Tweet
Disney's California Adventure to expand and remodel
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Disney theme park to expand
The company announces changes to Disney's California Adventure.
By SARAH TULLY, ADAM TOWNSEND and DOUG IRVING
The Orange County Register
A whole land based on the “Cars” movie, a “Little Mermaid”-themed ride and a new 1920s plaza are going in Disney's California Adventure.
A structure of the Golden Gate Bridge, tall letters spelling out “California” and the Golden Dreams theater are going out.
Those are among the changes coming to the Anaheim theme park, Walt Disney Co. officials announced Wednesday in Glendale.
Over the next five years, the six-year-old theme park will undergo a major overhaul and expansion by about one-fifth, meant to respond to visitors' demands in the Disneyland Resort. The reported cost will be $1.2 billion – almost as much as the $1.4 billion Disney spent on the entire resort area revamp with California Adventure, Downtown Disney and hotels finished in 2001.
“This is clearly a milestone for Disneyland,” said Bob Iger, the chief executive officer.
The park has proven less successful than its Disneyland counterpart next door. Disneyland ranks second in the world in theme-park attendance with 14.7 million visitors last year, compared with about 6 million to Disney's California Adventure, according to an Economics Research Associates report. But Disney officials downplayed popularity as the reason for changes.
“I don't consider that on any level to be a failure,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
Major features
Disney has already made some changes to the theme park, including the addition of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and A Bug's Land. The construction of the Toy Story Mania! ride should be completed for opening next year.
But the biggest additions will come in 2011 or 2012.
By then, a Cars Land section will open on 12 acres on the parking lot south of the park. The land, based on the animated movie, will include a major ride – Radiator Springs Racers with a slow start outside, leading to an inside journey and ending with a fast race.
Much of the entrance will be torn out to create a 1920s feel – the way Walt Disney would have seen California when he moved out from Michigan. The idea builds on the popularity of Main Street in Disneyland, based on Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Mo.
A new, indoors ride is based on “The Little Mermaid” with in-and-out-of-water features, songs and movie scenes that will go where the theater sits. Also, visitors can see a “World of Color” show of water effects, lighting and music in the lagoon from a 9,000-person viewing area.
Some visitors said the park now leaves them wanting more, so they would welcome new rides.
“There's not a whole lot for kids to do in California Adventure,” said Lauren Kurtz, 30, who came with her two sons and aunt from Oceanside on Wednesday.
Business impact
The expansion will mean jobs for up to 1,500 construction workers and about 1,000 park employees, said Ed Grier, the Disneyland Resort president.
Todd Ament, the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce's president, pointed out that the $1.2 billion will help take pressure off of the local construction industry, which has been hit by the housing slump. The chamber has been working with Disney officials to get local contractors' bidding priority.
“This investment almost matches Disney's original investment (in California Adventure),” Ament said. “A lot of our trade jobs – concrete, construction, plumbing – it will affect many of those.”
The announcement comes at a time when Disney is vigorously fighting the City Council's support of a planned housing development nearby. Despite the dispute, two council members said the plans prove that Disney has a continued commitment to Anaheim.
“This is an international company making a huge investment, making an investment based on a lot of knowledge and planning,” said Mayor Curt Pringle, who opposes the housing plan.
Councilwoman Lucille Kring, who supports the residential development, said the planned addition would be a boon for tourism, citing the swell of travelers Disneyland's 2005 anniversary celebration brought to the city.
“I think this is going to be very positive,” Kring said. “With the 50th anniversary celebration a couple years ago, people just came out in droves because it was a party every night.”
News: Disney park changes announced | disney, city, anaheim, california, movie - OCRegister.com
New attractions
The entry plaza will look like the California Walt Disney knew in the 1920s.
Cars Land will be 12 acres inspired by the hit movie. The E ticket attraction will be Radiator Springs Racer, a race around hairpin curves and up steep banks.
Toy Story Mania will take visitors through a carnival midway hosted by “Toy Story” characters. The ride will be in the Paradise Pier area.
Paradise Pier will also have a nighttime music, water and light show with a 9,000-person viewing area.
Source: The Walt Disney Co.
Disney theme park to expand
The company announces changes to Disney's California Adventure.
By SARAH TULLY, ADAM TOWNSEND and DOUG IRVING
The Orange County Register
A whole land based on the “Cars” movie, a “Little Mermaid”-themed ride and a new 1920s plaza are going in Disney's California Adventure.
A structure of the Golden Gate Bridge, tall letters spelling out “California” and the Golden Dreams theater are going out.
Those are among the changes coming to the Anaheim theme park, Walt Disney Co. officials announced Wednesday in Glendale.
Over the next five years, the six-year-old theme park will undergo a major overhaul and expansion by about one-fifth, meant to respond to visitors' demands in the Disneyland Resort. The reported cost will be $1.2 billion – almost as much as the $1.4 billion Disney spent on the entire resort area revamp with California Adventure, Downtown Disney and hotels finished in 2001.
“This is clearly a milestone for Disneyland,” said Bob Iger, the chief executive officer.
The park has proven less successful than its Disneyland counterpart next door. Disneyland ranks second in the world in theme-park attendance with 14.7 million visitors last year, compared with about 6 million to Disney's California Adventure, according to an Economics Research Associates report. But Disney officials downplayed popularity as the reason for changes.
“I don't consider that on any level to be a failure,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
Major features
Disney has already made some changes to the theme park, including the addition of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and A Bug's Land. The construction of the Toy Story Mania! ride should be completed for opening next year.
But the biggest additions will come in 2011 or 2012.
By then, a Cars Land section will open on 12 acres on the parking lot south of the park. The land, based on the animated movie, will include a major ride – Radiator Springs Racers with a slow start outside, leading to an inside journey and ending with a fast race.
Much of the entrance will be torn out to create a 1920s feel – the way Walt Disney would have seen California when he moved out from Michigan. The idea builds on the popularity of Main Street in Disneyland, based on Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Mo.
A new, indoors ride is based on “The Little Mermaid” with in-and-out-of-water features, songs and movie scenes that will go where the theater sits. Also, visitors can see a “World of Color” show of water effects, lighting and music in the lagoon from a 9,000-person viewing area.
Some visitors said the park now leaves them wanting more, so they would welcome new rides.
“There's not a whole lot for kids to do in California Adventure,” said Lauren Kurtz, 30, who came with her two sons and aunt from Oceanside on Wednesday.
Business impact
The expansion will mean jobs for up to 1,500 construction workers and about 1,000 park employees, said Ed Grier, the Disneyland Resort president.
Todd Ament, the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce's president, pointed out that the $1.2 billion will help take pressure off of the local construction industry, which has been hit by the housing slump. The chamber has been working with Disney officials to get local contractors' bidding priority.
“This investment almost matches Disney's original investment (in California Adventure),” Ament said. “A lot of our trade jobs – concrete, construction, plumbing – it will affect many of those.”
The announcement comes at a time when Disney is vigorously fighting the City Council's support of a planned housing development nearby. Despite the dispute, two council members said the plans prove that Disney has a continued commitment to Anaheim.
“This is an international company making a huge investment, making an investment based on a lot of knowledge and planning,” said Mayor Curt Pringle, who opposes the housing plan.
Councilwoman Lucille Kring, who supports the residential development, said the planned addition would be a boon for tourism, citing the swell of travelers Disneyland's 2005 anniversary celebration brought to the city.
“I think this is going to be very positive,” Kring said. “With the 50th anniversary celebration a couple years ago, people just came out in droves because it was a party every night.”
News: Disney park changes announced | disney, city, anaheim, california, movie - OCRegister.com
New attractions
The entry plaza will look like the California Walt Disney knew in the 1920s.
Cars Land will be 12 acres inspired by the hit movie. The E ticket attraction will be Radiator Springs Racer, a race around hairpin curves and up steep banks.
Toy Story Mania will take visitors through a carnival midway hosted by “Toy Story” characters. The ride will be in the Paradise Pier area.
Paradise Pier will also have a nighttime music, water and light show with a 9,000-person viewing area.
Source: The Walt Disney Co.