New Disneyland Parking Garage and Transportation Hub

[Curious Constance]

I'm really hoping Disney comes back with a proposal to move the entire operation to Oregon.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Actually to be clear the Harbor Businesses didn't give a damn about the lack of pedestrian access to the bridge. What they complained about besides the "look" was how the pedestrians were "in their mind" being rerouted around them.

Isn't that the same thing?

 

[Disney Irish]

Isn't that the same thing?

No because the Harbor Businesses couldn't care less about whether the pedestrian is actually getting to the bridge or not. What they cared about is that those pedestrians going to the bridge wouldn't be passing by their businesses to get into and out of the park.

Bottom line this has always been about their bottom line not the pedestrian/guest.

 

[Practical Pig]

No because the Harbor Businesses couldn't care less about whether the pedestrian is actually getting to the bridge or not. What they cared about is that those pedestrians going to the bridge wouldn't be passing by their businesses to get into and out of the park.

Bottom line this has always been about their bottom line not the pedestrian/guest.

I doubt anyone is confused about this being about their bottom line, instead of some altruistic concern for the public's ease of access to the parks — because business. But isn’t a foot-traffic flow to eastern gateway access that favors the Harbor businesses also bound to provide better public access to the gateway from the Harbor hotels? Motive aside, isn’t the outcome likely to be very much the same?

 

[Disney Irish]

I doubt anyone is confused about this being about their bottom line, instead of some altruistic concern for the public's ease of access to the parks — because business. But isn’t a foot-traffic flow to eastern gateway access that favors the Harbor businesses also bound to provide better public access to the gateway from the Harbor hotels? Motive aside, isn’t the outcome likely to be very much the same?

Is it going to give any better access than the crosswalk is now? No, its not, the bridge had no bearing on whether a potential guest got access to Disneyland. The Harbor access via the crosswalk was never closing in this plan, although it'll likely be smaller, confirmed by Disney during the Dec 2016 City Council meeting.

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

...so maybe don't have sucky businesses along Harbor Blvd that people would be so easily willing to bypass! Brilliant!

 

[TP2000]

...so maybe don't have sucky businesses along Harbor Blvd that people would be so easily willing to bypass! Brilliant!

Yup. When your big business draw is Panera Bread #843 and a decent motel that has 3 stars on Yelp because there's no mention of bedbugs unlike its neighbor with the 2 star Yelp review, you would think you wouldn't be in a position to bully the city council and the town's big employer that pays 43% of the annual taxes for that city. But apparently that's not how it works in Anaheim.

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

Yup. When your big business draw is Panera Bread #843 and a decent motel that has a 3 star Yelp review that has no mention of bedbugs unlike its neighbor, you would think you wouldn't be in a position to bully the city council and the town's big employer that pays 43% of the annual taxes for that city. But apparently that's not how it works in Anaheim.

Thanks a lot Mayor Taint!

 

[TP2000]

Here are some of my favorite Yelp ratings for the sleazy and/or greasy businesses on Harbor Blvd. that are within a block of that precious crosswalk over to Disneyland. Would you go out of your way to eat at a restaurant with a 2.5 star Yelp rating? Would you stay at a motel with a 2.5 star rating?

Captain Kidd's Buffet = 1.5 Stars! https://www.yelp.com/biz/captain-kidds-family-restaurant-anaheim?sort_by=rating_asc

International House of Pancakes = 2.5 Stars! https://www.yelp.com/biz/ihop-anaheim-3?sort_by=rating_asc

Grand Legacy at the Park = 2.5 Stars! https://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-legacy-at-the-park-anaheim?sort_by=rating_asc

Del Sol Inn = 2.5 Stars! https://www.yelp.com/biz/del-sol-inn-anaheim?sort_by=rating_asc

Denny's = 2.5 Stars! https://www.yelp.com/biz/dennys-anaheim-3?sort_by=rating_asc

How the heck do you screw up a Yelp review for a Denny's?!? But these businesses demand that their crummy goods and services remain within easy walking distance of all those Disneyland customers. Fascinating!

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

Captain Kidd's Family Restaurant - 9/30/2017 (One Star)
"I will never come back. The food was ok, however it was cold. Hair in the egg salad gave me a dirty cup for my drink. I should have read the reviews prior to coming here.i really wish I could get my money back. The service was decent."

City of Anaheim!!! Let's surely NOT direct people around this fine establishment and plop them into Disneyland. Look at what kind of amazing experience they'd be missing out on!

 

[mickEblu]

Actually to be clear the Harbor Businesses didn't give a damn about the lack of pedestrian access to the bridge. What they complained about besides the "look" was how the pedestrians were "in their mind" being rerouted around them. When in all actuality was not the case, even so Disney had already provided suggested solutions back in Dec 2016 City Council meeting but those fell on deaf ears. At the time the Harbor Businesses had dug in their heels and wouldn't hear anything Disney wanted to say. And the City Council just said go back and solve it amongst yourselves. And we are where we are now.

So if the new MiceAge report is to be believed, what really changed? Not likely much as we both said. I have a feeling all that was done is to add the access at the back of the Harbor properties to the walkway to the bridge, at Disney's expense. And then a guarantee that the Harbor entrance, even if smaller and with its own security point, will stay open for x amount of time. All of which were suggested back in Dec 2016.

Are you sure? I would imagine having hotel access to the bridge was a biggie especially if street access would be eliminated. Otherwise, how would anyone staying at those hotels get to the park? Isn't convenience the whole draw of staying at those hotels?

 

[Darkbeer1]

OK, I am back...

Make this short.

Basically died in February, got septic shock and my body completely shut down. Was in a Coma for a week, and in the Hospital (actually 2) and a nursing home (Not a place I recommend), got back home, but had to learn a lot of things, like standing, walking and using my hands. My mind wasn't affected too much. Still recovering, but have greatly exceeded my Doctor's and medical team expectations. I was going up a flight of stairs within a month of getting home (My bedroom and office is upstairs, ended up converting the family room and living room as a temporary bedroom/office.)

So, I did spend some of my time dealing with neighborhood issues, especially the recall of Senator Newnan, and West Anaheim's issues of permit parking and homeless in the parks.Plus still dealing with many city staff members in multiple departments/ Also have learned the current dysfunctional city council, and the multi-layers of the problems between each other and with city staff. (Many senior members have been asked to leave/retire due to disagreements with the Mayor and selected council members. Plus the current changeover to districts is a mess, as it is only partially finished. The November 2018 election will bring a new Mayor, the last two districts will get a representive (I live in district 2, which has no specific councilmember yet) And due to a random lot, District 3's councilmember, Dr. Jose Moreno has to run for reelection. And Anaheim does not do primaries, it is the person with the most votes that wins (no majority needed).

Plus there are a lot of new dynamics in politics in the area, as the Democrats have targeted Orange County as an area to gain seats in the US House of representatives, and a lot of money and union support is being funneled into the area.

And this does effect the Anaheim Planning Commission, and why many projects have been placed on hold, not just the eastern gateway. The state is passing more laws taking away local control of zoning related items. including housing (in the name of affordable housing and required parking space. And with the current council not being able to agree on things, trying to plan for appeals is hard. (Any Planning Commission decision can be appealed to the city council).

So folks are deciding to try and wait until the new 2018 council is in charge, if possible.

Disney felt the deck was stacked against them after the last planning commission meeting, and knowing the Mayor and his sidekick, Dr, Moreno think that an "anti-Disney" stance is what they want, and think it matches up with what others think. And that is the agenda their allies (think Unions like Unite HERE) want also. (And have the power to get biased "articles" published in the LA Times). If you don't know about it, AnaheimBlog.net has a lot of interesting info about the article and how it was prepared.

So Disney is feeling the heat from within its own company as to "Why hasn't the Eastern Gateway started?" Well, the resort folks do what they like to do, kick the can down the road (aka timeline). As someone mentioned, the new fiscal year has started, and the "company" wants to start building NOW, so the Resort folks now have to get it agreed to, nd to be honest, they are not sure of any plan that could guarantee approval by the planning commission (think the non-Disney business on Harbor), and then the city council, who wants to score "points" for their agenda, and wants some sort of "payoff", aka more taxes and fees or maybe some property that can be used by the city for something like a homeless shelter or affordable housing.

So Disney is trapped, and is getting mixed messages from different departments, Government Affairs is saying, we can't agree to new taxes and fees to prevent future requests, Parks and resorts is saying, don't spend too much money on the project, especially those items that don't make us money (aka more access to leave the property).Something has got to give. Heck, the approval process from submitting the plan until getting final approval is at least 3 months, if not longer. Yes, Disney can start on the actual parking structure, as that is already zoned and approved as part of the Master Plan, but the security check and bridge isn't. And since they will work together, Disney doesn't want to start yet. Plus they need the current spaces.

Has Disney been talking to the 'neighbors", yes, but they are a bit gun-shy due to the information that got released early this year. And Disney has been talking to city staff (which unfortunately has had the city manager fired along with others, causing some issues of what direction to take.) And the council members that support both Disney and the pro-business Chamber of Commerce, which is now in the minority. I was at a meeting Tuesday night, sitting next to one of them, and couldn't even say much to each other except hello, even though we have an on going dialogue that goes back decades. It has become that toxic, and it is a shame that the three are being treated in such a poor manner by two others.

Will it get done, IMHO, yes, but a lot of things that affect the current and future relationship between the city, and California’s largest single site employer will have to be dealt with. And it does play into the November 2018 election, and who gets the financial support for the new Mayor, a replacement for Dr. Moreno, who only won by 72 votes, and the District 2 and 6 seats.

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

OK, I am back...

Make this short.

Basically died in February, got septic shock and my body completely shut down. Was in a Coma for a week, and in the Hospital (actually 2) and a nursing home (Not a place I recommend), got back home, but had to learn a lot of things, like standing, walking and using my hands. My mind wasn't affected too much. Still recovering, but have greatly exceeded my Doctor's and medical team expectations. I was going up a flight of stairs within a month of getting home (My bedroom and office is upstairs, ended up converting the family room and living room as a temporary bedroom/office.)

So, I did spend some of my time dealing with neighborhood issues, especially the recall of Senator Newnan, and West Anaheim's issues of permit parking and homeless in the parks.Plus still dealing with many city staff members in multiple departments/ Also have learned the current dysfunctional city council, and the multi-layers of the problems between each other and with city staff. (Many senior members have been asked to leave/retire due to disagreements with the Mayor and selected council members. Plus the current changeover to districts is a mess, as it is only partially finished. The November 2018 election will bring a new Mayor, the last two districts will get a representive (I live in district 2, which has no specific councilmember yet) And due to a random lot, District 3's councilmember, Dr. Jose Moreno has to run for reelection. And Anaheim does not do primaries, it is the person with the most votes that wins (no majority needed).

Plus there are a lot of new dynamics in politics in the area, as the Democrats have targeted Orange County as an area to gain seats in the US House of representatives, and a lot of money and union support is being funneled into the area.

And this does effect the Anaheim Planning Commission, and why many projects have been placed on hold, not just the eastern gateway. The state is passing more laws taking away local control of zoning related items. including housing (in the name of affordable housing and required parking space. And with the current council not being able to agree on things, trying to plan for appeals is hard. (Any Planning Commission decision can be appealed to the city council).

So folks are deciding to try and wait until the new 2018 council is in charge, if possible.

Disney felt the deck was stacked against them after the last planning commission meeting, and knowing the Mayor and his sidekick, Dr, Moreno think that an "anti-Disney" stance is what they want, and think it matches up with what others think. And that is the agenda their allies (think Unions like Unite HERE) want also. (And have the power to get biased "articles" published in the LA Times). If you don't know about it, AnaheimBlog.net has a lot of interesting info about the article and how it was prepared.

So Disney is feeling the heat from within its own company as to "Why hasn't the Eastern Gateway started?" Well, the resort folks do what they like to do, kick the can down the road (aka timeline). As someone mentioned, the new fiscal year has started, and the "company" wants to start building NOW, so the Resort folks now have to get it agreed to, nd to be honest, they are not sure of any plan that could guarantee approval by the planning commission (think the non-Disney business on Harbor), and then the city council, who wants to score "points" for their agenda, and wants some sort of "payoff", aka more taxes and fees or maybe some property that can be used by the city for something like a homeless shelter or affordable housing.

So Disney is trapped, and is getting mixed messages from different departments, Government Affairs is saying, we can't agree to new taxes and fees to prevent future requests, Parks and resorts is saying, don't spend too much money on the project, especially those items that don't make us money (aka more access to leave the property).Something has got to give. Heck, the approval process from submitting the plan until getting final approval is at least 3 months, if not longer. Yes, Disney can start on the actual parking structure, as that is already zoned and approved as part of the Master Plan, but the security check and bridge isn't. And since they will work together, Disney doesn't want to start yet. Plus they need the current spaces.

Has Disney been talking to the 'neighbors", yes, but they are a bit gun-shy due to the information that got released early this year. And Disney has been talking to city staff (which unfortunately has had the city manager fired along with others, causing some issues of what direction to take.) And the council members that support both Disney and the pro-business Chamber of Commerce, which is now in the minority. I was at a meeting Tuesday night, sitting next to one of them, and couldn't even say much to each other except hello, even though we have an on going dialogue that goes back decades. It has become that toxic, and it is a shame that the three are being treated in such a poor manner by two others.

Will it get done, IMHO, yes, but a lot of things that affect the current and future relationship between the city, and California’s largest single site employer will have to be dealt with. And it does play into the November 2018 election, and who gets the financial support for the new Mayor, a replacement for Dr. Moreno, who only won by 72 votes, and the District 2 and 6 seats.

SO thankful you're back and kicking!!! Wow, I can't even imagine what that must have been like.

 

[Darkbeer1]

To respond to Hatbox.

Mimi's Café, Panera Bread and The Pizza Press (new location) are all very good.

As for Hotel access, Disney and the city's traffic division wants only a crosswalk at Manchester across Harbor, and totally remove any traffic light, crosswalk and left/U-turn lanes on Harbor between Disney Way and Manchester to improve traffic flow, plus move vehicles to Manchester in regards to guest parking and buses/shuttles. So yes, they want the current pedestrian traffic to use the new security check area and bridge, so Disney needs to find a better way to get those guests easier access to them to appease the businesses.

Remember, while Disney won't publically announce it, the current transportation area has been allocated for DCA expansion, so there is no real room to deal with a crossing and security check. It is presumed a small security check will be next to the west end of the bridge (Think the Costuming building). This would accommodate those crossing Manchester and Harbor at ground level, plus the guests walking from Four Points Sheraton (Hotel Menage).

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

To respond to Hatbox.

Mimi's Café, Panera Bread and The Pizza Press (new location) are all very good.

As for Hotel access, Disney and the city's traffic division wants only a crosswalk at Manchester across Harbor, and totally remove any traffic light, crosswalk and left/U-turn lanes on Harbor between Disney Way and Manchester to improve traffic flow, plus move vehicles to Manchester in regards to guest parking and buses/shuttles. So yes, they want the current pedestrian traffic to use the new security check area and bridge, so Disney needs to find a better way to get those guests easier access to them to appease the businesses.

Remember, while Disney won't publically announce it, the current transportation area has been allocated for DCA expansion, so there is no real room to deal with a crossing and security check. It is presumed a small security check will be next to the west end of the bridge (Think the Costuming building). This would accommodate those crossing Manchester and Harbor at ground level, plus the guests walking from Four Points Sheraton (Hotel Menage).

I really appreciate the thoroughness of information you present.

I have to admit, my original comment on their only being sucky businesses along Harbor was mostly tongue in cheek. Obviously there are good ones mixed in that would indeed benefit from more Disney foot traffic. This is such an interesting issue. I, like you, believe it will ultimately come through, but I just hope it doesn't forever taint the relationship between Disney and the city of Anaheim.

 

[Darkbeer1]

SO thankful you're back and kicking!!! Wow, I can't even imagine what that must have been like.

Let's just say you learn that life is worth living, even with obstacles, and I am very lucky to have my wife in my life to help deal with them. I am back riding roller coasters, got a gym membership, and learning to deal with a low sodium, low carb, high protein diet. Also learned to try and not fall in places like a concrete driveway. (Getting Bruised/cracked ribs during rehab is not fun, even with pain medication.). Heck, at least I got to see the Arena Inn torn down, since I was using the freeway exit to get to Kaiser Rehab next to the Christ Cathedral

I am hoping to go do another round of pictures in the area soon.

And now I have a better excuse for my typos

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

Let's just say you learn that life is worth living, even with obstacles, and I am very luck to have my wife in my life to help deal with them. I am back riding roller coasters, got a gym membership, and learning to deal with a low sodium, low carb, high protein diet. Also learned to try and not fall in places like a concrete driveway. (Getting Bruised/cracked ribs during rehab is not fun, even with pain medication.). Heck, at least I got to see the Arena Inn torn down, since I was using the freeway exit to get to Kaiser Rehab next to the Christ Cathedral

I am hoping to go do another round of pictures in the area soon.

And now I have a better excuse for my typos

Hear hear!!!

Can't wait for more continued DarkBeer insights!

 

[Darkbeer1]

I really appreciate the thoroughness of information you present.

I, like you, believe it will ultimately come through, but I just hope it doesn't forever taint the relationship between Disney and the city of Anaheim.

Well, the good news, the very vindictive Mayor Tait (worse than ever) is termed out again, though he might try again in 4 years, if he doesn't run for another office. And Dr. Moreno, the other half of the anti-Disney duo, who got a lot of campaign funding from the Mayor and his ally's.is up fo re-election.

So there is a good chance that the council will look a lot different in 2019. District 6 is Anaheim Hills and expected to be pro-business, which would replace the termed out Kris Murray. District 2 is a wild card, one of my neighbors is planning to run, but is pretty much an unknown, and I am not even sure where she stands on Disney.

So a new Mayor who would support Disney, along with at least a Pro-Disney member in District 2 or 3 would make the council at least 4 to 3, and if they get all 3 seats, a 5 to 2 advantage, as current Councilmembers Kring and Faessel support Disney and businesses in general.

 

[britain]

Wow! So glad you're doing better, @Darkbeer1!

 

[Phroobar]

Welcome back @Darkbeer1. I'm glad you are recovering and getting strong again.