Three more locations have been flagged as possible sites for a newly built Disneyland, as rumors circulate that the US-based company could expand into Australia.
The Walt Disney Company revealed in September last year that it was developing plans to “accelerate and expand investment” in its parks and experiences.
The international giant said it wanted to nearly double capital spending to $60 billion over the next 10 years. with an eye on international expansion.
The announcement fueled rumors that the seventh Disneyland would be built in Melbourne and its outer suburbs.
Werribee and Fishermans Bend were previously mentioned as possible sites, but three more locations have now been added to the list.
Current Disneyland locations include California, Hong Kong, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo, with Florida’s flagship park called Magic Kingdom.
The Walt Disney Company revealed it was developing plans to ‘accelerate and expand investment’ in its parks and experiences, with an eye toward international expansion.
The announcement fueled rumors that the seventh Disneyland would be built in Melbourne, with five locations considered by local politicians as the best options for the theme park.
South East Metro Libertarian MP David Limbrick told state parliament on Thursday that after “extensive research” into the best location for the theme park he had narrowed it down to three suburbs.
“To show that it is a small world after all, it turns out that the best locations are in my electorate – Dandenong, Cranbourne or Frankston,” Mr Limbrick said.
“They are so good that I can’t easily divide them.”
Limbrick asked Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos to inform the Walt Disney Company that “every possible assistance would be provided” and that they would be welcomed by the south-east Melbourne community.
He added that south-east Melbourne is “the only logical place to be the happiest place on Earth” as his electorate is filled with tens of thousands of families with children “looking for things to do”.
Adding to the area’s possibilities are its prosperous workforce numbers.
“The most important thing is that we have an airport at Moorabbin and lots of open space connected by the Mordialloc Highway,” Mr Limbrick said.
Local politicians suggested five locations as the best sites for the country’s first Disneyland, including Werribee, Fishermans Bend, Dandenong, Cranbourne and Frankston.
Last month, Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp AO floated Werribee as a potential location for Disneyland.
Werribee, which is 32 kilometers south-west of Melbourne’s CBD, was previously nominated for a $220 million adventure haven, but the state government scrapped the plans in 2008 over fears it would cost taxpayers too much.
Mayor Capp also pitched Fishermans Bend as an ideal location for a Disney theme park in August of last year.
“As Australia’s fun capital, of course we should have a Disney theme park in Melbourne,” Mayor Capp told the Herald Sun at the time.
‘We even have the perfect place for it: Fishermans Bend. At Fishermans Bend, thrilling roller coasters could soar over the Yarra as part of Disneyland, Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom.
“I know that a Disney theme park in our township would be a big hit with residents (myself included), visitors, students and business owners.”
Disney has the largest physical footprint of any theme park travel business globally, with 12 parks in six locations around the world.
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products President Josh D’Amaro remained tight-lipped about international expansion, stating that the company is “not short on space.”
“While our scale is impressive, we have no shortage of space or regions of the world to tell new stories,” D’Amaro said in a statement last year.
“We have an ambitious growth story backed by a proven track record and a bold vision for the future of our Parks business.”
“In fact, Disney Parks has more than 1,000 acres of land for possible future development to expand theme park space at its existing sites, the equivalent of about seven new Disneyland Parks.”