Originally Posted By FerretAfros Interesting that there is so little final construction (other than ground clearning) apparent in those photos. Granted, they could be from 6-12+ months ago, but given that the park is supposed to open in 2 years, you'd think there would be more progress. I know that the Chinese building regulations are vastly different than those in the US, Japan, France, and even Hong Kong, and that they're able to build things a lot quicker, but it's amazing to me that there appears to be almost nothing specific underway. It will be interesting to watch this park as it gets closer to openeing!
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Interesting that there is so little final construction (other than ground clearning) apparent in those photos. Granted, they could be from 6-12+ months ago, but given that the park is supposed to open in 2 years, you'd think there would be more progress. >>> IIRC from when HKDL was built, "site prep" was one phase of the project, and only after that was done, did work on the build-out of the park itself start. Maybe the same thing is happening with SDL. <<< I know that the Chinese building regulations are vastly different than those in the US, Japan, France, and even Hong Kong >>> I wonder if the famed "tofu construction" techniques will be used? Let's hope not! As an aside, I see on the maps that there is a place for a "5 star hotel." I find it hard to believe that Disney is really going to construct and operate a hotel with a 5 star level of service (that is, on the level of a Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons). They struggle with 4 stars sometimes.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>IIRC from when HKDL was built, "site prep" was one phase of the project, and only after that was done, did work on the build-out of the park itself start. Maybe the same thing is happening with SDL.<< I assume this is what's being done. I'm just kind of surprised that at this point, they still haven't really begun any specific work on the park. It's all flat space in the photos. There's no sign of any foundations, basements, waterways, or hills, all of which are integral parts of any Disney theme park. I suspect that the work will go faster, partially because of the lax codes and inspections, and partially because there is a huge construction workforce in China that could be easily deployed. With the amount of construction constantly going on in that country, I'm sure there are plenty of people with the required skills to build a theme park.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt What's the story with the lake? Was it there before? Is it just a lake, or is it a reservoir?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I checked the historical imagery in Google Earth today, and the lake is a recent addition. The previous image date is May 7, 2011, and it only shows a river/canal running through the site. The current picture that was included in the link above is from March 5 of this year. I suspect that the lake is part of some sort of agreement between Disney and the local/national government to provide recreation space in the new resort, since they are partnering for the development. A similar approach led to the Inspiration Lake area at HKDL Looking at a bigger image, it's also clear that more work is going on at the site. There are some foundations and hills beginning to take place, but overall it's still quite sparse. It also looks like they're constructing some sort of wall around the park (from the shoring and the shadows, I'd guess it's a ~15' tall cast-in-place concrete wall). Given that it appears to cross directly through the area that will eventually be the park's entrance, I wonder if it is permanent (or if it's just a wooden wall that's being propped up temporarily) Also, I didn't realize how close this will actually be to Shanghai. As the crow flies, it's only about 12 miles from the Bund to the resort; in my mind I had imagined it to be 30-40 miles like DL in California and DLP are from their respective metropolitan centers.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< It also looks like they're constructing some sort of wall around the park (from the shoring and the shadows, I'd guess it's a ~15' tall cast-in-place concrete wall) >>> That should keep the baby-tossing to a minimum on busy days! <<< Also, I didn't realize how close this will actually be to Shanghai. >>> ... and, they're building a Metro line that will stop at the resort, making it exceedingly easy to access for anyone in the greater Shanghai area.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros But Hans, OCTA is building a new transit hub a mile and a half from DLR, that doesn't actually connect to any new transit routes. Isn't that supposed to make it easier to get people to the parks? (never mind the fact that the new transit center will actualy take most buses out of the way more than the existing route to the train station)
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "But Hans, OCTA is building a new transit hub a mile and a half from DLR, that doesn't actually connect to any new transit routes." I blame Obama.
Originally Posted By oc_dean The Disney site says - Opening end of 2015. The wikipedia pages says - Opening 2016. We are mid-year 2013 .. 2 and 1/2 years to go - How come we know nothing about the actual physical content of the lands? Basically, the whole park! I'm predicting another "HKDL" ... with barely anything for this "late 2015" opening. "Houston, we have a problem!"
Originally Posted By dagobert Either WDI is really good keeping the attractions and lands secret, or they are indeed having big problems.
Originally Posted By schnebs I've heard that Disney wants to keep details about what's coming to Shanghai mum to keep others from coming up with copycat attractions prior to SDL's opening. Whether that's true or Disney's covering up that they've got nothing, I can't tell you.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros But what's to stop the copycats once the park opens? China is full of knock-offs and imitations, so why does Disney think that their little amusement park will be any different? Once people see it, they'll start copying it. I don't know if it's true or not, but I've heard that one of the main reasons for opening a park in mainland China is to have a physical presence in the country, as a way to begin to combat all of the counterfitting and knock-offs. The Shanghai resort iself could be a loss leader for TWDC, but they could theoretically still make it a profitable endeavour by stopping all of the imitation products out there.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "But what's to stop the copycats once the park opens?" There's a certain advantage in being first.
Originally Posted By SuperDry I doubt very much that the pro forma for SDL is that it's planned to be a loss leader.
Originally Posted By leemac There is a moratorium on new theme park development in China at the moment - the state just isn't granting permission for new parks. So that leaves just the existing parks and they have been ripping off US attractions for years - that won't change any time soon.
Originally Posted By oc_dean See, I don't understand this "copy cat" worry. That's like saying .. Nara Dream Land was a threat to TDL. An inferior park, with inferior rides ... not only did they not come close to the level of quality of a "Disney" accomplishment .. not even "Knott's" quality. In the end ... those extremely low quality projects .. go under ... while the "High Quality" park brings them in, and flourishes! And what's Nara Dreamland today? A shuttered ghost town! So, how Disney has anything to worry about? I don't think they have anything to worry about. Too few new theme park businesses wouldn't have the longevity or talent to make a park fast, and be a real competition to Disney. The only threat in my opinion would be if Universal decided to build something there.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>And what's Nara Dreamland today? A shuttered ghost town!<< Yep. It only took the place 4 decades before it finally bit the dust When I was in China a few years ago (summer 2010), we drove past a half-built amusement park outside Beijing, on the way to the Great Wall. Its half-built centerpiece was very clearly intended to be a castle similar to Cinderella Castle at WDW and TDL, but for whatever reason the entire property appeared to be abandoned. Steel and concrete frames of several structures (including a front gate near the freeway and the castle centerpiece) were complete, but it was clear that construction had been halted. Just because Disney shows up in China, I don't think that means that imitators will suffer too greatly, nor do I think that it will do much to curtail the imitation/copyright infringement >>There is a moratorium on new theme park development in China at the moment - the state just isn't granting permission for new parks.<< Does this have anything to do with the State's investment in SDL? Or is it just a general rule? Seeing how some other decisions have been made in China in the not-so-distant-past, I'm a little skeptical that they just suddenly decided they have enough amusement parks, with no outside input
Originally Posted By Mr X Fortunately Disney is increasing their presence on the streets of China in order to combat all those cheap knock-offs! <a href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/news_images/highres/2007-6-21-donald73929302.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.theepochtimes.com/n...9302.jpg</a>
