Every few years, rumours swirl about Disney bringing a theme park to Australia. Some are pure fantasy, while others have come tantalisingly close to reality.
In September 2022, the internet buzzed with fresh speculation. Could Adelaide be in the running to join Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai on the Disney world map?
As unbelievable as it sounds, this isn’t the first time the House of Mouse has considered an Australian park. Over the years, at least two serious attempts have been made—bringing both excitement and disappointment in equal measure.
So, what happened? Why hasn’t Australia landed its own Disneyland? Let’s explore the near-misses, behind-the-scenes talks, and what it would take for Disney magic to finally land on our shores.
Disney and Australia
Disney’s ties to Australia date back nearly a century.
The animated short Mickey’s Kangaroo (1935) introduced Mickey to an exported Australian ‘roo, while Mickey Down Under (1948) reinforced familiar stereotypes, featuring boomerangs and outback landscapes.
By the 1970s, Australia became more than just a setting. Ride a Wild Pony (1975), based on James Aldridge’s novel, was filmed locally with an Australian cast. Disney on Parade (1971), a travelling arena show, was captured in Adelaide for The Wonderful World of Disney. Journey to the Valley of the Emu (1978) followed, telling a First Nations story—though its cultural accuracy is debatable.
In later years, Disney set The Rescuers Down Under (1990) and Finding Nemo (2003) in Australia, further embedding the country in its cinematic legacy.
Disney’s Growing Presence in Australia
Disney Stores arrived in 1992, followed by the Disney Channel in 1996. Walt Disney Animation Australia operated between 1988 and 2006, producing animated series and direct-to-video films.
In 2019, Disney acquired Fox Studios Australia, renaming it Disney Studios Australia, with major productions—including Marvel films—now being filmed here.
Australia is even represented in Disney theme parks, with animatronic kangaroos and koalas appearing in the classic It’s a Small World ride.
Despite this long history, a Disneyland Australia has never materialised—though the idea resurfaces every few years.
First steps: Disneyland on the Gold Coast
So, it was inevitable that some thought would be given to a local Disney park in this big, flat, mysterious island nation.
The push to open Disneyland Australia began in 1977 when the Southport-based Star Land Company tried to entice Disney to the Gold Coast suburb of Coomera.
Queensland proved its chops as a world-class destination a decade later with World Expo 88, a A$625 million world’s fair coinciding with the bicentenary of European colonisation. Disney already had a presence at the Expo: in addition to a mascot designed by Disney’s Imagineering Division, the Skyneedle—originally planned for Tokyo Disneyland—was instead awarded to hairdresser Stefan Ackerie and relocated to South Bank. (Disney fans might recall that the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair led to attractions like It’s a Small World and Carousel of Progress.)
Fast forward two decades, and developer Gordon McAlister was among those behind a renewed push to transform an 810ha Coomera plot into a Disney destination resort. According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, by the late 1990s, the Queensland state government had begun taking the project seriously.
Queensland Sport Minister Mick Vievers visited Disneyland in late 1997 with former Expo chairman Sir Llew Edwards, prompting media speculation. Initially led by the Rob Borbidge Liberal Government, former premier Wayne Goss was later tasked with negotiating the ‘Starland’ project with Disney on the government’s behalf.
“It had got to the stage where there were proposals before Disney and proposals before the government,” McAlister told the Gold Coast Bulletin in 2015. “We got to the last meeting in Burbank, California, when Michael Eisner stepped in and said, ‘No, I want to go to China’.”
And that’s exactly what Disney did, with Hong Kong Disneyland opening in 2005 and Shanghai Disneyland following in 2016.
“We got to the last meeting in Burbank, California, when Michael Eisner stepped in and said ‘No, I want to go to China’.”
Governments changed, and local appetite waned—partly due to the substantial government support required, including land, infrastructure, tax incentives, and capital contributions. Estimates ranged from $US300 million to $US500 million, which, in 2022 dollars, would have pushed $1 billion at the top end.
With the closure of all 16 local Disney Stores in 2003, it seemed Disneyland Australia was well and truly off the table.
At least, for a little while.
Second attempt: Disney Wharf Sydney
About a decade after the Gold Coast plan fell through, Disney reportedly turned its attention to Sydney Harbour around 2007–08. Unlike the grand theme park envisioned for Queensland, this proposal was something different.
According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, serious discussions took place around a concept called Disney Wharf at Sydney Harbour. Planned for the old White Bay Power Station and Glebe Island area—within spitting distance of the Anzac Bridge—it would have transformed the site into a Disney-themed precinct with shops, attractions, and hotels.
What was Project Lester?
Not simply a theme park, from the documents that have been made public—where it was referred to as ‘Project Lester’—it would have been a “bustling boardwalk along its 97 acres filled with outdoor cafes, waterfront restaurants, neighborhood parks, trendy boutiques, a marina, hotels, and a luxury spa.”
Along with a topiary-filled Fantasia Gardens Promenade and a Castle Courtyard Environment, there were plans for designer shops including “food, flower, and cheese vendors.” Art played a large part, with plans for galleries, street artists, and “a vibrant artists-in-residence program.”
Ferries would have taken both locals and visitors to the Disney Wharf, featuring gaming, the Disney-Pixar Studios Australia, a Theatre District, and Disney’s Nighttime Water Spectacular. In addition to the retail and dining experiences, more familiar Classic Disney elements were reportedly included: Mickey’s Philharmagic 4D Show, Disney Princesses Boutique, Disney’s Flight of Fantasy (including Dumbo and Aladdin), a Finding Nemo area, Goofy’s Candy Company, a Wonderful World of Color Restaurant, and of course, branded stores.
Sydney’s Waterfront: A Challenging Site
As a native Sydneysider, one who lives dangerously close to the proposed site, having a Disney park that was visitable on public transport would have been amazing. Yet it’s hard to imagine that it would have been sustainable. The proposal speaks of expanded light rail, for example, which would take at least another decade to become a reality.
Sounding like a cross between Downtown Disney, the residential Storyliving developments, and the idea that eventually evolved out of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs in Florida, it smacked of all the compromises that made the launch of Hong Kong Disneyland underwhelming. It’s what one government member apparently called a “development proposal dressed up as a fun park.”
How the Vision Fell Apart
Why did this attempt fail? Well, costs and a lack of written proposals tend to be cited. The rail and road changes would have cost an estimated A$500 million (and may have still been under construction decades later if the light rail was any indication). There also may have been a small riot from the Inner West residents of the adjacent Balmain as well.
Seriously: getting DA approval on Sydney’s waterfront was probably just more trouble than it was worth.
What Could Have Been: A Lost Opportunity
In December 2022, former Imagineer Jim Shull released one of the first hi-res images (above) of this proposed park on Twitter. For the first time, we were able to clearly see how the entertainment, light theming, and retail aspects sat with the White Bay area. You can even see how the Anzac Bridge would have overlooked the Wharf area. If nothing else, it would definitely have made a mark on the landscape.
“Disney Wharf was a project imagined for Sydney Harbor, Australia. Located on a site designed to lift the area, it was to be a mixed-use project. Not a theme park but more than a retail and entertainment project, Disney has tried this several times with mixed results,” he Tweeted.
New attempts: Adelaide Disneyland?
In September 2022, it was widely reported that a South Australian businessman became the latest person to try and open negotiations with Disney Parks and Resorts.
“McLaren Vale would be my spot – wide, open, flat, next to the beach, next to the ranges – (it) makes a lot of sense,” winemaker Warren Randall told The Advertiser.
He has reportedly offered part of his 1200ha McLaren Vale land portfolio in an attempt to entice Disney Down Under.
“Anaheim, the Disneyland in California, has fantastic resources, great infrastructure in terms of traffic, getting there, buses, parking et cetera,” Randall added to the newspaper. He’s not wrong, given both the Anaheim and Orlando locations had a history of primary industry prior to becoming amusement capitals. Randall’s goal is to transform Adelaide’s wine country into a global destination for both Australians and international visitors.
While neither the South Australian government nor Disney have made any official bids or offers yet, it’s worth noting that the Gold Coast’s first bid started humbly almost 20 years before things got serious. So, at this rate, could we see Disneyland Adelaide in 2042?
Wither Disney Australia?
So, what are the actual chances of Disney opening a park here in Australia? Well, while Disney Cruises are finally making their debut in 2023-2024, with cabins selling like hotcakes, it seems the parks may still be a distant dream. Perhaps Disney will use their cruises as a way to test the waters before making any major decisions.
Queensland’s Gold Coast is known for housing many of Australia’s big amusement parks, such as Dreamworld, SeaWorld, and Warner Bros. Movie World. But the reality is that Australia may not have the population base to support a theme park of Disney’s magnitude.
The demise of Sydney’s Wonderland in 2004, along with the closure of numerous other Australian parks, points to this. In the US, a 2021 report from the Orange County Register revealed that over 50% of attendees were annual passholders, with California’s Disneyland hosting 18.7 million visitors in 2019. This is a crucial factor in sustaining large parks.
Could Australia Support a Disney Resort?
To put things into perspective, for an Australian Disney park to maintain a similar scale, at least 400,000 people in New South Wales alone would need to be annual passholders. As of now, new Magic Key program have been paused in California, but the loyal fanbase remains substantial.
For now, the closest Disney experience in Australia is the virtual reality ride Soarin’ Around the World, which lets guests “swoop past sailboats on Australia’s iconic Sydney Harbour.” Until anything changes, Australians will likely have to endure a long journey to experience the happiest places on Earth.
“We estimated about five million visitors each year, which is small for Disney but huge for us,” said McAlister of Australian scoping in the 1990s. However, with Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland now in the picture, it’s become far more affordable for Australians to visit a Disney park without the need for a long-haul flight.
The reality of a Disney resort Down Under
With Disney’s extensive footprint in Asia, the potential for an Australian park to attract international visitors has been significantly reduced. What remains the most likely offering is something akin to the Hawaiian Aulani resort: a standalone hotel with Disney-themed amenities, character meet-and-greets, and plenty of local exploration. This could be the perfect vacation spot for Australians—or even a staycation for locals looking to experience Disney in their own backyard.
Outsider of the cruises, the closest Disneyland guests get to Australia is the virtual reality ride Soarin’ Around the World, where guests “swoop past sailboats on Australia’s iconic Sydney Harbour.” Until any new developments, the happiest places on Earth will remain a bit of a schlep for locals.
But, of course, if one of those ships happens to sidle up to a port near you, things could get a lot closer. On behalf of all of our crew, thank you for traveling with us, and we hope you’ve had a happy and memorable visit here at Disneyland Australia. Please remain seated until the ride comes to a complete stop.
Sources
Moore, A. (2015, September 5). How the Gold Coast almost became the happiest place on Earth. Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from Gold Coast Bulletin.
Snow, D. (2014, January 11). Walt Disney Company proposed a Disney Resort in Sydney. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from smh.com.au
Weiss, W. (2020, February 21). Yesterland: Hyperion Wharf at Walt Disney World. WW GOES TO WDW at Yesterland.com. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from Yesterland
Other links
Disney Wharf in Australia. (2019, February 9). Insights and Sounds.
Where is Disneyland Australia? – ReviewTyme
Unbuilt Disney: Disneyland Australia – Jim Hill Media [podcast]
NB: This article was updated on 4 January 2023 to incorporate some new images released in December 2022.
