Nearly two decades ago, former Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner ordered up a grand plan for Southern California. "Amaze me," he told his staff.
They brought him visions of a massive expansion near Disneyland that included an international theme park, three resort hotels and a 6-acre lake.
That vision never came to fruition, but Disney did open a second theme park in 2001 -- part of a larger goal to build up the Disney Resort and entice tourists to stay longer, like they do in Orlando.
Now, Disney is once again mulling its third act.
Disney won't say what the latest plan is for Anaheim, but sources familiar with the planning process said Disney wants to mimic its Florida blueprint in Anaheim: add time-share units, bring its popular cruise line to the West Coast and zero in on high-end consumers with boutique hotels. New attractions for its lackluster California Adventure are in the works, and Disney is giving fresh consideration to its long-promised third theme park.
Now in complete recovery from 9/11 -- and sitting on a pile of cash after posting 30% revenue increases following its successful 50th anniversary -- Disney is looking ambitiously toward the future.
"It's about changing Anaheim into Orlando -- making this into a national and international tourist space," said blogger Jim Hill, a Disney watchdog.
But Disney's ambitions are ruffling feathers in Anaheim, where some city leaders believe the corporate giant has tried to bully a town that has been its ally for more than 50 years.
The Walt Disney Co. sued the city last month to protect zoning in the 2.2-square-mile Resort District and block construction of a residential project that includes affordable housing. This week, it joined business leaders in seeking a ballot initiative that would lock in the resort-themed zoning it desired and require a citywide vote before changes could be made.
Corporate attorneys succeeded in forcing a councilwoman to abstain from voting on the housing proposal. And it held confidential meetings with city officials, presenting to council members a preview of some of their closely guarded plans.
Disneyland President Ed Grier declined to give specifics but noted that some plans are "around the corner."
"It is very, very important for us," Grier said. "I don't think that can be underestimated.... There's much more of an opportunity for us here."
