Anaheim officials are planning a substantial transformation of the city’s Disneyland Resort district, proposing enhancements such as public art installations, improved streetscapes, water filling stations, a new pocket park and playgrounds, expanded sidewalks, and pedestrian bridges. The plan, referred to as Resort 2.0, also aims to connect the resort area to the Platinum Triangle. A primary point of discussion, however, centers on how to fund these proposed investments.
Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava has publicly advocated for Disney to contribute to the investment, arguing that the financial burden should not fall solely on residents and local hoteliers. During an October 13 city council meeting, Rubalcava noted that the city has significantly invested in the resort over the past three decades, including developing parking structures that have imposed no fees on Disney. She emphasized that residents in surrounding districts should not bear the expense of new funding mechanisms for Resort 2.0. Rubalcava, who is running for reelection and received support from Disney Resort interests, previously suggested a 3% gate tax on venues like Disneyland to bolster the public budget, though that proposal was not approved.
Conversely, Councilwoman Kristen Maahs, whose 2024 city council campaign received substantial support from Disney, underscored the importance of residents understanding that investments in the resort district contribute to an improved quality of life in their neighborhoods. She stressed the importance of communication to ensure residents see the relationship as mutually beneficial, rather than an adversarial one.
The discussion surrounding Resort 2.0’s funding occurs against a backdrop of the city’s recent financial challenges. Earlier this year, city council members addressed a roughly $45 million spending gap by utilizing funds from a parking structure sale and drawing from city reserves to adopt a balanced budget. Officials also anticipate that approximately half of the $120 million in new revenue expected after the 1997 Disneyland Resort expansion bonds are paid off later this year will be absorbed by the existing budget deficit. While the budget projects a positive financial surplus, these projections do not account for rising labor costs or several contracts set to expire this year and next.
Recent city expenditures also add to the financial context. Officials approved 16% pay raises for police officers over the next three years, a new contract totaling $45 million. City Spokesman Mike Lyster indicated this expense could potentially draw from the revenue freed up by the bond payoff. On the same night, the city approved a contract for up to $2.4 million with a consulting firm. This firm will assist in planning a public-private partnership for a transit connector between the resort area and the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center. City staff confirmed that the consultant's funding will come from tourism tax dollars designated for marketing and improving the resort area, not from the general fund.
The debate over resort investments also resonates with past public concerns about the influence of resort interests on city hall. These concerns escalated in 2022 following an FBI corruption probe that alleged disproportionate influence. In the period after the investigation, officials approved a $2 billion expansion of Disneyland, which included selling public streets despite some resident objections about a rushed process. During this time, a proposed gate tax was set aside, and plans to pursue a tax on ride-share services to the theme park were put on hold.
Beyond the resort district, Anaheim is experiencing other significant developments. The OC River Walk Project is underway, aiming to transform the Santa Ana River into recreational open space with new trails, pedestrian and bicycle bridges, and inflatable dams. Across the freeway, the Samueli family is developing OC Vibe, a mixed-use entertainment district around the Honda Center, featuring restaurants, hotels, parks, and a concert hall. The future of Angel Stadium is also under renewed scrutiny following an announcement earlier this year that the Angels owner was selling the team. Councilwoman Natalie Meeks recently called for a council discussion on a long-awaited stadium condition assessment report, potential negotiations, the surplus land act, and the city’s priorities for the property.
Councilwoman Meeks, who is running unopposed for reelection and received support from a political action committee partly funded by Disney, highlighted the city's potential to significantly increase its annual visitors from 25 million to 40 million. She asserted that focused staff effort and financial investment in these areas would yield substantial returns for the community, enabling the city to deliver essential services such as those provided by the fire and police departments.
