Shanghai Theory

Originally Posted By Malin

A while back we heard that the Shanghai Disneyland project was agreed and it was just awaiting final approval by the Chinese Govement.

Since than we had Disney cut about 30 jobs at its Hong Kong Imagineering, and its got me thinking if the whole Shanghai Disneyland plan was really just a move to get the Hong Kong Govement to agree to expand the park.

Looking back in history Disney has done this before between Anaheim and Long Beach.

 

Originally Posted By SuperDry

Not a chance, for several reasons. One reason is that the potential size of the mainland Chinese market for all the things Disney does is way too huge to risk ticking off the central government.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

I disagree wholeheartedly.

Disney loves playing the heavy in these negotiating games.

It's all one-upsmanship. And Mickey is a total cutthroat ... or at least his minions are.

And don't be shocked when the HK SAR suddenly gives Disney what it wants.

I think Disney was totally screwed on all China fronts before the US economy dragged the world down with it.

Suddenly, the Chinese dragon wasn't firing on all cylinders so Disney swooped in with all those figures about construction jobs and later resort jobs in Shanghai and suddenly the Central Government was a lot more interested in playing with the Mouse ... even by Mickey's rules.

You wait and see Disney will wind up getting most of what it wants.

~Can't wait to see the vague artist's rendering of Shanghai DL~

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

Out of all the new parks I've seen rendered lately, only DisneySea lived up to its' picture.

In fact, that's one of the things that bummed me out the most about DCA. On paper, at least, it looked pretty exciting. *sigh*

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

I think Shanghai might pony up the necessary money to make a Disney park there spectacular. They were willing to waste a lot of money on the Maglev to nowhere, so they'll probably be willing to throw some money at Disney too.

 

Originally Posted By WorldDisney

Well, I dont know if this is all one big corporate chess game or not, but Disney certainly has no problems playing both ends just to get what it wants, so I can see them screwing over one of them pretty easily at this point .

I do think the Shanghai thing is real though, its been discussed years already, I think they are just going full throttle with it now because HKDL is not giving them what they want and like Spirit said Shanghai in general is probably willing to give them more now with the downturn. Again, we havent heard any official plans or to see exactly HOW MUCH Disney is screwing them over just so we can come back here in 5 years and say 'we told you so' , but I'm not holding my breath its going to live up to anything much.

I would LOVE to be proven wrong, I know its going to all sound very impressive (wait a second, even when I read the press release for DCA, I was nowhere near impressed ) but then little by little as things get peeled back, it will be another con job like HK. Again, hope I'm wrong .

If it goes through though, it will be the ultimate middle finger to HK who was promised the moon, but only managed to come up with moon dirt. How do you pretty much build a park 3 times the size of the tiny little park in HK knowing that park is struggling and they count on a huge amount of mainlanders to visit whose attention will now divided by a more attractive (according to that upcoming press release ) and VISA-free park? Thats pretty damn cold.

 

Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand

Regarding the issue of Visa, there is a new policy towards Chinese Mainlanders coming to Hong Kong. They will gradually lower the visa restrictions on a phased approach. Starting 1st April 2009, Permanent Resident of Shenzhen will be allowed to travel to Hong Kong with Single Visa Multiple Entry within a year, whereas Shenzhen migrants workers (approx 8 millions??) would be allowed to travel to Hong Kong by tour groups (Starting on 1st May 2009 and the tour group must include HKDL as part of their sightseeing trip)

This policy will be gradually applied to the Whole GuangDong Province.

 

Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand

I believe it is the result from the coordindated effort by HK Government and central Government of China during times of economic crisis.

 

Originally Posted By SuperDry

<<< Shenzhen migrants workers (approx 8 millions??) would be allowed to travel to Hong Kong by tour groups (Starting on 1st May 2009 and the tour group must include HKDL as part of their sightseeing trip) >>>

That's certainly an interesting way to increase attendance: make it a visa requirement for certain visitors to HK that they MUST visit HKDL during their visit or they'll be denied permission to come to HK!

 

Originally Posted By WorldDisney

^^My god, is this what's its come to??? The government is now FORCING people to come to this park??? When you think you heard it all, WOW!!

That seems wrong to me so many ways, doesnt it?

 

Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand

Latest news coming from Singtao Daily.

[Quote[
In order to boost the economy at Shanghai, Central Government of China will give Shanghai the full support for Disney Theme Park, International Finance Centre as well as Global Shipping Centre.

This is to encourage competition in various areas between Shanghai and Hong Kong, So Hong Kong better get ready for it. [UnQuote]

 

Originally Posted By WorldDisney

See, you put that in another relevant thread, was that so hard .

And its funny, I just read on the LP front news page that it ISNT a done deal and they are still winding through one. Geesh, which is it, are they building one or not? I'm getting the feeling we arent going to hear anything official for awhile.

 

Originally Posted By Malin

I'm still convinced Disney are not anywhere near a deal but are sending out false news though third parties in a way to put more preasure on Hong Kong Disneyland. Because its funny how a few months back a deal with Shanghai was being put to the Chinese Govement to sign and a annoucement would soon follow. Even this site reported it though inside sources, but a deal has yet to be annouced and than a few weeks back the company lays off almost its entire WDI HK devision work force, now why would you give all these people the pink slip if your about to apparently build a new park in Shanghai.

By the way to clear something up I don't think Disney are playing the two Govements off against each other, like it did between Long Beach and Anaheim, but I do think Disney are leaking false information to the press in a way to increse pressure on its own continued talks with the Hong Kong Govement. I also found Bob Iger's response very interesting at the shareholders meeting.

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

Which was?

 

Originally Posted By Anatole69

This is almost like watching a Shakespeare play... or an episode of the Sopranos. Just less overt **** and gunplay.

- Anatole

I self-edited that one part. Use your imagination. lol.

 

Originally Posted By Malin

*** Which was? ***

After speaking on Eisner who stayed 10 years longer than he shoudl, "Iger, you're a breath of fresh air and worth every penny". On theme park expansion - why a theme park in a non-democratic country?

A: Politics of a country are not usually taken into considertion in building a park other than political instability. Believe China is a good market and has a lot of potential.

<a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/Latest.asp?I1=wdccmeeting2009" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/L...ting2009</a>

 

Originally Posted By WorldDisney

^^Kind of a strange statement considering the only other parks built outside the U.S. are in completely democratic and highly stable governments. I dont see Disney building a park in Columbia anytime soon but I guess all things considered China is stable as a country at least.

 

Originally Posted By WorldDisney

LOL, I read it wrong, he said OTHER THEN political instability. Okay, makes sense now lol.

 

Originally Posted By SuperDry

<<< Kind of a strange statement >>>

I think it's a strange statement all around. What does the form of government possibly have to do with where to locate a Disney park, other than any issues concerning the deal directly? The questioner almost seemed to be hinting at Disney having some sort of moral duty to NOT build a park in a country that wasn't democratic even if the business case supported it. It's a very strange notion.

 

Originally Posted By Anatole69

Let's say Nazi Germany still existed.

Would everyone be ok with a Disneyland park being built there?

If not, then the politics of a government does make a difference at some level.

- Anatole