A Disney-Backed Politician Shuts Down Talk of Adding a ‘Gate Tax’ at Its Parks

Faced with a $64 million shortfall, the Anaheim City Council was set to debate adding a “gate tax” to Disneyland and other large entertainment venues this week to help make up the difference. Instead, the Disney-backed councilwoman, who initially proposed the idea, pulled it off the table for this week’s meeting, citing the need to “gather additional information and data.”

Earlier this month, Anaheim City Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava urged her colleagues on the council to consider a “gate tax” to help the city’s finances. However, just hours before the meeting was set to debate the issue, Rubalcava reached out to her fellow council members and asked that the issue be tabled until the October meeting.

Disneyland is one of Anaheim’s largest taxpayers and employers, and also contributed heavily to the campaigns of the council members, including Rubalcava’s 2022 campaign. Instead of discussing the gate tax, the Anaheim City Council’s meeting focused on the city’s affordable housing initiative, of which Disney agreed to contribute $30 million in exchange for the approval of the DisneylandForward project.

Historically, Disney has any type of gate tax, believing that even a slight increase would drive customers away. In 2022, council member Jose Moreno pushed for a two percent tax on Disneyland tickets and parking. Estimates suggested at the time that a two percent tax would have generated $55 to $80 million for the city.

Despite the city’s need for those funds, the city council chose to table the issue, not even taking a vote or sending it as a ballot initiative to voters. Marisol Ramirez, co-interim executive director of Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD), told the Voice of OC that during the 2022 meeting, Disney executives showed up in force to speak out against the proposal, and it ultimately failed.

As Anaheim debates a tax on parking and tickets at Disneyland, the theme park continues to increase prices, meaning that a two percent tax could generate well over $100 million for the city. However, with Disney contributing massive amounts of money to the council members, it remains to be seen if it will even come before the council again.

Should taxes be levied against Disney guests to help pay for Anaheim’s budget deficit? Let us know in the comments.