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Fast Facts
- DisneylandForward is a multi-year expansion project for the Disneyland theme parks, bringing new lands and experiences to the Disneyland Resort.
- A new parking structure and transportation hub will have a pedestrian bridge that leads to the park entrances.
- The new "Coco" attraction in Disney California Adventure starts construction (in current backstage areas near Paradise Gardens Park and Pixar Pier) in fall 2025.
- A new "Avatar" experience in Disney California Adventure will be constructed in the current Hollywood Backlot area. This leads to the closure of Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! in early 2026.
- Additionally, two new rides are under construction for Avengers Campus.
There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow at Disneyland Resort. Disney was officially approved to expand the Disneyland theme parks, hotel offerings, entertainment, parking, restaurants and more. The project is called DisneylandForward. Disney is moving forward, committing at least $1.9 billion to this expansion over the next decade. It’s in the beginning planning stages and will take time to develop. The ideas unveiled in this initial plan reimagine underutilized areas of the property and will reshape the Disneyland Resort for the next 40 years. In June 2025, we got updates about the new parking structure, as well as "Avatar" and "Coco" experiences coming to Disney California Adventure, which are going to double the size of that park! Let's hop in!
The city of Anaheim gave final unanimous approval to the "multiyear public planning effort" on May 7, 2024. Disney has committed to spending $1.9 billion over the next 10 years.
We now know what comes next with DisneylandForward:
- All-new parking structure and transportation hub with security screening and a pedestrian bridge to the Esplanade.
- New "Coco"-themed ride to start construction in fall 2025.
- New Avatar Destination (construction timelines to come).
- Avengers Campus gets two new e-ticket attractions.
How Will DisneylandForward Affect Disneyland Resort?
Walt Disney said that Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world. Well, the Disneyland Imagineers and executives are dreaming big with this new plan. But they're still keeping Walt's original park we know and love preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Disney can now bring new lands and stories that are popular at other Disney Parks worldwide to life at Disneyland without having to replace other beloved attractions. "Avatar" and "Coco" lead the way (along with the Avengers). Further projects, lands or attractions could be themed around "Encanto," "Frozen," "Tangled," "Peter Pan," "Zootopia," "Toy Story," "Black Panther" and "Tron."
When Disneyland was built in 1955, nobody could have predicted the impact Disneyland has had on the once-rural community on which it was built. Now surrounded by the city of Anaheim, which grew up around it, Disneyland has very defined boundaries of its 4,800 acres. That leaves little room to expand beyond its footprint. (By comparison, Disney World sits on approximately 30,000 acres.) Planning restrictions for parts of the property limited what the land could be used for. But Disney got approvals to make changes in order to utilize those spaces for new attractions, lands, shopping and dining. And that brings us to this planning process.
The development agreement determines where new theme park construction could occur over the next 40 years. Disney now has the flexibility to determine what to build, all within the footprint of Disneyland's current properties.
What Are the Affected Areas?
There are five major areas that Disney will improve upon:
- West of Disneyland Drive (to the sides of Pixar Place Hotel and Disneyland Hotel, some of Downtown Disney and some current parking lots)
- The current cast member lot off Disney Way (behind the Harbor Boulevard businesses across from Disneyland Resort and east of the resort entrance)
- The current Toy Story Lot (this may include shopping and experiences similar to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World)
- Magic Way (the final vote approved selling Magic Way and sections of Disneyland Drive and another road to Disney for $40 million)
- Backstage areas adjacent to the theme parks.
The $1.9 billion investment over the next 10 years goes toward theme park lands, attractions, hotels, shopping and dining west of Disneyland Drive and on the current Toy Story parking lot.
The proposed theme park investment by Disneyland over the first decade has two parts: There is a minimum commitment of $1.9 billion and a higher level of $2.5 billion. Additionally, Disneyland is committed to paying $5 million in street and transportation improvements if the company does not spend the extra $600 million in the first 10 years.
This multi-billion dollar investment by Disney does not include the millions to be spent on parking structures, pedestrian bridges and road improvements in the theme park resort area. In the proposal, Disney is expected to spend $40 million to purchase portions of roads surrounding and currently cutting through the resort — including sections of Magic Way, Clementine Street, Gene Autry Way and Hotel Way — to clear the way for the proposed expansion.
The city of Anaheim will receive more than $100 million in community benefits from Disney. Most of the money goes to acquiring streets and paying for infrastructure improvements, such as sewers and roads. Disney will give Anaheim $30 million for affordable housing, along with $8 million for city parks and an additional $45 million in traffic improvements and pedestrian safety.
This is not the first time Disneyland has turned its parking lots into other magical spaces (such as the original Disneyland parking lot making way for Disney California Adventure Park and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa). In the 1990s, Disney led an expansion of Disneyland Resort and improvement to transportation around the resort as well as creating the Anaheim resort area that surrounds the property. This led to the addition of the second theme park, two hotels, the Downtown Disney shopping district and a new parking structure (and more recently, a second parking structure).
Disney holds land that currently functions as employee and guest parking lots. The company gained some flexibility to expand the use of the land for more than the 1990s planning restrictions allowed. For example, land that was zoned for a parking lot or hotel could allow for theme park experiences, retail and dining, as well. Disney does not plan to add more square footage than has already been approved by the city. Instead, Disney is updating the existing approvals to allow for integrated development to be located and built on Disney properties.
DisneylandForward looks to the land of tomorrow to support future development for years to come. Disney is investing in transportation, parking, transit and pedestrian safety as part of this plan. Disney is not asking for any public funds to complete these projects.
The residents of Anaheim will benefit from this project as well. Disney proposed spending millions more for housing and parks, as part of a proposed agreement with Anaheim to pave the way for new development at its theme park properties.
West Side Expansion of the Resort
This "Immersive Theme Park" west side changes are the most frogciting to us. The plans include a possible theme park expansion for both parks into the land that currently surrounds the Disneyland Hotel, parts of Downtown Disney (where the unused ESPN Zone is), Pixar Place Hotel and some surrounding parking lots. The hotels stay. Theme park areas would surround them. The streets that surround this area include Katella Avenue, Walnut Street, Disneyland Drive and Magic Way. The additions could also include hotel, retail, dining and entertainment.
There is no third theme park planned. Under the current concept art, we see that the two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, will remain separate but each expand across Disneyland Drive into land that is on either side of the Disneyland hotel. Parking lots currently sit on that land.
Popular Tokyo Disney Sea and Shanghai Disneyland (as well as rides and lands at Disney World) inspire some new lands and experiences. For example, guests could visit Arendelle in a "Frozen" land with a thrilling boat adventure and restaurant set inside the castle. Or they could have the "best day ever" with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from "Tangled." Visitors could ride a gondola to see the lantern festival. I don't know about you, but "I have a dream" of dining in the Snuggly Duckling, where Rapunzel encountered a band of thieves.
Off we go! We could sail off to Neverland, "second star to the right and straight on 'til morning!" We could board a boat ride to follow the Lost Boys down a river or take a journey to the middle of Pixie Hollow where Tinker Bell and her fairy friends dwell. Other lands and attractions could weave in "Zootopia," Toy Story Land and "Tron."Oh boy, the possibilities are endless!
East Side Expansion at Current Toy Story Lot
A new Disney Entertainment Destination could take over the current Toy Story parking lot from Harbor Boulevard to Haster Street to parts of Katella at Clementine. The additional possible uses include a hotel, theme park experience, a parking and transportation expansion and more retail, dining and entertainment. How does a theme park experience not physically connected to either theme park work? We are hoppin' curious to find out!
Expanded Parking at the Current Pumbaa Lot off Disney Way
The land behind the Harbor Boulevard businesses across from Disneyland Resort (east of the resort entrance) will become a new lot and transportation hub. This new lot takes over land currently occupied by the Pumbaa cast member lot off Disney Way.
This new parking area will provide approximately 6,000 parking spaces. The area will offer new shuttle and rideshare areas, security screening and access for traffic off of Disney Way. It will improve parking and traffic flow throughout the resort area.
One big change is that people will be able to park and walk to the parks instead of taking a shuttle or bus! This new parking and transportation hub will have a pedestrian bridge. The bridge goes over Harbor Boulevard and leads to an all-new esplanade arrival experience. This pedestrian bridge will also offer public access to and from the hotels, shops and restaurants along Harbor Boulevard.
Down the road, Disney could build two other bridges over Disneyland Drive as part of the project.
What New Attractions Are Coming?
The details we have are still limited, but here's what's confirmed as coming in the near future to Disney California Adventure.
Coco Ride
The first-ever "Coco" ride will be in Disney California Adventure. Construction begins in fall 2025. The new boat ride brings familiar characters and music! Follow Miguel to the land of the dead. The Imagineers are drawing inspiration for the attraction from beloved attractions, such as Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. “We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest Audio-Animatronics technology” Josh D'Amaro announced to the D23 crowd. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”
Avatar Land
An Avatar Land is coming to Disney California Adventure. “Avatar: The Way of Water” and upcoming Avatar films inspire this new experience. It brings bring Pandora to life in a brand-new way.
The new destination will take over areas currently occupied by part of Hollywood Land. Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will close in early 2026 to make way for this new Avatar destination.
The new attraction is a boat ride, which takes guests on the adventure of a lifetime. Embark into the wide-open seas of Pandora. Experience the natural beauty — and danger — that come along with the journey. This ride includes all the action and excitement of Avatar. It's a dynamic, intense and emotional experience.
Keep in mind that DisneylandForward will take years to build. But before we know it, we could adventure into a whole new world of Disneyland experiences that will meet the needs and interests of theme park visitors for years to come.
Avengers Campus Rides
Avengers Campus updates are getting lumped in with DisnylandForward. Two new rides are being built in current backstage areas. This will expand that land and the theme park once completed. We are toadally excited about the two new rides.:
- Avengers: Infinity Defense — This “E-Ticket” attraction puts you right in the middle of the Multiverse in a different timeline. In this timeline, Thanos won the battle and is king. Guests can see the Avengers face off against a Multiverse variant of Thanos named King Thanos. The attraction connects the storylines of multiple heroes and villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The ride vehicle utilizes a portal technology to allow guests to jump between different universes. The Global technology that allows the Avengers to jump between worlds has gone missing. King Thanos is using it to wreak havoc across different worlds. Expect to jump to iconic places such Asgard, Wakanda and New York City.
- Stark Flight Lab — Go on a simulated flight in Tony Stark's robotics lab. Tony Stark is testing different simulations. Guests are invited to be test subjects. Riders sit in a two-person pod, which deploys to a test station. A robot arm grabs the pods and starts whirling riders around in a simulated flight. The ride offers multiple “test flights,” which may encourage guests to return for a new or different experience.
We are sure you have a ton of questions about DisneylandForward. So do we! But we will do our best to answer them in the comments section below. Keep hopping back for updates.
Related: What's Coming to Disneyland in 2025 and Beyond
Keep hopping!
