ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Anaheim’s Increasingly Grand Vision

The city that gave the world Tomorrowland has sprinkled stardust right outside the Disneyland exits. Anaheim is thinking in grand, futuristic terms these days.

Its leaders have taken a walk on the street of dreams to envision such transportation innovations as a people mover, a monorail to link up with other cities, a high-speed train to Las Vegas, a toll road down a river bed and transit centers to coordinate them all.

There’s plenty on the drawing boards to be served by these plans--an expanded convention center, an indoor sports arena and the increasing likelihood that Disneyland, which recently bought 23 acres and is maneuvering for more, will expand its empire.

The transportation system alone would cost billions, and the plan is to do it mostly with private funds. Initially, government would kick in some money, but would help mostly by getting out of the way.

How much of this grand design will eventually get built? At least part, we hope.

A bigger Disney presence would make the people mover almost a necessity. And there’s something to be said for a city that thinks big while the rest of the country thinks recession.

So even if only part of Anaheim’s plan comes to pass, its ambition merits a celebratory round of “the wave” at Anaheim Stadium--another people mover destination--where even the Angels dream.