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Disneyland commits $1.9 billion to proposed theme park expansion plan

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the latest investment amount from Walt Disney Co.
Disney is committed to spending at least $1.9 billion over the next decade as part of the long-term Disneyland Forward proposal.

New details about the development agreement between Disney and Anaheim were released on Jan. 23 during an informational workshop for Disneyland Forward. The proposal was presented in two parts with a minimum investment of $1.9 billion and a higher threshold of $2.5 billion.


The company is also spending millions of dollars on housing, parks and streets within the city.

The $1.9 billion investment would go towards “theme park lands, attractions, hotels, shopping and dining west of Disneyland Drive and on the Toy Story parking lot.”

However, the investment won’t cover parking structures, pedestrian bridges and road improvement expenses. Disney will cover those costs separately, according to the report.

The proposed plans call for Disney to build a 17,000-space eastside parking structure with a direct connection from the 5 Freeway. The proposed parking lot would be bigger than Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures combined.

About three pedestrian bridges would connect the eastside parking structure with the theme parks while also providing access to the area’s hotels, shops and restaurants.

The Disneyland Forward project details how officials want to update and renovate the Anaheim theme park. The project will include new attractions, shops and restaurants within its existing 490-acre footprint, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Disney fans have long theorized that lands, rides and attractions based on “Tangled,” “Zootopia” and “Tron” and expanded areas based on “Peter Pan” and “Toy Story” could also be in the works if the project is approved.

In September, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro talked about the possibility of bringing Frozen’s Arendelle, Black Panther’s Wakanda and Coco’s Santa Cecilia to life in some capacity at the “Happiest Place on Earth” and potentially its sister park in Orlando.

The Anaheim Planning Commission will hold hearings for Disneyland Forward in March and the city council will vote on the proposal in May, the Orange County Register reported.