With all of the excitement over the recent opening of Disney's California Adventure, it is hard for many Guests to catch their breath enough to imagine the thought of yet another new theme park at the Disneyland Resort. Yet the Disneyland Resort is ever-growing, and in the words of Walt Disney over 45 years ago (as was quoted by his nephew Roy Disney just days ago on the opening of DCA) "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world." The Disney Imagineers certainly have their imaginations hard at work on the third Anaheim Disney theme park that is to be built on 80 acres of land across Harbor Boulevard.

Disneyland Resort President Cynthia Harriss spoke on the new park when plans began and the news was released last year. "Creating the magic of a new Disney park requires us to take a long-term view," she said. "A creative design, a careful planning process, an effective transportation and parking plan, and a quality family environment all must come together in cooperation with our neighbors. We are starting that process now, working with Anaheim residents, businesses and civic leaders to identify opportunities that will ensure that the Anaheim Resort Area remains a world-class destination for the decades ahead." However, Disney has not released much official information on what the theme park is to include. Disney officials simply give a wink and a smile when questioned on just exactly what Guests should expect from the new park set to open in 2010.

The third theme park will lie across Harbor Blvd from Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure on the land including the Fujushige family strawberry farm that Disney just purchased last year. Rumors for the third theme park include talks of a water park (some Guests may have visited Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and River Country water parks in Orlando) as well as the addition of some hit attractions from Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Some have been excited at the rumor of attractions being brought over from the new Tokyo Disney Seas, set to open adjacent to Tokyo Disneyland this August. If that park proves to be a hit as it is expected to be, Southern California Disney fans may be fortunate enough to have some of these attractions put in place in their own backyard.


Disney also has 28 acres of room for expansion in Disney's California Adventure. Once again no confirmed plans of what Disney plans to do with the land have been released but the rumors are certainly flying. Guests may get to see an Armageddon movie-based attraction (similar to Backdraft at Universal Studios in Hollywood) in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Rockin' Roller Coaster from Walt Disney World may also be recreated at DCA. A dark ride attraction based on the new Disney and Pixar movie Monsters, Inc. (due out in Fall 2001) may appear in years to come as well. All of these are highly speculative ideas and rumors through the grapevine, so Guests should not get excited about any particular attraction until Disney releases official details.

Disney officials plan on getting Guests reaction to the expansions thus far at the Resort before committing to any ideas for further development. Guest Researchers are already taking input from early visitors to Disney's California Adventure and Downtown Disney to see what the likes and dislikes of the new park are. The first impressions that Guests have of the new park will offer guiding assistance to Imagineers and Disneyland in deciding what aspects to include and not include in future endeavors.

While some worry at the thought of Disney making a huge investment in California Adventure and resort expansion right when some economists foresee a recession in the near future, Disney President of Theme Parks and Resorts Paul Pressler isn't concerned. Disney parks are built to last a lifetime, and thus should outlast any economic setbacks that may lie ahead.

Whatever does lie in the future, there is no doubt that Disney Guests and fans from all around have a lot to look forward to within the next decade both at the Disneyland Resort and beyond. Disney celebrates the opening of Tokyo Disney Seas in August this year, Paris' replica of MGM Studios in spring 2002, and Disneyland Hong Kong in 2005. The third theme park at the Disneyland Resort is to be completed around 2010.