Here's a little SDL morsel (I am discussing this up on the Spirited Dirty Dozen because no one ever talked about the Asian parks here, but I will drop this here as well).
First, here's the evidence:
http://themeparkuniversity.com/disney/toy-story-land-headed-shanghai-disneyland-photographic-proof/
Don't know how or why the O-Town Blogger was allowed to wander where he did, or why Disney has been able to keep this hidden in plain sight, but Toy Story Land was simply delayed. It isn't dead and, yes, construction on the important stuff is well under way.
Apparently, it was always a Phase 1B development, which is why it was on all the opening menu docs and planning materials I was sent in 2013. It just wasn't labeled as such. And with so much so far behind schedule, facilities and development are not as far along as was intended (and, no, this isn't part of that pesky $800 million that went into a Chinese hole never to be seen or spoken of again).
Its purpose is to be a quick addition that is nearly finished on opening day, yet doesn't officially open until six to 12 months after park opening. Why? Well, in the worst case, if the park flops, it can be rushed to opening within six months as part of a media campaign to offer amazing "new MAGIC!" at the struggling park. Or OTOH, if the park booms, it can open a year after opening as a way to modestly (slightly?) bump up park capacity while keeping the media buzz going. That's why in those pics it looks so close to completion already, with just show paint and detailing needed to open.
The blogger claims the QSR will open in June, which seems contradictory because then everyone will know this land is coming ... but with Disney, anything is possible.
And there's more ... and not talking Phase II here.
The other little secret that Ops will have at their disposal in Shanghai is "flex spaces" within the park that are currently just open fields (like the one photographed by the blogger, Josh) or lightly landscaped spaces. If the park really does well and has capacity issues due to overcrowding, the Ops Entertainment team already has a short list of quick adds that go into themed tents and temporary facilities. Think the Millennium Village tent at EPCOT in 1999-2000, but filled with the latest IP from Marvel or Pixar or Disney presented as interactive zones and small stage shows. All to soak up crowds and add capacity.
What I am curious about, again, is how this has been a secret in plain view and why this dude was able to see it and take pics, which don't appear to be spreading. Dakota needs to get on this because Joe G. isn't putting pics of this undiscovered, secret, future MAGIC on his closely monitored by Burbank Tweeter.
First, here's the evidence:
http://themeparkuniversity.com/disney/toy-story-land-headed-shanghai-disneyland-photographic-proof/
Don't know how or why the O-Town Blogger was allowed to wander where he did, or why Disney has been able to keep this hidden in plain sight, but Toy Story Land was simply delayed. It isn't dead and, yes, construction on the important stuff is well under way.
Apparently, it was always a Phase 1B development, which is why it was on all the opening menu docs and planning materials I was sent in 2013. It just wasn't labeled as such. And with so much so far behind schedule, facilities and development are not as far along as was intended (and, no, this isn't part of that pesky $800 million that went into a Chinese hole never to be seen or spoken of again).
Its purpose is to be a quick addition that is nearly finished on opening day, yet doesn't officially open until six to 12 months after park opening. Why? Well, in the worst case, if the park flops, it can be rushed to opening within six months as part of a media campaign to offer amazing "new MAGIC!" at the struggling park. Or OTOH, if the park booms, it can open a year after opening as a way to modestly (slightly?) bump up park capacity while keeping the media buzz going. That's why in those pics it looks so close to completion already, with just show paint and detailing needed to open.
The blogger claims the QSR will open in June, which seems contradictory because then everyone will know this land is coming ... but with Disney, anything is possible.
And there's more ... and not talking Phase II here.
The other little secret that Ops will have at their disposal in Shanghai is "flex spaces" within the park that are currently just open fields (like the one photographed by the blogger, Josh) or lightly landscaped spaces. If the park really does well and has capacity issues due to overcrowding, the Ops Entertainment team already has a short list of quick adds that go into themed tents and temporary facilities. Think the Millennium Village tent at EPCOT in 1999-2000, but filled with the latest IP from Marvel or Pixar or Disney presented as interactive zones and small stage shows. All to soak up crowds and add capacity.
What I am curious about, again, is how this has been a secret in plain view and why this dude was able to see it and take pics, which don't appear to be spreading. Dakota needs to get on this because Joe G. isn't putting pics of this undiscovered, secret, future MAGIC on his closely monitored by Burbank Tweeter.
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