The city of Anaheim’s planning commission will meet on Monday to consider Disney’s $1.9 billion proposed expansion of their California theme park.
The expansion would see the construction of new rides and attractions inspired by Disney stories like Frozen and Zootopia, and all of the new building would take place within Disney’s sprawling 490-acre confines.
But before Disney can break ground and get started on the project, which is a part of a broader company plan to pump $60 billion into their parks and cruises over the next several decades, the city of Anaheim must say yes.
For a long time, Disney has exerted a magnetic pull on visitors, drawing countless tourists to the city of Anaheim, where they spend money and help the city generate revenue.
‘Visitors generate a tremendous amount of revenue for our city that allows us to invest in our neighborhoods,’ Erin Ryan, a representative for the city of Anaheim, said. ‘Disney brings a lot of tourists here.’
Disney’s proposed expansion would include attractions modelled after places in films like Frozen
The entertainment juggernaut wouldn’t require additional space, but would convert a 50-acre parking lot to theme-park space
Disney also wants to purchase three local roads, including Magic Way, which residents say they use often
As a sweetener for the city, Disney’s proposal would require the entertainment giant to invest tens of millions of dollars in the local economy, subsidizing everything from street improvements to affordable housing to infrastructure.
The meeting on Monday will also address local concerns over the proposed sale of three public streets to Disney for $40 million.
But residents in Anaheim have expressed their angst at Disney’s plans for expansion – which will include the behemoth company privatizing some nearby roads, which could cause more chaos in the surrounding area as more visitors flock to the park.
Local residents insist that they use one road, Magic Way, frequently – while Disney is countering that the road is chiefly used by tourists and company employees.
According to Disney consultant Joe Haupt, 99 percent of the drivers who use Magic Way are heading to Disneyland.
At the meeting, one enraged resident in a newsboy cap addressed the city council and said that Disney was feeding the residents ‘a lot of bull s***.’
‘Our criticism is that 10,000 cars a day use Magic Way and that when it’s closed, all those cars will be pushed over onto Ball and Katella, making really bad traffic even worse.’
One resident raged that the company had responded to their legitimate concerns with ‘bull s***’
‘Disneyland has not paid one penny of a tax to the city of Anaheim,’ one angry resident pointed out
The resident called Disney’s response to their concern ‘nonsensical.’
Disney’s ‘response to that concern (about traffic), as stated by their smooth consultant, Joe Haupt, was that 99 percent of those cars are driven by Disney customers.’
‘That’s called a red herring,’ the visibly frustrated resident told the city council at the open meeting on February 27.
‘Whether or not the local residents are Disney customers, these 10,000 drivers will still be pushed over onto Ball and Katella. What’s the difference if 99 percent of them are wearing dumb little hats.’
Some sympathetic residents, who have doubts about Disney’s grand plans, applauded the man’s comments.
Another Anaheim local expressed his anxieties about the city’s overall relationship with Disney.
He noted that the city was $4 billion in debt, and accused the councilmembers of being in the pocket of special interests.
‘Disneyland, we pay $1 billion,’ the resident said, clutching a pen. ’40 years we have to pay off a $1 billion bond.’
The resident stared at the council and continued: ‘Disneyland has not paid one penny of a tax to the city of Anaheim. Their philosophy is just be grateful that we are here.
‘But they are worth $210 billion,’ the man fumed. ‘And we’re $4 billion in debt.
‘There’s got to be a better partnership because we’re losing out.’
Disney’s proposed overhaul would take its cues from other Disney theme parks, like Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland, where there are vivid recreations of the bustling, animal-filled metropolis in Zootopia and Arendelle, the castle from Frozen.
Other proposed attractions would include the construction of Rapunzel’s tower, which would overlook ‘a charming forest where guests board gondolas to the lantern festival to live Rapunzel’s “best day ever.”‘
There could also possibly be a Peter-pan-themed Neverland area, which would feature a boat ride following the Lost Boys down a river, and a journey to Pixie Hollow, where Tinker Bell and her fellow fairies live.
Disney’s proposed expansion could also potentially include a recreation of Rapunzel’s tower
Disney plans on funneling $60 billion into their cruise and theme-park arms over the next several decades
‘Disneyland will never be completed,’ Walt Disney, the company’s eponymous founder, once said
Disney would accommodate the expansion by converting a 50-acre parking lot to space for attractions.
They would move Disneyland parking to a multi-level structure.
Disneyland has committed to investing a minimum of $1.9 billion, but is considering enlarging that initial investment to a total of $2.5 billion over the first decade.
If the company does not spend the additional $600 million within the next ten years, they will still pony up an extra $5 million for street and transportation improvements.
Disneyland’s website quoted Walt Disney: ‘Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.’
The city council will meet again in May and vote on Disney’s proposal.