Disneyland Australia rumours finally addressed

Rumours of Disney wanting to bring a park to an empty lot in Australia had reached fever pitch in recent weeks.

Rumours the Walt Disney Company are planning to build a theme park in Australia have been swirling for years.

But they were stoked once again after the international giant announced plans in September to throw a cool $60 billion into doubling down on its parks and experiences over the next ten years, with an eye on international expansion.

Disneyland could be coming to Australia’s shores in the near future. Photo: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images.

Melbourne has long been touted as Disney's preferred location in Australia, with Mayor Sally Capp calling on the company to bring one of its parks Down Under last year.

Now it’s been rumoured that Disney bosses have their eye on Werribee as a potential location.

It’s not the first time Werribee has been targeted after a $220 million adventure ride paradise was once on the drawing board, set amid the plains of the Werribee Open Range Zoo. But the state government pulled the plug on those plans in 2008, fearing it would cost the taxpayers too dearly.

But any hopes that Disney will build a park in Victoria in the near future have now been dashed after Wyndham City Council told the Herald Sunthat it has not been approached by any organisation in relation to plans for a “Disney-style” park.

Last year, Melbourne’s Ms Capp pitched Fishermans Bend as the perfect location for Disney to embark on a new park.

Shanghai Disneyland is currently the nearest Disney park for Australians. Picture: Disney.

“As Australia’s capital city of fun, of course we should have a Disney theme park in Melbourne … I know a Disney theme park in our municipality would be a huge hit with residents — myself included — visitors, students, and traders,” Lord mayor Sally Capp said at the time.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products chairman Josh D’Amaro said in a company statement last year that its parks “stand alone when it comes to scale”.

“And while our scale is impressive, we have no shortage of space or regions of the world in which to tell new stories,” he said of plans to expand their businesses into new territories.

“We have an ambitious growth story that is supported by a proven track record and a bold vision for the future of our Parks business.”

Disneyland currently has locations California, Hong Kong, Paris, Shanghai, and Tokyo with Florida’s flagship park called Magic Kingdom.

Originally published as Disneyland Australia rumours finally addressed