Whether you’re planning a trip to Disneyland or just interested in the future plans for this iconic Disney park, we want to catch you up on Disneyland’s plans to expand.

Unlike Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland — the first theme park created by Walt Disney — is bursting at the seams. Nestled in Anaheim, California, this park also has many zoning restrictions that have negatively impacted Disneyland’s expansion.

Before you visit this iconic park’s attractions and restaurants, let’s take a closer look at Disneyland’s limitations and possibilities!

Over the past few years, Disney created a new Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure and opened new restaurants in Downtown Disney.

But what’s holding back the Imagineers from other developments?

Disneyland Limitations

Instead of going back to the opening of Disneyland on July 17, 1955 (after a one-year construction project) , we need to rewind to 1993.

During this time frame, the City of Anaheim and Disney made an agreement (The Disneyland Resort Specific Plan) establishing five zones on Disneyland’s 490 acres of property. These areas provided strict guidelines for future building projects, including size, height, and streetscape. Land use and site development standards were created for the five districts: theme park, hotel, parking, expansion, and District A.

The theme park district established rules for Disneyland and the adjacent parking lot (now Disney California Adventure).

For example, to make room for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Big Thunder Ranch had to be removed.

And the Avengers Campus took the place of Bug’s Land.

Currently, the hotel district includes Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel (soon to be Pixar Place Hotel).

Under the 1993 Disneyland Resort Specific Plan, further expansion has been difficult, if not impossible. In 2018, plans for a new resort hotel were hindered as the proposed site was part of the parking district.

Is there land to develop? Yes, but plans have been difficult to see to fruition because of the 1993 zoning restrictions.

Yet, we know that Disney likes to find ways around the impossible!

Now what?

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Disneyland Possibilities

In 2021, the DisneylandForward project was created to seek updates to the existing restrictions! By updating these old guidelines, Disney would gain the flexibility needed for future building plans. Currently, the land isn’t properly zoned for the type of use needed for new projects.

Updated land use approvals would allow for new attractions without having to replace beloved rides that are still very popular with guests.

In short, DisneylandForward is a collaborative project between Disney and Anaheim to expand Disneyland Resort. Tentative plans call for updating the existing theme park blueprints and boosting the local economy through new offerings. It is important to note that the plans remain within Disney’s existing nearly 500-acre property; there is no physical expansion or additional acreage being added to Disneyland Resort.

Current Disneyland Expansion Updates

Until recently, we didn’t know if DisneylandForward was really making any progress. When Disneyland President Ken Potrock appeared before the Orange County Forum in May 2023, we finally got some updated news!

At this forum, Disney executives showcased the tourism, tax revenue, and employment benefits for Anaheim that would result from the DisneylandForward proposal.

After all, Disneyland has used less than half of the millions of square feet of theme park and hotel space that has already been approved for the resort district.

The OC Register explained that “a draft environmental impact study is expected to be completed by the summer with the DisneylandForward proposal going before the Anaheim Planning Commission before the end of the year and the City Council in early 2024.” Before Disney can start any construction or move forward, it will need more flexibility and approvals from the city.

Current plans indicate that Disney is looking for “mixed-use” flexibility to allow hotel AND entertainment on the same parcel. The proposal also lays out plans for potential “new theme park attractions on the Downtown Disney and Lilo and Stitch parking lots woven amid the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel,” according to Orange County Register.

For now, we will continue to imagine all the new dining and entertainment that might be possible! As Disneyland fans, we continue to daydream about immersive new experiences that could be introduced in the future at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.

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Share your thoughts on the Disneyland expansion!