Three new sites tipped as possible locations for Disneyland

Three more locations have been flagged as the possible site for a newly-built Disneyland as rumours swirl the US-based company could expand to Australia. 

The Walt Disney Company revealed in September last year it was developing plans to ‘accelerate and expand investment’ in its parks and experiences. 

The international giant said it wanted to nearly double capital expenditure to $60billion over the next 10 years, with an eye on international expansion. 

The announcement fueled rumors the seventh Disneyland would be built in Melbourne and its outer suburbs.

Werribee and Fishermans Bend were previously floated as possible sites – but now three more locations have been added to the list. 

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

Libertarian MP for South East Metro David Limbrick told state parliament on Thursday after ‘exhaustive research’ into the best location for the theme park he had narrowed it down to three suburbs. 

‘To prove it is a small world after all, it turns out the best locations are in my electorate: Dandenong, Cranbourne or Frankston,’ Mr Limbrick said. 

‘They are so good I cannot easily split them.’ 

Mr Limbrick called on Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos to advise the Walt Disney Company that ‘every assistance would be given’ and that they would be welcomed by the community in south east Melbourne. 

He added south east Melbourne is the ‘only logical place for the happiest place on earth’ as his electorate is filled with tens of thousands of families with children ‘looking for things to do’. 

Adding the areas chances is its thriving workforce numbers.

‘Crucially we have an airport at Moorabbin and plenty of open spaces connected by the Mordialloc Freeway,’ Mr Limbrick said.

Last month, Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp AO pitched Werribee as a potential location for Disneyland. 

Werribee, which is located 32km south west of Melbourne’s CBD, was previously nominated for a $220million adventure ride paradise but the state government pulled the plans in 2008 over fears it would cost too much for taxpayers.

Lord Mayor Capp also pitched Fishermans Bend as an ideal location for a Disney theme park in August, last year.  

Click here to resize this module

‘As Australia’s capital city of fun, of course we should have a Disney theme park in Melbourne,’ Lord Mayor Capp told the Herald Sun at the time.  

‘We’ve even got the perfect spot for it – Fishermans Bend. At Fishermans Bend, exhilarating roller-coasters could soar over the Yarra as part of a Disneyland, Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom.

‘I know a Disney theme park in our municipality would be a huge hit with residents — myself included — visitors, students, and traders.’ 

Disney has the largest physical footprint of any global theme park travel business, with 12 parks across six sites around the world. 

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products chairman Josh D’Amaro remained tight-lipped on international expansion, claiming the company has ‘no shortage of space’. 

‘While our scale is impressive, we have no shortage of space or regions of the world in which to tell new stories,’ Mr D’Amaro said in a statement last year. 

‘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.’

‘In fact, Disney Parks has over 1,000 acres of land for possible future development to expand theme park space across its existing sites – the equivalent of about seven new Disneyland Parks.’