Down Under Disneyana Australian Disney Forum

With Bob Iger's announcement today that the Shanghai Disney Project has been approved by the Chinese Central Government, I decided we'd better have a new forum to post news on this project for the next couple of years!

It's going to be a long five years of waiting for this to come to fruition!


THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY REACHES ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE ON SHANGHAI THEME PARK PROJECT

BURBANK, Calif. – November 3, 2009 – The Walt Disney Company today announced that the Project Application Report (PAR) for a Disney theme park in the Pudong district of Shanghai has received approval from the relevant authorities of the central government of China.

"China is one of the most dynamic, exciting and important countries in the world, and this approval marks a very significant milestone for The Walt Disney Company in mainland China," said Robert A. Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

The PAR approval will enable Disney and its Shanghai partners to move forward toward a final agreement to build and operate the park and begin preliminary development work. Upon completion of the final agreement, the project's initial phase would include a Magic Kingdom-style theme park with characteristics tailored to the Shanghai region and other amenities consistent with Disney's destination resorts worldwide.

About The Walt Disney Company China

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a diversified international family entertainment enterprise with five business segments and is a Dow 30 company with revenues of nearly $38 billion in its most recently reported fiscal year. Our first animation screened in China in the 1930s and today our long association continues with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with over 600 employees."

Additionally - here is a New York Times article about this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/busin ... anted=1&hp

Some interesting info from this article:
Cost: $3.7 billion
Theme Park: 100 acres (bigger than Anaheim - on par with Paris and Tokyo)
Total Resort Land: 1000 acres with a future option to expand to 1,700!
Resort will include a mixture of shops (Downtown Disney?) and hotels.
Disney will own 40% of the resort, the remainder will be a consortium of investors (mainly Chinese)

ok... clearly I read the 'offical announcement' post before reading this one.

Thanks Keith, you answered most of my previous questions from my post in the Disney News.

And .....

WOOO HOO! its not everyday that our forum gets another entirely new section. And indeed, the world another Disney park.

as Big Kev would say...


I'M EXCITED! -/ -/ -/

Can't wait to watch this unfold. Am thinking we might need a club trip to the opening ? -/

Lisa. */

Still not sure, but after reading that second article, I've gone from I don't like it, to still not sure sure it's a good thing. This quote - "which has aggressively protected its culture from Westernization in general and Hollywood in particular" - amongst many other reasons underline my scepticism for this project, and China is still not high on the must see radar. However if we are likely to see a rival to WDW ultimately on our doorstep, I may change that thinking in years to come.

Still not sure, but after reading that second article, I've gone from I don't like it, to still not sure sure it's a good thing. This quote - "which has aggressively protected its culture from Westernization in general and Hollywood in particular" - amongst many other reasons underline my scepticism for this project, and China is still not high on the must see radar. However if we are likely to see a rival to WDW ultimately on our doorstep, I may change that thinking in years to come.

So is your objection because you don't want to see China 'ruined' by the West or perhaps do you think that China is just remaining closed off and insular and may not do the magic justice?

I'm also interested in your comment about not high on the must-see radar... don't you want to go to China? I can't think of a place I would want to go more right now, but then I've always had a fascination with all things Asian ( architecture/art/cultural differences/diverse landscape/cuisine) so I guess thats why I find the whole thing all so exciting. Its just another good reason to travel there. My BFF, on the other hand,point blank refuses to travel with me to that part of the world purely cos it doens't grab her at all... not even the food... which I just can't fathom.

I guess there is the political aspects too... and have pondered that as well... but I figure, there aren't many countries on this globe that hasn't done something in their history that I opposed - thats why I live HERE - but there aren't many places I wouldn't want to see just the same.

just my 20 cents.

I'd be interested in hearing what Loomis thinks about all this....given his connection to HKDL. And Keith, you've been there a few times... what are your initial thoughts?

Lisa. */

So is your objection because you don't want to see China 'ruined' by the West or perhaps do you think that China is just remaining closed off and insular and may not do the magic justice?

Definitely the second part. I think China both culturally and physically has been ruined enough over the decades.

don't you want to go to China?

Not really, no. It's hard to really articulate my objections here, and I think it comes down to a political standpoint.

I have just deleted many lines of political comment which I will avoid because whilst I love discussing politics and religion (especially over a beer), forums like this are best left out of that discussion. So let's just say that if and when a park is built here, I no doubt will make an effort to visit it over time, afterall I can't leave a Disney park untouched, but I still am disappointed that China has been selected as a location for the next Disney Park.

Sorry ajp... I really wasn't throwing a political hand grenade... I was just being curious is all. Other people opinions interest me. I wasn't meaning to be at all judgemental, I was just looking at it all from a travelers standpoint, rather than the world view.

I agree that there are probably lots of countries that a Disney park would be a definite drawcard to, but I'm just happy that Disney is still building new and exciting properties for all of us to explore.

I was just wanting to have a chat about a new development in the Disney world, and see what other people thought. My apologies if I offended.

Lisa. */

That's OK Lisa. I wasn't offended and didn't mean to come across as such. I was just trying to answer your question without sinking into an overtly political rant that's all. I don't offend easily, so don't worry. I like the fact that we're able to put our views forward and not agree, it's healthy! -/

Oohhh - some tasty opinion pieces and I've been too busy at work to wade in...until now

Okay - my thoughts.

I would not choose to travel to China normally, however this park WILL drive me up there - no doubt about it. Why wouldn't I want to travel to China? It is nothing to do with the political situation, or the food (yummy), or the architecture. I think it is because I have no real sense of anything fun to do there once I got there. I'd like to visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City - but then I'd be at a loss as to what to do next that could occupy me for any length of time. I mean, it is not exactly Europe or the US or Japan where there are thousands of entertainment options (mostly in English) and you actually see blue sky (not smog...). But the Disney Park will take me (and many other people from around the world) and that is good for China. Heck - I may be swayed to return one day and explore the country even more - that is what happened with me and Japan which I now love - thanks to the Disney parks.

Will they do the magic justice? I think so - it is a Disney park and they have made oodles of magic in Hong Kong. I think Hong Kong and Japan have the best cast members in the world as they all act in "the Disney Way" - if they don't, then they lose their job and there are a thousand more people willing to take over! The park will be built using the latest, greatest Disney Imagineering technology - so it'll be brilliant.

I am worried about the Hong Kong park - once Shanghai opens (and it sounds like it will be a mega-park) why would you go to the Hong Kong one - even with its expansion? I'm betting Iger wishes it was never built!

Now - what do you think we'll see in Shanghai? Will there be an all-new castle (I hope so!)? Will it include any rides based on the Marvel super heroes? Perhaps a Superland to nestle with the park's traditional lands?

I'm hoping we begin to get more details soon.

If anyone watched SBS World News tonight - they had a big article on this, talking to the locals who in general all seemed very enthusiastic about the announcement. It was quite funny seeing the cultural differences though, because the people who will have to be re-located (whole villages) were just accepting of it as the price of change - whereas in a western society, I would imagine mass-protests!

Ok I tried to shut up - but its not my strong point.

i'm with Anthony - I hae no desire to go to China at all. I have concerns on how the magic will play out in a country that is so censored you can not watch what you want, google what you want or say what you want! Where workers are under paid and under represented and where protesting citizens are mown down by the toys of war.

Off my soap box now - and yes I know all countries including ours have human rights issues but China's are huge.

Sandie

I think the impact on Hong Kong is one of the big issues with this for sure. Both Disney and the Chinese administration have invested alot of energy and money in making Hong Kong a viable operation and destination. And to then turn around and build another one within such a close proximity being announced as the size of this and with the technology. Which leads to what partly underlines my own position, what is the motivation from both Disney and China in moving forward with this?

Don't get me wrong, any new park is exciting and this one sounds like it's going to be a cracker for sure. This will give us 3 destinations all within a 10 hour flight of us and all close to each other which would make an amazing hopping holiday going from Hongkers to China to Tokyo. I can see the upside for sure, but my reservations are also strong.

You raise some good points Keith, a fine discussion for sure. I like this observation in particular

because the people who will have to be re-located (whole villages) were just accepting of it as the price of change - whereas in a western society, I would imagine mass-protests!

. You are right, we would have mass protest and a bunch of NIMBYs who would do their utmost to stifle anything like that here. But what price a protest in China?

Now I'll try and lighten up.

Now what will we see? A unique castle would be ideal, and what an opportunity to build a castle with an ancient oriental theme, something to honour the "asian" princess Mulan perhaps? It would be great if the budget for this was monumental, similar to the Olympic size budget that China had, then we would no doubt see something with the excitement to rival what Tokyo is (assuming here) and with technology to make all the other parks envious. You would expect and hope they did this, otherwise there would be no point wouldn't there?

I'd like to wait and see what comes out of the detail. Over time, perhaps my cynicism may fade especially as I get older, so looking at China as a destination, outside of a Disney Park may become an option. But for the moment, I'll fly into the city visit the park and leave.

valid points all.....



I can only speak for myself, but I don't consider myself clever enough, strong enough or driven enough to change the world... other perhaps than the narrow strip of it I occupy at the time. As long as I have a good stab at that, I'm satisfied I've contributed to the good stuff rather than the bad. In and around all that, I just want to see whats out there without becoming entangled in political intrigue.

If anyone watched SBS World News tonight - they had a big article on this, talking to the locals who in general all seemed very enthusiastic about the announcement. It was quite funny seeing the cultural differences though, because the people who will have to be re-located (whole villages) were just accepting of it as the price of change - whereas in a western society, I would imagine mass-protests!

Yes, that would definitely happen. It worries me that so many of the fledgling adult generation I see around me, feel it is their inalienable right to be self centred and self serving; more aware of their rights than their responsibilities. Inconsideration can become an epidemic. A few weeks living in a Chinese village would likely teach them some grace and humility. Every country has its issues.
ok... getting off my soap box now....

But just to lighten the mood a bit....
at the risk of appearing insensitive and shallow, I'll be going to the new park in China, be ecstatic to be there and will send you a post card. -/


Lisa. */

We do alot of business with China over probably 10 years or more. One of our suppliers (Australian who owns the factory) is always updating us on the progress of the conditions, from wages, now with overtime, working conditions regulated down to the amount of venting and fans etc. They have come a long way over the past 5-10 years. So much that alot of factories are looking to move to Vietnam or India. Catch 22, the more rights and better conditions they get the more companys move on to the next country, its a balancing act for sure.

In the case of a disney theme park...if you were chinese, would you want to see a chinese themed castle or park for that matter?? When you go on a holiday you want to experience something new, excape from reality if you will. Most will never be able to visit America and propbably have little interest in visiting Japan. Why not experiece another culture...

There is no doubt HK's numbers will be effected, hopefully not much. If Disney had a choice I would have thought Shanghai would have been the first choice before Hong Kong! In saying that I LOVE HKDL...

I'm sure HKDL is nervous. I noted the significant increase in numbers on the weekend from mainland Chinese. But then again they certainly have the population to manage both - the US have shown that they can manage 2 resorts. HK will still have additional draw for mainland Chinese - perhaps Macau might have been a better location - dump the kids at the park and then hit the casino!

Okay - it is FINALLY official - the Disney company today signed an agreement to build a Disney theme park in Shanghai (not that it is a surprise given we've seen the construction cranes at the site!).

The park will cost $3.59 billion USD and will open in 2014.

Here are more details and I would expect a full press release (beyond the details of this market announcement) soon.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/di ... 5948480235