Will Walt Disney Co. come buy land or sea? Land purchase in Anaheim could pour some cold water on Port Disney proposal.

Will Walt Disney Co. come buy land or sea?

Officials in Anaheim and Walt Disney Co. last week were mum on reports that the entertainment company has recently purchased additional property and plans to build at least one more theme park and several new hotels near Disneyland.

Assistant City Manager Jim Armstrong said Anaheim officials have met informally with Disney representatives about future projects but the company has not made any formal presentations or submitted final plans.

"We have brainstorming sessions with all developers before they submit formal plans but it would be inappropriate for me to reveal what is discussed," said Armstrong. He said the talks with Disney have included existing and future projects in the city.

According to Armstrong, Disney could file plans for future projects in Anaheim in the next month or two.

Except for a prepared statement, Walt Disney Co. declined to comment.

"We are working hard to finalize our preliminary master plan for a Disneyland expansion which we believe will serve as a catalyst for the revitalization of the Anaheim commercial recreation are," the Disney statement said. "We hope to announce the plan soon. At that time the nature and extent of our project will become clear."

Last week the Los Angeles Times reported that the company has bought or leased property near Disneyland for the purpose of building two more theme parks and several major hotels. The newspaper said other landowners in the area of the theme park have been approached by the company to sell or lease additional property.

According to the newspaper, Disney paid $30.2 million for one 22-acre parcel of land on Katella Avenue.

The report immediately fueled speculation about plans announced almost a year ago by Disney to build a $1 billion theme park in Anaheim or in Long Beach, or possibly a facility in both cities.

Some real estate and entertainment industry observers speculated that secretive Disney may be going ahead with plans to build new attractions in both cities. Or, the moves in Anaheim may be used as leverage to get Long Beach to fund necessary infrastructure projects that would be required to build a major theme park in that city, they said.

Disney and Long Beach city and port officials have been negotiating over construction of a theme park there. The discussions largely concern who would pay for road and sewer improvements that would be required for the project.

Last July, Disney unveiled plans for what would be called Port Disney in Long Beach, a $1 billion ocean-oriented theme park and destination resort on the waterfront.

As proposed, Port Disney would include a new theme park called DisneySea, which would include rides, shows and adventures. Other attractions would include what the company called the world's largest aquarium and marine research facilities.