ANAHEIM – The Walt Disney Co. is committed to starting construction by the end of 2017 on at least $1 billion for new attractions, a 5,000-space parking structure and other improvements at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure after the company secured a 30-year ban on a ticket tax with a 3-2 vote by the City Council.

Now, Disney fans and Anaheim residents must wait.

Potential concepts, rides and themed lands remain a secret, and Disney officials won’t say when they will unveil their plans. In a press release, Michael Colglazier, president of Disneyland Resort, said only that the company is “excited about what the future holds.”

Disney’s planned expansion may bank off the company’s recently acquired “Star Wars,” Marvel and Pixar franchises. Earlier this year, Disney Chairman Bob Iger told shareholders that Disney Imagineers are working on “Star Wars” attractions for unspecified theme parks.

Still, Disney’s expansion is expected to kick into gear following the city’s approval of the tax-for-construction swap in a vote taken pre-dawn Wednesday morning.

In that arrangement, Anaheim agrees to impose no taxes on theme park tickets for 30 years, extending a ban on ticket taxes that started in 1996 and was set to expire next year.

The deal isn’t expected to result in expansion beyond Disney’s existing properties.

New rides will be built be within the theme parks’ current attractions and parking areas, while the new parking structure will be built on a Disney-owned lot just east of Harbor Boulevard. Disney could focus on just one of the parks.

“What we’re talking about is that next generation of economic growth for the city of Anaheim,” Councilwoman Kris Murray said. “I think this will be remembered as a hallmark opportunity for economic development.”

Others saw the deal in a different light.

After failing to persuade his council colleagues to delay a decision after a council meeting that went past 1 a.m. Wednesday, Mayor Tom Tait said he voted against the plan because it “ties the hands” of future voters. If Anaheim faces a financial downturn, it won’t be able to boost revenue by taxing the tickets sold in the city by Disney. If a future council or Anaheim voters do try to adopt such a tax, the amount would be refunded to Disney, essentially negating the charge.

“This just shouldn’t happen,” Tait said. “I think, down the road, people will rue this day.”

An independent accountant will verify whether Disney holds up its promise to pump $1 billion into the Disneyland Resort, city spokesman Mike Lyster said Wednesday.

New attractions could significantly boost theme park attendance and occupancy at Anaheim’s hotels. An estimated 25.4 million visitors passed through Disneyland and California Adventure last year, according to the Themed Entertainment Association, a trade group.

If Disney doesn’t hit the deadline or meet the spending threshold, the city could adopt a ticket tax. However, the ban could be extended another 15 years if Disney later embarks on a separate $500 million project.

Disney has 28,000 workers in Anaheim, making it the largest employer in Orange County. When completed, the project is expected to create 1,400 new jobs at the Disneyland Resort and an additional $15 million in annual tax revenues, according to a Disney-commissioned report completed by KPMG, an auditing firm.

Last year, Disney paid $56 million in property, sales and hotel-room taxes to Anaheim, city and company officials said.

Representatives from the Angels, business organizations, trade unions and nonprofit groups supported the plan. Opponents included some community activists and others who said Anaheim’s low-income neighborhoods do not see economic benefits from the two parks.

Activist Joanne Sosa suggested the council include a provision that Disney not contribute money to future City Council candidates.

Last year, Disney gave the maximum $1,900 to each incumbent running in Anaheim’s city elections. Disney gave an additional $776,000 to four political action committees whose campaign spending included a combined $476,000 to help Murray and former Councilwoman Gail Eastman.

“It appears to me that Disney is averting the people’s right to vote,” said Gretchen Shoemaker, owner of Georgia’s Restaurant in the Anaheim Packing House.

“Disney is walking away with a good deal,” Shoemaker said. “This is not right.”

Contact the writer: 714-704-3769 or amarroquin@ocregister.com