The Walt Disney Company recently announced an ambitious $60 billion expansion plan for its theme parks and cruise line over the next decade. This investment will fund massive growth and capitalize on Disney’s strong library of intellectual property. Disney will build expansive themed lands and attractions based on popular animated films like Frozen and Zootopia in its parks worldwide. The company plans to explore characters and stories not yet featured in the parks on a grand scale.
Frozen and Zootopia Attractions Coming to Asia Parks
New Frozen themed lands are under construction at Hong Kong Disneyland (finished), Tokyo Disney Resort, and Disneyland Paris. Hong Kong Disneyland opened World of Frozen on November 20, 2023, with two new rides, a restaurant, and interactive entertainment. Shanghai Disney Resort debuts a highly anticipated Zootopia land on December 20, 2023. The highlight is the innovative, trackless “Zootopia: Hot Pursuit” dark ride that will immerse guests in an exciting chase through the mammal metropolis.
Massive Investment to Fund Growth
The $60 billion parks and cruise expansion plan marks a huge increase from the prior decade’s $30 billion investment. Disney will pour capital into its existing sites to greatly expand capacity and introduce beloved stories not yet featured. Disney has over 1,000 acres of land ready for development across its current resorts, equivalent to approximately seven more Disneyland theme parks. The company also plans to nearly double the Disney Cruise Line fleet by 2026.
Disney World and Disneyland Key Growth Areas
While Disney World and Disneyland cannot physically expand their footprints much more, significant redevelopment is planned. Disney can add specialty themed districts and innovative attractions on available land around and between the existing parks. For example, at Disneyland, Disney is working with Anaheim to update outdated planning guidelines to allow flexible development on the resort perimeter. This would enable Disney to build immersive lands and experiences related to Zootopia, Frozen, Tangled, and more popular stories.
Capitalizing on Deep Well of IP
Disney boasts a vast library of intellectual property. However, its parks have only scratched the surface of possibilities to bring characters and franchises to life. For instance, Disney plans to explore untapped stories like Coco, Encanto, Black Panther’s kingdom of Wakanda, and many others through its massive investment in growth. The expansion will satisfy pent-up demand, as research shows over 700 million people globally have an affinity for Disney but have yet to visit a Disney park. The influx of capital into high-quality immersive experiences will strengthen connections with fans new and old.
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