Springing into Disney's future
We have big news from Disneyland, as well as a first on-site look at a new resort coming to Arizona.
Are you one of the hundreds of thousands of theme park fans who have traveled to Orlando for Spring Break this week? Crowds have flooded Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando this week, as Florida's high season revs up.
I have been on the road this week, too, but not to Orlando. Before I get to my trip to Arizona, let's check in with some important news about the future of Disney's original theme park resort.
DisneylandForward proposal clears its first hurdle: The Anaheim Planning Commission voted 5-1 this week to recommend the DisneylandForward proposal to the Anaheim City Council. The next - and final - step for Disneyland's land-use proposal is approval by the Anaheim City Council, which is expected to vote on it next month. If approved, the proposal will allow Disneyland to develop new attractions and hotels on land currently designated for surface parking lots, including the Toy Story and Downtown Disney lots.
Bouza to leave Walt Disney Imagineering: As Disneyland prepares to take the next step into its future, there are management changes coming to Disney's theme park and attraction design division. Barbara Bouza has announced that she will be leaving this month.
Shanghai Disneyland teases new expansion: The Disney parks in California are not the only ones planning new attractions. As it announced a construction milestone for its third hotel this week, Shanghai Disneyland revealed the start of development for a new land at the theme park.
Disney shares fresh looks at its new Bahamian experience: We are just about three months away now from the opening of Disney's new private port of call in The Bahamas. Disney is sharing new photos of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera.
New attraction spotlight - Tiana's Bayou Adventure: Of all the new attractions in 2024, Tiana's Bayou Adventure raises the most questions for me. Sure, I can't wait to experience the year's new coasters, especially those with novel designs. But Tiana's represents a truly unique effort. Disney has chosen to fix what many fans considered not to be broken. And by that act, Disney is hoping to right what many others considered an uncorrected wrong.
Also from Disney: New entry gates coming to Disneyland theme parks
Elsewhere...
Can Arizona's VAI Resort reinvent the concert experience? Arizona's VAI Resort might be known best to theme park fans as the site of the Mattel Adventure Park. But the resort, now under construction in Glendale, also deserves attention for a novel design of its hotel and amphitheater. I had the opportunity to tour one of the four towers in the 1,100-room resort last week with VAI Destination Group CEO Grant Fisher. [Includes video]
More news
Thorpe Park tops off the track for Hyperia
Kentucky Kingdom extends its 2024 season
Holiday World to offer free eclipse viewing, too
And here's a fun one on the Discussion Forum: What would you choose for Your Last Ride... EVER!?
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Best wishes for a great week, and thanks again for reading,
Robert Niles