Malaysia Animated At Disney Plans

[LaoPo]

Is Thai government sleeping???

Malaysia animated at Disney plans

Malaysia animated at Disney plans

Disneyland has proved a hit in Hong Kong

Malaysia's government is in talks with Disney about building a theme park.

Successful negotiations would mean the creation of south-east Asia's first Disneyland, following in the footsteps of Tokyo and Hong Kong.

It would also be a coup for Malaysia's tourism industry in its ongoing rivalry with neighbouring Singapore, which is banking on two giant casino resorts.

The government said it was "exploring all options" for a theme park on a 2,000 acre site in the Johor region.

The site is near the location of a new bridge that would link Malaysia and Singapore, and would thus have good transport links throughout South-East Asia.

Malaysia's government said it had talked both with the Walt Disney corporation and with the firm which operates Tokyo Disneyland, the Japanese franchise and one of Asia's most popular tourist attractions.

Disney spokeswoman Alannah Goss said she was aware of ongoing talks but said the group currently had no plans to announce a Malaysian Disneyland.

Together with the neighbouring DisneySea resort, Tokyo Disneyland - which opened in 1983 - attracts some 25 million visitors a year.

The $1.8bn (£1bn) Hong Kong resort, co-owned by Hong Kong's government, opened in September 2005.

However, media reports have claimed that the park - situated on Lantau Island off Hong Kong - is attracting fewer visitors than Disney had hoped.

source: BBC News/business

LaoPo

[TokyoT]

The big thing Malaysia has in their pocket is Singapore tourists. Disney can build a park in Malaysia right across the boarder from Singapore, at fraction of the costs (initial and on-going), and still cash in on all the Singapore tourist money. This is more about Disney picking Malaysia than Malaysia picking Disney.

Besides whould you want to sit down with a governement that seems to have a revolving PM right now?

[Scott]

Quite a few years back, there was talk about a Disney park in Thailand. I have no idea whatever happened to the idea, but I do remember the Disney folks coming to BKK for a meeting with gov't officials etc. It was reported in the newspapers.

It's a natural place to put a park--a huge number of tourists come to the country from all over. Reasonably cheap labor, good weather etc. My guess is that the gov't was quite intransigent about the situation and Disney moved elsewhere.

Oh, My God, I almost forgot--they might have to own the land!

[Plus]

Disney is not what it used to be. Every time it gets in the news is about losing money, CEOs, closing business unuts and so on.

Current Disney movies are crap, and Mickey Mouse is getting boring. How long can you flog a mouse anyway?

Good luck to Malaysians - if they can find people still interested in Snow White.

Disney's cartoons are not a cultural icon anymore.

[Phil Conners]

There's a presistant rumor that Disney own a considerable slab of land around Horse Point (near Pattaya) for a few years already.

But then again, there are so many rumors here

[Noel]

There's a presistant rumor that Disney own a considerable slab of land around Horse Point (near Pattaya) for a few years already.

But then again, there are so many rumors here

I also recently heard a strong rumour from a usually reliable source that they have bought a huge amount of land, but I seem to recall it was somewhere south of Pattaya.

Will ask some questions...

[thaihome]

Is Thai government sleeping???

Malaysia animated at Disney plans

...

source: BBC News/business

LaoPo

Disney has for years always denied any plans for a park in SEA. Understandably so, as there a far too few SE Asians that could afford to go and located in either Thailand or Malaysia it would end up competing with the parks in HK and Japan for the same demographics. Keep in mind, there are only some 3 million Singaporeans, and probably only about half could afford it or would go. Disney parks depend on large volumes, in the millions of visitors a year, not something SEA could provide.

This particular meeting turned out to be an unauthorized discussion by Disney's Japanese operator that was cutoff when Disney found out about it.

TH

Edited June 2, 2006 by thaihome

[Scott]

I know that Disney relies on volume, but given the rising standard of living in SEA, I would think a park here would be a good idea. Initially, the lower overhead costs should keep the price down and affordable to a good chunk of the population. Secondly, the high tourist numbers should help to sustain it.

[TopChinese]

The news is a hoax. Disney denies being in discussion with Malaysia to build another Disney.

Forbes

Not surprising since Singapore announced that it has awarded the first casino license to Las Vegas's Sands. Malaysia is up to its usual trips to trump Singers.

[PREM-R]

Singapore can have its casino, Malaysia can have Disney, We've got...... The MUPPET SHOW Yeaaaah!!!!!!!