Mickey Mouse has arrived: ‘China’s Disneyland’ opens in Shanghai
China represents “incredible potential” for Walt Disney, said company chairman Bob Iger ahead of the opening of its Shanghai theme park today.
The US$5.5 billion complex is the first step onto mainland soil by the Western media giant as it seeks to grow its brand beyond already saturated markets back home. And the company was already eyeing expansion, Iger said.
“China represents incredible potential for Walt Disney in the near and long term,” he told the media on Wednesday.
“Shanghai is the most populous city in the most populous country in the world,” Iger said. “And whatever we build here has to be significant enough to have a real impact.”
The company had built “China’s Disneyland” instead of “a Disneyland in China”, he said.
Among the localised attractions is a Putonghua version of The Lion King broadway musical.
China represents incredible potential for Walt Disney in the near and long term.
The resort, which includes Shanghai Disneyland and two themed hotels, covers 4 square kilometres, but an additional 3 sq km was available for expansion, Iger said. New attractions would feature some of Disney’s latest hits, such as Zootopia, he said.
“We are clearly benefiting from the growth of the Chinese movie market, with stunning success with some of the most recent films,” he said.
Five of the company’s films, including Alice Through the Looking Glass and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, have raked in about 5 billion yuan (HK$5.88 billion) at the mainland box office.
About one million people have visited the park since it began trial operations in April.
About 7 million were expected this year, according to an earlier projection by USB investment bank.
Those numbers are roughly on par with the attendance at Hong Kong Disneyland, which saw 6.8 million visitors in 2015.
Andrew Bolstein, vice-president for operations of Shanghai Disneyland, said police officers and urban management officials would work with the company’s security guards to manage crowds.
While the park has roused the curiosity of mainlanders, Hongkongers appear mostly indifferent so far. Hong Thai Travel in Hong Kong recently included Shanghai Disneyland on the itineraries of its nine tours to the Yangtze River Delta area, but interest had been tepid, it said.
“The bookings are just so-so,” said spokeswoman Cherie Fong. The agency had reserved a large number of admission tickets but many remained unsold.
But Arthur Xue, president of China Travel Service Head Office, said the opening had boosted sales of its Shanghai travel packages on the mainland.
Additional reporting by Nikki Sun
