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Disney parking lot set for third theme park site
August 14th, 2009, 3:00 am · 33 Comments · posted by Sarah Tully
Future Disney parking lot
Disney plans to build a massive parking lot on the field that it originally bought for a possible third Anaheim theme park.
That means that a new park likely would be at least six to 10 years away when the lot is no longer needed.
Disney wants to add 2,570 new parking spots for guests to the Harbor Boulevard site, eating up the majority of the remaining open space on a former strawberry field that the company bought about 11 years ago in anticipation of building a third theme park.
The new parking lot plan is set to go before the Anaheim Planning Commission at 2:30 p.m. Mondayat City Hall, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd. City officials are recommending that the plan be approved, said Sheri Vander Dussen, the city’s planning director.
The extra temporary parking space is needed during the Disney’s California Adventure expansion through 2012, said Suzi Brown, a spokeswoman for the Disneyland Resort.
Already, Disney closed the 2,226-space Timon parking lot where it is building the 12-acre Cars Land as part of the $1-billion California Adventure expansion. See a full map of California Adventure expansion plans.
“The presence of a temporary parking lot at this location in no way enhances or discounts the potential of future investment at this location,” Brown said. ”We’ll grow business when and where it makes sense to do so. But our focus at this time is on the expansion of Disney’s California Adventure.”
Disney also has an agreement with the Anaheim GardenWalk mall and the Anaheim Convention Center to use their parking facilities when needed, Brown said.
The proposal would allow Disney to run the parking lot for at least six years with a possible extension for a total of 10 years. The city wants to reserve space for the possible Anaheim Fixed-Guidewaysystem — a transit link, like a monorail, between a planned transportation hub and the tourist area. If the guideway isn’t ready in six years, Disney could keep its parking lot for up to 10 years, under the proposal.
Parking will be allowed behind the "No Parking" sign soon.
Already, 1,701 parking spaces are on the former strawberry field for overflow parking from Disney and the Anaheim Convention Center, as well as for employees. Disney allowed growers to harvest strawberries on the site until recently, Brown said.
Construction could begin within the next six months, Brown said.
Visitors would take shuttle buses from the lot across from the Anaheim Convention Center north on Harbor Boulevard to the entrance of the theme parks, Brown said. The parking lot would serve as overflow parking on busy days.
An extra left-turn lane would be added from Disney Way to Harbor Boulevard to improve the traffic flow, according to the city report.
Charles Ahlers, president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau, said more parking is needed in the area, especially when major conventions come to town. He said Disney could still develop the property later to bring in more visitors.
“Obviously, we’d rather have a great development there, but for short-term help, parking is OK,” Ahlers said. “But I think Disney is being cautious, as well as they should be cautious.”
Hundreds of residents live in apartments just east of the proposed parking lot. An 8-acre band of land will be around the parking lot as a buffer, Brown said.
Rosie Tapia, the apartment manager for the 152-unit French Quarter Apartments, said she would prefer to have parking there instead of an empty lot, where cats and other critters congregate.
“I think a parking lot is better idea. I think it’s better for Disneyland, because it’s getting bigger,” Tapia said.
Todd Ament, a planning commissioner who is also president of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, declined to say how he would vote. However, from a business perspective, he said he thinks Disney is making a “smart move.” He said Disney is focusing on the expansion of the current park for now, so it should use the land it has for parking needs.
Currently, Disney has 28,893 parking space in the Anaheim Resort tourist area, according to city records.
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“company bought about 11 years ago in anticipation of building a third theme park.” More like harrassed the owners with the power of the city until they sold. One even killed himself.
If the anaheim planning comission does allow disney to do this, I think it is only fair that Disney fits some of the bill for the anaheim fixed guideway project.
Disney owns Anaheim, they are the planning comission. The tail always wags the dog when it has this type of clout.
Never mind that Disney contributes tens of millions of revenue to the city every year. You’re right Disney is evil and owns everything and pulls all of the strings.
All we needed was a third Disneyland, after California Adventure went down in flames.
Now the former strawberry field will be paved over and become a parking lot because they couldn’t figure out how to charge three admission prices for what should be one theme park.
I think there was a “story” behind how Disney got that land - the lad where the strawberries were grown that had been in the family of the growers for a long time. I think that story needs to be re-hashed and wasn’t there a suicide in hte family that lost the land tho the younger generation, as they were pocketing the money, said oh no it had nothing to do with losing the land. Please retell this whole story. That this land is being used as a parking lot is an insult to that family and to the community that cherished that remaining strawberry field in the midst of development.
The story was the owner would not sell to Disney at any price even though he could have made a fortune
He could have move to the San Joaquin Valley and had an even bigger strawberry farm and money left over
So he did the honable (and stupid) thing and killed himself
The wife and kids sold out to Disney ended up with the money
And Disney let them grow on part of the land for many years
And I think one of the kids opened up another strawberry farm in the San Joaquin Valley
“a former strawberry field that the company bought about 11 years ago in anticipation of building a third theme park.”
I live only about 1/4 mile from this site. You are quite right. The owner was a Japanese/American who had owned for a long period of time. The last name began with an “F”.
Disney Corp tried to forceably obtain his land, thru the disreputable use of condemnation, via Eminent Domain proceedings, after the owner refused to sell. The grief put upon him by Disney, and the collusion of the Anaheim City Machine, caused him to commit suicide.
My father knew a man who became suicidal, after the same Eminent Domain garbage was put on him by the City of Santa Ana, when the developers who built the “Main Place”, succeeded in condemning his home, which was across the street.
The same garbage got Miguel Pulido elected mayor of Santa Ana. Back in the late 70’s early 80’s, the City Council, tried to “beautify” downtown Santa Ana. They tried to get rid of “Pulido’s Muffler Shop”. They did not want to sell. The Register carried articles about this when it happened. Public backlash propelled Miguel Pulido in the mayor’s seat.
By the way, Pulido family, have you ever said “Thank You” to the family that lent your father the original funds to START that muffler shop? The man’s initials are BJH. His wife survives, if you care at all.
I don’t know if they should be one solitary theme park. California Adventure should be marketed for what it is, not a Disney Theme park… as far as the Disney name, there is a certain endearment that is synonymous with it, and that is lost in Cal. Adventure. I think Cars should have been added to Disneyland, why should a kid have to go to both parks to see two movies they love? A 3rd park is just heinous, as they are running out of movies anyway.
Disney is the food that feeds Anaheim. Let them do whatever they want. It’s only going to benefit the city.
This land is your land, this land is my land, this land belongs to Disneyland, thru injustice and corruption….. Cmon everyone sing it.
This land wasn’t made for you and me.
Anaheim has always and will always do whatever Disney wants. Anaheim’s greatest source of revenue is the “bed tax,” most of which is generated by Disneyland. Disneyland supports the City of Anaheim. They always get their way.
If it weren’t for Disney, Anaheim would be another third world city like Santa Ana. The family that previously owned the land got fair market value for it. To bad someone had mental illness and felt the need to commit suicide but farmland in the OC has been disappearing for years and faster then botox is injected in Newport Coast.
I agree.
Anaheim was turning into a Dump filled with drug trafficking and prostitution if the walt Disney company had not pushed for the expansion non of the beautification would have happened. the area still needs help but already it is becoming a world class resort. Even with the slow start of California adventure the area has prospered. The both parks have seen huge crowds and when they are ready a third park will be a great addition besides, last i heard they were focusing on a third gate for 2016. After reading this announcement the dates coincide with the six year temporary parking plan they are looking at. They also have another huge parking structure in the plans that will soon be announced which will be north of Gardenwalk. Once that opens this temporary lot will not be needed.
Anyone know how much Disney paid for the land? I hear they initially tried to buy it years a go for a few million but ended up after long family hold-out paying something like $99 million. Any truth to that?
So much for the end of the recession.
If the family wasn’t forced into selling the property in 1998, they could have sold it in 2004/2005 for at least three times the amount that they received in 1998.
DisneyLand … Your no DisneyWorld !!!
You’re right, it is better than DisneyWorld. You don’t have to take a bus, monorail or boat to get somewhere and there are more attractions in the 2 Disneyland parks than the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom combined, so your dollars go a lot further at Disneyland than at DisneyWorld.
Warren: I think that is a lame thing to say seeing how the family wasn’t forced into selling it. And they apparently were not thinking about the future land prices will always fluctuate and there was no telling in 1998 whether the market for that amount of land would have increased or decreased. Maybe you should think before you make a stupid comment.
Did I hit a nerve Troy? When I returned to California in 1997, I felt that real estate value was really low. Knowning that CA went into a harsh recession in the early 90s I assumed the market was just beginning to rebound. Knowning that the market goes in cycles my assumption was an up tend was just starting; thus, I starting investing in Real Estate. Gee, I even had the forethought to start selling my investments in 2004. I think your post is STUPID.
…or they could have sold today and got less than in 1998.
could have, should have…
Also note that the new parking lot will benefit the City of Anaheim, as the lot will also be used for the Anaheim Convention Center, which is owned by the city.
Plus the fact that the city wants to tear down the original Parking Structure for the Convention Center (entrance off of Katella Avenue) and build a new hotel along with more meeting space for events such as the NAMM Show.
This is not just for Disney, it is for the entire Resort Area. And IMHO, it is a good use for something is just a pile of dirt. The area will be landscaped and will look better. Note what the resident that lives near the site said, that she would rather have it as a Parking Lot that is maintaned, has security and will be kept clean by Disney.
A few years from now, everyone can look at the current economic climate, the need for the land for things like an Anaheim Transit system from the planned ARTIC station to the Resort area.
I don’t see this thing not being approved.
I feel disney should pay for some of the fixed guideway system that is going to get built connecting artic to the resort district. its only fair that they foot the bill for this infrastructure improvement as 90% of the ridership will be associated with disney in some sort of manner (workers, tourists etc)
I cant wait for the disneyland empire to implode. Too many too close together, what is the point?
I cant wait for the disneyland empire to implode. Too many too close together, what is the point?
Keep waiting Marley. I think Disneyland will be here longer than you and I.
And I’m amazed there are two “Troy” guys posting here! I didn’t post the above comment from “Troy”, but someone is using my name! Out of a county of 3.5 Million people, I’m surprised there is more than one guy named Troy!
What a bunch of Whinney Sissies You all are. Disney put Anaheim on the map. All the Apartments and Homes are DIVES and need to be destroyed anyway. Disney should give all residents fair market price and move them all to other locations and build what they want. Deal with it. It’s called Progress folks!
so funny how much some people hate disney. whats wrong? did your parents never take you there when you were kids? without disneyland anaheim would be NOTHING!
i say give them imminent domain over all of anaheim
A now entering Mexico sign should be placed at the exit of the resort
This should be a non-issue! Disney removed a lot of parking where the Carsland is being built at DCA and until they can build another structure probably on the Pumba Lot across from The Shops at Garden Walk this will simply replace parking that was removed. The land is already zoned and that is why the people of Anaheim created the Resort Zone. It is not going to be permanent, but is better than leaving the land vacant. Going to the planning commission is a formality as the zoning is already in place. I live in Anaheim and am willing to bet that the majority of Disney haters don’t even live in our city. If you have some specific against Disney, this is not the forum for your trash talk.