Anaheim City Council in Orange County approved the $1.9 billion expansion project “Disneyland Forward” by a vote of 7-0 after an 8-hour public hearing on May 7th. The updates for the project will be announced between June and August.
Disney announced the proposal in 2021 as part of a 40-year agreement to guide the future development of the city, allowing Disney to build new attractions, shops, and restaurants within the resort they own and operate.
In addition to the expansion of Disneyland’s attractions, shops, and restaurants, Disney has committed to spending $30 million on affordable housing, $8 million on park construction in Anaheim, and a sustainable workforce program.
Disney will also pay $40 million to the city to purchase land, including parts of Magic Way, Hotel Way, and Clementine Street. During the public hearing, some residents expressed dissatisfaction with the city selling off Magic Way, while others called for the City Council to reconsider the entire proposal before voting again.
Disneyland in Anaheim opened in July 1955 and has welcomed over 757 million visitors as of January 2022, providing over 60,000 jobs for the local community. Disneyland and its related industries are also a major source of tax revenue for the city.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and resort hotels to close on March 14, 2020, by order of the California government. The closure lasted for 13 months until reopening on April 30, 2021, with limited capacity to maintain social distancing. From March 18 to April 19, 2020, some shops and eateries outside the parks were opened with limited visitors compared to pre-pandemic times.
Shortly after Disneyland’s reopening in May 2021, Disney introduced the “Disneyland Forward” plan to expand the park, adding more rides, restaurants, and stores to increase foot traffic.