Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand for details please read the following: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=ajvWQH9HlvcU" target="_blank">http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/...QH9HlvcU</a>
Originally Posted By Anatole69 I'm guessing they are factoring in the increase of visitors that is expected once the bridge between HK, Macao, and the mainland is completed. It really seems to discount the effect of Universal Singapore and Shanghai Disneyland, which I think is a mistake... but hey, that's why they are paid the big bucks and not me. lol. - Anatole
Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand They expect a huge increase of visitors because of the following infrastructure. 2014/2015 is a very special important date. Tentative Completion date for the following: 1. Hong Kong-Zhuhai - Macau Mega Bridge 2. Hong Kong Airport - Shenzhen Airport Rail Link (not formally confirmed yet) 3. GuangZhou-Shenzhen- Hong Kong Express Rail (Chinese version of Bullet Train) 4. West-Kowloon Cultural District 5. Kai Tak (South East Kowloon) Cruise Terminal and Tourism Node
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy I don't expect Shanghai and Hong Kong Disneyland to to be competitors. The distance between the two parks is large enough, and they serves two completely different population centers. By that token, Universal's Singapore park shouldn't be a direct competitor at all.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ I am confused by how they don't see Shanghai and Hong Kong being competitors. If HK Disneyland were drawing more international visitors like they first hoped, then that wouldn't be a concern, but since they have come to rely more on mainland visitors it is an issue. As long as it is more difficult for a mainlander to get a travel permit to visit HK than it is for them to visit Shanghai which doesn't require a travel permit, then Shanghai Disneyland will already have a larger mainland visitor base. Add in the fact the park will be much larger and have more things to do than HK Disney, and I see HK losing some of the mainland visitor base. The 2 parks will be the closest in proximity out of all the parks Disney has built yet, close enough that there will be an overlap in the consumer base. - Anatole
Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand Shanghai Disneyland serves the Yangtze River Delta, Hong Kong Disneyland serves the Pearl River Delta. Generally, people (except diehard fans) don't pick a city to visit because of one particular theme park they are interested in. The Central Government of China and Hong Kong SAR Gov are working together to ease the travel restrictions for mainlanders to visit Hong Kong.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 I know they are, but Shanghai is still a big draw for people living around HK and whereas DL and the Magic Kingdom are 3,000 miles apart, HK and Shanghai are less than 1,000 miles apart. They may both have their own local base to draw from, but they will both be taking from the same mainland base. - Anatole
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy ^^ China isn't the U.S. People are far less mobile, and the population is over 3 times larger. Distances between parks and population centers in the U.S. shouldn't be compared to the same distances and population centers in China. Don't get me wrong. I still think China doesn't really have an affluent enough middle class to support any Disney parks to the extent that they'll ever be profitable.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ I agree though the middle class will grow as the Chinese economy also grows. The infrastructure will also improve. As far as distances, there may not be as many car owners in China as in the US, but there are trains and buses for long distance travel, and any trip to Shanghai or HK isn't really going to be a casual visit anyways, it will more than likely occur during one of the state vacation periods... so mainland visitors will more than likely be multiday visitors. I am guessing affordable accommodation is easier to get in Shanghai than in HK, though Shanghai has its share of expensive hotels. I know the mainlanders love HK and it has its appeals as much as anywhere in the mainland, but it seems to me that a trip to Shanghai is just more easier and more affordable than a trip to HK. Which pretty much leaves HK and the Pearl River Delta as the local base for HK... which goes back to the original projection of HK Disneyland as a 7 million visitors per year draw. Now if Shanghai offers some of the same "exclusive" attractions in 5 years when it opens, I can't help but feel that will effect even some of their local base, as it is not that difficult to get to Shangai... it's an overnight train trip for goodness sake. If a family of 4 can stay in Shanghai for a cheaper rate than in HK, and the Disneyland in Shanghai has more to do than the one in HK, then they have every reason to go to Shanghai and not HK. - Anatole
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << If a family of 4 can stay in Shanghai >> Don't you mean family of 3? 1 child per family is the rule in China.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 I guess it would depend. Rural families are allowed to have 2 children, especially if the first was a daughter. - Anatole
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy They'll have to lower the price if they expect to attract rural families.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 I'm not sure what your point is. Shanghai is still cheaper for a family of any size than HK, though it is easy to blow a fortune in either city. - Anatole
Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand I don't think "Cost of Living" is the main concern for theme park operators. If you look at Tokyo, it is always on the top 10 of the Global Cost of Living Ranking, but does it affect the performance of TDL and TDS? I would say "Income per capita" is also an important factor for the success of a Theme Park in a country.
Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand Yes, you could build a huge, mega Theme Park or Resort in China or whatever country it is. Full of "A, B, C, D, E" Attractions, very beautiful, etc etc and people could spend more than a week there etc. But is it what they want? are they really interested in the offering you provide?
Originally Posted By Anatole69 Yes per capita China is on level with most 3rd world countries, even though it is now the third largest economy... soon to be the second. So with that argument, Shanghai would be a terrible place. I don't get your second argument though... everyone complains that HK Disneyland needs more attractions, and it looks like Shanghai will be built with many more attractions right from the get go. So if you are arguing that the mainlanders aren't interested in Disney parks at all, then that doesn't make sense to me since they are part of the market from HK Disneyland, and there is even a clone Disneyland already in Beijing. Plus Shanghai is probably the most western out of all the mainland cities. - Anatole
Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand How many people go to that Disneyland Knockoff in Beijing? It even not on the top 3 of the most visited theme parks in China. the top 3 is : HKOP, HKDL, and Happy Valley in Shenzhen. there are hundreds if not thousands of so called theme parks in Mainland China, and how come just one, that is the Shenzhen Happy Valley make it to the top 3 ranking, rest of the top 3 from Hong Kong??
Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand i can tell you that it is the Annual Passholder (of HKDL) or locals that help the bottomline of HKDL, not the mainlanders. how many mainlanders go to HKDL each year? I did forecast that 1/3 from HK, 1/3 from Mainland, 1/3 from other countries. but did it materialize?
Originally Posted By HongKongDisneyLand correction: they did the the forecast not me... ------------- sorry for the typo
