Walt Disney has already started expanding its first theme park in the mainland, said chairman and chief executive Robert Iger, one day before the official public opening of Shanghai Disneyland today. Showcasing the beauty of Chinese art and tradition, and bringing magical Disney stories and characters to life for kids and families, the music-filled television special, “Grand Opening Celebration of Shanghai Disney Resort”, will be presented THURSDAY, JUNE 16 (8:00-8:30 p.m.) simultaneously on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD and each channel’s App, and FRIDAY, JUNE 17 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) on Freeform, without breaks or commercials.
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The red-carpet occasion also saluted Disneytown-the resort’s global retail, dining and entertainment area-as well as two imaginatively designed hotels and Wishing Star Park. The site will cover 390 hectares (963 acres) in Pudong, or approximately three times the size of Hong Kong Disneyland, at a cost of CN¥ 24,500,000,000 (US$3,700,000,000) for the new theme park and an additional CN¥ 4,500,000,000 (US$700,000,000) to build other aspects of the resort, totaling CN¥ 34,000,000,000 (US$5,500,000,000).
“China obviously represents incredible potential for the Walt Disney Co.”, said Iger.
Iger yesterday said the Shanghai Disney project needs to show “great respect” for the Chinese people and culture, calling Disney an “invited guest” of the Chinese government.
The World of Disney Store is one of the most technologically advanced Disney retail experiences in the world, offering an extensive array of Disney merchandise and many items found exclusively at Shanghai Disney Resort. “We are honored to be joined by so many distinguished guests for this momentous occasion, and look forward to officially opening the gates and sharing this extraordinary authentically Disney, distinctly Chinese destination with the world”. The resort’s theme park, Shanghai Disneyland, features world-class attractions and live entertainment spectaculars across six themed lands: Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove and Fantasyland, with the Enchanted Storybook Castle.
The Walt Disney Co.’s Shanghai Disney Resort hasn’t even opened yet, but the Burbank, California-based media giant is already working on expansion plans.
“In order for us to even consider a park there, we need to be sure we have access to television”, he said at the time, adding that it is already hard for them to succeed in delivering Disney shows to Chinese audiences because of the “restrictions” in the country.
Disney welcomed 600,000 people to experience the park during trial operations over the past month.
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Disney also has to contend with tight controls on media companies in China, limiting its ability to sell media content such as the Disney Channel (which is barred in the country). The Chinese president said he was a “strong supporter and advocate of this cooperation project”, congratulating Disney and the Shanghai government on the successful completion of the resort. It is also the culmination of one of the largest foreign investment projects in China’s history, and Disney’s largest investment to date outside of the US, according to the company.
