Originally Posted By DisneybyMark According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Chinese government today formally approved a $3.25 billion Universal Studios movie theme park, called Universal Beijing. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.disneybymark.com/2014/10/13/universal-to-build-park-in-the-most-polluted-city-in-the-world/">http://www.disneybymark.com/20...e-world/</a>
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I understand the business motivations, but comodifying theme parks is something that kind of bugs me. It was fine when there were a couple of unique Disney theme parks scattered around, but now it's getting to the point where these places are almost indistinguishable. I was looking at pictures of DL online the other day when I suddenly noticed that everyone in the images was Chinese. I was actually looking at HKDL not DL in Anaheim.
Originally Posted By leemac Shanghai isn't that far behind Beijing in terms of pollution. It has taken NBV-Uni over a decade to find the right partner and get this done. They wrongly focused on non-Chinese opportunities and beyond Singapore (an average performer) none of the expansion projects have even begun construction.
Originally Posted By dagobert The park looks impressive, especially the hotel at the entrance. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://lukeandthetempleoffun.blogspot.sg/2014/10/universal-studios-beijing-to-open-in.html#more">http://lukeandthetempleoffun.b...tml#more</a> The castle image looks like Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany and not like Harry Potter.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I'm with Hans on this. Just what the world needs -- another movie themed theme park. Here's hoping there's a tram tour and a back lot.:-/
Originally Posted By Dabob2 The actual back lot is the most interesting thing about Uni Hollywood, and why I've always found Uni Fla. lacking. IOA is better, of course, but that's not pretending to be a studio.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip The Beijing locals have to live in the pollution anyway, and with 21-22 million locals, Universal can get along just fine even if no one from outside the city ever visits.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I agree that the castle looks like Neuschwanstein, even more than DL's castle which was based on it. I wonder what they're planning for that area, since I can't think of any Universal movies that included it. Maybe they got the rights for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or something? I also don't think that the pollution will be too much of a concern for most people. They'll go after a Chinese audience, and they're all used to pollution by this point. The pollution also doesn't stop millions of international visitors each year from visiting Beijing to see the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and countless other iconic landmarks. I think it's odd that the first article anybody found about the park talked all about the city's pollution (which is pretty terrible), instead of the park itself It will also be interesting to see how this park does in the winter. It can get pretty cold in Beijing (including snow), which is something that Universal hasn't really dealt with yet; I think the weather in Osaka is much more mild
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "The castle image looks like Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany and not like Harry Potter." I assume it's Shrek's Castle. There's already one at Universal Singapore: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://community.asiarooms.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/featured-image2.jpg">http://community.asiarooms.com...age2.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Oh, wait, just looked at your link again. There are TWO castles?
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "The actual back lot is the most interesting thing about Uni Hollywood, and why I've always found Uni Fla. lacking." Same with Disney Studios. One of the reasons that that park wasn't all that interesting to me. I've actually seen a real back lot with lots and lots of real movie history. Anything Florida had to offer paled in comparison on that score.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I agree that the castle looks like Neuschwanstein, even more than DL's castle which was based on it.>> You're kidding, right?? Sleeping Beauty Castle, I don't think so. Cinderella Castle in WDW, maybe.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Yep, Sleeping Beauty Castle in DL. It's more obvious from the back, but can also be seen on the front Sleeping Beauty back (pardon the ugly 50th paint job): <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TjEs0cPQIZs/TP-XV5RsjyI/AAAAAAAAFx0/xCaDV_vKtng/s1600/Castle%2Bback.JPG">http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TjEs...back.JPG</a> Neuschwanstein: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.picpicx.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/691af36cdba6bb2c699e1127f57d36a8.jpg">http://www.picpicx.com/wp-cont...36a8.jpg</a> Cinderella Castle, which appears to be more of a fortified medieval castle than the other two: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Cinderella_Castle.jpg">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...stle.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt RT, according to rumor the original castle design had the back turned to the front and Walt requested that it be turned around. Here's the concept art: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.disneylandpostcards.com/dgcastle1.jpg">http://www.disneylandpostcards...tle1.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert The hotel at the park entrance resembles the DLH in Paris. There'S the main building and the wings on the side.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Cinderella Castle in WDW, maybe.<<< This castle is based on French Loire castles.
