Disney Envisions a New Epcot-Style Anaheim Park

A Walt Disney Co. official charged with developing a proposed new theme park adjoining Disneyland said Friday that planners are working on a concept similar to Epcot Center in Florida and intend to unveil plans to the public next year.

“What we’re working on at this point is an Epcot-related concept for a ‘second gate’ in Anaheim,” said Kerry Hunnewell, who is heading the Anaheim project for Disney Development Co. in Burbank. “Epcot has been incredibly successful in Florida.”

Hunnewell made his comments as Disney officials prepared to release early design concepts on Tuesday for a separate proposed theme park on Disney property near its Queen Mary and Spruce Goose attractions in Long Beach.

Disney Chairman Michael D. Eisner announced last January that the entertainment giant plans to build a $1-billion theme park in Southern California--either at the Queen Mary or next to Disneyland.

Eisner made no commitment to either site, saying the location of the new project “depends a lot on which community (Anaheim or Long Beach) wants us more.”

At the time, Anaheim officials were overjoyed at the prospect. Said Anaheim Mayor Fred Hunter when he learned of the proposal: “Yes, yes, yes.”

Disney officials have emphasized that no definitive decision is expected soon on whether to build the Long Beach or Anaheim project.

Hunnewell said the proposed Anaheim project would adopt the Epcot Center’s international and futuristic themes. But he emphasized that, while incorporating those themes, the Anaheim park might not bear much physical resemblance to the Florida attraction.

For instance, the Epcot Center’s distinctive geodesic dome may not be part of the project. He didn’t provide more details.

Although Disney has previewed the project for Anaheim city officials, Hunnewell said the public is not likely to see detailed plans until early next year. Anaheim officials said they have been working closely with Disney officials, but said they would not release any details about their discussions without approval from Disney.

Disney officials have talked for at least two decades about building a new theme park on company property next to Disneyland. Possible Disney-owned sites include a 40-acre strawberry field north of the Disneyland Hotel, 26 acres southwest of the hotel and 120 acres of the existing Disneyland parking lot.

But Hunnewell said planning went into high gear after Disney acquired Wrather Corp. two years ago and obtained the Disneyland Hotel, Queen Mary and Spruce Goose.

“We’re working very quickly to bring Anaheim up to the level of (planning in) Long Beach,” he said. “We’re making a lot of progress.”

The genesis of Epcot Center was Walt Disney himself, who envisioned an “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow”--a futuristic city built from scratch.

The park that emerged from the Florida orange groves in 1982 combined aspects of a futuristic city with an international village featuring the food, costumes and customs of foreign lands.

Disney is disclosing some details of the Long Beach project to comply with a Tuesday deadline set by the Port of Long Beach. Disney and Long Beach officials have said previously that Disney would take advantage of the city’s oceanfront location with a water-themed park unlike any other in the nation.