Disney scouts Asia for next park project
By Jerry W. Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 7, 2005
Walt Disney Co. is searching "all over Asia" for another theme-park location, but don't look for anything to open this decade, Jay Rasulo, president of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, said Friday.
In the most sweeping statement yet on his vision of overseas expansion, Rasulo said in an interview that even South Korea might one day see a Disney park, and he did not rule out India, along with mainland China.
"We're currently exploring all over Asia," Rasulo said, but added, "we're not close to a decision."
Hong Kong Disneyland opens in September, joining Tokyo Disneyland as the company's second Asia location. Mainland China is thought to be next on Disney's road map, because the company has been in negotiations there for some time for a site in Shanghai.
But Rasulo tempered any expectations of a quick move there. "We won't see that this decade," he said while visiting Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Rasulo, who runs the division that includes all of Disney's worldwide parks, was even more noncommittal on India, though he did not rule it out.
He said India was "not in our sights for the foreseeable future, not this decade." India does not yet have the "strong infrastructure" of roads and development needed to make a park financially feasible, Rasulo said, though Disney is busy there with the recent launch of the Disney Channel and exploring other business options.
As for South Korea, which only recently surfaced as a potential theme-park target for Disney, Rasulo said that "perhaps some day" there could be a park there, and qualified that by adding it was "unlikely this decade."
He said it takes a long time to go from cutting a deal to opening a park -- six years in the case of Hong Kong Disneyland. So even if an agreement could be reached within a year or two, that would likely mean a foreign park opening in 2012 or 2013 at the earliest.
Asian families enjoying Animal Kingdom on Friday said they think it's a good idea for the U.S. theme park and entertainment giant to open attractions in the world's most populous region -- where Western entertainment is spreading like wildfire.
"When I was young, I wanted to go to Disney every week. I dreamed Disney would come to Thailand," said Racsata Tung, 33, a Thai native who now attends college in the United States. Tung was visiting Disney World for the second time, after his first visit about four years ago.
He said Thailand would be a great place for Disney because the country has good relations with other Asian countries and travel there is welcomed and commonplace.
His wife, Nilubon Tung, agreed that Disney would be great for Thailand and vice versa. "We have interesting attractions, but no Disney."
But if Disney does not build in Thailand, no problem for the Tungs: They plan to return to Disney World as often as possible because their nephew Keff Posang, 13, and niece Kate Posang, 11, live in Boca Raton.
Jerry W. Jackson can be reached at jwjackson@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5721.
By Jerry W. Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 7, 2005
Walt Disney Co. is searching "all over Asia" for another theme-park location, but don't look for anything to open this decade, Jay Rasulo, president of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, said Friday.
In the most sweeping statement yet on his vision of overseas expansion, Rasulo said in an interview that even South Korea might one day see a Disney park, and he did not rule out India, along with mainland China.
"We're currently exploring all over Asia," Rasulo said, but added, "we're not close to a decision."
Hong Kong Disneyland opens in September, joining Tokyo Disneyland as the company's second Asia location. Mainland China is thought to be next on Disney's road map, because the company has been in negotiations there for some time for a site in Shanghai.
But Rasulo tempered any expectations of a quick move there. "We won't see that this decade," he said while visiting Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Rasulo, who runs the division that includes all of Disney's worldwide parks, was even more noncommittal on India, though he did not rule it out.
He said India was "not in our sights for the foreseeable future, not this decade." India does not yet have the "strong infrastructure" of roads and development needed to make a park financially feasible, Rasulo said, though Disney is busy there with the recent launch of the Disney Channel and exploring other business options.
As for South Korea, which only recently surfaced as a potential theme-park target for Disney, Rasulo said that "perhaps some day" there could be a park there, and qualified that by adding it was "unlikely this decade."
He said it takes a long time to go from cutting a deal to opening a park -- six years in the case of Hong Kong Disneyland. So even if an agreement could be reached within a year or two, that would likely mean a foreign park opening in 2012 or 2013 at the earliest.
Asian families enjoying Animal Kingdom on Friday said they think it's a good idea for the U.S. theme park and entertainment giant to open attractions in the world's most populous region -- where Western entertainment is spreading like wildfire.
"When I was young, I wanted to go to Disney every week. I dreamed Disney would come to Thailand," said Racsata Tung, 33, a Thai native who now attends college in the United States. Tung was visiting Disney World for the second time, after his first visit about four years ago.
He said Thailand would be a great place for Disney because the country has good relations with other Asian countries and travel there is welcomed and commonplace.
His wife, Nilubon Tung, agreed that Disney would be great for Thailand and vice versa. "We have interesting attractions, but no Disney."
But if Disney does not build in Thailand, no problem for the Tungs: They plan to return to Disney World as often as possible because their nephew Keff Posang, 13, and niece Kate Posang, 11, live in Boca Raton.
Jerry W. Jackson can be reached at jwjackson@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5721.