Disney In China

[WDW1974]

Yep. The Brits had somewhat of a base here in the US before Paris opened, but HK and China were never and don't think will ever be for WDW even having parks in both places.

Absolutely. Asian parks have no tangible affect on people coming to USA parks.

How much of an impact has HK and will Shanghai have on the Japanese market?

I doubt very much. The vast majority of guests to TDR are from Japan.

I also wonder the impact of the Delta/NW merger as lots of the Japanese tour operators had their clients flying into Orlando from either Minneapolis or Detroit NW hubs.

Again, I don't think much. So long as they can fill planes, the new Delta will be sending those planes to Asia. Indeed, they are pumping up flights from Detroit next year, adding flights to Hong Kong, Beijing and Seoul.

 

[WDW1974]

So are we getting a Mulan's castle?

Shanghai will have a unique centerpiece that hasn't been seen (and won't) in any other place.

 

[_Scar]

Why would you ask when you don't respect my opinions or posts?

But I'll answer since others may wonder, it is FACT. From someone who would know. I do know more, but won't put specifics out unless something else is leaked first as I am not costing anyone a job and Disney paying a lot of attention to what gets out and how.

I will speak in general, however. And in general, I am hopeful that what I am told ALL comes to pass. The Chinese have demanded a very unique, attraction-heavy, locals pleasing park/resort ... and it appears that Disney is gonna deliver.

This can't be another HKDL where they announce one thing and build another (for those who don't know, two lands and about 12 attractions were cut after the park was announced ... and, yes, I do have the original releases/press kits to prove it).

Never said I didn't respect you. I just think you're very negative about WDW, and it's annoying. :lol:

You sorta get super excited........ and then you realize all of Disney's latest parks have been small and dinky only waiting and craving expansion.

Wonder if Shanghai, according to DL&M Blog being culture-heavy, will somehow include Mulan?

Shanghai will have a unique centerpiece that hasn't been seen (and won't) in any other place.

Just like Sleeping Beauty Castle and Cinderella's Castle was supposed to be unique? You don't gotta say anything if you know, but I bet it's Rapunzel like we've heard from day 1.

 

[Studios Fan]

Why would you ask when you don't respect my opinions or posts?

But I'll answer since others may wonder, it is FACT. From someone who would know. I do know more, but won't put specifics out unless something else is leaked first as I am not costing anyone a job and Disney paying a lot of attention to what gets out and how.

I will speak in general, however. And in general, I am hopeful that what I am told ALL comes to pass. The Chinese have demanded a very unique, attraction-heavy, locals pleasing park/resort ... and it appears that Disney is gonna deliver.

This can't be another HKDL where they announce one thing and build another (for those who don't know, two lands and about 12 attractions were cut after the park was announced ... and, yes, I do have the original releases/press kits to prove it).

Sounds good.

 

[juan]

I'm intrigued by the possibility of WDW getting a clone of a DLShanghai ride. If China pays for all the planning, design, engineering, and other costs, WDW could easily get a second copy for a great savings.:sohappy:

 

[RandySavage]

This can't be another HKDL where they announce one thing and build another (for those who don't know, two lands and about 12 attractions were cut after the park was announced ... and, yes, I do have the original releases/press kits to prove it).

Here's a visual encapsulation of what HKDL's original press release mentioned:

 

[ChrisFL]

So I'm curious... what will the larger, better development in Shanghai do to the existing location in Hong Kong?

From what I know about China and Hong Kong, the effect will be minimal.

This isn't a case where there's tons of people all over China who can decide which park they want to go to and have plenty of money to spend. They will most likely rely on local/near local tourism from the wealthier Chinese.

Hong Kong is still a very different entity than mainland China and even the languages spoken in HK and Shanghai are different (HK is Cantonese, Shanghai is Mandarin)

They are also pretty far geographically apart, it's like comparing Anaheim to Orlando, but even worse.

IF Disney understands their potential audience and builds it appropriately (read: not like HKDL when it opened, DCA, Disney Studios Paris) they will do fine. If not, its going to be a difficult road ahead. Shanghai does not have a long history of traditional western influences the same way that Tokyo and Hong Kong have had, so it will be interesting to see what Disney does.

 

[Orange Bird]

I think the reason why people tend to not be in favor of massive global expansion for the Disney theme parks (and I understand from an economic perspective the rationale behind it, but from a sentimental, non-economic, irrational perspective I am not in favor of it) is the fact that there are few examples of businesses expanding beyond some critical mass while maintaining a consistent, high level of quality.

For example, the very first McDonald's restaurants probably served pretty good food. They were quite successful. Then Ray Kroc came along, put a McDonald's in every city, town, village, and hamlet around the world, and the quality of the food had nowhere to go but down.

The first Starbucks in Seattle served good coffee, got good press, and was generally highly regarded by all. And then once there was a Starbucks on every street corner around the country, prices seemed to go up and people's satisfaction with the brand seemed to go down.

Krispy Kreme nearly went bankrupt while attempting to take their doughnuts from the southeast to the entire country. Their stock went to $0.03 or less.

Brand/franchise expansion/extension always seems to precede a rapid and severe decline in quality across the entire brand. That is the cultural perception. I hope Disney doesn't hit a critical mass of theme parks beyond which its fate attains a similar trajectory.

What he said.

 

[DVCOwner]

Here is what I think about Disney sending money in Hong Kong and Shanghai and not Walt Disney World.

First – Disney is only investing about 40% on the park and China is paying the rest. The park should be successful if done right and with the budget everyone is talking about I think they will.

Second – Disney is not looking at only the building a park, they are looking at getting into a market for the other products that they market: movies, tv shows, toys, etc, etc. This is where the company is going to be making the money on the park investment.

Third – The cost of developing news rides and technology for these two parks will be used to develop new ones in Walt Disney World, keeping cost down. Not many people that go to Walt Disney World will also go to the China parks, so any ride moved from these parks to Walt Disney World will “new” to almost all Florida guest.

Last – I believe in the long run this is going to be a cash cow for Disney and a profitable Disney is going to invest more in Walt Disney World.

 

[Giraffe Lounge]

Why would you ask when you don't respect my opinions or posts?

But I'll answer since others may wonder, it is FACT. From someone who would know. I do know more, but won't put specifics out unless something else is leaked first as I am not costing anyone a job and Disney paying a lot of attention to what gets out and how.

I will speak in general, however. And in general, I am hopeful that what I am told ALL comes to pass. The Chinese have demanded a very unique, attraction-heavy, locals pleasing park/resort ... and it appears that Disney is gonna deliver.

This can't be another HKDL where they announce one thing and build another (for those who don't know, two lands and about 12 attractions were cut after the park was announced ... and, yes, I do have the original releases/press kits to prove it).

Can you confirm or deny if the concept art showing an IOA-style layout with a central lagoon that's floating around the net is for Shanghai? (apologies if you already have)

 

[WDW1974]

Can you confirm or deny if the concept art showing an IOA-style layout with a central lagoon that's floating around the net is for Shanghai? (apologies if you already have)

I can tell you that isn't Shanghai (or wasn't created for it).

I can't tell you whether certain elements in that very vague rendering may actually wind up in Shanghai.

 

[_Scar]

I can tell you that isn't Shanghai (or wasn't created for it).

I can't tell you whether certain elements in that very vague rendering may actually wind up in Shanghai.

From what you heard, is this Shanghai so different that it doesn't offer the classics like Snow White, Dumbo, Mad Tea Party, or Jungle Cruise?