Disneyland Korea?...where will the next Disney park be?

[samsonyuen]

Sounds pretty likely. Or as one of the article says, it could be a playing off of Shanghai. I think Seoul as a richer economy per capita would be able to support Disneyland much better.
_____
Disney May Build Park Near Seoul
By Richard Verrier
Times Staff Writer

February 25, 2005

Looking to expand its global entertainment empire, Walt Disney Co. is sizing up South Korea for a possible theme park.

During the last several months, company executives have been in talks with government officials over a site south of Seoul, sources familiar with the matter said.

The proposal being discussed would involve something more modest than the 310-acre Disneyland opening later this year in Hong Kong. The Korean project would combine restaurants and shops with a smaller-scale version of a traditional Disney theme park.

Discussions are in the early stages, sources cautioned, with financing details yet to be addressed. Disney's foreign parks typically include substantial financial commitments by foreign governments and partners.

The company recently denied a newspaper report in South Korea that Disney had reached a deal on a nearly 800-acre site. Theme park chief Jay Rasulo reiterated in an interview this week that the company had no agreement, although he did call South Korea "a potentially attractive market."

Some industry observers are skeptical that Disney will move forward in South Korea anytime soon because Disney is preoccupied in nearby China. Disney plans to open its Hong Kong park in September. And it hopes to build a resort in Shanghai, where the company has been involved in lengthy talks for a park that would open after 2010.

Some longtime observers suggested that Disney might be using the South Korean talks as leverage to win concessions from Shanghai. Disney first signed a letter of intent 2 1/2 years ago in Shanghai, but no final deal has been struck.

"I would not be surprised if they are doing a little bit of gamesmanship," said Orlando, Fla.-based theme park consultant Bill Coan.

Disney successfully pitted government officials in Spain against their counterparts in France to win a host of lucrative concessions for building Euro Disney outside of Paris, which opened in 1992.

"They could be playing Korea off Shanghai," said Frank Stanek, former president of international business development for Universal Studios parks and resorts. "It's a logical extension of their historical practice."

The Burbank-based entertainment giant — which has 10 theme parks worldwide — has made international expansion a linchpin of its growth. Over the years, executives have talked about possibly expanding Disney's theme park network to areas as varied as Singapore, Australia, India and Latin America.

Hong Kong Disneyland is set to include a theme park and two hotels. Disney will manage the park and control 43% of the operation while contributing just a fraction of the cost — $314 million. For its part, the Hong Kong government is expected to invest $2.9 billion in the park and accompanying infrastructure.

Like China, South Korea represents a largely untapped market for Disney. Company icons such as Mickey Mouse are highly popular there.

Disney has made some inroads in South Korea with the Disney Channel and its publishing arm. The company is enticed by the nation's affluence and its population of about 50 million. South Korean theme parks also fare well; one of the 10 busiest parks in the world, owned by the Lotte retail chain, is in Seoul.

"I would look at this as a pretty strong market," Stanek said. "Korea has enough population and enough economic wealth to sustain a theme park."

Analysts said one drawback could be tensions caused by instability in neighboring North Korea. In addition, Seoul is not a major draw for international travelers, unlike Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Beyond that, some analysts said, Disney risks offending its partners in China and in Japan, where it operates two Tokyo parks, by adding another competitor to the region.Disney May Build Park Near Seoul
By Richard Verrier
Times Staff Writer

February 25, 2005

Looking to expand its global entertainment empire, Walt Disney Co. is sizing up South Korea for a possible theme park.

During the last several months, company executives have been in talks with government officials over a site south of Seoul, sources familiar with the matter said.

The proposal being discussed would involve something more modest than the 310-acre Disneyland opening later this year in Hong Kong. The Korean project would combine restaurants and shops with a smaller-scale version of a traditional Disney theme park.

Discussions are in the early stages, sources cautioned, with financing details yet to be addressed. Disney's foreign parks typically include substantial financial commitments by foreign governments and partners.

The company recently denied a newspaper report in South Korea that Disney had reached a deal on a nearly 800-acre site. Theme park chief Jay Rasulo reiterated in an interview this week that the company had no agreement, although he did call South Korea "a potentially attractive market."

Some industry observers are skeptical that Disney will move forward in South Korea anytime soon because Disney is preoccupied in nearby China. Disney plans to open its Hong Kong park in September. And it hopes to build a resort in Shanghai, where the company has been involved in lengthy talks for a park that would open after 2010.

Some longtime observers suggested that Disney might be using the South Korean talks as leverage to win concessions from Shanghai. Disney first signed a letter of intent 2 1/2 years ago in Shanghai, but no final deal has been struck.

"I would not be surprised if they are doing a little bit of gamesmanship," said Orlando, Fla.-based theme park consultant Bill Coan.

Disney successfully pitted government officials in Spain against their counterparts in France to win a host of lucrative concessions for building Euro Disney outside of Paris, which opened in 1992.

"They could be playing Korea off Shanghai," said Frank Stanek, former president of international business development for Universal Studios parks and resorts. "It's a logical extension of their historical practice."

The Burbank-based entertainment giant — which has 10 theme parks worldwide — has made international expansion a linchpin of its growth. Over the years, executives have talked about possibly expanding Disney's theme park network to areas as varied as Singapore, Australia, India and Latin America.

Hong Kong Disneyland is set to include a theme park and two hotels. Disney will manage the park and control 43% of the operation while contributing just a fraction of the cost — $314 million. For its part, the Hong Kong government is expected to invest $2.9 billion in the park and accompanying infrastructure.

Like China, South Korea represents a largely untapped market for Disney. Company icons such as Mickey Mouse are highly popular there.

Disney has made some inroads in South Korea with the Disney Channel and its publishing arm. The company is enticed by the nation's affluence and its population of about 50 million. South Korean theme parks also fare well; one of the 10 busiest parks in the world, owned by the Lotte retail chain, is in Seoul.
_____
Disney evaluates S. Korea for park


Sources say company executives have met with government officials about a site near Seoul.
By Richard Verrier
Sentinel Staff Writer

February 25, 2005

Looking to expand its global entertainment empire, Walt Disney Co. is sizing up South Korea for a possible theme park.

During the past several months, company executives have been in talks with government officials about a site south of Seoul, the South Korean capital, sources familiar with the matter said.

The proposal being discussed would involve a more modest project than the 310-acre site Disneyland is opening later this year in Hong Kong.

The Korean project would combine restaurants and shops with a smaller-scale version of a traditional Disney theme park.

Discussions are in early stages, sources cautioned, with financing details yet to be addressed.

Disney's foreign parks typically include substantial financial commitments by foreign governments and partners.

The company recently denied a newspaper report in South Korea that Disney had reached a deal on a nearly 800-acre site. Theme park chief Jay Rasulo reiterated in an interview this week that the company has no agreement, although he did call South Korea "a potentially attractive market."

Some longtime industry observers are skeptical that Disney will move forward in South Korea anytime soon because Disney is preoccupied in nearby China.

Disney plans to open its Hong Kong park in September. And it hopes to build a resort in Shanghai, where the company has been involved in lengthy talks for a park that would open after 2010.

Some longtime observers suggested that Disney may be using the South Korean talks as leverage to win concessions for the Shanghai park. Disney first signed a letter of intent two-and-half years ago in Shanghai, but no final deal has been struck.

"I would not be surprised if they are doing a little bit of gamesmanship," said Orlando-based theme-park consultant Bill Coan.

In the early 1990s, Disney successfully pitted government officials in Spain against their counterparts in France to win a host of lucrative concessions for building Euro Disney outside of Paris.

"They could be playing Korea off Shanghai," said Frank Stanek, former president of international business development for Universal Studios parks and resorts. "It's a logical extension of their historical practice."

The entertainment giant -- which has 10 theme parks worldwide -- has made international expansion a linchpin of its future growth. Over the years, Disney officials have talked about possibly expanding its theme park network to areas as varied as Singapore, Australia, India and Latin America.

Hong Kong Disneyland is set to include a theme park and two hotels.

Disney will manage the park and control 43 percent of the operation while contributing just a fraction of the cost -- $315 million. For its part, the Hong Kong government is expected to invest $2.9 billion in the park and accompanying infrastructure.

Like China, South Korea represents a largely untapped market for Disney. Company icons such as Mickey Mouse are highly popular there.

Disney has made some inroads in South Korea with the Disney Channel and its publishing arm.

The company is enticed by the nation's affluence and its population of about 50 million. South Korean theme parks also fare well; one of the 10 busiest parks in the world, owned by the Lotte retail chain, is in Seoul.

"I would look at this as a pretty strong market," Stanek said. "Korea has enough population and enough economic wealth to sustain a theme park."

Analysts said one drawback could be tensions caused by instability in neighboring North Korea. In addition, Seoul is not a major draw for international travelers, unlike France and Hong Kong.

Beyond that, analysts said, Disney risks offending its partners in China and in Japan, where it operates two Tokyo parks, by adding another competitor in the region.

[waterloo]

I posted an article about this in the Korean forum. Construction will start at the end of 2005 and will be opened in 2011!

[samsonyuen]

Is it official already, or is it that construction COULD start in 2005, and COULD finish in 2011? Until an official press release from Disney, I'm a bit wary.

[waterloo]

Well, for the last couple months company executives from Disney came to Korea and observed the 4 candidates site for Seoul Disneyland, and current site of Seoul Grand Park is chosen for the Seoul Disney Land site. Everything is signed and ready to go for Seoul~

[Nick in Atlanta]

Does anyone know if the Disney Corporation is paying for the Disneyland under construction in Hong Kong? If no, then Disney has moved into more of a "franchiseing" role with the new Disneyland Amusement Parks. They probably license the Disney name and the Disney characters, and oversee that the park maintains Disney's level of quality. If that's what is happening, then I could see more Disneylands opening around the world, especially in Asia. A Shanghai or Beijing Disneyland is very plausible in the near future.

Hey, their motto is "It's a small world, after all!"

[vvill]

Originally Posted by Nick in Atlanta

Does anyone know if the Disney Corporation is paying for the Disneyland under construction in Hong Kong? If no, then Disney has moved into more of a "franchiseing" role with the new Disneyland Amusement Parks. They probably license the Disney name and the Disney characters, and oversee that the park maintains Disney's level of quality. If that's what is happening, then I could see more Disneylands opening around the world, especially in Asia. A Shanghai or Beijing Disneyland is very plausible in the near future.

Hey, their motto is "It's a small world, after all!"

yes they're paying but a small portion.

[ferge]

Itd be nice for the UK to have one, not gonna happen mind.. afterall he have DLP on the doorstep.. having said that, would be nice to have some American-based theme park over here, such as a Universal Studios or Warner Brothers, we have several respectable theme parks yet a US would be different and, IMO.. rather popular

[Mekky II]

Turkey is not a bad taste.

[Dennis]

Pyongyang - North Korea

[TORONTO]

DISNEY LAND in TORONTO would be really great! Don't you think?

TORONTO

[philip]

Everyone loves to have a Disneyland in their city.
Funny, many people in Los Angeles have never been to Disneyland, despite the fact that everyone is within a 40 minutes drive to Disneyland.

I personally love Disney parks and I have been to one every year.

[Ellatur]

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[raymond_tung88]

I don't think Disney will build another theme-park for a LONG time, but the next one I think will be in either China (again) or India. Both of these countries have a large market waiting to be tapped into. The opening of Disneyland Hong Kong will help a LOT, but since China is such a big country, I wouldn't doubt it constructing another Disney theme-park. India is also a good contender...

The one in South Korea I think won't be as good as there is already one in Tokyo which it will have to compete with...

[SUNNI]

Seoul already has 2 of the most buisiest parks (everland and lotteworld), i dont think they need to build another one,,,,

[zergcerebrates]

Originally Posted by Nick in Atlanta

Does anyone know if the Disney Corporation is paying for the Disneyland under construction in Hong Kong? If no, then Disney has moved into more of a "franchiseing" role with the new Disneyland Amusement Parks. They probably license the Disney name and the Disney characters, and oversee that the park maintains Disney's level of quality. If that's what is happening, then I could see more Disneylands opening around the world, especially in Asia. A Shanghai or Beijing Disneyland is very plausible in the near future.

Hey, their motto is "It's a small world, after all!"

I thought their motto was "Its the happiest place on earth"

[zergcerebrates]

Anyways, I don't really like Disneyland, I only like it when I was young, but I prefer Universal Studios being built in Shanghai instead.

[Raine]

Disneyland should be in Eastern Europe too, mayby in Poland? ;]

[Washingtonian]

Disneyland Chechnya!

[Bender]

Disneyland is struggling with its parks in Paris, I don't think they are going to build another one in Europe.

[samsonyuen]

I don't think a Korean park would be in conflict with the one in Japan. I think it has a big enough internal market. I don't think the level of affluence in Eastern Europe is even close to what Disney wants to build a theme park. And unlike China, there aren't a billion people at its doorstep.