Perhaps the most significant year for Disneyland in almost 20 years was this past year.
Despite the lack of significant new development projects, 2024 may have been Disneyland’s most significant year since the 2001 expansion of Disney California Adventure. The DisneylandForward project, which was authorized by Anaheim this year, altered the regulations that have controlled the resort’s land usage since that expansion. The new regulations allow Disney to build hotels and attractions on property that was previously set aside for parking. Without the modifications, Disneyland would not have had the opportunity to expand on hundreds of acres of property.
What will happen at the resort next? Last August, Disneyland fans had their first official look at the D23 event in Anaheim. Josh D. Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, unveiled a number of upcoming attractions at Disney California Adventure, including two new rides on the Avengers Campus and brand-new boat rides with Avatar and Coco themes.
Legal approvals and idea plans alone, however, are insufficient to fulfill fans’ fantasies. At Disneyland or any other tourist attraction, people create the enchantment. The cast members of Disneyland approved new labor contracts in July, earning them what union organizers referred to as the largest compensation rises in history.
14,000 Disneyland Resort employees are covered by the three-year agreement, which will increase their hourly wages by more than $6 for many of them. Character and parade cast members joined the Actors Equity Association when other Disneyland workers opted to organize union representation in 2024. As the year came to a close, Anaheim’s Measure L effort resulted in Disneyland agreeing to a $233 million settlement over back wages due to thousands of cast members.
The court still needs to ratify the settlement, so the cast members won’t see the money in their bank accounts until next year. However, with that plus the wage increases obtained by the union, Disneyland has positioned itself to continue being the preferred employer among nearby theme parks.
Finding the artistic direction that will enable Disney to use its actors to capitalize on the capabilities the resort now has is the key now. The debut of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure this year demonstrated Disneyland’s willingness to take risks and be inventive.
With Splash Mountain, millions of Disney fans were delighted. However, the company’s executives determined that the ride’s concept needs to be changed from the turbulent South of the South to the more inclusive Princess and the Frog. Although a poncho is still advised, the end product is another musical thrill that all fans ought to be able to enjoy without hesitation.
Of course, things are not always good. Many of those fans are left with a sometimes difficult reservation system as a result of Disneyland’s reliance on Magic Key yearly passes to generate attendance, while other fans must take advantage of seasonal discounts to locate an inexpensive day to come. However, Disneyland has laid the groundwork for decades of expansion as it approaches its 70th anniversary in 2025. In the upcoming year and beyond, it will be the responsibility of Disney managers and Imagineers to fulfill that commitment.
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