Disney just laid out the DisneylandForward project.

©Disney

This new project focuses on an expansion of Disneyland within the current space that the resort already covers. It’s in very early stages, but teams hope to explore the creation of new theme park attractions, dining, retail, hotel, and more in Disney’s original resort. Now, we’re taking a look at some of the concept images for DisneylandForward.

At this time, Disneyland does not have any concrete plans for expansion in Disneyland Resort, instead, DisneylandForward is a multi-year public planning effort with the City of Anaheim to update planning approvals so that the park may expand. If approvals go through, this would allow teams to explore a wide variety of expansions for the resort.

Let’s take a look at the concept art and see what we can unpack. The clearest aspect of this art shows added connections between Disneyland and the current parking lot area and Disney California Adventure and a current parking lot area. In both instances, the parking lot has been replaced with themed experiences.

Concept Art ©Disney

This expansion is clearer when you look at the DisneylandForward map. Again, this is all proposed, but this map shows the removal of several parking lots in favor of expansion at other existing parking areas and possible new parking areas where backstage areas exist currently. Expanding parking elsewhere, perhaps through new parking structures, would allow for the current parking lot space to be used for theme park, retail, and hotel expansion.

The DisneylandForward map is a little bit confusing but it shows the proposed expansion of Disneyland Park into what is now a parking area, limited expansion of Downtown Disney into what is now a parking area, expansion of Disney California Adventure into what is currently a parking area, and an entirely new retail and hotel area with a theme park experience in what is currently a parking area.

©Disney

©Disney

The DisneylandForward site even shares an image of what one of these new parking structures might look like. Disneyland may need approval from the city to make such largescale changes to the parking structures which could be a large part of the efforts of Disneyland Forward.

©Disney

To help you understand the concept art, we took the satellite image from Google Maps and overlayed it with what the expansion might look like. You can see Disneyland in orange, Disney California Adventure in blue, new and expanded parking areas in yellow, existing and new retail areas (including Downtown Disney) in purple, and existing and new hotel areas in green.

© Google Maps | DFB

Again, this planning project is in VERY early stages but it could mean SERIOUS expansion in Disneyland Resort. We’re working on breaking down this news right now so stay tuned to DFB for more information on DisneylandForward and what it could mean!

Click here to learn more about DisneylandForward!

What do you think of this expansion? Let us know in the comments!