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Disneyland, the beloved theme park in Anaheim, California, has exciting plans for a massive expansion over the next several decades. The proposed $1.9 billion project, known as “DisneyForward,” aims to transform the original Disneyland park and add new immersive attractions and amenities.

The Disneyland Expansion Proposal

The DisneyForward plan involves loosening the zoning restrictions around the Disneyland Resort, which were established in 1994. According to Disney, these old zoning rules limit their ability to create the integrated, seamless experiences that modern theme park visitors expect.

In exchange for more flexibility, Disney has offered substantial benefits to the city of Anaheim:

• $30 million for affordable housing
• $8 million for parks
• $35 million for road improvements near the resort

What’s Included In the Disneyland Expansion Plan?

While specific new lands and attractions have not been confirmed, Disney has provided some tantalizing examples of what could be added, inspired by their other global theme parks:

New Disneyland Themed Lands

“Frozen” land, similar to the one at Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland’s Frozen Land, known as the World of Frozen, is the world’s first and largest Frozen-themed attraction.

It features flagship attractions such as Frozen Ever After, a family-friendly boat ride, Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, a high-speed rollercoaster, and Playhouse in the Woods, an interactive show featuring Anna, Elsa, and Olaf.

“Zootopia” area, like the one in Shanghai Disneyland

Shanghai Disneyland’s Zootopia Land, the first-ever land inspired by the film, offers an immersive theme park experience that transports visitors into the vibrant and colorful world of Zootopia.

The main attraction, Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, is a trackless dark ride where guests are recruited to help the Zootopia Police Department solve the mysterious kidnapping of pop star Gazelle.

“Tangled” Themed Land

The possible Tangled Theme Land in Disneyland’s expansion is expected to be an immersive experience, transporting visitors into the world of Rapunzel. The centerpiece of the area would be a boat attraction, Tangled: The Ride, which would feature an incredible audio-animatronic of Rapunzel herself, and the rest of the land would be lit with lanterns in the evening and feature a restaurant, Tangled Tree Tavern.

“Peter Pan” Theme Land

A Peter Pan themed land in Disneyland’s expansion could whisk guests away to Never Land, with a thrilling flight alongside Peter Pan and Tinker Bell as a possible centerpiece attraction. The area could be teeming with Lost Boys’ hideouts, Skull Rock looming on the horizon, and opportunities to interact with mischievous mermaids.

New Disneyland Attractions

• Attractions based on popular franchises like “Toy Story” and “Tron”
• A new “Avatar” attraction, as confirmed by Disney CEO Bob Iger

Concept art released by Disney shows potential development areas to the west and southeast of the existing parks, currently used for parking.

Economic Benefits

An economic study conducted by Cal State Fullerton estimated that for every $1 billion Disney invests in the expansion, over 4,000 jobs and $1.1 billion in economic output would be generated during the construction phase alone.

Once completed, the investment could generate $253 million in annual economic output, $15 million in tax revenue, and 2,292 permanent jobs.

Disney itself has projected even higher numbers, with 8,960 jobs created during construction and 4,584 added during operations. The company has also promised that all construction jobs will be union labor, with a focus on hiring Anaheim residents and veterans.

Public Response to Disneyland Expansion

The DisneyForward plan has faced both support and opposition from the public. At a recent City Planning Commission meeting, union members, hoteliers, residents, and Disneyland employees voiced their approval, while others raised concerns about the potential environmental impact.

An environmental impact report released by Anaheim last September acknowledged that the expansion could significantly affect air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and noise levels.

However, it also stated that the impact on transportation and neighborhood aesthetics would be minimal.

After a contentious six-hour meeting, the Planning Commission voted 5-1 to send the plan to the Anaheim City Council for review and potential approval before the end of 2024.

A Decades-Long Project

If approved, the DisneyForward expansion would unfold gradually over the next several decades, with an estimated completion date of 2064. The total investment from Disney is projected to reach $2.5 billion by the time the project is finished.

As Disneyland approaches its 70th anniversary in 2025, this ambitious plan promises to keep the park fresh, exciting, and at the forefront of theme park innovation for generations to come.

In Rancho Cucamonga, a culinary resurrection is underway at Soup ‘n Fresh, the new family-owned restaurant resurrecting the beloved Souplantation experience. Just weeks into its soft opening, the eatery is drawing huge crowds nostalgic for the endless soup, salad, and carbs they thought were gone forever.

Lines have stretched down Foothill Boulevard with eager diners waiting hours just to recapture the comforting tastes of the iconic buffet chain that closed in 2020. Yelp reviews rave about the familiar flavors and setup at Soup ‘n Fresh’s prime location – the very same building that previously housed a Souplantation.

“Souplantation is back!” exclaimed Yelper Arianna R. “A different company though, no affiliation with Souplantation! But yes, it’s literally the exact same but fresher, cleaner, and better.”

For the passionate Souplantation fanbase, Soup ‘n Fresh represents a reunion with an old friend. While not officially tied to the original, the new owners have painstakingly recreated the salad bar, soups, pastas, baked goods and ambiance that became a generational favorite.

“The setup and offerings appear strikingly similar – diners start by assembling a fresh salad from an extensive toppings bar before proceeding to the all-you-can-eat soup, pasta, pizza, baked goods and dessert stations,” wrote one enthusiastic reviewer after visiting on opening day.

Longtime loyalists are overjoyed to have their Souplantation standbys back. “The chicken noodle soup and the clam chowder is spot on. So is the blueberry muffin (smaller now), ranch dressing and the pizza,” affirmed Yelper Abby L. “The biggest difference is the smaller sizes/lack of ingredients.”

That dedicated nostalgia factor is clearly driving the initial crowds. Photos on Yelp show lines trailing out the front door, with one reviewer admitting “I got sunburned, but it was worth the wait.”

For many, a meal at Soup ‘n Fresh represents an edible trip down memory lane. “We missed souplantation,” said Arianna R. Another customer told ABC7 fondly, “My mother and grandmother used to bring me to the location when it used to be Souplantation.”

The new owners at Soup ‘n Fresh embraced that deep community connection from day one. They hosted friends, family, and former Souplantation employees for a private tasting event ahead of the public opening, ensuring the flavors sparked those cravings for the good old days.

On Yelp, early guests commented that the experience was not a complete replica of Souplantation’s heyday. Selection is slightly reduced due to limited kitchen capacity, a few fan favorite salad toppings are MIA, and popular items like pizza and baked potatoes were quickly depleted by ravenous crowds.

But in the eyes of most reviewers, any imperfections just add to the homespun charm. “As this is now a family run business, the ability of the staff to keep up with the food and maintain consistency is a bit lacking,” noted Abby L. “Now, at the time of this review the restaurant has only been open for two weeks and to far greater fanfare than they likely expected.”

Those opening struggles seem like a small price to pay for a chance to return to their beloved buffet. “You can tell that some of the employees it was their first time working in a restaurant/buffet. But they were absolutely nice,” said Arianna R. “I know this place just opened so I’m cutting them slack on them running out of plates, spoons, and fan favorite foods.”

For Soup ‘n Fresh, the enduring loyalty of Souplantation’s customer base is both a blessing and a burden in these early days. “The demand is crazy,” co-owner Brian Lopez told CBS. “People are driving from all over the place like Oceanside and the San Fernando Valley.”

While the full grand opening isn’t until April 2, hungry fans have already secured Soup ‘n Fresh as a slam dunk success by voting with their appetite. Yelp reviewer Shanon Y. gushed, “I’m SO happy to report that I tried it out and there is seriously nothing else out there more comparable than this new soup and salad buffet.”

In the bittersweet aftermath of COVID-19’s devastating impact on the hospitality industry, the miraculous resurrection of the Souplantation concept is nourishing souls as well as bellies. For a small but fervent following, Soup ‘n Fresh is dishing out the ultimate comfort food: pure nostalgia.