Interpretation of the Disney Shanghai suction Gold Journey: tourists spend about 600 yuan per capita (3)
Hong Kong’s experience: Disney won, the government loses?
In the recently published news, Shanghai and Disney co-operation with the Hong Kong and its “cooperation model is almost the same.” But now seems at first to build a Disney theme park in Hong Kong hope that the development of tourism, the Government seemed wishful thinking. Hong Kong Disney’s “vehicle in front” experience will become the Shanghai Kam?
Reporter / Wang (sent from Hong Kong)
Approaching Christmas, the Hong Kong Disneyland be even festive than usual. A large number of visitors gathered at the ticket office, next to a whale fountains, Mickey Mouse in the whale’s head a smug smile. Executives in Hong Kong Disneyland, the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai will be built to determine the news was not all bad, at least two years of expansion plans quarrel finally paying off.
Because the park four years ago are not profitable, as the majority shareholder after the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government does not wish to continue to invest.
“The expansion project will be completed in phases within 5 years. Time will be added three theme park, more than 30 new recreational facilities, so that the total number of theme park rides more than 100. Park area will expand by about 23%.” Hong Kong Disneyland Paradise Resort spokesman for the “China News Weekly” said.
Disneyland in Shanghai is the proposed opening time of 5 years after 2014. That Hong Kong Disneyland opened in Shanghai when the completed extension, side extension side of the operation might be able to park opened for passenger traffic on Hong Kong in the fight for access to opportunity.
Disney’s odds with Hong Kong’s miscalculations
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner (Michael Eisner) has said that Hong Kong Disneyland is the world’s most beautiful mountain side of Lantau Island, the other side can see the lights of Hong Kong Island.
But Hong Kong people are not happy with it. This covers an area of 126 hectares, the core area of 36 hectares of the world’s smallest Disneyland, so that local people feel that matt surface. Intellectuals and the media is also a constant reminder that this is a “cede territory and pay indemnities” business.
May be a coincidence, Disney seems to always be a good opportunity to seize. 1955 Disneyland opened in Los Angeles to catch up with America’s baby boomers; Tokyo Disneyland opened, when, it is Japan’s rapid economic development period.
In 1999, Hong Kong has experienced a financial crisis in 2003, suffered another blow to SARS, the economy deteriorating. The SAR Government urgently needs a major project to restore their confidence. In order to obtain entry into Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland was accepted by the harsh conditions – location of city as a major capital investment side, be responsible for construction of the building. According to public reports indicate that a total cost of 14.1 billion Hong Kong Disneyland Hong Kong dollars, using mixture of lending and inject capital financing arrangements. Disney invested 2.45 billion Hong Kong dollars which hold the theme park’s 43% stake; while the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government investment 3.25 billion Hong Kong dollars, accounting for 57% of the shares. Another 8.4 billion Hong Kong dollar loans, 23 billion Hong Kong dollars from banks commercial loans to mid-2008, funded by the Walt Disney to pay maturing loans on behalf of the Hong Kong Disneyland; another 6.1 billion dollar loans, the original park in the 25 years after the opening of repayment. As Penny’s Bay had not yet developed, the Hong Kong Government has invested 13.6 billion Hong Kong dollars in major infrastructure projects and the formation of an area of 300 hectares of land.
There the researchers calculated that, the SAR Government has invested about 90% of the funds, but only has a 57% stake, and only in ticket revenue sharing, and related product sales proceeds go all the Disney theme park; also accredited by The Walt Disney senior management team.
“Equity is a form approved by the then Legislative Council.” Hong Kong Disneyland Resort spokesman responded by saying. However, he avoided the media’s distribution of income unreasonable.
The Government’s major shareholder, did not have administrative rights for the park. According to the current distribution methods, park must maintain a high attendance rate, which is a stable ticket sales, is the premise of the government a profit. Walt Disney Company has a variety of sources of income, even if the number of visitors is less than expected ticket sales is not satisfactory, you can also attach a souvenir, image patents and hotel operational rewards.
The Hong Kong Disneyland have a natural defect, with an area too small to accommodate up to an average annual passenger flow can not be more than 10 million passengers. The kind of overcrowded conditions, may be a nightmare for visitors. Asked in Hong Kong Disneyland: Does this mean that Disney won the Hong Kong loses? Person in charge once again evading the question.
In fact, only in the construction of Disney’s first overseas park, had miscalculated the time. Americans do not invest in decisive operations Tokyo Disneyland, but the commission has taken a conservative approach. License fee is 10% of ticket sales and other catering income of 5%. Did not expect the family to Disneyland in Japan crazy level far beyond the imagination of Disney, so Disney has suffered a huge loss of profits. Wait until the Paris Disneyland, they would insist on holding 40%.
Disney’s too smart for its destruction of Hong Kong people’s memories. In fact, the Disney Orchestra visited Hong Kong in 1975, went to the show. Then gifted scholar Huang co-wrote songs with his girlfriend Lin Yanni: The world really small small, small enough to really Miaomiao Miao. Every day on television, a singing 30 years. Hong Kong’s children grow up is to see the Disney cartoon, from “Bambi” to “Buzz Light year” (the Mainland translated as “Toy Story”). Until now, Hong Kong’s TVB television station also broadcast the Disney production of “Winnie the Pooh” TELEVISION SERIES.
Students organized the anti-Disney’s “Searching for action”, of angry criticisms from intellectuals in the media above. “About Hong Kong Disneyland are almost all negative reports, a columnist’s criticism is even more direct. Ironically ridiculed Disney in Hong Kong is already a politically correct thing.” Hong Kong’s cable television station, a senior reporter for “China News Weekly “said.
This mood has infected many people. A 35-year-old mechanical engineer-chi, four years will pass, rather far away to fly to Tokyo, until recently accompanied a friend to play at the Hong Kong Disneyland for a day, but found it much better than expected, but also like a newspaper as small as on the right.
Tough conditions for cooperation with the tourists a missing
When the park opened in accordance with the SAR Government’s economic assessment of the theme park opened in the first year to attract more than 5 million visitors, after the opening of 5 to 15 years, annual passenger volume will reach 10 million passengers. Is expected to be break-even in its second year, 12 years, you can recover the costs.
However, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort spokesman told the “China News Weekly,” the theme park opened so far received a total of more than 1,700 million visitors, local, mainland and other parts of about fifty-third. Disney’s headquarters in the U.S. data also shows that Hong Kong Disneyland’s first two years of significant losses.
Originally hoped to build a Disney theme park in Hong Kong to develop tourism, but also whether the Government has become wishful thinking?
By far the most successful Tokyo Disneyland, more than 90% of visitors are Japanese. Disneyland Paris, the French habit of contempt because the operating bleak. Did not win the Hong Kong locals love, nor to please mainland tourists, Hong Kong Disneyland Perhaps this is a major reason for the poor word of mouth.
For many mainland tourists, Hong Kong Disneyland is not a must to go attractions. “Local small” negative word of mouth has spread in China, while traveling to the mainland market, the leading travel agents would find unprofitable, is not keen to add the tourism projects.
Hong Kong Disneyland, the initial co-operation with the mainland travel agencies are very tough, once causing travel agencies to resist. According to “First Financial Daily” reported in 2007, from the attraction ticket discount travel agents to take the guild regulations, but are asking the Hong Kong Disneyland Park Hotel before they agree to a binding offer. And if to book Disney hotels, travel agents still have to pay Disney a deposit amount of one million yuan.
“Hong Kong Disneyland will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland travel agencies to launch a sound sales and marketing activities.” Hong Kong Disneyland Resort spokesman declined to comment on the tense relations with the travel agency.
“Off-off incident” so that mainland people are very hurt. 2006 Spring Festival, because tourists packed the theme park would have purchased tickets for thousands of mainland tourists kept out. Angry people gathered at the park entrance doors shaking, trying to forcibly entered.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, the data available to journalists in 2007 ~ 2008 visitors surveyed, about 90% of their intention to revisit and to recommend to others park. But Hong Kong Cable TV reporter told, “China News Weekly”, “Hong Kong Disneyland visitors for local groups on a similar survey conducted, more than half of the respondents that they would not come back.”
Hong Kong snub to Disney, while an increasing preference for local brands on behalf of Ocean Park. The latter is now the most prosperous period in history.
Ocean Park was originally built by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, donations, without liability. 1987 Ocean Park from the Jockey Club and became an independent non-profit organizations. Hong Kong Disneyland opened a few years ago, Ocean Park is only an annual attendance of more than 100 million long-term losses. In order to prevent collapse of Ocean Park, the then Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa invited to “father of Lan Kwai Fong,” Allan Zeman Chairman, it also provides loans for 5.5 billion Hong Kong dollars for the renovation of the expansion.
Zeman Jewish descent, aged 19, lives in Hong Kong. He always said he was in Hong Kong, not “Ghosts” in order to narrow the distance with the locals, the media whatever they ask for. During special holidays, Allan Zeman will personally go into battle entertainment to visitors, he was reborn in the play-off for those bundles of paper, the vast jellyfish, as well as Bunny. “I do not want to put Disney off.” Allan Zeman, like most Hong Kong people’s favorite movies and heroes.
Hong Kong Disneyland is still the top American style, very few appearances, answering media were also many problems is to use pass is issued.
In 2005, Ocean Park, but 87 hectares, have now almost the size of Disney. Ocean Park is not only cheaper tickets, services and more localized for Hong Kong people, there are many benefits, such as people over the age of 65 can be free of charge admission, but Disney’s 170 Hong Kong dollars for the elderly vote.
February 9 this year, the Hong Kong Disneyland surprise hike in fares, the fare for adults and children respectively from 295 Hong Kong dollars, 210 Hong Kong dollar rose to 350 Hong Kong dollar and 250 Hong Kong dollars. In the context of the global economic crisis, adverse economic prices, in Hong Kong tourism industry appears to be “unwise” behavior.
Begin to consider how to “do as the Romans”
Paradise in Hong Kong’s “small” is not unaware of the Walt Disney Company. Into the planning of the SAR Government, Hong Kong Disneyland will eventually become a huge resort area, so after that there are two, three phases of construction, the SAR Government has therefore set aside 154 hectares of land for development sites.
On the American continent, the theme park resort is absolutely a genius idea. Americans cherished holiday tradition, Disney is also the U.S. representative of the trend of middle-class consumer. An annual average of 4 weeks of leave, allowing them to leisurely play in the Disney theme park, stay at the park hotel, a shopping mall in the park.
In order to create a completely apart, the Walt Disney had asked the Hong Kong Disneyland can not be run over the area in which aircraft, the waters are not allowed to enter a vessel, surrounded by bustling markets can not have.
However, the Walt Disney the idea of one-stop service to move to Hong Kong, or some lack of acclimatization. Hong Kong Disneyland is located in Penny’s Bay, although the remote, but the distance from downtown area, but about 40 minutes by car. Hong Kong people are obviously not willing to holiday at home.
Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel 1000 Hong Kong dollars of the lowest fees is not cheap, park currently offers dining and shops can not give enthusiastic shopping, customer satisfaction with the Mainland, excluding souvenir sales, only the Chow Sang Sang jindian Business is pretty good. “The mainland is often the morning guests come up to stay in the park ran a half-day on the central area of the.” Hong Kong Disneyland’s staff said.
Therefore, expansion plans, the increase in large-scale comprehensive shopping malls have been placed in priority. “In addition to different cities in the Mainland to actively carry out publicity and promotion, we also focus on opening up Taiwan and the Philippines and other Southeast Asian markets and India markets.” Hong Kong Disneyland Resort spokesman said.
Disney’s dreams and the newborn
Disney is selling the American dream of cultural values, they want to rely on 20 years ago under the egg to save itself from bad to worse, but then the batch has been influenced by Walt Disney grew up in Chinese children, and now the children, who are surrounded by to attract more of their classic animation
Reporter / Sun Ran
“In the performance began.” – This is Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
Since the October 26, 1986 beginning 6:30 every night, these words in the Chinese TV after the active process no less than “news network” Opening theme.
When the Mickey Mouse voice-over actor Shen Hao to say these words, he did not expect to take over a generation since childhood. This is like Li Yang at the fame for a long time, people first thought was that he has given to Donald Duck’s lifelike voice.
That opened up a 80’s like a prelude. At that time, TV has just been spread to millions of households in that time, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck came.
Animation continued to broadcast for two years, and that generation of young people’s memories are continued for 20 years. But until today, Shanghai has finally started construction of Disneyland, Mickey Mouse and his friends came to China really be considered.
However, at this time in China, has long been not take Mickey Mouse as an outsider.
Nightclub in Beijing, the men on 300 yuan a Mickey Mouse toy to win the girl’s affection, although they are not fans of Disney; in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, the workers almost all the commodities to be printed on Mickey Mouse’s head and Although this has not been duly authorized by Disney; in every young person’s childhood toy pile, are not difficult to find an image of Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, although they do not understand what a child can be the American dream.
And since 1985 cartoon “Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck,” premiered in China since the Mickey Mouse in China has always faced the same problem – I come from?
The Chinese people do not care about this, they do not care about this is Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse, they do not care only in mice optimism is the perfect symbol of the American dream.
As a result, since the one in China, Mickey and his friends do as the Romans had a Chinese name – Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
Thus, in China, Disney’s process of globalization and China’s localized conflict. Chinese people are very clear that our consumer him, but we do not have to traced to follow him.
Face to face from the first one to today’s finally settled down, this long overdue more than 20 years, the whole world has changed.
Since 1992, the Disney theme parks visit France since the set of cultural practices over the past Disney has given them a loss of 17 years.
Disney came to China also had to face a real problem, 20 years later, when those children have grown up, they have many people will pay for the initial childhood memories?
Disney on behalf of the American Dream
In any case, Mickey Mouse in line with the original people of those illusions of the world, Mickey Mouse and create the joy, optimism and adventurous spirit; and Minnie Mouse, always flirtatious, ungrateful.
Walt Disney Mickey Mouse was originally only a dream.
In 1923, Walt Disney with Mickey Mouse’s dream came to Hollywood when sound films yet to come out of Hollywood is still looked dead. Prior to that, strictly speaking, there is only one City of Los Angeles, California suburb. “HOLLYWOOD” has not yet become a movie relating to specific terms, in English holly woods where it’s just mean.
Up to 1928, the achievements of Walt Disney’s first sound cartoon screened – “Steamboat Willie.” This 8-minute skit, so that the Americans are in economic crisis, completely.
Americans were not only happy in the Mickey Mouse harvested there, but also saw hope.
This out of the economic crisis of hope in the Disney embodied most vividly. The collective haze in the U.S. economy for 30 years, Disney was the biggest harvest in the entertainment industry’s success. During the Great Depression, more and more unemployed people are used to hide in the cinema, to spend 15 cents to buy one from Mickey Mouse to bring a good mood.
In 1950, Walt Disney started to build their ideal Disney World, in that only a fairy-tale world of good, but not bad. In his view, it is one out of the real world, the ideal place.
When in 1955 the first Disneyland opened in California, to the Americans could not help but wonder, where is the legendary even in the American dream.
American dream, after it has never been a cartoon character from the mouth to say. Since the emergence of the Disney theme park, more and more people are willing to put the American dream and Disneyland linked.
Disneyland The overall theme is to praise the United States and its achievements, it is also a fantastic place, where people can be the harsh realities of the outside world behind.
The first ten years after Disneyland opened, it has become a major source of profit for the Walt Disney Company is one.
Even the former Soviet General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev’s visit to the United States in 1960, are expected to see Disneyland in California. Because security can not guarantee to cancel later, Khrushchev made a great pass temper, like favorite toys are not children.
These have led the United States the rapid opening of a second Disney theme park, while Disney founder Walt Disney’s theme park at this time has been put as a “utopian society” to establish.
His life in the final period of time, in the Florida governor hosted a press conference for the first time to the public, laying out his vision of the “Future City”: This will be an equal and harmonious society on a democratic basis.
Even a reporter with his jokes, whether they are a “utopian socialist” Robert Owen impact.
In 1966, Walt’s vision of the great haste with his own death, but the pace of the Disney theme park has not stopped.
In 1983, Tokyo Disneyland was established. , Where people queued overnight to the Japanese joyfully declared, “go to Disney is to circle the American Dream.”
In the next ten years, the Tokyo Disney not only the sake of countless Japanese version of the American dream, but also created the world’s most heavily visited theme parks record.
As written in the first Disney theme park, like the opening ceremony of the declaration, “As long as there is room for imagination, Disneyland will never be completed.”
Disneyland will never be completed. In the ensuing long-distance race, Disney added a world map “Tokyo – Paris – Hong Kong – Shanghai.” The path behind the overseas expansion, but also a “Mickey Mouse” as a symbol of the American dream of overseas communication.
Disney to American culture in the world, they work hard, Mickey Mouse with 130 kinds of languages around the world to open up. So last month, U.S. President Barack Obama’s first visit, but also because Disney announced at the same time, there appears to be more settled in Shanghai, worth pondering.
Of local cultural conflicts experienced the American Dream
Tokyo Disneyland’s hot, so Disney for their overseas expansion too optimistic. They ignore the post-war Japan and the U.S. political and economic dependency, has fundamentally affected the nation for the level of acceptance of American culture.
Professor, University of Tokyo, Japan Masakanuo Torquay Disney has done a study, in which he wrote: “embodies the success of Tokyo Disneyland is not a threat to Japan’s rich fantasy of the United States, which is the Japanese want to! ”
Until later in Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland Disneyland for the first time at a loss, before that the original American dream does not always allow foreigners gladly accepted.
However, it also has its own approach.
In the Disney theme park to open to Tokyo and Paris, it once was forced to adapt ideas from other countries. On many issues, both overseas theme park designer who has been trapped in a pincer movement: on the one hand, they know that visitors may be attracted to American culture, so do not want to change too much; but on the other hand, they also the United States know they can not be transplanted wholesale to other state parks and the traditions and feelings are not considered.
In the time to build Tokyo Disneyland, Disney’s president, was made by a Disney theme park can not be Aisinaming of Japan should be allowed Japanese tourists feel like they are here is to vacations abroad.
As a result, visitors feel the full flavor of the idea of the United States was retained.
Based on the needs and preferences of the Japanese estimates, the park is not only opened up a restaurant cater to Japanese tastes, but also to allow visitors to picnic in the park, which is the Japanese way of life would be very consistent, which does not encourage tourists to bring their own food U.S. Park is unthinkable.
The construction of Disneyland in Paris in the early Eisner said: “We are determined to make Paris Disneyland every drop of every point is like Tokyo Disneyland and the same as our domestic parks of the United States.” Ais satisfied that confidence comes from hamburgers, Coca-Cola, Hollywood movies and other U.S. products in the European market unhindered, the European people in the United States to accept things Disney should not be obstacles.
They did not take into account the psychological characteristics of French society did not take into account the French people has always dared to resist his own “American cultural imperialism” proud of the fact that already exist, let alone to consider how to take measures to prevent. After a disappointing early, Disney was forced to the European tastes of the park have been adjusted. Some extreme point of the United States pleasure taste was canceled, “Jungle Tour” Such a project was canceled, Disney’s concern is perhaps this part of the potential in the post-colonial period may cause unhappiness.
Disney also did not count on the staff of the Paris Disneyland speech level of emotional labor can be as high as the U.S. counterparts. In fact, American culture and European culture to maintain a good balance between the very difficult.
Disneyland opened in Paris a year later, when the new chairman of the park, said: “Every time we want to European-based products will find does not work. While the Europeans like the United States, also like Disney, but we can not ignore some of France’s intellectual cynicism. “In fact it is their views on the decision of the European Disney’s bad luck.
Disneyland in Europe, after Paris, triggering widespread dissatisfaction with the academic community in Europe, they found that the Disney theme park to the European expansion is a blatant act of cultural invasion, it will preserve Europe’s high culture inherent in a potential threat.
Nostalgia, Disney’s the fate of China?
Disneyland Paris, built from 1992 to now, the theme park model has been 17 years without a profit. In animation films, with the rapid rise of the United States in recent years, DreamWorks, Japan’s Hayao Miyazaki, but also greatly destabilize the former animation dominant influence.
In regard to criticism of the Disney culture, development model, but also long been prevalent. Critics have invented a heavy heart “Disney model” of the term used to describe Disney for many years a consistent flow of operation of law.
U.S. critic and film historian Richard Giquel (Richard Schickel) has said that this is a shameless process, studio it come into contact with the work of all the original material is compressed into a number of Disney and its employees can understand the narrow terms, no matter how unique these materials appear. When a literary work flow through the machine, the magic, mystery, personality?? Have continued to be destroyed.
Disney modeling has become a derogatory term, which streamlined the process of culture and history, has become Disney’s identification mark, or the United States of another set.
In 1993, overseas expansion is still a high degree of excitement in Disney plans to campaign in the United States, Virginia Buer Lang Haymarket near the battlefield in order to build an American history theme park. This park within walking distance from Washington, DC, only 56 kilometers away. The plan met with historians and environmentalists like the torrent of criticism. Only American Indians and slavery, is enough to give historians such issues to worry about. They suspect that Disney’s ability to model non-Disney approach to set out in American history.
The following year, Disney will have to abandon this plan, the Disney model of American culture at home would have been resisted.
However, as Japan’s awakening consciousness of local culture, popular culture, Disney has also been criticism of Japan’s local artists.
Hayao Miyazaki mentioned in an interview: “The Americans want is the best-selling product, the purpose is to reap more profits. On the contrary, I would first of all creative works of art. So I can not cheat kids, not window dressing can not cover up the world, there are still people suffering, there is a war, as well as the economic crisis, is still damage the environment. If you ignore these social concept of real, there is no eligibility to children telling stories. frankly, Disney is cheating children. the United States many of the film is always the opposition of good and evil, good guys against bad guys, fits the simplistic formula of Hollywood movies of the sharp contradiction between the world’s simplistic. I do not want to shoot such a film. ”
These problems, however, is not the Disney into China, will face the most pressing problems. Their biggest headache is that lengthy negotiations have made Disney missed the best time to enter China.
Shanghai Television University Institute of Technology professor Dr. Zhao Kangwei told reporters, Disney for the first time and the Chinese government contact was in 1994, met with the leadership of the Pudong New Area. District secretary in charge of receiving exactly Zhao, when Zhao said that people in China’s children are looking at you Disney grew up, so you come there is a basis.
Even took another eight years before he really started negotiations, Disney is also still very confident, because the distance of the Disney animated film in the CCTV broadcast end time is not yet very long. However, another eight years later, the situation is quite different. Today, very few of the children to see China for a Mickey Mouse doll and joy, may be replaced by a domestic hi Yang Yang.
Shanghai Television University Institute of Technology professor Dr. Zhao Kangwei am not worried, he believes that Walt Disney 90 years from the date of the last century, it had taken note of the fracture during this period. Disney animation of the cartoon characters have been insufficient to attract people to come to Disneyland, they have already started to make changes. Thus, in 1989, the United States appeared in Florida, Disneyland, MGM Studios, this is obviously “copied” the rival Universal Studios theme park; in 1998 and also appeared in the animal kingdom, which has exceeded the theme park content; in 2001, Tokyo Disneyland, an increase of the marine park, and strive to fight for those who have can not be Disney’s fairy tales to meet the preferences of young people.
Negotiations, Disney has been running for the channel floor and, because they need a story every day to the Chinese children the opportunity to allow them to re-fall in love with Mickey Mouse. Otherwise, how could he make these children do not know for a cartoon image of the away Disneyland. Or, these children of young parents, when the Enlightenment had been Disney, after 80 after 70 generations, is the real target consumers?
Nostalgia, Disney is perhaps the fate of a breakthrough in China.
From the classic animated Disney started the earliest design of the classic pattern Walt nostalgic feature. So the Disney theme park in the United States where there are many early 20th century Middle America, so that many adults will be full of homesickness to themselves and are here together. This success has attracted those who are reluctant to become enthusiastic tourists in adults, and they bring children to come to the ratio is usually 4:1. The high proportion of repeat business from here.
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