WDW Daily News

Disney chairman and CEO, Bob Iger unveiled new, exciting details on Shanghai Disney Resort, the area’s first Disney destination, and the six themed lands planned for the Shanghai Disneyland theme park when it opens in Spring 2016.

In Tomorrowland at Shanghai Disneyland, one of the six themed lands, guests will be able to experience the TRON Lightcycle Power Run, a new coaster-style attraction where riders board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles for one of the most thrilling adventures at any Disney park.

The Shanghai Disneyland recently released a set of photos of its “Treasure Cove,” the first pirate-themed attraction in a Disney park, the Information Office of Shanghai Municipal Government revealed on its micro-blog.

“Treasure Cove” is one of the six themed areas in Shanghai Disneyland. Its major attractions will include “Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle of the Sunken Treasure,” an all-new high-technology boat ride.

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Walt Disney Co. is to put off the opening of its Disneyland Shanghai theme park to next year, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people close to the project.

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In a deal nearly a decade in the making, Disney is on track to open its Shanghai Disney Resort at the end of 2015. The company unveiled its concept art for the site last weekend, and it seems Disney’s Pixar-brand Toy Story will be the star of the resort.

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A prestigious professional honor was recently awarded to recognize the innovative design and technology practices that have been used in the development of Enchanted Storybook Castle, currently under construction as the centerpiece of Shanghai Disney Resort’s theme park, Shanghai Disneyland. The American Institute of Architects presented its Technology in Architectural Practice Award to Walt Disney Imagineering for its successful implementation of Building Information Modeling, the process of generating and managing digital representations of structures and facilities.

“As construction of the Shanghai Disney Resort continues on its theme park and associated facility development, we’re constantly defining and redefining themed entertainment with innovation, and we do that not just in the technology behind our attractions, but also in the way we design and develop them,” said Howard Brown, Senior Vice President and Project Development Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai. “The Enchanted Storybook Castle is designed with retail, dining, operations and theatrical spaces, and a ride system running through it which marries traditional architectural detailing with modern building technology. It would be hard to imagine designing and building such a complex structure without having one integrated, central, smart model like Building Information Modeling.”

Building Information Modeling facilitated a real time testing and feedback cycle that helped the Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai project teams meet the unique challenges in realizing this complex, multi-use facility. It enabled collaboration using web-based social collaboration, video-telepresence and cloud-based computing which brought together dozens of team members on opposite sides of the globe, and allowed them to reach key project milestones ensuring a successful delivery of Shanghai Disney Resort.

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The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) today announced that it has reached an agreement with Shanghai Shendi Group, its joint venture partner in China, to accelerate the expansion of Shanghai Disney Resort. The increased investment of approximately 5 billion yuan (US$0.8 billion) will be used primarily for additional attractions, entertainment and other offerings to increase capacity at the theme park, with the majority targeted to be completed for opening day.

“Since we first broke ground in Shanghai we’ve been very impressed with the growth of China’s economy, especially the rapid expansion of the middle class and the significant increase in travel and tourism,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Our accelerated expansion, including additional attractions and entertainment, will allow us to welcome more guests for a spectacular Disney experience on opening day.”

“Like all of our parks, Shanghai Disney Resort was designed to expand over time, and this investment allows us to bring some of those additions online earlier,” said Thomas O. Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “The expansion underscores the tremendous opportunity we see in Shanghai and demonstrates our long-term commitment to and confidence in China.”

The announcement of this accelerated expansion comes during a boom in China’s travel and tourism market, which is expected to continue its rapid growth. An income qualified population of 330 million people are within a three-hour travel radius of Shanghai Disney Resort. From 2012 to 2015, the Chinese travel market is projected to grow 34 percent, according to PhoCusWright. The number of upper-middle class and affluent households in China is expected to grow 18 percent annually between 2012 and 2022, according to McKinsey.

Shanghai Shendi Group will continue to hold 57 percent of the shares of the owner companies while Disney will hold the remaining 43 percent. Financing of the additional investment will be proportionate to ownership and, as with the original shareholder investment, it is not anticipated that third-party debt will be incurred to finance the expansion. In addition, Disney is the majority shareholder in the management company responsible for creating, developing and operating the Resort.

Walt Disney Studios and Shanghai Media Group Pictures will co-develop stories with Chinese elements, says an executive of the Magic Kingdom. “The deal focuses on the weakest point in the Chinese film industry, the storytelling,” says Stanley Cheung, managing director of The Walt Disney Company, China.

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Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger unveiled creative details including the first-ever Pirates-themed land and a new “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction designed for the Shanghai Disney Resort.

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