This article is part of a series of profiles of CalChamber member companies that are contributing to the state’s economic strength and ability to stay competitive in a global economy. Visit California Works to learn more about this series and read past and future profiles.
The city of Anaheim and the area around it can look forward to new revenue, jobs and community features, thanks to The Walt Disney Company and its DisneylandForward Project.
Disneyland fans around the globe also will enjoy benefits from the project.
The Disneyland Resort has grown to be an iconic attraction in Anaheim since first opening to visitors in 1955. DisneylandForward, which received final approval from the Anaheim City Council in May 2024, marks the first update to the resort’s development plans since the 1990s.
DisneylandForward is projected to invest a minimum of $1.9 billion over the first 10 years in new theme park attractions and lodging options. Other project investments include community infrastructure, housing, park improvements, and more. The project will be paid for without public funding.
Anaheim Economy
Community benefits from DisneylandForward have been highlighted in an independent economic analysis by the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) College of Business and Economics.
The analysis found that every $1 billion Disney invests in new theme park experiences at the Disneyland Resort produces benefits for Anaheim as follows:
Construction Period (4 years) (total)
• 4,480 jobs;
• $11 million in tax revenues;
• $1.1 billion in economic output.
Operations (annual)
• 2,292 jobs;
• $15 million in tax revenues;
• $253 million in economic output.
Based on 2023 city of Anaheim costs, the tax revenue from each $1 billion investment is the equivalent of:
• four new fire companies; or
• a four-acre park and one year of operation costs; or
• 44 new policy officers; or
• more than 102 miles of road improvements.
Disney in Community
Contributing to the community in which the resort is located has been a longtime commitment for Disney. In 2023, cast members in Anaheim provided more than 5,000 hours of service through DisneyVoluntEARS.
Cast members completed four park beautification projects and conducted more than 80 mentoring and career development sessions. In addition, 25 high school students from Anaheim received one-on-one mentoring from Disney VoluntEARS.
The company awarded grants to 15 local nonprofits, supplied 400 students with school essentials, and donated 40,000 children’s books to the Anaheim Public Library.
Disney’s successful mentorship and career development program for Anaheim will be continued as part of the DisneylandForward project.
California Economic Benefits
Tourism to Orange County, home to the Disneyland Resort, accounted for $15.8 billion in tourism-related employment and spending in 2023, more than 10% of the $150.4 billion total for California., according to travelmattersca.com.
That translated to $1.3 billion in tax revenue for Orange County and 132, 700 jobs, versus $12.7 billion in tax revenue for California, and 1.2 million jobs.
The CSUF economic analysis concluded that every $1 billion invested in new theme part experiences at the Disneyland Resort produces for California over 4 years of the construction period: 7,836 jobs total, $66 million in tax revenue and $1.9 billion in economic output.
Annual operations of the expansion produce 3,634 jobs, $21 million in tax revenues and $508 million in economic output, according to the CSUF analysis.
More information about the project is available at www.disneylandforward.com.
