Shanghai Disneyland officially opened its gates Thursday with long lines quickly forming under rainy skies.
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Iger and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang read out letters of support from President Xi Jinping and United States counterpart Barack Obama. Wearing an Epcot Center shirt, Mr. Jochens said he had been to every Disney park and was surprised at the wide walkways in the Shanghai park, which he said took away “a bit of the atmosphere” but made it easier to deal with the crowds.
The new theme park required an incredible amount of cooperation between the Chinese and American governments, and is now the second park in Asia including the one in Hong Kong.
Disney’s $5.5 billion park in Shanghai, China, its largest overseas investment, opened its doors Thursday.
The 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Thursday that USA growth, as measured by the gross domestic product, should slow this year to 1.8 percent but accelerate slightly in 2017 to 2.2 percent. Nods to Chinese culture and rides not found anywhere else in the world make the resort a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Despite the park being plagued with a number of pre-opening issues, including rides breaking down, public outcries over the cost of tickets and food, and tourists giving the park’s public spaces a traditional Chinese welcome, Disney CEO Bob Iger was all smiles as he took the stage with Shanghai Party Secretary Han Zheng for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Shanghai doesn’t stray too far from Walt Disney’s original template for Disneyland, however.
Wang Lei, 34, said she liked the park, despite long waits for some things.
Domestic competitor Wanda plans to open a total of 15 theme parks and complexes during the next four years.
A Chinese version of “The Lion King“, a Toy Story Hotel and a “plussed” version of Peter Pan’s Flight were all unveiled at the opening ceremony.
Tens of thousands are expected to stream into Shanghai Disneyland on its debut, after almost two decades in the making.
Builders broke ground on the sprawling 3.9 square kilometers (1.5 miles) resort in 2011, eyeing some 300 million potential customers who live within three hours by vehicle or train from park.
As Disney films were delighting audiences around the world, Shanghai residents were getting to know Mickey Mouse and Snow White via numerous local newspapers, magazines and books. They also pushed each other into the park and yelled at staff after hours of waiting. Coaster 101 says it’s perhaps the “most immersive theme park ride ever built”. “It’s a waste of time”, she said.
Size: The park is 963 acres, bigger than New York City’s Central Park.
The opening gala meant to be a bonanza of fireworks, live music and dance, was rained off on Wednesday night, while at Disney’s park in Orlando, Florida, a young boy was grabbed by an alligator and killed.
Iger himself viewed the present site for the project, which is a cooperative venture with state-backed Shanghai Shendi Group, in 1999.
Disney received approval from the Chinese government for the park in 2009 and construction started in 2011.
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Also opening next week, the long-awaited ride that features Elsa, Ana and Olaf.
