Parks & Resorts – Page 576

Shanghai Disneyland?

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

While this isn’t Disneyland related news, this is something that could affect the whole shape of the Disney Parks. And that is the possible addition of a Shanghai Disneyland!

SHANGHAI, March, 2008 — US-based Walt Disney Company has decided to build a Disneyland at Chuansha town, Pudong, Shanghai, expected to be announced around the period for the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, according to reliable news. Shanghai mayor Han Zheng once said that the city, having the ability to build a Disneyland, was preparing for the construction and waiting for approval from the State Council, China’s cabinet.

Shanghai Current Economics Research Institute head Wang Liang said that the location of Disney had started to influence the city’s every aspect, such as stock market, real estate, tourism and retail business. For instance, Disney concept stocks, Shanghai Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone Development Co., Ltd. (SHSE: 600663), Shanghai Jielong Industry Group Corporation Limited (SHSE: 600836), Shanghai Pudong Road & Bridge Construction Company Limited (SHSE: 600284) and Shanghai Construction Co., Ltd. (SHSE: 600170) kept rising from middle February when the whole stock market was down.

Moreover, all houses at a building under construction, which nears Disney Shanghai theme park, have been sold out. An insider pointed out that the to-be-built Disneyland, a large tourism project able to accept customers to stay for two nights, would double the Shanghai tourism industry’s current revenue, which was good for China’s domestic tourism in spite of a certain impact on Hong Kong Disneyland.

As early as five years ago, rumors reported that the Walt Disney Company was to build a Disneyland in Shanghai, the nation’s financial hub, with acreage three times that of Disneyland Hong Kong. Until March 9, 2008, an insider told journalists that the Chinese watchdog had in principle agreed the foreign giant to locate the Disneyland in Shanghai. In addition, subways and light rails to the Chuansha town will be available in 2009 and so did the related supporting facilities around.

As a matter of fact, China’s other large cities, like Beijing, Chengdu and Tianjin have also gotten into a fierce struggle in hopes of locating the Disneyland there, which is expected to boost a city’s economy and industry to a new high, said Zhu Lianqing, director at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences research center.

DisneyGeek DLR Picture Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Our friends over at DisneyGeek have posted a new Disneyland Resort Update, & here are a few of the most interesting pictures:

Some of the trams are getting new seats, which have a rougher feel to them

A rare Downtown Disney update… The Pirates room in the World of Disney has been replaced with a Toontown room

A bunch of drawings like this have been placed on the shelves

More pictures of the Toontown room can be found here

A bunch of signs for the Food & Wine Weekends have been placed around DCA. Let’s take a look at a few of them…

The main entrance to the Golden Vine Winery

These signs are on various lamp-posts & light-towers through-out the park

Along the pathway near the Golden Vine Winery

The entrance to Pacific Wharf

Pretty self-explanatory

Quickly over to Disneyland we go… A better look at the new Grand Marshal vechicle

And finally, this sign appears outside the Dream Suite if it is occupied

Thanks again to DisneyGeek for these pictures! For many more, check out their latest Disneyland Resort Update!

We’re hearing some rumors on possible changes coming to the Mickey & Friends, & Lion King Trams. The first thing has already come true, & that’s the replacements of the actual seats with rhino liner seats. And seats may be added to the trams to avoid more unnecessary accidents, & just to keep it warmer during the winter. Also, red speakers have been added to the trams to give directions to guests waiting to board.

Hong Kong Disneyland’s It’s a Small World

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s for a moment wander over to Hong Kong Disneyland… Soft openings have begun for their new version of It’s a Small World, & video has surfaced of it already (although do note, this video does not include all of the attraction)! As you watch the videos, be sure to look closely for the Disney characters, & listen closely for interspersed Disney music.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDKnpRq6lZk[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOUUabRnepA[/youtube]

I will not share my opinion here as I really just want to spread the news, but I will be sharing my opinion of this attraction on this week’s Disneyland News Today Podcast!

More From Hong Kong

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s pop over to Hong Kong Disneyland once again… A complete video has surfaced of their new It’s a Small World attraction. As you watch the video, be sure to look closely for the Disney characters, & listen closely for interspersed Disney music. We’ve also found video of their clock ceremony, which is pretty much the same as ours. But man, I wish we’d get their facade color scheme!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB-Zyk_Cjlw&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TewofEWtFuE&feature=related[/youtube]

HKDL’s It’s a Small World Is Officially Open!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Hong Kong Disneyland’s It’s a Small World has now officially opened! A short little video of the opening ceremony is available on YouTube. Also, the attraction’s website is up, & I must admit, it is a very good website! Featured on it are pictures of each Disney character doll, the theme song sang in different languages, wallpapers, & much more! You can find the website here!

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:

The Harbor Blvd. entrance to the resort is closed due to electrical work for the DCA & Grand Californian expansions

The Pixar Play Parade sign at the Mickey & Friends Tram Station is getting some work done

A copy of the Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters mural has been added to the Segway Experience in Innoventions. Talk about originality!

Here’s a better look at the new Build Your Own Lightsaber stand inside Star Traders

The exit waterfall at the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is getting some extensive work done

The hot dog/turkey leg stand opposite Toy Story Midway Mania is to be known as Don Tomas

DisneyGeek DLR Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from the latest Disneyland Resort Update on DisneyGeek:

A new banner up at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure

One of the counters & some seating at the Bengal Barbecue are behind walls

Apparently this is new wood for the Pacific Wharf Bridge

One of the shop windows in Downtown Disney now displays Disney’s Fairytale Weddings

It’s Tough to be a Bug is closed until May 23rd

And Corn Dog Castle is closed until May 22nd

Finally, it seems the Carnation Cafe restrooms are getting some work done

DisneyGeek DLR Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Our good friends over at DisneyGeek have put up another Disneyland Resort Update. Let’s take a look at some of the latest happenings through-out the Resort:

Construction on the new bakery facility for the Disneyland Resort restaurants, near the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure.

Now this list of unavailable attractions seems more right than what I saw on Tuesday. Notice how the Hyperion Theater isn’t listed.

These walls are most likely up to install the giant Mickey pumpkin for Halloween.

Fastpass is currently unavailable for Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters.

The longest line seen at the park for the Princess meet ‘n greet at the Princess Fantasy Faire. This was true for both DisneyGeek’s day at the park, as well as mine last Tuesday.

Sign at the Toontown Train Depot notifying guests that the New Orleans Square Train Station is closed.

When you pass the New Orleans Square Train Station, a wooden wall is right up against you.

Even though the new Wishing Star Crystals store has opened, the Three Fairies Magic Crystals store sign is still up.

All references to McDonalds have apparently been removed from Harbour Galley.

They’re fixing up one of the French Market signs.

The Disneyland Dream Suite was blocked off for some reason.

This photo store was closed for some reason.

The Year of a Million Dreams cups are no longer being used. Now it looks like they’re using plain, boring Coca Cola cups.

Finally, a cool display of different Mr. Potato Head figures in Midway Mercantile.

DisneyGeek DLR Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at the latest happenings from through-out the Disneyland Resort from the latest DLR Update on DisneyGeek:

Apparently a tram damaged this sign a little

This new feature in Project Tomorrow is basically the new finale to Epcot’s Spaceship Earth. Your picture is taken, embedded into the animated scene, & then you can send that scene to your email (much like in Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters)