Do you think Shanghai will go for another expansion next or go for a second gate?

[BrianLo]

We were sat having coffee and cake as you do outside of Cookie Ann down the side street. One of the furry creatures was walking past. I can only describe being followed by Beatlemania.

Ah yes, I took a picture of that too

Pan around the crowd to see the various stuffies being held up in the air.

 

[infloencer]

 

[IMDREW]

Welp, there goes creativity

 

[marni1971]

It wasn’t “Epcot”.

Just the World Showcase part. Hence “Atlas”.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

The homogenization of Disney Parks continues.

 

[GravityFalls]

I read the article. This is the exact paragraph, I don't think there is a source other than Jim Shull. It all reads like speculation to me.

On the theme park side of things, Shull floated the possibility that the “Avatar” attraction planned for Disney California Adventure could still be used elsewhere. There’s an expansion pad, tentatively marked for a future attraction, show or additional retail or dining, tucked behind the current “Avatar”-themed land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. And it could be used in a future overseas park – Shanghai’s second gate, dubbed Project Atlas, is in the planning stages and has seen an overhaul from an EPCOT-of-the-east-type science and technology park to something centered on Disney “adventures,” like “Avatar.” There is also talk that the third Tokyo gate, DisneySky, is back on the drawing board. And wouldn’t the floating mountains of Pandora fit perfectly with that theme?

 

[Nickm2022]

I was gonna say I really really doubt they have gone from 10+ years of an EPCOT inspired idea to saying let's do Paris's Adventure World. I really doubt that. also it's Jim.

 

[GimpYancIent]

The homogenization of Disney Parks continues.

In the case of Shanghi it is not a Disney park. It is a Chinese amusement venue for which Disney is compensated for use of its trademarks and intellectual properties. Disney is a minority shareholder. The entire project was and is intended to be Chinese with Disney flavoring.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

In the case of Shanghi it is not a Disney park. It is a Chinese amusement venue for which Disney is compensated for use of its trademarks and intellectual properties. Disney is a minority shareholder. The entire project was and is intended to be Chinese with Disney flavoring.

As is Tokyo but they've somehow avoided - for the most part - the plug-and-play approach to design that has now created this sense of "everything is now the same" that's very palpable these days.

 

[Robbiem]

I could see an indoor Avatarland in Abu Dhabi

 

[BrianLo]

The homogenization of Disney Parks continues.

Beyond that nothing really seems to have changed - wouldn’t another Epcot be the very definition of homogenization?

That’s largely the complaint of Tokyo Disneyland, that it really was just a plug and play magic kingdom / Disneyland.

Of course it could simply be another ring-around-an-IP lake. But what’s the meaningful difference in the conceptual stage when we talk about DisneySea. Are we getting a broader thematic weave here or are we just getting Frozen Land and Cars land etc. Or could we possibly see a mixture of both as Shanghai Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea gave us in principle?

 

[sedati]

Welp, there goes creativity

What was particularly creative about miniaturizing other cultures and landmarks? There's creative pricing on alcohol, but what else?

 

[parksandtravel]

Welp, there goes creativity

The homogenization of Disney Parks continues.

Is this news? The castle parks have been copying the original since the beginning. The most unique take was Shanghai and it got criticized for not doing things like a true castle park. Disney will get criticized regardless.

 

[Rush]

Is this news? The castle parks have been copying the original since the beginning. The most unique take was Shanghai and it got criticized for not doing things like a true castle park. Disney will get criticized regardless.

I think Disneyland Abu Dhabi will break the mold with a different take on a castle park. So much has changed since Shanghai was being drawn up in the 2000's and early 10's.

 

[Pizza Moon]

In the case of Shanghi it is not a Disney park. It is a Chinese amusement venue for which Disney is compensated for use of its trademarks and intellectual properties. Disney is a minority shareholder. The entire project was and is intended to be Chinese with Disney flavoring.

This is extremely disingenuous.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

Is this news? The castle parks have been copying the original since the beginning. The most unique take was Shanghai and it got criticized for not doing things like a true castle park. Disney will get criticized regardless.

There's much nuance to the discussion about the difference between variations of castle parks versus plug-and-play IP or, as BrianIP perfectly put it, ring-around-an-IP lake, creating a sense of sameness in the parks that didn't exist up until Iger.

 

[Pizza Moon]

I could see an indoor Avatarland in Abu Dhabi

They’d probably actually have the foot print lights.

People are sleeping on that project, and what’s nice is zero dollars comes from Disney, just incredible amounts of free R&D.

I’m really hoping we get a major Aladdin ride there and a major Mulan ride at Shanghai’s second gate!

 

[GimpYancIent]

This is extremely disingenuous.

Nope, just the truth.

 

[Pizza Moon]

Nope, just the truth.

It literally is a Disney park first and foremost designed by Walt Disney Imagineers, and its management is majority-controlled by Disney.

If you are just saying on paper semantically like OLC is a “Japanese amusement venue” then sure, then I apologize as I’m I’m misinterpreting your angle, but if you’re trying to minimize what Shanghai Disneyland is, then well you’re very wrong.

It feels more Disney than Animal Kingdom does, and the scale of its theming in many areas feels much more expansive and ambitious.

Have you even been?

If Battle for the Sunken Treasure is the product of just a “Chinese amusement venue” then sign me up!

I hope Shendi group buys TWDC! Maybe they’d put TRON at MK since it’s better than the Little Mermaid ride if they bought it at some point!

 

[marni1971]

It literally is a Disney park first and foremost designed by Walt Disney Imagineers, and its management is majority-controlled by Disney.

Management is operations. The resort is majority owned by Shendi.