DisneylandForward: Anaheim Park Eyes Future Expansion

ANAHEIM, CA — Disneyland is preparing to enter a Tomorrowland of its own, it announced this week alongside the rollout of its newest venture: DisneylandForward.

The initiative is described as a multiyear public planning effort that aims to pave the way for future park expansions. Ultimately, its goal is to "bring more Disney investment to Anaheim," according to the DisneylandForward website.

The website states the park is still bound by 1990s-era city guidelines that dictate things like development size, height limits and streetscape standards for the park.

The existing approvals also prevent the intermingling of hotels and theme parks, CNN Business reports.

While the planning effort led the park to add a luxury hotel, the Downtown Disney District and extensive infrastructure some 20 years ago, the park said it does not allow for the more diverse and integrated experiences park visitors seek.

"Without updates, new Disney experiences and placemaking, created from our beloved stories, will likely never find their way to the Disneyland Resort as they have to other parks throughout the world," the website reads, in part. "With DisneylandForward and more flexibility within our existing properties, new lands and adventures like those underway at Tokyo DisneySea and Shanghai Disneyland could inspire new experiences here."

Updated public planning and zoning, the park said, would allow Disney to make significant investments in transit, parking and mobility. Some changes on the books include a new parking destination and pedestrian bridge.

The park said it's goal is not to add any square footage or hotel rooms beyond what is currently approved, nor is it seeking public funding.

"Rather," the site reads, "we are simply working with the city and community to update our existing approvals to allow for integrated development to be located and built throughout Disney properties."

While specific details about future expansions remained scarce as of Friday, the website states DisneylandForward "could be poised to grow again, bringing jobs and new lands and adventures to Anaheim."

Disneyland this month announced it will reopen on April 30 to California residents who have purchased tickets in advance.