Credit: Brandi Alexandra, UnsplashDisney has spent over a hundred million dollars on a new expansion in California.
As Walt Disney himself stated, the Disney theme parks, specifically Disneyland, will never be “finished” per se but rather always be in a constant state of evolution and change, with new developments highlighting this mindset.
According to a new report from the Orange County Business Journal, The Walt Disney Company has finalized its purchase of an industrial property in Anaheim, California.
The massive 406,787-square-foot warehouse, which cost $124 million, will give Disneyland more space to expand as the resort embarks on several new adventures, including building new rides, attractions, and even new lands.
Disneyland was already the tenant of the warehouse, using the space to store parade floats and other miscellaneous items like seasonal decorations. Purchasing the warehouse gives Disneyland extra space as the Disneyland Forward project begins to take shape.
Disneyland Forward is perhaps one of the most ambitious and significant developments the Disneyland Resort has seen since it originally opened in 1955. The $1.9 billion project will see tons of new attractions, restaurants, shops, and locations open up over the next several years, matching the commitment Disney made last year to allocate a whopping $60 billion toward its theme parks over the next decade.
Some reports claim Disneyland Forward may even include a third theme park, something that has been rumored ever since Disney California Adventure opened its gates in 2001.
Related: Say Goodbye: Disney World Starts Demolition of Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Several new projects are planned for the Disneyland Resort in the coming years, namely a new Avengers-themed expansion and a brand new land inspired by James Cameron’s Avatar franchise. Both of these ventures were confirmed in 2024 and will undoubtedly change the look, feel, and layout of Disney’s original California theme park resort significantly.
The new Avengers expansion includes two new attractions, one of which will be an “E-ticket” experience featuring an assortment of iconic Marvel characters.
Exact details about Disneyland’s Avatar expansion are still a mystery, though it’s assumed this project will resemble the first Avatar land in Disney World, which opened at Animal Kingdom in 2017.
The changes don’t stop in California, with the Walt Disney World Resort also set to undergo major construction on several projects starting this year. Work has already begun on the transformation of DinoLand U.S.A., a prehistoric area located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This land will eventually house an Encanto attraction as well as a new Indiana Jones experience.
Magic Kingdom will eventually be the home of a new expansion inspired by Pixar’s Cars franchise. Magic Kingdom’s iconic waterways, along with Tom Sawyer Island, will be closing to make way for this project.
Finally, more Pixar changes will soon arrive in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where a new Monsters Inc. land will be built.
Will you be taking a trip to Disneyland this year?