Disneyland dangled six possible projects to provide a “flavor” of what future expansion could look like over the next couple decades under a reimagined long-term vision for the Anaheim theme park resort district.
The DisneylandForward proposal seeks to update a 1990s Anaheim city plan to allow for a mix of theme park, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment on the eastern and western edges of the Disneyland resort.
The six possible projects based on “Tangled,” “Frozen,” “Peter Pan,” “Zootopia,” “Toy Story” and “Tron” in the DisneylandForward plan were presented as the types of lands and attractions Anaheim is missing out on under current city planning and zoning guidelines.
At first glance, it would be easy to think Disneyland is planning to build six new themed lands in Anaheim — but nothing could be further from the truth. The DisneylandForward plan is filled with possibilities, not promises.
“We’re not announcing anything specific today as part of DisneylandForward,” Jeanette Lomboy, Disneyland portfolio executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, said during a media briefing in late March. “These kinds of projects should give you a flavor of the types of industry-defining integrated experiences and story-rich lands that we want to bring to Anaheim.”
The message in the DisneylandForward proposal is clear: Recreations of Arendelle, Zootropolis and Tron lightcycles are bound for or have already arrived at other Disney parks around the world rather than Disneyland and Disney California Adventure because of Anaheim’s outdated, limited and inflexible planning restrictions.
The DisneylandForward plan includes concept art of the Tangled, Frozen” and Peter Pan themed lands coming to Tokyo Disneyland in Japan, the planned Zootopia themed land and the already-open Tron roller coaster at Shanghai Disneyland in China and Toy Story Lands at Disney parks in Florida, France and China.
So what is Disneyland missing out on? Let’s take a closer look at the six teaser projects in DisneylandForward.
Tangled, Frozen and Peter Pan lands
The new Tangled, Frozen and Peter Pan lands are under construction in Fantasy Springs, the newest port set to debut at Tokyo DisneySea in 2023.
The new lands and attractions coming to Tokyo DisneySea “could be the perfect inspiration for the future of Disneyland Park,” according to the DisneylandForward website.
According to Disney, the Tokyo Disneyland expansion features a Frozen boat ride, Arendelle castle restaurant, Rapunzel’s tower, Tangled boat ride, Snuggly Duckling restaurant, Peter Pan boat ride, Tinker Bell ride and Lost Boys restaurant.
The Tangled gondola boat ride will travel through a forest to the lantern festival seen in the 2010 Disney animated film. The Peter Pan boat ride follows the Lost Boys down a river while the Tinker Bell ride visits her fairy friends in Pixie Hollow.
The Tokyo Disneyland expansion also includes Arendelle village shops, Captain Hook’s pirate ship and two hotels, according to Themeparx.
SEE ALSO: Disneyland could be forced to close or modify Rise of the Resistance under state guidelines
Zootopia land
The new Zootopia land coming to Shanghai Disneyland promises to take visitors to a “mammalian metropolis” based on the Oscar-winning animated film.
The first Zootopia-themed land at any Disney theme park will feature an unnamed attraction, entertainment, retail and eateries.
The major attraction with state-of-the-art technology will follow the adventures police officer bunny Judy Hopps and con artist fox Nick Wilde, the main characters from the 2016 Disney movie.
Concept art for the Zootopia land shows the film’s cityscape with a futuristic skyline designed to hide the indoor attraction. Riders are expected to enter the attraction through the imposing rotunda of the Zootopia police department building.
“Zootopia” was the highest grossing animated film in China box office history before it was dethroned in 2019. Worldwide, it’s the 9th biggest Disney animated film of all time, according to Box Office Mojo.
Disney is looking to turn “Zootopia” into a franchise with a sequel planned for release in 2021 and another possibly in development.
SEE ALSO: How Avengers Campus will be like Disneyland’s Tomorrowland
Tron coaster
A Tron Lightcycle Run roller coaster opened in 2016 at Shanghai Disneyland with a second version of the ride under construction at the Magic Kingdom in Florida.
The indoor-outdoor coaster takes riders on a “high-speed race for survival” through The Grid seen in the sci-fi films. Riders sit astride motorbike-style ride vehicles designed to look like Tron lightcycles. At 59 mph, Tron Lightcycle Run is the fastest Disney coaster in the world, according to Roller Coaster Database.
The Tron areas of both parks are covered by curving and color-shifting outdoor canopies known as Upload Conduits that serve as digital bridges to The Grid section inside the attraction.
Both Tron coasters are located in the Tomorrowland areas of Shanghai Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.
SEE ALSO: Disneyland adding a second place to buy alcohol in the park
Toy Story Lands
Toy Story Lands have been built at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland in China and Walt Disney Studios Park in France.
The on-the-cheap Toy Story-themed lands at Disney parks in France, Shanghai and Hong Kong have been criticized by Disney fans for their over-reliance on off-the-shelf carnival rides like the RC Racer shuttle roller coaster, Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin caterpillar ride and Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop. The Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios features a Slinky Dog Dash family coaster and an Alien Swirling Saucers whip ride similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree.
The Toy Story Lands around the globe have shops like Andy’s Toy Box, restaurants like Woody’s Lunch Box and entertainment like the Green Army Men Drum Corps.
