than others, DisneylandForward is a growth and development plan that spans the next 40 years.
However, if you visit soon, you may get to experience the all-new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (opening later this year) or stay at the recently opened Pixar Place Hotel.
When Disneyland opened in 1955, Walt Disney famously said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in this world.” Disneyland certainly has grown over the years, but DisneylandForward gives Disneyland the potential to change in magical ways even Walt may not have imagined.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.