Disney Anaheim Plan Could Get Downsized : * Theme park: Firm is weighing reducing the size of its $3-billion Disneyland expansion, city manager says. Just ‘considering options,’ a company vice president says.

The Walt Disney Co. is reportedly considering a reduction in the size of its planned $3-billion Disneyland expansion.

City Manager James Ruth said Thursday that the entertainment company has been looking at options under which Disney would not need to acquire all of the property outlined in its original 550-acre master plan for Disneyland Resort.

“One of the things that they did indicate was that they were interested in scaling down and reconfiguring the project,” Ruth said. “They are looking at scaling down to reduce costs.”

Details about the size of the reduction under study were not immediately available, but Ruth said the company’s consideration was only an option. “They are just considering it,” the manager said.

Kerry Hunnewell, development vice president for the company, said that under the project’s environmental impact report, which is being prepared, the company would be required to “look at a larger project and a smaller project.”

“To say that we would never consider alternating the base plan is a foolish thing to say,” Hunnewell said. “But considering options as part of the environmental impact report and as part of doing business are sometimes two different things.”

Hunnewell said the company’s continued focus has been largely on the resort plan presented in May to the city.

The proposal includes a new world’s fair-style theme park called Westcot Center, three new hotels, a retail center bounded by a six-acre lake, lush pedestrian walkways and a 5,000-seat amphitheater.

The recession would play no role in possible changes in the current plan, Hunnewell said.

“Our planning cycles are for much longer periods of time than the recession cycle,” he said. “We’re planning 10 to 15 years in the future.”

According to its master plan, Disney lacks about 100 acres it has designated for the new theme park, for parking facilities and for its long-term expansion needs.

The landmark Melodyland Christian Center is one key piece of property that Disney has sought for one of two multistory parking garages. Disney’s original project map included the church’s eight-acre property for one of the mammoth parking facilities planned on the park’s east side. However, city sources said Disney officials have been trying to meet with Melodyland Pastor Ralph Wilkerson to discuss alternatives.

One of those proposals, the sources said, would require the sale or lease of an area now used for church parking, leaving the church buildings--including the tentlike worship center--largely intact.

Another property also needed for such a garage but outside of Disney’s control is owned by Odetics Inc., a high-technology electronics company. Odetics officials recently confirmed that neither Disney nor Anaheim has approached the company about buying its 14-acre site near Melodyland.

Hunnewell said he could not comment on issues relating to property acquisition.

City Councilman William D. Ehrle said the entertainment company hinted months ago that the original plan could be scaled back if the costs prove too restrictive.

“I do remember in one meeting that we had with them (Disney officials), they said they might re-evaluate and go forward on a smaller scale and proceed with their more grandiose plans at a later time,” Ehrle said. “They weren’t sure how much property they would be able to get.

“They are probably finding out what the costs are now,” he said. “It’s like building anything. You start with the Rolls-Royce, but before you know it you’ve got a Buick.

“But in Disney’s case, they’ll probably end up with something like a Jaguar or a Mercedes-Benz.”