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DISNEY ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION PLAN FOR THE DISNEYLAND RESORT
Multi-Year Build-out Plan Includes Major Attractions and a New “ Cars Land” at Disney’s
California Adventure
GLENDALE ,
Calif.,October
17, 2007 -- The Walt Disney Company today unveiled a significant
multi-year expansion plan for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim that continues
its growth as a multi-day, world-class tourist destination.
Announced by Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger and Parks
and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo at a press conference at Walt Disney Imagineering’s
Glendale headquarters, the expansion will bring new entertainment and major
family-oriented attractions to Disney’s California Adventure, including
an entirely new Cars Land inspired by the hit Disney• Pixar animated film Cars.
“ The success of the Disneyland Resort over the past
few years provides us with both the opportunity and the need
to invest for growth, to enhance and expand the experience for our guests
and attract new visitors, while at the same time delivering attra ctive
returns on the investment, ” said Iger. “This plan is a reflection
of our belief in the bright future of the Disneyland Resort and our continuing
commitment to grow the Anaheim Resort Area as a world class tourist destination.”
Disney Imagineers will be bringing more of Walt Disney into Disney’s
California Adventure, celebrating the hope and optimism of California that
attracted Walt to this land of opportunity in the 1920s. Guests entering
the new Plaza will be instantly immersed in the world that inspired Walt during
his early days as an animation pioneer. The new, interactive Walt Disney
Story attraction will set the stage for the unfolding story of Walt that
will permeate the park.
The expansive program reaches throughout Disney’s California Adventure,
with an amazing Little Mermaid attraction, a groundbreaking, signature nighttime
spectacular and new viewing area for 9,000, and the addition of the 12-acre
Cars Land featuring the world of Radiator Springs with three new attractions.
Extensive landscaping, new retail and dining will create an even richer environment
throughout the park in ways that reinforce Guests’ connection with Walt.
“Our Disneyland Guests
have a deep emotional connection with Walt Disney, whose life story really
captures the pioneering spirit of California in the 1920s,” said
Rasulo. “The creative evolution of Disney’s California Adventure
will connect guests to Walt’s own California adventure and reflect
the place that he found when he first arrived with a cardboard suitcase in
his hand and a head full of dreams.”
The expansion is part of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ overall growth
strategy of continuing to invest in its core business of existing parks and
resorts around the world, while exploring new opportunities to capture more
of the growing family vacation market. This announcement follows Disney’s
ground-breaking last month for a 250-room expansion of Disney’s Grand
Californian Hotel & Spa, including 50 rooms dedicated to the West Coast
debut of Disney Vacation Club, the company’s growing time share business.
Multi-day, World-Class Tourist Destination
Today’s announced expansion builds upon the transformation of the Disneyland
park into a multi-day destination resort that began in 2001 with the creation
of the Disneyland Resort and the opening of Disney’s California Adventure
Park, Downtown Disney and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Since then, the Disneyland Resort has continued to grow with the addition
of popular attractions and shows, including: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage,
Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, The
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror,Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to
the Rescue!, Block Party Bash, High School Musical 2: Schools Out!, Disney
Princess Fantasy Faire, and Jedi Training Academy, along with
the re-Imagineering of Space Mountain and enhancements to Pirates
of the Caribbean.
“This expansion builds on a commitment we made more than a decade ago
to create and grow the Anaheim Resort Area as a world-class tourist destination
where guests would want to stay for more than one day,” said Disneyland
Resort President Ed Grier. “That investment has become a success for
Disney, the Anaheim community and for the economy of Southern California.”
According to the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau, Anaheim
is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the country, enjoying
some of the highest hotel occupancy rates in the nation and attracting millions
of visitors each year who spend billions of dollars.
Coming to Disney’s California Adventure Over the Next Several
Years
In addition to the new themeing and attractions, Disney’s California
Adventure will receive new restaurant and retail innovations, landscaping to
enrich the placemaking, facade and graphics enhancements, and an extensive
menu of entertainment and events.
Disney’s California Adventure is already home to some of the Disneyland
Resort’s highest-rated attractions and shows, including: Soarin’ Over
California, California Screamin’, The Twilight Zone
Tower of Terror and the Broadway-caliber show, Disney’s Aladdin
- A Musical Spectacular.
Cars Land
The expansion will culminate with an entirely new, 12-acre addition: Cars
Land, immersing guests into a world inspired by the hit Disney/Pixar movie, Cars, playing
to America’s love affair with automobiles.
Radiator Springs Racers, a major “E-ticket” attraction,
places guests right in the middle of the amazingly detailed, dimensional Cars world
of Mater, Lightning McQueen, Doc and Sally. Guests get a quick race briefing
from Doc and Lightning, and suddenly find themselves in the midst of a race
around hairpin turns and steep banks.
Cars Land increases capacity to the park with two additional immersive family
rides, featuring Luigi and Mater from the movie. Cars Land represents
an unprecedented level of collaboration between Pixar Animation Studios and
Disney Imagineering to create this extensive new area. The new land will substantially
extend the total area of Disney’s California Adventure park.
Paradise Pier
Paradise Pier will host major new attractions beginning next summer with the
opening of Toy Story Mania!, a ride-through, interactive adventure
where Guests ride into a high-energy 4-D carnival midway hosted by Toy
Story characters. Woody, Jessie, Buzz, Hamm and the gang come to life
in amazing ways, immersing guests in the rich stories of the Pixar blockbuster Toy
Story films.
A major ride based on Disney’s classic The Little Mermaid comes
to the park’s Paradise Pier with leading-edge animation and special effects.
Guests will dive into the magnificent scenes and magical songs from the movie.
A Mermaid Grotto area with a fountain and sand castle will offer new play experiences
for children.
Unique Nighttime Spectacular
The dramatic and unique Disney’s World of Color will bring
new nighttime excitement to Paradise Pier. This nightly panorama of spectacular
water effects, colorful lighting and music will bring Disney animation to life
with an entirely new creative and technical approach. The 9,000 person viewing
area offers prime waterside viewing of the show – and provides a site
for live entertainment, music festivals, and outdoor film premieres.
Entry Plaza and Gateway
The totally new gateway to Disney’s California Adventure welcomes guests
into an immersive world of historic California streets as Walt experienced
them as a young artist arriving with big dreams.
A new visual icon in the tradition of Los Angeles, California’s great
entertainment palaces will draw guests into the heart of the attractions. This
new facility, which was inspired by Los Angeles’ historic Carthay Circle
Theatre that premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, will
house a next generation Walt Disney Story featuring an interactive
tribute to Walt’s California experiences, and his entertainment legacy
that continues world-wide today. Red Car trolleys reminiscent of the old Pacific
Electric Railway will travel up and down the main street. New dining and shopping
experiences and a slate of unique, live entertainment will bring energy to
the Walt Disney Plaza.
Hollywood Pictures Backlot
Hollywood Pictures Backlot will be a new home for a slate of special ticketed
events and chances to hear first hand from innovative directors, writers and
animators. An update of the popular family show “Playhouse Disney” will
provide an experience for younger children.
Golden State
The “ Golden State” area of the park will see the addition of
numerous new dining opportunities tied to the incredible bounty of California’s
farmland and its rich ethnically diverse food heritage. Food and wine festivals
that celebrate the seasons, tastes and cultures of the dynamic communities
of the Golden State will entertain guests, bringing unique one-of-a-kind experiences.
Preview Center
A Preview Center located on San Francisco Street in the Golden State region
of the park will feature models, Imagineering concepts – giving park
guests a sneak peek at the excitement that lies ahead. The Preview Center is
scheduled to open in late 2008.
About the Disneyland Resort:
Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort
includes the Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Parks, three
hotels with approximately 2,200 rooms and the 310,000 square foot retail, restaurant
and entertainment Downtown Disney District. With 20,000 employees, the Disneyland
Resort is Orange County’s largest single-site employer and a $3.6 billion
annual contributor to the local economy. In January 2004, the Resort welcomed
its 500 millionth guest since opening on July 17, 1955 .
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Zenia Mucha (818) 560-5300
The Walt Disney Company
Leslie Goodman /Lisa Haines (818) 560-7375
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Rob Doughty (714) 781-1565
Disneyland Resort
EDITORS NOTE: For
related images, please visit www.disneylandnews.com after 11
am Pacific time on October 17 th.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of our views and assumptions
regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements
are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update these statements.
Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such
differences may result from actions taken by the Company, including restructuring
or strategic initiatives, as well as from developments beyond the Company’s
control, including international, political, health concern and military developments
and changes in domestic and global economic conditions that may, among other
things affect travel and leisure businesses generally. Additional factors are
set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 2006 and in subsequent reports on Form 10-Q under Item 1A “Risk
Factors.”
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