Disney Will Muffle Theme Park’s Noise to Calm Neighbors

In an effort to appease nearby residents opposed to a new Disney resort and theme park, Disney officials announced Wednesday that they will spend half a million dollars to tone down the noise already coming from Disneyland.

The announcement came during a public hearing on the proposed $3-billion Westcot project, which the Walt Disney Co. wants the City Council to approve.

One of the obstacles to approval has been the potential for noise. Although the Planning Commission endorsed the proposed theme park and resort last month, several commissioners said they were extremely troubled by the noise problem. They pointed to complaints from residents about late-night noise from Disney’s Fantasmic show, which features laser light and sound effects.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Disneyland President Jack Lindquist said the company would spend the money to “reconfigure (Fantasmic’s) sound system to address these concerns.”

City officials praised Disney’s action, and said it was an indication of how the company wants to be a “good neighbor” to the community.

“It shows a good-faith effort,” said Deputy City Manager Tom Wood. “Disney continues to be responsive to the concerns of the citizens.”

Disney’s announcement, however, was received cautiously by some of the residents who live near the park and oppose the expansion.

“Hopefully, it’s a step toward reaching a compromise and not being compromised, which is our impression of the process so far,” said Anaheim resident Jeff Kirsch. “Hopefully, it wasn’t done just to get the project approved.”

The public hearing was the final opportunity for supporters and opponents to express their opinions on the environmental and planning documents of the proposed resort and theme park.

More than 300 people attended, many of whom hailed the project’s economic benefits for the city, county and state. They said it will generate millions of dollars in taxes, hundreds of millions of dollars in commerce and thousands of jobs.

Some urged the council to be like the city fathers when Walt Disney came before the council four decades ago with his plans for a theme park.

“Do you have the same vision and courage of your predecessors?” asked Bob Kazarian of Anaheim. “Do you recognize this as an opportunity to improve the city? If you do, then there should be no doubt in your minds that you must approve this project.”

The council earlier tentatively had agreed to vote on the documents at a meeting on June 22.

As proposed, the expansion will add a second internationally themed park, several hotels in and out of the park, a 5,000-seat amphitheater and a retail shopping district inside the park and two of the largest parking structures in the nation.

Mike Ellis, a Laguna Beach engineer, told the audience they should “ask not what Westcot can do for you, but what you can do to enhance the state, county and city we have here.”

But critics continued to assail the city for not fully considering the adverse impact of the project which, they said, would pollute the air, create noise and snarl traffic.

Doug Kintz of Anaheim said he believes the city’s review was a “rubber stamp.”

“Pass the deal if you will, but don’t give away the store,” he said. “You are representatives of the people of Anaheim. You are not paid employees of the financially affluent Disney corporation.”

Even if the council approves the documents, Disney officials have cautioned that construction would only occur if they are sure it is economically feasible. Disney has repeatedly said it would need about $750 million in public support. But money might not be the only obstacle for Disney.

Several property owners, as well as representatives from two of Anaheim’s school districts and the city of Garden Grove, have opposed the project and indicated that they might file lawsuits to keep the project from moving forward if their concerns are not addressed.

Attorney Cynthia M. Wolcott, who represents several property and hotel owners near Disneyland, slammed the documents for including her clients’ properties in the plan when Disney does not own them.

She said if her clients’ concerns are not considered, she will be “forced to seek to relief from the courts.”

“And then,” she said, “let the games begin.”