Disney Announces Plans for Second Hong Kong Theme Park

[Captain Hank]

Just saw this on Google News: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=FT&Date=20050913&ID=5110078

Wow, they didn't waste much time in working on increasing capacity. Wonder what the theme is going to be, assuming this comes to pass.

 

[CaptainMichael]

Well, this isn't much of a surprise. The big question is when? I'd say at least 10 years from now. Disneyland Park still has lots of expanding to be done. Hong Kong will get a second park soon enough.

 

[xfkirsten]

Maybe they should build more bathrooms in this one, since people apparently had trouble finding them on opening day. :lookaroun :lol:

 

[HauntedPirate]

I would hope they would worry about the first park and it's problems - bathrooms, capacity, rides, justification for a second park based on attendance, etc..., before jumping into a second gate.

I mean, it worked for Paris, right? :lookaroun

 

[Lynx04]

That would be great if it is a completely original concept. At the very least, I pray it isn't another Disney Studios. I think adding a second park that is original will make it a lot more appealing to visit for me.

 

[jrriddle]

Let's not forget that when DLP opened in '92 they announced that The Disney/MGM Studio Themepark would be built by '95.
That didn't quite work out as planned...

 

[cherrynegra]

That would be great if it is a completely original concept. At the very least, I pray it isn't another Disney Studios. I think adding a second park that is original will make it a lot more appealing to visit for me.

From your mouth to God's ears. I hope that they come up with something original that utilizes the site to its full potential.

 

[jrriddle]

From your mouth to God's ears. I hope that they come up with something original that utilizes the site to its full potential.

Something like....

(wait fot it...)





DISNEY'S HONG KONG ADVENTURE!!!!!



I'm really surprised no one has made that joke yet.

 

[cherrynegra]

Something like....

(wait fot it...)

DISNEY'S HONG KONG ADVENTURE!!!!!

I'm really surprised no one has made that joke yet.

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

:lol:

 

[jrriddle]

I just read this article about how the Chinese Government won't allow a Diney Channel in Mainland China.

http://www.caltradereport.com/eWebPages/page-two-1126766228.html

Iger has said that this may delay or "kill" Shanghai Disneyland, leaving Hong Kong as Disney's Entertainment Hub in China.
Casually mentioning building a 2nd park in Hong Kong just when you are negotiating a park in Shanghai sounds like classic Eisner to me.
He did it with Anaheim and Long Beach. He did it with France and Spain.
"Give me what I want or I'll build somewhere else and you lose out on all that Disney money".

 

[jrriddle]

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

:lol:

You love it and you know it.

 

[cherrynegra]

Yeah, now I'm thoroughly confused. We're going to build a park in Shanghai...NOT SO FAST...we won't build it 'till you promise you'll show our programming? If the report is true, the question is how much do those in Shanghai and some in Beijing really want Disney in Shanghai? Are they willing to capitulate and let Disney show their programming? Interesting read.

 

[jrriddle]

Yeah, now I'm thoroughly confused. We're going to build a park in Shanghai...NOT SO FAST...we won't build it 'till you promise you'll show our programming? If the report is true, the question is how much do those in Shanghai and some in Beijing really want Disney in Shanghai? Are they willing to capitulate and let Disney show their programming? Interesting read.

Personally I think staying in Hong Kong and developing that resort is a better business plan. But what do I know.
From a world wide public relations standpoint what better way to say "We've made it as a global power (please ignore our human rights violations)" then to have 2 Disney theme parks in your country.

 

[DarkMeasures]

Let's not forget that when DLP opened in '92 they announced that The Disney/MGM Studio Themepark would be built by '95.
That didn't quite work out as planned...

The difference is that Hong Kong Disney is actually getting guests. Disneyland Paris still struggles to keep up the numers.

The article did state the reason for the second park is to lower attendance in the other park.

 

[m star]

The difference is that Hong Kong Disney is actually getting guests.

Whoah, it just opened a few days ago. There's no guarantee the attendance will stay up. I have a feeling that it won't, with so few attractions. But regardless, I think its too early to tell how popular HK is going to be.

 

[peter11435]

Disneyland Paris still struggles to keep up the numers.

That is actually not true. Attendance at Disneyland Paris has never really been a problem since the first year or so, and even then it wasn't that bad. Disneyland Paris is the most visited theme park in Europe, and has higher attendance than any theme park in the world outside of the other three MK's. Disneyland Paris's problems really never involved park attendance but rather that they were unable to fill the thousands of hotel rooms built initialy. DLP opened with 6 hotels and a campground as opposed to only two hotels at HKDL. This combined with the huge initial investment in the park (they built nearly 35 years of MK development all at once) made it difficult to turn a profit for many years.

 

[Lynx04]

Casually mentioning building a 2nd park in Hong Kong just when you are negotiating a park in Shanghai sounds like classic Eisner to me.
He did it with Anaheim and Long Beach. He did it with France and Spain.
"Give me what I want or I'll build somewhere else and you lose out on all that Disney money".

This is what Eisner did best and to be honest, their is nothing wrong with this stance when it comes to business and getting what is in the best interest of your company, or shareholders.

 

[Lynx04]

That is actually not true. Attendance at Disneyland Paris has never really been a problem since the first year or so, and even then it wasn't that bad. Disneyland Paris is the most visited theme park in Europe, and has higher attendance than any theme park in the world outside of the other three MK's. Disneyland Paris's problems really never involved park attendance but rather that they were unable to fill the thousands of hotel rooms built initialy. DLP opened with 6 hotels and a campground as opposed to only two hotels at HKDL. This combined with the huge initial investment in the park (they built nearly 35 years of MK development all at once) made it difficult to turn a profit for many years.

Couldn't have said it better.

 

[cherrynegra]

.... to be honest, their is nothing wrong with this stance when it comes to business and getting what is in the best interest of your company, or shareholders.

I agree. It seems odd not to be able to show Disney programming when you have a Disney park in the country. How else are they going to spread Disney's message?

 

[Lynx04]

I agree. It seems odd not to be able to show Disney programming when you have a Disney park in the country. How else are they going to spread Disney's message?

It isn't like Disney programing is spewing American propaganda, or has an evil agenda. I know the Chinese government is h*ll bent on protecting their citizens from any unmoral, but if Disney can make its way throw their filters, nothing will.