You can bow to Darkbeer all you want. And yes, he's generally well informed, but that doesn't make him right all the time.
You are correct. Same with my former colleagues Al Lutz, Jim Hill, David Koenig and many others who have reported things behind the scenes. Projects are fluid, and while correct when reported, well, you know.
My sources are mainly on the city side now, though as my connections with Anaheim officials have grown, my Disney connections have also grown, and have re-connected with others due to the strengthening ties with major city officials.
So in the Gene Autry Way issue, I am talking from the city's point of view.
I mentioned Horse Trading, and let me add to the reasons why.
We just went through the November election, and found out a few things. The citizens didn't like the "Disney is Evil" campaign within City Hall, and how Mayor Tait and his group of 4 went out of its way to drive the message home. So much so, that early in 2018 they toned down the rhetoric to try and improve the chances of Mayor Tait's slate winning in November (He only won 1 out of 4 races).
On the other hand, we also saw the power of the Unions in the ALWI. Interesting to note, most voters who voted yes, did not understand what it actually did. Based on Polling after the election, they liked the concept of paying someone more, and that Disneyland would be one of the companies. So the Unions sold their message well, showing its power, along with all the money and volunteer hours it can use to do it.
Remember, anything that goes in front of the city council and the planning commission can be placed on the ballot with a petition signed by 10% of Anaheim voters, an easy bar that the Unions can gather internally with its partner groups like OCCORD. So ANYTHING related to Disney HAS to be a win-win for the city, and the current council clearly knows that. So does Disney.
So this has placed the city in a position of power. As others have mentioned, having Gene Autry go all the way through to the Convention Center is something high on its wish list.
The former Strawberry Farm is still zoned for Farming Use. Disney currently has a temporary permit for parking use, but that expires in a few years. We just seen the permit pulled for Guests restrooms to be built on the KCML lot property, though close to Toy Story specifically to service the ART Shuttle bus program.
So what does Disney want to do? Expand DCA and its Super Hero Land is a big one (How many Marvel Movies a year are being released?). To do that, they need to move the current Transportation Plaza. To do that, they need the Eastern Gateway project. That project is just in a delay mode until the Mayor and the council tell Disney they are ready. The council does want to make changes to the Planning Commission and settle in, but around mid-year Disney will be told to go ahead. Since the project does not require tax money, and delivers benefits to the city residents in traffic improvements, it is an easy sale, aka Win-Win.
But what is next? Disney really hasn't decided. But the Toy Story Zoning bothers them, as they want to do long term projects, and the land decision has to be made.
So time to Horse Trade. The city doesn't want to approve anything that prevents Gene Autry from not be completed. So what can Disney ask for in return for making Gene Autry go through, and how much will they spend? Will they pay for some of Gene Autry Way to be placed underground? Will Disney figure out a way to share some sort of Parking Structure, so part of it can be used for Convention Center parking? Disney hasn't decided on its course of action....
But the city has spoken very clearly to Disney. We want Gene Autry Way to connect to Convention Way at Harbor. You figure out how to make that work in your long range plans. So the ball is in Disney's court.
Now Disney is still waiting for the ALWI lawsuits to be heard. UNITE HERE will wait until January, and find one Disneyland CM or employee being paid less than $15 and file a claim with the city to get a ruling that the employee is not subject to the ALWI from the city. Once the official decision is made, then they will appeal through the court system. Until a final ruling, Disney will do nothing except go forward on the DL/DCA expansion plans already in the works (including Super Hero Land).
Once that decision is made, then Disney can make an informed choice as what they want to focus on the next 10-20 years. And getting Toy Story permanently zoned for use is a key element.