DISNEYLAND Malaysia?

[hkskyline]

It looks like there is a Disney mania across East Asia right now. They are right to point out a Disneyland in Malaysia won't compete with the Hong Kong and Tokyo parks as there is a large enough population within SE Asia to support the park. However, there needs to be some brand education to get people to know about Disney's characters in order to entice them to visit the park.

[thundercats_kl]

I think it should be no problem to educate people of disney's characters as Disney Channel Asia (SE Asia/Korea) launched in Malaysia in 1996, then spread accross Asia in 2000, Brunei, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea and Hong Kong can do the job as they entice the viewers in SE Asia with their Disneyland HK TVC/Promo. The channel also proved to be the most popular kid channel in Malaysia, Singapore and other countries in the region.

[szehoong]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

However, there needs to be some brand education to get people to know about Disney's characters in order to entice them to visit the park.

Although brand education is important, however I believe that Malaysians are very well aware of the Disney brand. We've got a nationwide caverage of the Disney Channel and a lot of its programming are done in Malaysia.

Furthermore its movies and animated features are often a big hit here

[Greg]

LOS ANGELES, May 30 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday said it has no plans to build a theme park in Malaysia -- even though government officials in that country said they had been in talks to develop one.

"We are constantly exploring opportunities around the world as we look to grow our parks and resorts business. At this time, however, there are no existing discussions in Malaysia and we currently have no plans for a Disney-branded resort development in that country," said Lisa Haines, a spokeswoman for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Malaysian government officials said they are in talks to set up a Disney theme park in southern Johor state, as it battles neighbor Singapore to become a major tourist hub.

Government officials have held talks with executives from Oriental Land Co. Ltd. , the Japanese company that operates Tokyo Disneyland, to run a similar park in Malaysia, The Edge financial weekly reported over the weekend, citing sources.

But Disney said it has held no such talks.

"Oriental Land Company, which owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort as our licensee, is a valued partner; however, they have no role in evaluating or negotiating other opportunities for Disney outside of Japan," Haines said.

Malaysian Economic Planning Minister Effendi Norwawi told reporters on Tuesday the country was exploring all options to make the southern corridor an attractive region.

"So it will include theme parks and other attractions, so we are hoping to get Disney; but we are discussing with several other parties to see which is the most realizable option," he said.

"Yes, we have been in discussions with Tokyo and also with Disney in the U.S," he added, without giving further details.

Japan's Oriental Land said it had done some research in Johor on a possible leisure business but said the project was not related to Disney.

"We are only a Disney licensee. We have no rights to set up a Disney park nor provide advice on its operations," said an Oriental Land spokesman.

The Japanese company late last year did research to see if a leisure business was possible on request from the Malaysian government, he said. No decision has been made following the research, he added.

The Japanese company has conducted such research in several countries in the past, he said.

Malaysia is eager to develop Johor state, separated by a thin strip of water from Singapore -- which is itself chasing the tourist dollar by developing a casino industry.

The theme park could occupy 2,000 acres in Nusajaya, part of a 23,000 acre township being developed by state-controlled UEM World Bhd , The Edge said.

Tokyo Disneyland is one of Asia's top tourist sites and, with the adjacent DisneySea, draws 25 million visitors a year.

[baqthier]

blame it on the malaysian and other asian media who were trying to make it sound like its actually disney. what badawi was asking for is the expertise from those who developed and operated the tokyo disney.

[Sheik]

The Disney news certianly made lots of coverage in the US and what a way to get publicity.

If they are really serious in bringing Disney to Malaysia, Khazanah will have to make lots of concessions otherwise this deal will end up like the Malaysia airports deal with schipol and proton's deal with volkswagen.

Will be nice if PM personally held talks with Disney's Boss to make sure the deal goes through.

[nazrey]

Effendi: Govt in talks for Disney park in Johor
By Rupa Damodaran
BusinessTimes
May 31 2006




Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi
says Malaysia is now talking to operators of the Tokyo Disneyland and the
Disneyland Theme Parks of the US on the matter. If the plan materialises, the
park will be built in Nusajaya, just outside of Johor Baru

DISCUSSIONS are under way on the possibility of building a Disneyland theme park in Johor.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told newsmen in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that he had met a group of people interested in setting up the theme park during a recent visit to Tokyo.

“It was just a meeting, there is nothing more to say about it,” he said.

Reports of a possible Disneyland project in Malaysia have circulated widely since Abdullah’s visit to Japan last week.

Abdullah said that if any party was interested in doing a project in southern Johor, there is scope for an entertainment park there.

At a separate function, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi said Malaysia was now talking to operators of the Tokyo Disneyland and the Disneyland Theme Parks of the US on the matter. If the plan materialises, the land, where all dreams come true, will be built in Nusajaya, just outside of Johor Baru.

The plan could well be part of efforts to develop a Southern Corridor in Johor under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

“We are hoping to get Disney (in Malaysia). We have been discussing with several parties to see which is the most realisable option, and yes we have been in discussions with Oriental Land (the Japanese partner for Tokyo Disneyland) and also with Disney US,”

Effendi told reporters after launching Economic Census 2006 at the Statistics Department in Putrajaya yesterday.

“In the Southern Corridor development, we want it to be comprehensive and an attractive region and we want to include theme parks and other attractions,” he added.

Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, this growth corridor will stretch from the proposed new bridge and Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex in Johor Baru to Gelang Patah on Johor’s southwestern coast.

It will include Bandar Nusajaya, where the new Johor administrative capital is being built, that also been earmarked for a theme park, medical city and branch campuses of international universities.

Earlier reports said the Disney theme park will be situated on an 800ha site in Bandar Nusajaya, a township developed by UEM World Bhd.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the Government’s investment arm, would play a pivotal role in making the plan a reality.

[patchay]

Originally Posted by Greg

At this time, however, there are no existing discussions in Malaysia and we currently have no plans for a Disney-branded resort development in that country," said Lisa Haines, a spokeswoman for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Government officials have held talks with executives from Oriental Land Co. Ltd. , the Japanese company that operates Tokyo Disneyland, to run a similar park in Malaysia, The Edge financial weekly reported over the weekend, citing sources.

But Disney said it has held no such talks.

"Oriental Land Company, which owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort as our licensee, is a valued partner; however, they have no role in evaluating or negotiating other opportunities for Disney outside of Japan," Haines said.

Japan's Oriental Land said it had done some research in Johor on a possible leisure business but said the project was not related to Disney.

"We are only a Disney licensee. We have no rights to set up a Disney park nor provide advice on its operations," said an Oriental Land spokesman.

I think Oriental Land has a higher chance of operating a new theme park on their own in Nusajaya, rather than Disney USA...

But if Disney really come...i hope they will build the biggest Disneyland in the world (considering the land size in Nusajaya), also the most environment friendly. Since Disney and Pixar recently merged, i hope they will include a sperate section for Pixar characters (not just limited to Disney characters)...like Nemo Underwaterworld... The theme park should also include theatres like Cirque du Soleil...(i think the company who is bringing cirque into Singapore lost in the Marina IR bid)

From a Bernama news report yesterday on Astro, it seems local companies (besides UEM) like YTL may be interested in this project if the deal goes through.

With a world-class theme park in Nusajaya...i hope the government would consider building the "bullet train" from KL to JB, and then JB monorail to Nusajaya. Also, further expansion of AirAsia and the Senai-Tanjung Perlepas cargo hub will further enhance Johor's potential.

All these will certainly make Johor a world-class destination!!!

[forrestcat]

I am confused, so we'll have a theme park, but not a Disneyland right.

[nazrey]

Malaysia says in talks for Disney theme park
Mon May 29, 2006 11:05pm ET
REUTERS


PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) - Malaysia is in talks to set up a Disney theme park in southern Johor state, Economic Planning Minister Effendi Norwawi said on Tuesday.

Malaysia is keen to develop Johor state, which is separated by a thin strip of water from the island nation of Singapore, a major tourist hub that is developing a casino industry.

[nazrey]

UPDATE 1-Malaysia says in talks for Disney theme park
Mon May 29, 2006 11:55 PM ET
REUTERS


PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, May 30 (Reuters) - Malaysia is in talks to set up a Disney theme park in southern Johor state, as it battles neighbour Singapore to be a major tourist hub.

Government officials have held talks with executives from Oriental Land Co. Ltd , a Japanese firm that operates Tokyo Disneyland, to run a similar park in Malaysia, The Edge financial weekly reported at the weekend, citing sources.

"We are exploring all options because in the southern corridor development we want it to be comprehensive, we want it to be an attractive region," Economic Planning Minister Effendi Norwawi told reporters on Tuesday.

"So it will include theme parks and other attractions, so we are hoping to get Disney, but we are discussing with several other parties to see which is the most realisable option."

"Yes, we have been in discussions with Tokyo and also with Disney in the U.S," he added, without giving further details.

Malaysia is keen to develop Johor state, which is separated by a thin strip of water from Singapore, which is itself chasing the tourist dollar by developing a casino industry.

The theme park could occupy 2,000 acres in Nusajaya, part of a 23,000 acre township being developed by state-controlled UEM World Bhd. The Edge said.

Tokyo Disneyland is one of Asia's top tourist sites and, with the adjacent DisneySea, draws 25 million visitors a year.

[nazrey]

Malaysia says in talks for Disney theme park
Tue May 30, 2006 4:54am ET
REUTERS


TOKYO/PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) - Malaysia is in talks to set up a Disney theme park in southern Johor state, as it battles neighbor Singapore to be a major tourist hub.

Government officials have held talks with executives from Oriental Land Co. Ltd, a Japanese firm that operates Tokyo Disneyland, to run a similar park in Malaysia, The Edge financial weekly reported at the weekend, citing sources.

"We are exploring all options because in the southern corridor development we want it to be comprehensive, we want it to be an attractive region," Economic Planning Minister Effendi Norwawi told reporters on Tuesday.

"So it will include theme parks and other attractions, so we are hoping to get Disney, but we are discussing with several other parties to see which is the most realizable option."


"Yes, we have been in discussions with Tokyo and also with Disney in the U.S," he added, without giving further details.

Japan's Oriental Land confirmed that it had done some research in Johor on a possible leisure business, but said the project was not related to Disney.

"We are only a Disney licensee. We have no rights to set up a Disney park nor provide advice on its operations," said an Oriental Land spokesman.

The Japanese company late last year did research to see if a leisure business was possible on request from the Malaysian government, he said. No decision has been made following the research, he added.

The Japanese company has conducted such research in several countries in the past, he said.

Malaysia is keen to develop Johor state, which is separated by a thin strip of water from Singapore, which is itself chasing the tourist dollar by developing a casino industry.

The theme park could occupy 2,000 acres in Nusajaya, part of a 23,000 acre township being developed by state-controlled UEM World Bhd., The Edge said.

Tokyo Disneyland is one of Asia's top tourist sites and, with the adjacent DisneySea, draws 25 million visitors a year.

[nazrey]

PM has met group over Disneyland proposal
Wednesday May 31, 2006
TheStar


KUALA LUMPUR: A group expressing interest in setting up a Disneyland theme park in southern Johor has met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said this group was one of several that had shown interest in bringing Disneyland into the country.

“I have not spoken to the Disney people themselves but there is this group that has shown interest to set it up there,” he said here yesterday.

Abdullah said he did not have any details on how much investment would be made as it was just a preliminary meeting.

“We are showing interest,” he said.

He declined to identify the group or the amount of investment planned, adding that: “I don’t think that they want to be told who they are.”

Reports have said Abdullah had met officials from Oriental Land, the Japanese partner of Tokyo Disneyland, during his five-day visit to Japan recently.

[szehoong]

Originally Posted by patchay

I think Oriental Land has a higher chance of operating a new theme park on their own in Nusajaya, rather than Disney USA...

But if Disney really come...i hope they will build the biggest Disneyland in the world (considering the land size in Nusajaya), also the most environment friendly. Since Disney and Pixar recently merged, i hope they will include a sperate section for Pixar characters (not just limited to Disney characters)...like Nemo Underwaterworld... The theme park should also include theatres like Cirque du Soleil...(i think they lost in Singapore's Marina IR bid)

From a Bernama news report yesterday on Astro, it seems local companies (besides UEM) like YTL may be interested in this project if the deal goes through.

With a world-class theme park in Nusajaya...i hope the government would consider building the "bullet train" from KL to JB, and then JB monorail to Nusajaya. Also, further expansion of AirAsia and the Senai-Tanjung Perlepas cargo hub will further enhance Johor's potential.

All these will certainly make Johor a world-class destination!!!

If Oriental Holdings were to operate a themepark, it lacks the charms and the 'software' part that are associated with Disney. A themepark without established characters wouldn't suceed much unless they are banking on the rides alone like Six Flags.

I don't think that in the near future that any Disney themepark would be able to rival Walt Disney World. WDW is 48 square-mile.....and that is like HUGGEEEE!

Even before the merger with Pixar, the characters designed by Pixar are proprietory of Disney. So Disney could use it wherever and whenever they want

[tomkat]

Originally Posted by baqthier

blame it on the malaysian and other asian media who were trying to make it sound like its actually disney. what badawi was asking for is the expertise from those who developed and operated the tokyo disney.

What I could digest from all these reports is that Oriental Land was engaged by the government to study the feasibility of having leisure business in Southern Johor. The major component of the leisure business is a major world-class themepark.

Since then, the PM and his delegates have been talking with various parties including people related to Disney. But the PM hasn't met with Disney-proper, as this is confirmed by the PM himself in one of the articles.

At the end of the day, it may not be Disney themepark at all, as the government is still keeping their option open. The government would certainly go for a themepark that can give the most to the economy.

And for now, obviously Disneyland is their top pick.

The question now is whether the incentives put forward by the government such as free land, free tax and so on are attractive enough for the mouse to come to Malaysia. The other thing is whether all conditions set by Disney can accepted by Malaysia government or not. I am sure a big chunk of the initial investment is by Khazanah - indirectly, it is coming from public fund.

[andyf]

Even the BBC UK caught on to the story

Malaysia animated at Disney plans
Malaysia's government is in talks with Disney about building a theme park.
Successful negotiations would mean the creation of south-east Asia's first Disneyland, following in the footsteps of Tokyo and Hong Kong.

It would also be a coup for Malaysia's tourism industry in its ongoing rivalry with neighbouring Singapore, which is banking on two giant casino resorts.

The government said it was "exploring all options" for a theme park on a 2,000 acre site in the Johor region.

The site is near the location of a new bridge that would link Malaysia and Singapore, and would thus have good transport links throughout South-East Asia.

Malaysia's government said it had talked both with the Walt Disney corporation and with the firm which operates Tokyo Disneyland, the Japanese franchise and one of Asia's most popular tourist attractions.

Disney spokeswoman Alannah Goss said she was aware of ongoing talks but said the group currently had no plans to announce a Malaysian Disneyland.

Together with the neighbouring DisneySea resort, Tokyo Disneyland - which opened in 1983 - attracts some 25 million visitors a year.

The $1.8bn (£1bn) Hong Kong resort, co-owned by Hong Kong's government, opened in September 2005.

However, media reports have claimed that the park - situated on Lantau Island off Hong Kong - is attracting fewer visitors than Disney had hoped.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...ss/5029906.stm

Published: 2006/05/30 14:21:50 GMT

© BBC MMVI

[pedang]

UEM still wants to pursue Disney talks

By Ashwin Raman


UEM World Bhd is still keen to engage Walt Disney to bring in a theme park to its Nusajaya development in Johor despite the US company's denial that it was interested to expand to Malaysia.

However, UEM World said it was also in talks with other foreign theme park operators to set up such a venture in Nusajaya.

Asked on a report on May 31 on Disney's denial, its managing director, Datuk Ahmad Pardas Senin said: “The efforts need to be continuously done as this is not something that can be achieved in a short space of time.”

He said UEM World had initiated talks with several operators other than Disney as UEM World had allocated 2,400ha of its 9,200ha township in Nusajaya for leisure or theme park development.

Prior to its suspension at 2.30pm on May 31, UEM World fell six sen to RM1.76 after Disney's denial that it was interested to set up a theme park in the country. It resumes trading on June 1.

On May 30, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi said the government was in talks with Oriental Land Co Ltd, who operates Tokyo Disneyland, and Disney in the US to bring in Disney.

Reuters on May 31 quoted Walt Disney Parks and Resorts spokeswoman, Lisa Haines, as saying: “At this time, however, there are no existing discussions in Malaysia and we currently have no plans for a Disney-branded resort development in that country.”

To another question, Ahmad Pardas said UEM World still hoped to bring in Disney or another theme park operator of the same magnitude.

Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur at its quarterly results briefing, he added: “If a name like that (Disney) were to come here, it would be a crowd-puller for tourism.”

Meanwhile, UEM World's net profit surged to RM100.28 million for the first quarter (1Q) ended March 31, 2006 from only RM8.11 million a year earlier as earnings were boosted by the property and manufacturing divisions.

The other contributors were the consolidation of Pharmaniaga Bhd’s results with effect from August 2005, higher profit of a foreign associate and lower amortisation of actuarial loss on pension scheme.

Revenue more than doubled to RM1.19 billion from RM560.7 million mainly from the sale of a 367ha land by the property division but was offset by the lower revenue from project management and construction projects. Earnings per share were 7.2 sen against 0.6 sen.

On UEM World’s bid for the second Penang bridge, Ahmad Pardas said it had written to the government to be considered as it was the concession holder of the first Penang bridge and undertook the construction of the second link bridge between Johor Bahru and Singapore.

He hoped it would be considered for transportation projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), including the expansion of light rail transit (LRT) and other railway commuter projects.

[patchay]

Malaysia's UEM in talks to set up theme park

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): Malaysian conglomerate UEM World Berhad said Wednesday it is in talks with several foreign companies to set up a theme park, but declined to say if this included the Walt Disney Co. for a Disneyland park.

Government-controlled UEM World owns 23,000 acres (9,200 hectares) of land in the southern state of Johor, near neighboring Singapore, of which 2,400 acres (960 hectares) have been set aside for leisure projects, said its chief executive Ahmad Pardas Senin.

"We speak to various operators because we are still in the exploratory stage of attracting theme park operators,'' he told reporters after announcing the company's first-quarter results.

A government minister in charge of economic affairs, Effendi Norwawi, said Tuesday that Malaysia was exploring plans to set up the first Disney theme park in Southeast Asia based in Johor.

But Ahmad Pardas declined to be drawn into commenting on the Disneyland possibility. "It's never easy ... but we will keep trying. Whether they will be attracted is another issue,'' he said, in reference to talks with foreign theme park operators.

Effendi has said the government was in talks with Disneyland operators in Japan and the United States, as well as other parties about setting up a theme park but did not give details.

Building a Disney park will boost tourism for Malaysia and pose stiff competition to Singapore, which is building two casino resorts. Tourism is Malaysia's No. 2 foreign exchange earner, after manufacturing.

Walt Disney Co. opened a theme park in Hong Kong in September.

Alannah Goss, a spokeswoman for Disney's Asian operations based in Hong Kong, has said the company constantly assesses strategic markets worldwide but declined to say if Johor is on the list.

UEM World, which has interests in property, health care and manufacturing, has been exploring plans for a theme park in Johor since 2001. It had then said Hollywood's Universal Studios Inc. was conducting a feasibility study for the project, which did not materialize.

Earlier Wednesday, UEM World reported a net profit of 100.3 million ringgit (US$27.9 million, euro23 million) for the quarter to March, up sharply from 8.1 million ringgit (US$2.3 million, euro1.9 million) a year earlier.

Its revenue doubled to 1.19 billion ringgit (US$331 million, euro277.8 million) during the period. The improved profit was due to mainly to a one-off land sale, higher margins from its manufacturing division and consolidation of its pharmaceutical unit, it said.


**This news is circulating worldwide..

[ZaHiRnYa???]

From Utusan Malaysia (1st June) :

---------

JOHOR BAHRU 31 Mei - Kerajaan Johor tidak menolak kemungkinan taman tema Disneyland yang dilaporkan dicadangkan pembinaannya di Nusajaya akan berkonsepkan tropika, berbeza dengan taman tema Disneyland di Florida dan Hong Kong.

Menteri Besar, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman berkata, beliau percaya iklim dan cuaca negara ini yang panas akan diambil kira dalam pembinaan taman tema Disneyland yang dicadangkan itu.

``Saya fikir Disneyland yang akan dibina di sini akan bersifat tropika kerana faktor iklim perlu diambil kira dalam mewujudkan sebuah taman tema,'' katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Exco di Bukit Timbalan sini hari ini.

Abdul Ghani mengulas kenyataan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bahawa beliau telah berbincang dengan satu kumpulan yang berminat untuk membawa taman tema Disney ke Malaysia ketika berada di Tokyo, Jepun baru-baru ini.

Dalam pertemuan tersebut, kumpulan itu menyatakan antara lokasi cadangan untuk taman tema berkenaan ialah di selatan negeri Johor.

Laporan akhbar sebelum ini menyebut Malaysia sedang mengadakan perbincangan terperinci dengan pengendali Tokyo Disneyland bagi pembinaan taman tema tersebut di Johor.

Jika pembinaan di bandar baru Nusajaya di kawasan seluas 9,645 hektar yang terletak di Pembangunan Koridor Selatan itu direalisasikan, Malaysia bakal menjadi negara pertama di Asia Tenggara yang mempunyai taman tema itu.

Laporan akhbar berkenaan turut menyebut, kerajaan negeri telah meluluskan kawasan seluas 960 hektar dengan cadangan pelaburan sebanyak RM2 bilion dan dijangka mampu menyediakan 20,000 peluang pekerjaan kepada rakyat Johor.

Selain itu, pegawai-pegawai kerajaan Malaysia dan wakil konglomerat UEM World, kini sedang mengadakan perbincangan dengan Oriental Land untuk membina taman tema tersebut di Nusajaya.

[Sheik]

What kind of tropical concept ?

Don't these idiots know that it's summer all year round in Florida too! Bozos!