The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) announced plans for a major redesign of its Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California.
What happened
Disneyland was the company’s first theme park and opened in 1955. The last addition to the park was a 14-acre “Star Wars” themed area that opened in May 2019.
The company named the new project “DisneylandForward,” and said it would work with Anaheim City Council to update the zoning decisions made in the 1990s that separate the hotel and theme park areas within the property.
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The park itself would not expand beyond its current area, but instead would bring additional theme park attractions and new hotels, retail stores, restaurants and entertainment options to the resort’s grounds.
The company did not provide specific information about the scope of the project or the anticipated schedule for its construction. There was also no budget for the project, although it stated that it would not be publicly funded.
“What we know today is that guests need and want more,” said Jeanette Lomboy, director of the Disneyland portfolio at Walt Disney Imagineering, during a media briefing: To give guests what they want, we need here in Anaheim more flexibility.
“Guests demand immersive, integrated experiences that are not singular,” added Lomboy. “We no longer think of separate uses. Retail, hospitality, entertainment, theme parks, and hotels are all part of the same experience in the same place. And we need the space in our countries to create environments steeped in history. “
Why it matters
Disneyland is one of the company’s two theme parks (along with Disneyland Paris) that is still closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although a reopening on April 30th with limited admission was announced earlier this month.
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With the planned redesign of the resort in Anaheim, Disney is trying to move into a post-pandemic era and leave the turmoil of the past 12 months that disrupted operations behind.
The company attempted to return to its cinema prominence by announcing new movies earlier this week, and last month it announced plans for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” marking the 50th anniversary of Disney World in Orlando.
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