Resorts Shanghai Disneyland (approved!)

[emma15677]

Ok, I only found out tonoight from my MUM about Disneyland Shanghai? What's happening to my craziness about Disney? I still really love Disney and want it to be the company I work for, but lately have been lacking the most recent news about anything to do with Disney...there are so many new threads at VF which I dont have the time to check out what are the most new and confirmed things about Disney . Somebody help me out here please?

[Ezra]

The expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland just got stalled. I wonder if that will have any effect on Bejing's approval of a Shanghai park? It probably will. I would think that China would be reluctant to approv a new park while HKDL is still incomplete, in popular opinion at least.

[alyx92]

For those who may have an idea for Shanghai DL, check out the Shanghai Disneyland, Open Brainstorming thread! Shanghai Disneyland, Open Brainstorming

[Tom Morrow]

Shanghai Disney wins approval

Shanghai Disney wins approval China Knowledge Global entertainment giant Walt Disney Co has obtained approval from China's regulatory bodies to launch the long-awaited Shanghai Disney Park, the Shanghai-based Wen Hui Bao newspaper reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The sources said a press conference would be held soon in Geneva to announce the approval. Earlier media reports said that a joint venture will be established to manage the Shanghai Disney Park, with 43% of its shares held by the U.S. company and 57% held by the Chinese side. About RMB 24.4 billion will be invested in the first phase construction of the theme park. The park will cover an area of 10 square kilometers upon completion, 8 times larger than that of the Hong Kong Disney Park. The price of the Shanghai park, located between the Pudong New Area and Nanhui Area of Shanghai Municipality, is set at around RMB 300, the newspaper said. China Newswires

Submitted by Ezra

[CostaFreak]

I still think this is a terrible idea. They do this, HKDL is gonna close...I just don't see how they could manage everything all at once.

[Tom Morrow]

Shanghai announcement expected soon

Shanghai may greet Obama with Disney park deal Reuters With President Barack Obama due to visit China next month, speculation is swirling Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) may finally be about to announce a long-awaited deal to build a theme park in Shanghai. Disney and the Shanghai government have been waiting since January for Beijing's approval to move forward with what would be the country's second Disneyland, after a Hong Kong park opened in 2005 to a string of operational problems and lackluster attendance. "Beijing has approved the project. Now it's up to Shanghai and Disney to work out the plan and make this thing happen," a Shanghai government source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday. The source asked not to be identified before a deal was made public, while spokespeople from Disney and the Shanghai government said they had nothing to announce at this time. by George Chen and Gina Keating complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[Executioner]

I still don't think this is what they should be doing at this point in time. Their Hong Kong park is still not at it's best and the expansions haven't even happened yet. I personally think they should sit on this for a bit and focus their energies on the other parks, especially in this economically hard time.

[Sesshomaru-sama]

You took the words out of my mouth, Executioner. I don't understand why build a Shanghai Disneyland park and not pay attention to Hong Kong Disneyland.

Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon,
Sesshomaru-sama

[ctdsnark]

Maybe this is just me,but considering the current condition of Hong Kong Disneyland---last I checked,they still don't have a Pirates Of The Caribbean or Haunted Mansion,or any attraction of that caliber---shouldn't they concentrate on the parks they already have before building another one?

[Ezra]

A Shanghai official just denied that Disneyland got Bejing approval, despite the Reuters piece I just ran. The Chinese press is unreliable, and aparently so are our wire services. (Does Reuters fact check anything?)

From now on, Shanghai is in "press blackout". I'm not going to run anything about Shanghai until Disney makes an official announcement. The retraction follows...

[Tom Morrow]

Shanghai denies approval rumors

Shanghai government denies rumors of Disney project approval China People's Daily According to Shanghai Securities News, at a press conference on October 29, spokesman of the Shanghai Municipal Government Chen Qiwei said that the Shanghai Disneyland project is still awaiting approval from the State department. At present there is no updated information. Chen Qiwei made the above statements responding to recent rumors that the Disney project has already been approved, and may be announced in the news this week. There was a report earlier this week suggesting that the Shanghai Disneyland project had been approved in mid-October and final steps in the administrative procedures are currently being taken. Shanghai Securities News

Submitted by Ezra

[Sesshomaru-sama]

The Walt Disney Company denies the rumors about Disneyland being built in Shaghai. Now Shanghai are denying it. Make up your minds, you stupid media!

Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon,
Sesshomaru-sama

[Ezra]

The Walt Disney Company did admit that they had submitted a proposal, and Shanghai Province approved it, but that it was a first step in a very long process. Because President Obama is visiting China next week, all this wild speculation has been enflamed ... again.

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I know I called for "press blackout" but I did find something interesting today. According to this article, even though the central government hasn't approved the plan yet, the local Shanghai government is already in the process of seizing the land for something going under the code-name "Buena Project". As in "Buena Vista"? As in "Disney"?

Shanghai began this expropriation process in September. Residents have only two weeks left to register for financial compensation.

[Ezra]

Well, here it is... Straight from the horse's mouth...

[Tom Morrow]

Shanghai theme park approved by Bejing

Disney-Shanghai Theme Park Project Update The Walt Disney Company reaches another major milestone on Shanghai theme park project Disney Parks Blog The Walt Disney Company today announced that the Project Application Report (PAR) for a Disney theme park in the Pudong district of Shanghai has received approval from the relevant authorities of the central government of China. “China is one of the most dynamic, exciting and important countries in the world, and this approval marks a very significant milestone for The Walt Disney Company in mainland China,” said Robert A. Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. The PAR approval will enable Disney and its Shanghai partners to move forward toward a final agreement to build and operate the park and begin preliminary development work. Upon completion of the final agreement, the project’s initial phase would include a Magic Kingdom-style theme park with characteristics tailored to the Shanghai region and other amenities consistent with Disney’s destination resorts worldwide. by Thomas Smith complete article

Submitted by Ezra