Disney gets key approval for $1.9BILLION Disneyland expansion project that brings new Zootopia and Toy Story attractions to life

Disney has finally received approval from the city of Anaheim for its $1.9billion expansion of the Disneyland park that will bring Zootopia and Toy Story to life. 

The Walt Disney Company received unanimous approval from Anaheim City Council at a meeting that began on Tuesday evening and stretched into Wednesday. 

The plan marks a historic moment for the park - and promises to give Disneyland the biggest and most significant makeover since the 1990s, when the California Adventure park was added. 

The council's decision to approve was 7-0 and involved over 200 attendees at the meeting, ranging from residents to Disney employees as well as city officials, business associations and union groups, the LA Times reported.

'Tonight is a decision that has weighed very heavily on [my] mind,' Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said during Tuesday night's meeting.  

'As someone that has been quite the vocal critic in the past of some of these projects, I've been really surprised in doing my due diligence and reading thousands of pages of documents that this project will bring a benefit to our community, not just in the near future, but decades to come,' she said. 

Anaheim is known mostly as the home of the iconic theme park. 'When Disneyland grows, Anaheim thrives,' Aitken said in a statement. 

'Last night's vote to approve the DisneylandForward Plan will benefit Anaheim for decades to come.' 

Disney previously announced in 2023 that they will spend $60billion over the next decade on its parks and cruise lines. That includes the planned expansion in Anaheim. 

However, there was some resistance as some residents 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.

Another Anaheim local expressed his anxieties about the city's overall relationship with Disney during a previous city council meeting. 

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.'

The DisneylandForward plan gives Disney the flexibility to redesign the resort - including the original Disneyland park, the California Adventure addition as well as the Downtown Disney business district. 

Disney Forward seeks to improve the Anaheim theme park by adding 'adventures like those underway at Tokyo DisneySea and Shanghai Disneyland,' the company wrote.

Frozen fans will soon have the opportunity to visit Arendelle, the home of Elsa and Anna, in the California theme park.

The planned 'Frozen' land will offer a thrilling boat adventure and feature a restaurant set inside a castle, providing enthusiasts with an immersive experience in the magical world of Frozen.

A proposed Rapunzel's tower will overlook a forest where Rapunzel fans could board gondolas to the lantern festival to live 'best day ever' alongside Flynn.

A land inspired by the beloved story of Peter Pan will feature a boat ride following the Lost Boys down a river; and a journey to the middle of Pixie Hollow, where Tinker Bell and her fairy friends live.

The California theme park also has ambitious plans to transform into a hub of immersive entertainment through cutting-edge technology.

Disney will bring stories to life through innovative roller coasters like those found in Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Shanghai Disneyland. 

Disneyland is committed to paying a minimum of $1.9billion and potentially up to $2.5billion over the first decade.

If the additional $600 million is not spent within ten years, the company will invest an additional $5million in street and transportation improvements.

Besides multi-billion dollars invested on attractions and entertainment, the company is set to pay $40million to clear parts of Magic Way, Clementine Street, Gene Autry Way and Hotel Way for the proposed theme park expansion.

A 17,000-space parking structure will also be built with direct connections from the Santa Ana Freeway under the proposal.

The proposed parking structure will be larger than the existing Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures combined.

Roads will be widened and pedestrian bridges connecting theme parks and restaurants will also be built as part of the project.

Disney Global Development Vice President Rachel Alde said the transformation will make the park a more 'immersive' experience. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in on the decision, saying the investment would ultimately drive billions of dollars in revenue for the local community of Anaheim and the state as a whole.

'Disney is making it clear that California is its home because we provide the welcoming and supportive environment where businesses want to expand and create more jobs,' Newsom's statement read.