During The Walt Disney Company’s Annual Shareholders Meeting on Thursday, CEO Bob Iger confirmed that Disney has no intention of building new theme parks in the future. This announcement comes after a shareholder inquired about the company’s plans to expand internationally with new Disney Resorts, potentially following in the footsteps of existing parks in places like Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
While much of the meeting celebrated the past year’s successes, Iger’s comments regarding new theme parks signaled a shift in Disney’s approach to growth. Despite some fan hopes for additional parks, especially as Universal Orlando Resort gears up for the launch of Epic Universe, Disney is instead turning its attention to enhancing and expanding its existing parks.
The conversation about Disney expanding to new international markets has been a topic of interest for years, particularly as Disney Parks fans watch competitors make their moves. Disney’s global expansions, such as Disneyland Paris Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort, have been massive successes, and many hoped that Disney would continue this momentum with additional parks around the globe. However, Iger’s response dashed those hopes, emphasizing that the company’s priority lies with developing the existing parks.
In addition to his comments about theme parks, Iger also addressed the idea of expanding Disney’s resort-style destinations, like the popular Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii. While he acknowledged that Aulani is beloved by guests, he confirmed that there are no plans to build similar resort destinations at this time.
Instead, Iger shifted focus to Disney Cruise Line, reaffirming its commitment to growing its fleet. Disney plans to add seven more ships in the near future, which will further extend its reach to guests worldwide.
While the decision to halt new theme park construction may be a blow to fans hoping for new Disney destinations, there’s still much to look forward to within the existing parks. Disneyland Resort is preparing for its largest expansion ever with the “Disneyland Forward” project.
Walt Disney World Resort continues to undergo significant transformations, including a Disney Villains land at Magic Kingdom Park, a Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and a Monsters, Inc. (2001) land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Iger also pointed to the exciting developments in international parks, such as Tokyo Disney Resort’s new Fantasy Springs area and Shanghai Disneyland’s new Zootopia (2016) land. In fact, Iger shared that Disney has “more projects underway around the world than at any time in our history,” demonstrating that while new theme parks may be off the table, the company’s growth and innovation continue to flourish in other ways.
Although Disney’s announcement that it will no longer pursue new parks might mark the end of an era, Iger’s statements show that Disney’s future still holds plenty of exciting surprises for theme park fans worldwide. Disney is focusing its resources on expanding its existing parks and developing new, immersive experiences that will continue to captivate visitors for years to come.
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