DISNEYLAND RESORT EXPANSION questions for Disneyland President George A. Kalogridis 10We caught up with Disneyland Resort President George A. Kalogridis to get some insight into the thought behind this enormous expansion project, as well as some challenges and surprises over the last fi ve years. Here’s what he had to share. 1. Why did Disney make such a large investment to 6. You previously said that one of change Disney California Adventure? the things that had been missing from Disney Since opening in 2001, Disney California Adventure has California Adventure was nighttime entertainment? been the second most-visited theme park in the Western True. The park didn’t have a nighttime spectacular and United States, behind only Disneyland. Though many of World of Color has provided that one last memory as guests the highest-rated attractions are in California Adventure, leave our park. World of Color has entertained more than our guests told us they didn’t have the same emotional 5.5 million guests in just two years, and it has resulted in connection that they had to Disneyland. They wanted more increased park operating hours each evening… along with heart, more fantasy and more immersive experiences. sparking the addition of our nightly family dance parties. 2. How will you connect guests emotionally to Disney 7. What’s the concept behind the family dance parties? California Adventure? We created GlowFest to keep our guests engaged before As guests enter, they will be transported to the 1920s Los and after World of Color shows. We used the concept to Angeles that greeted Walt Disney when he arrived as a create ElecTRONica, a tribute to the movie TRON. Both young animator. What Main Street U.S.A. is to Disneyland, were widely successful, so we’ve just kicked off Mad T Party, Buena Vista Street will be to Disney California Adventure, which is inspired by the whimsical world of Tim Burton’s with Carthay Circle Theatre as the focal point, much like “Alice in Wonderland.” Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. 8. What’s been the biggest challenge? 3. You mentioned the highest-rated attractions Operating a theme park while undergoing a project are at Disney California Adventure. of this magnitude has been unprecedented. Although In fact, six of the 10 most popular Resort attractions: World our expansion efforts were clearly visible in the park, we of Color, Toy Story Mania, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, were able to keep the vast majority of our entertainment California Screamin’, Soarin’ Over California, and Disney’s offerings and attractions open. We appreciate our guests’ Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular. I expect Radiator Springs understanding throughout the process. Racers will join that list very soon! 9. Have there been any surprises? 4. You’ve referred to this as a Resort expansion, but isn’t It’s been interesting to see how involved our guests have the expansion only at Disney California Adventure? been in tracking our progress. They’ve watched World of While Disney California Adventure experienced incredible Color and the mountain range in Cars Land materialize growth with the addition of World of Color, Little Mermaid before their eyes. And while there have been construction and now Buena Vista Street and Cars Land, we also added walls up around the park, our imagineers made them 200 rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, as well fun and we were surprised at how popular they were as 50 Disney Vacation Club villas, the fi rst on the west coast. as photo opportunities. In addition, we recently completed a major renovation at the Disneyland Hotel. 10. What are you most looking forward to with the completion of the expansion? 5. What does the expansion mean for the community? I can’t wait to celebrate this amazing accomplishment When we opened Disney California Adventure, we created with everyone who, over the last fi ve years, had a hand a multi-day, world-class resort destination, complete with in ensuring our success…our partners at Walt Disney two theme parks, three hotels and a retail, dining and Imagineering and Pixar, the construction workers and entertainment district. Today, Anaheim is one of the most vendors, our community neighbors who have worked popular tourist destinations in the west. Since we began our with us through the expansion, and most of all the 23,000 expansion, the Resort has generated $19 billion in economic Disneyland Resort cast members who make magic every activity, with almost 75% realized here in Orange County. day for our guests. Thank you all!. www.disneyland.com • www.disneyparks.com/blog • www.facebook.com/disneyland • www.twitter.com/disneyland.