In the most aggressive expansion in its 35-year history, Disneyland unveiled a 10-year plan Friday to add a host of new attractions to the flagship of the Walt Disney Co.
"This is the '90s - the decade we re-invent Disneyland," Michael Eisner, chairman and chief executive said at a news conference at the Disneyland Hotel.The ambitious Disneyland expansion plan calls for new attractions or elaborate stage productions to be introduced every year through 1996, and then again in 1999 with the opening of "Hollywoodland," a replica of Hollywood's golden age featuring four new attractions.
In addition, the Walt Disney Co. will build a second theme park - theme to be announced - either on property adjacent to Disneyland or in Long Beach, next to the Queen Mary.
The plans involve the first major expansion of Disneyland since Bear Country, now called Critter Country, was added in 1972.
The renovated Disneyland might be unrecognizable to founder Walt Disney, who built the original park in 1955 as a showcase for his animated characters.
Eisner would not divulge the total cost, but said the new theme park alone would probably reach up to $1 billion."I can tell you the total cost is slightly less than the national debt and a lot more fun to think about." Plans are also in the works for expanding Disney World and Epcot Center as well as doubling the size of the recently opened Disney-MGM Studios park and adding new resort hotels, all in Orlando, Fla.
The "Disney decade" will also see the opening of the first Disneyland in Europe, outside Paris, in 1992, and the expansion of the successful Tokyo Disneyland, Eisner said.
The Disneyland expansion plans also include:
- In 1991, the opening of a first new attraction, "The Young Indiana Jones Adventure Spectacular," produced in collaboration with George Lucas.
- In 1993, the year Mickey turns 65, Disneyland will open a new 4-acre area called "Mickey's Starland" that will also feature an underwater attraction based on the film "The Little Mermaid."
- In 1994, the opening of a completely renovated Tomorrowland that will include a "Star Wars" adventure produced by Lucas called "Alien Encounter."
- In 1995, Disneyland's 40th anniversary, the park will feature a yearlong event that has not been planned yet.
- In 1996, opening of "Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers" in which guests act like movie extras chasing bad guys through a comic book set.
- In 1999, opening of "Hollywoodland," with a Roger Rabbit-inspired area called "Toontown" and four new attractions.