Shanghai Disney: Magic Kingdom with a Chinese twist

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Shanghai Disney: Magic Kingdom with a Chinese twist
By Natalie Huet | With REUTERS, THE NEW YORK TIMES, BLOOMBERG



SHANGHAI: -- Disney has just opened a new theme park near Shanghai, where it hopes to tap China’s booming middle class and domestic tourism.

The group already had a park in Hong Kong but the Shanghai one is the first in mainland China. The project had been in the works for nearly two decades, and negotiations with Chinese authorities weren’t always easy.

Today Shanghai Disney is a joint venture with a state-run group – meaning Disney is sharing the keys with the Communist government.

The U.S. group poured $5.5 billion, or close to 5 billion euros, into this resort, its biggest foreign investment ever. It comes as China’s economic growth is actually slowing down. But Disney says this is a market that’s just too huge to ignore, and it hopes it will offset tough business at other sites around the world, including Hong Kong’s.

“China obviously represents incredible potential for the Walt Disney Company,” CEO Bob Iger told reporters at the park, which officially opened on Thursday (June 16).

Americana meets China
At this seven square kilometre park, Chinese zodiac symbols combine with Disney characters.

Attractions include a Chinese-style Wandering Moon tea house, a Chinese Zodiac-themed garden and a Tarzan musical featuring Chinese acrobats. An app will let guests check wait times on rides.

The firm estimates some 330 million people within a three-hour radius of Shanghai, China’s financial centre, could afford to come to the park.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-06-16

[Usernames]

Do they have indoor toilets?

[Pimay1]

Do they have indoor toilets?

I wonder if they have dog on a stick?

[brommers]

You have to hand it to Disney. They peddle tat at ridiculously high prices and get away with it all over the globe. I wish Wanda all the best with their theme parks.

[copa8]

If the first two comments are any indication, I'm anticipating a sh*t-ton of hateful, stereotypical, maybe even racist comments rolling along. This is a China-related article, after all.

[mike324]

You have to hand it to Disney. They peddle tat at ridiculously high prices and get away with it all over the globe. I wish Wanda all the best with their theme parks.

Wanda may be able to build theme parks with a lower entrance price, but their creativity and attention to detail won't be up to par unless its run by foreign talent. But it really doesn't matter as its catering to the Chinese masses, they will still have a good time as for many it is their first time at at a theme park, not to mention a theme park in such grand scale.

[SOTIRIOS]

....5 Billion.....wow....

[Srikcir]

If the Chinese economy continues to tighten, the average middle income Chinese may take more vacations within China rather than go outside of the country such as new Disneyland. Thailand's reliance on increased Chinese tourism to strengthen the Thai economy might be fragile.