Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai -- Asian Overload?

[DoctorQ9]

With three Disney resorts being located relatively close to each other, will this geographic triad of Disney destinations really prosper? Tokyo is outstanding, but Japan is in serious trouble and the TDR is presently deserted. Hong Kong Disneyland is nice but underwhelming for a Disney park. If Shanghai Disneyland is completed as planned, might it delay the recovery of TDR and turn Hong Kong Disneyland into a pseudo-Six Flags regional park?

[Hathaway Browne]

While I agree there does seem to be a lot of resorts in the same area, they're not exactly on each others doorstep.

The populations in those specific areas also is a contributing factor to the expansion. Add to those numbers the potential for visitors from neighbouring countries then it doesn't seem too much of an over saturation.

I'll admit, I'm still a little on the fence about Shanghai, but I can understand the business case for it.

[HKDLFAN]

TDR doesnt need tourists, the locals alone comprise a massive percentage of its patrons. As for HK and SH, all I can say is that HKDL needs to have what SHDL doesn't otherwise it's a steep road down for it. I still question the logic behind SHDL given the region already has a new 5 year old park that is growing and needs all the possible financial benefits e.g being the only Disney park in the region. They could have at least waited 10-15 years for HKDL to develop further.

[ChrisFL]

I think the target audience is so different for each of these parks that it shouldn't matter.

I don't think Shanghai Chinese and Japanese will be looking at each other's parks much (but I could be wrong)

HKDL and SDL will be a bit more interesting, but it's still very different markets, they don't even speak the same language

[TimmyTimmyTimmy]

TDR is closed and not deserted.
SHDL is for China
HKDL is for southern Asia

Why should USA have two big resorts when there are not that many Americans as Asians?

[k_peek_2000]

With three Disney resorts being located relatively close to each other, will this geographic triad of Disney destinations really prosper? Tokyo is outstanding, but Japan is in serious trouble and the TDR is presently deserted. Hong Kong Disneyland is nice but underwhelming for a Disney park. If Shanghai Disneyland is completed as planned, might it delay the recovery of TDR and turn Hong Kong Disneyland into a pseudo-Six Flags regional park?

I don't think you realize how...

A. Large Asia is.

B. Densely populated it is.

The distance from TDR to HKDL, is further than the distance from DLR to WDW.

Why should USA have to big resorts when there are not that many Americans as Asians?

Population had almost no factor as to why Disneyland and WDW were built. They built Disneyland in Anaheim because it wasn't populated, yet still very close to a large freeway.

DisneyWorld was built in Orlando for almost the same exact reasons. There were many freeways in the area, and they were able to purchase huge plots of land.

It didn't matter where the park was, they knew people would go to the parks because of the Disney name, and not having the parks coming to the people like in China.

[Ice101]

The 3 Disney Parks in Asia isn't my problem

My problem is Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Resort Paris, and WAlt Disney World are in their current states, and yet they still want to build Shanghai Disneylalnd.

[iluvHKDL]

TDR is closed and not deserted.
SHDL is for China
HKDL is for southern Asia

Actually Southeast Asia (and India). South Asia is a complete different thing.

[TimmyTimmyTimmy]

Actually Southeast Asia (and India). South Asia is a complete different thing.

Yea sorry that was what I ment really.

I know that the resorts were not built the way they are for the same reasons. When Disney builds something today they count in the name Disneyland to drag some of those millions already at the place to their parks.

I just find it a bit strange that people wonder how a big part of the world like Asia can have 3 resorts of the same brand.

[Hathaway Browne]

The 3 Disney Parks in Asia isn't my problem

My problem is Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Resort Paris, and WAlt Disney World are in their current states, and yet they still want to build Shanghai Disneylalnd.

Excellent point.

We can only live in hope that now the ball is slowly starting to roll in Shanghai (ie budgets set, ground work being started etc.) that they can finally turn their attention back to the other resorts. And maybe they can utilise ideas that were part of the planing for Shanghai elsewhere.

Question is then, just where do you start? Each can argue that it should be ahead of the list, and it all depends on how you look at it.

In my opinion they need to focus on Hong Kong to prevent it becoming stagnant like Paris, but neglecting Paris will not help matters. And then while you're sorting that out, Florida isn't getting any younger.

Quite a balancing act.

[ben1993]

Well, they aren't really 'close' to each other, but I have never been fully onboard with the Shanghai project as long as HKDL has existed, especially in it's current state. HKDL needs massive expansion before another Asian park was built. I'm not thrilled with the prospect of another resort being built, unless TWDC really give Imagineering the budget they deserve, to create a DLP/TDS standard park; then I will be excited about another Disney resort for me to eventually visit.

[poohstraveler]

Living smack dab in the middle of what will be 3 Asian DL resorts and traveling between HK and Tokyo quite often, I can confidently say the core audiences and guests they are aiming to attract are quite different. Like others have echoed, I would've liked Shanghai to develop in 10-15 years after HKDL had more time to flourish and succeed.

Just to mention -- the distance from DL and WDW is actually further than TDR to HKDL. Physical mileage wise, there is a greater distance between the US parks, but the flight times are quite similar (direct). Whether or not they are closer than the US Parks, the big difference is you are talking about multiple countries (and regions). Many HK locals do not consider themselves mainland Chinese, no matter what the "official designation" is regarding the SAR. Not everyone travels internationally, 1 hour flight or not.

First off, Chinese visas are not easily obtained nor cheap. It's hard to get a multi-entry visa so unless you are adding Shanghai Disney to a long trip through China, the core audience will likely be the Shanghai crowd, which is home to some of the richest people in the country. It's around $140 for a US citizen to get a visa so it's more likely Expats here in Asia will be headed to HK and Tokyo before Shanghai. I will be applying for a multi-entry when Shanghai opens because I can get a letter of assignment as a travel writer, but still going to be expensive every six months if I want to visit Shanghai Disney as often as I do HKDL and TDR, nor can I always just jump on a plane the same day if something comes up.

Tokyo Disney is definitely a local's park. People in Japan don't often vacation and when they do, it is often within Japan itself. Many locals make a vacation out of DL, much like people do with WDW. A bulk of the parkgoers are also annual passport holders that come almost daily sometimes.

A couple people have talked about HK as South and SE Asia...Actually, India is part of South Asia, not SE Asia, and that is a core demographic HKDL is attempting to draw in. They have unveiled extensive marketing and advertising campaigns in India, including sending face characters for an event a year or so ago I believe. Another core demographic they are going for is Australia travelers.

No one has talked about Taiwan -- Taiwan locals frequent HK often, sometimes every weekend for shopping, Disney, etc. We are an hour flight to HK and I am yet to be on a plane that is anything less than sold out. Until about 2 years ago, Taiwanese could not travel direct to mainland China and mainland Chinese were banned from traveling here due to strained relations. Almost 2 yrs ago, they started allowing direct flights again (first time in 50 years I believe) and mainland Chinese are allowed here on supervised group tours, expected to be further relaxed soon. HK served as the hub for many Taiwanese traveling to the mainland, making Disney a popular stop.

HK has a benefit of attracting those on long layovers...it's Lantou location and their discounted transit park tickets make it an attractive option for many people from all around the world hoping to visit Disney during their 10 hours of transit. I mentioned above about Australians, when I was at the 5th Anniversary kick off event at HKDL in January, there were some media from SE Asia (Singapore and Malaysia being two of the represented countries/regions), but the majority seemed to be from Australia and even New Zealand.

Someone mentioned not speaking the same languages...they do to a slight degree. Many people who speak Cantonese also speak Mandarin and vice versa. Shanghai has its dialect if you want to really break it down and make it more confusing. Many announcements in HKDL are done in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. The entire media ceremony for the 5th Anniversary event was done in all three. My guess is Shanghai will do Mandarin and Cantonese because Shanghai is going to see some spillover from HK, not to mention there are a number of areas in mainland China that do speak Cantonese and those lie in between Shanghai and HK.

[jcruise86]

I don't think you realize. . . The distance from TDR to HKDL, is further than the distance from DLR to WDW.

Incorrect.

* * * * *

If the parks are excellent like Tokyo's with substantial & interesting differences, visiting one Disney park could inspire some travelers to visit others. And each park is near enough people to be financially successful.

I would have preferred that a park be built in the freer nation of South Korea than in the People's (the non-voting, free internet denied peoples) Republic of China. Then again, maybe this small world will do its small part to inspire more freedoms. And speaking of small, Hong Kong Disneyland is so small that. . . [finish joke].

P.S. After posting this I read Poohstraveler's long, informative post above. He or she knows a lot more about this than I do!

[JasonDee]

In a country buckets larger than ours, it's surprising they don't have six resorts... mathematically of course.

[OC2Epcot]

Living smack dab in the middle of what will be 3 Asian DL resorts and traveling between HK and Tokyo quite often, I can confidently say the core audiences and guests they are aiming to attract are quite different. Like others have echoed, I would've liked Shanghai to develop in 10-15 years after HKDL had more time to flourish and succeed.

First off, Chinese visas are not easily obtained nor cheap. It's hard to get a multi-entry visa so unless you are adding Shanghai Disney to a long trip through China, the core audience will likely be the Shanghai crowd, which is home to some of the richest people in the country. It's around $140 for a US citizen to get a visa so it's more likely Expats here in Asia will be headed to HK and Tokyo before Shanghai.

Someone mentioned not speaking the same languages...they do to a slight degree. Many people who speak Cantonese also speak Mandarin and vice versa. Shanghai has its dialect if you want to really break it down and make it more confusing. Many announcements in HKDL are done in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. The entire media ceremony for the 5th Anniversary event was done in all three. My guess is Shanghai will do Mandarin and Cantonese because Shanghai is going to see some spillover from HK, not to mention there are a number of areas in mainland China that do speak Cantonese and those lie in between Shanghai and HK.

Lots of good points, poohstraveler. For Americans they can travel to Hong Kong without a visa. Going into mainland China requires one as you mentioned. It is often difficult for me to get a multi-entry visa with the work that I do. I did get a double entry visa for my trip to Shanghai next week.

My wife speaks, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese. I believe with Hong Kong Disneyland opened they wanted Cast Members who could speak both Mandrin and Cantonese, I would think Shanghai would be similar. We were at Hong Kong Disneyland right after it opened, and they made it easy for those speaking either Chinese language, as well as English to enjoy the park.