Hong Kong Disneyland faces some stiff competition for the tourism dollar when Shanghai Disney opens its doors in June. The mainland park will be three times the size of Hong Kong’s offering and boast a host of unique attractions – although the Lantau version has expansion plans of its own.

Here’s our tale of two Disneys.

SHANGHAI

“Authentically Disney, yet distinctively Chinese.” That’s the description of Shanghai Disneyland, the mainland’s first and the world’s sixth Disney Theme Park.

The park is an important investment for both Walt Disney Co and the Shanghai government as up to 30 million visitors are expected each year at the world’s biggest tourist market.

“The Shanghai government and Disney are trying to make the project an envy of the world,” said an executive of a service provider that has a global partnership with Walter Disney.

“In short, all the things available in all the other five Disney parks will be seen in the Shanghai park. But not all things in Shanghai can be found anywhere else.”

The US$5.5 billion investment in the Shanghai venture is estimated to drive about 30 per cent of Disney Theme Park profit growth over the next five years, according to a UBS report on China’s travel market last year.