Last yr could have been essentially the most consequential yr for Disneyland in greater than 20 years.
Disneyland didn't undertake any major latest construction projects in 2024, however it could still have been the resort's biggest yr since Disney California Adventure's expansion in 2001. This yr, Anaheim approved the DisneylandForward initiative, which modified the principles governing land use on the resort since that expansion. Under the brand new rules, Disney can construct attractions and hotels on land previously reserved for parking lots. This will unencumber a whole bunch of acres of land for expansions that will not have been possible at Disneyland without the changes.
So what’s next for the resort? Disneyland fans got their first official have a look at the D23 event in Anaheim last August. Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, unveiled several latest attractions coming to Disney California Adventure within the near future, including two latest rides at Avengers Campus and latest Coco and Avatar-themed boat rides.
Still, legal approvals and concept plans aren’t enough to make fans' dreams come true. The individuals are what make Disneyland or some other tourist destination magical. In July, Disneyland solid members voted to approve latest labor contracts that gave them what union leaders called “the largest wage increases ever.”
The three-year contract covers 14,000 Disneyland Resort Cast Members and increases hourly wages for a lot of them by greater than $6 over three years. Other Disneyland employees also voted to prepare union representation in 2024, with character and parade performers joining the Actors' Equity Association. The yr of labor news ended with Disneyland agreeing to a $233 million settlement to repay payments owed to 1000’s of Cast Members in consequence of Anaheim's Measure L initiative.
This money is not going to be credited to the actors' bank accounts until next yr, because the court still has to approve the deal. But with that and union-negotiated wage increases, Disneyland has positioned itself to stay the employer of selection amongst local theme parks.
What's essential now could be finding the creative direction that may enable Disney to leverage its solid to make the most of the opportunities the resort now enjoys. This yr, Disneyland has shown that it is just not afraid to make daring creative decisions, as demonstrated by the opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
Millions of Disney fans were blissful with Splash Mountain. But Disney leadership decided the corporate needed to alter the ride's theme from the troubled “South of the South” to a more inclusive “The Princess and the Frog.” The result’s one other musical experience that each one fans can enjoy without reservation – but a poncho continues to be really helpful.
Of course, not every part is rosy. Because Disneyland relies on Magic Key annual passes to drive attendance, a lot of these fans must contend with a sometimes frustrating reservation system, while other fans must depend on seasonal discounts to seek out an inexpensive time to go to. But Disneyland will have a good time its seventieth anniversary in 2025, laying the muse for many years of growth. Now it's as much as Disney executives and Imagineers to deliver on that promise in the brand new yr and beyond.
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