After decades of hard graft, Disney Shanghai – the most expensive
theme park ever built – is open. Tuned to Chinese sensibilities and
with capacity to handle huge volumes of guests, the development has
required sustained diplomacy at the highest level to bring it to fruition
By Liz Terry | Published in Attractions Management 2016 issue 2
When China began to open up to the West in the 90s, the world’s major brands went calling, in search of the partnerships they needed to get their products in front of what – it was becoming clear – would be the biggest market in the world.
The Chinese were urbanising fast, growing a huge, affluent middle class and adjusting their communist ideology to fit the modern world – the potential opportunities were off the chart.
For some, moving into China was a straightforward process retailers are nimble enough to get up and trading in no time.
It wasn’t long before Gucci, Prada and many other high-end brands were present in China’s big cities. For Disney, however, massive infrastructure was needed for it to fulfil its ambitions, and that meant an unbelievably complex journey.
As Disney Shanghai opens for business, it’s clear the creation of the resort has turned out to be a life’s work for many in the team. Even more so because the opening of this phase is just the beginning of the journey. In this issue of Attractions Management we celebrate the opening, with our supplement which starts on page 60.
Projects of this size are a long-term play when it comes to investment. Disney initiated its move into China more than two decades ago and has effectively missed the first boom years. Growth in the economy is slowing, but this won’t matter when the appetite for the product is factored in. The demand is such that the resort will trade at capacity from the off.
And what capacity it is. The Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone, within which the Disney resort sits, covers 25sq km (9.7 sq mi), with a core area of 7sq km (2.7sq mi), including 4sq km (1.5sq mi) for Phase One of the Shanghai Disney Resort. This leaves plenty of room for subsequent phases. Disney is forecasting 12 million visitors in year one – we think mthis is conservative – growing to an eventual 30 million.
A generation ago, the average Chinese citizen lived a life of subsistence, with little to spend on leisure, but the new middle class is emerging so fast Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company has identified an ‘income-qualified audience’ within a three-and-a-half hour travel radius of more than 300 million people. “It would be as though the whole population of the US could afford a ticket to Orlando and could get there within three-and-a-half hours,” he said. Couple this with the fact that the one-child policy has been relaxed to two and it’s clear the stars are aligning.
A final piece of information that proves the Chinese market has come of age is that peak ticket prices for Disney Shanghai are higher than both Tokyo Disney and Disney Hong Kong.
Disney learned hard, valuable lessons from Euro Disney a projected which went through several rounds of wretched refinancing – so the business case for this new development is clearer. And there’s more to come. The build-out will continue for years, with three parks the goal for Shanghai. This opening is just the beginning. Behind the scenes, the work continues.
Will Disney Mumbai follow? Disney Moscow? Maybe one day the final act of soft power will be to open in the former Soviet Union.
Liz Terry, editor. Twitter: @elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: IDEATTACK
IDEATTACK’s new project in Hainan, China,
introduces the storytelling elements of a
theme park to the oceanarium concept
Science Museums: Shaping Tomorrow
Brazil’s Museum of Tomorrow uses
constantly updating, real-time digital
collection to communicate with visitors.
We met members of the team
Promotional feature: EAS
This year, the Euro Attractions Show is
coming to the Spanish city of Barcelona
Disney Special: Shanghai Disney: The Best Yet?
As Disney opens its first resort in mainland
China, our special feature examines its
business model, its potential impact and
the modernisation of the Disney castle park
New Openings: Space Inversion
A new contemporary museum district
in the Netherlands – Museumplein
Limburg – features a science centre,
a design museum and an inverted
planetarium. We take a closer look
Promotional feature: Polin
Polin’s patented technologies, extensive R&D and creative flair have made it one of the world’s leading waterpark design and manufacturing companies
Waterparks: Taking the Plunge
Waterpark suppliers constantly develop
their product offers. We dive into the
world of waterpark R&D to find out more
Zoos & Aquariums: The Long Game
UK safari park Longleat is undertaking a
decade-long upgrade that starts by going
back to its roots. As the attraction turns
50, CEO Bob Montgomery explains how
he’s bridging the past and the future
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
After decades of hard graft, Disney Shanghai – the most expensive
theme park ever built – is open. Tuned to Chinese sensibilities and
with capacity to handle huge volumes of guests, the development has
required sustained diplomacy at the highest level to bring it to fruition
By Liz Terry | Published in Attractions Management 2016 issue 2
When China began to open up to the West in the 90s, the world’s major brands went calling, in search of the partnerships they needed to get their products in front of what – it was becoming clear – would be the biggest market in the world.
The Chinese were urbanising fast, growing a huge, affluent middle class and adjusting their communist ideology to fit the modern world – the potential opportunities were off the chart.
For some, moving into China was a straightforward process retailers are nimble enough to get up and trading in no time.
It wasn’t long before Gucci, Prada and many other high-end brands were present in China’s big cities. For Disney, however, massive infrastructure was needed for it to fulfil its ambitions, and that meant an unbelievably complex journey.
As Disney Shanghai opens for business, it’s clear the creation of the resort has turned out to be a life’s work for many in the team. Even more so because the opening of this phase is just the beginning of the journey. In this issue of Attractions Management we celebrate the opening, with our supplement which starts on page 60.
Projects of this size are a long-term play when it comes to investment. Disney initiated its move into China more than two decades ago and has effectively missed the first boom years. Growth in the economy is slowing, but this won’t matter when the appetite for the product is factored in. The demand is such that the resort will trade at capacity from the off.
And what capacity it is. The Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone, within which the Disney resort sits, covers 25sq km (9.7 sq mi), with a core area of 7sq km (2.7sq mi), including 4sq km (1.5sq mi) for Phase One of the Shanghai Disney Resort. This leaves plenty of room for subsequent phases. Disney is forecasting 12 million visitors in year one – we think mthis is conservative – growing to an eventual 30 million.
A generation ago, the average Chinese citizen lived a life of subsistence, with little to spend on leisure, but the new middle class is emerging so fast Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company has identified an ‘income-qualified audience’ within a three-and-a-half hour travel radius of more than 300 million people. “It would be as though the whole population of the US could afford a ticket to Orlando and could get there within three-and-a-half hours,” he said. Couple this with the fact that the one-child policy has been relaxed to two and it’s clear the stars are aligning.
A final piece of information that proves the Chinese market has come of age is that peak ticket prices for Disney Shanghai are higher than both Tokyo Disney and Disney Hong Kong.
Disney learned hard, valuable lessons from Euro Disney a projected which went through several rounds of wretched refinancing – so the business case for this new development is clearer. And there’s more to come. The build-out will continue for years, with three parks the goal for Shanghai. This opening is just the beginning. Behind the scenes, the work continues.
Will Disney Mumbai follow? Disney Moscow? Maybe one day the final act of soft power will be to open in the former Soviet Union.
Liz Terry, editor. Twitter: @elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: IDEATTACK
IDEATTACK’s new project in Hainan, China,
introduces the storytelling elements of a
theme park to the oceanarium concept
Science Museums: Shaping Tomorrow
Brazil’s Museum of Tomorrow uses
constantly updating, real-time digital
collection to communicate with visitors.
We met members of the team
Promotional feature: EAS
This year, the Euro Attractions Show is
coming to the Spanish city of Barcelona
Disney Special: Shanghai Disney: The Best Yet?
As Disney opens its first resort in mainland
China, our special feature examines its
business model, its potential impact and
the modernisation of the Disney castle park
New Openings: Space Inversion
A new contemporary museum district
in the Netherlands – Museumplein
Limburg – features a science centre,
a design museum and an inverted
planetarium. We take a closer look
Promotional feature: Polin
Polin’s patented technologies, extensive R&D and creative flair have made it one of the world’s leading waterpark design and manufacturing companies
Waterparks: Taking the Plunge
Waterpark suppliers constantly develop
their product offers. We dive into the
world of waterpark R&D to find out more
Zoos & Aquariums: The Long Game
UK safari park Longleat is undertaking a
decade-long upgrade that starts by going
back to its roots. As the attraction turns
50, CEO Bob Montgomery explains how
he’s bridging the past and the future
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
