As the No. 1 theme park destination in the western United States, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim contributes $3.6 billion in annual economic impact and supports about 65,700 jobs in Southern California, according to an economic impact study released Friday by Disneyland Resort. The research was conducted by CB Richard Ellis, CBRE Consulting and Allan D. Kotin & Associates.
Specifically, the study reveals that the resort generates $3.6 billion in third-party annual economic impact to non-Disney business throughout Southern California and that resort visitors who stay in Anaheim hotels and surrounding locations generate $225 million in taxes to Southern California cities and counties.
In addition, the impact of spending by Disneyland Resort visitors outside of the resort totals $1.9 billion annually, the study shows.
In January 2004, Disneyland Resort celebrated its 500 millionth visitor since the opening of Disneyland in July 17, 1955. Tourism in Orange County reached record levels last year, with visitors spending $7.3 billion, nearly 8% more than in 2003, Friday’s statement said, citing a report from the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau. Starting this year, Walt Disney Co. will mark the 50th anniversary of Disneyland with an 18-month global celebration that begins May 5.
“The Disneyland Resort is a vital component of California’s nearly $80 billion tourism market,” Dr. Cynthia King, director of the Center for Entertainment and Tourism Studies at California State University, Fullerton, said in the statement. “Surveys regularly show that Disneyland is among one of the top reasons why people choose to visit our state.”
Of the 65,700 jobs supported by the resort, the study found that about 20,000 are direct resort employees, 3,800 are third-party employees at Disneyland Resort and 41,900 are employed directly or indirectly by Anaheim Resort Area businesses.
The study also shows that the resort generates over $1 billion in annual employee wages and vendor payments, including more than $500 million in annual payroll for jobs at the resort and $430 million in annual payroll for jobs with third-party hotels and retailers.