China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Disney discount
Tickets for Shanghai park opening cost 20% less than in Hong Kong
Tickets for Walt Disney Co’s $5.5 billion Shanghai Disneyland theme park are being priced 20 percent lower than its site in Hong Kong, and slightly lower than in Tokyo, officials have revealed.
They are set to go on sale from March 28, with the park itself due to open the gates to its six themed areas on June 16.
During the grand opening period (June 16-30), daily entry has been set at 499 yuan ($75), while the regular weekday price of admission will be 370 yuan, very much on a par with other major theme parks in China.
High-demand times, such as designated public holidays and weekends, will also be priced at 499 yuan.
The regular price of a oneday visit to Disneyland Hong Kong is 539 yuan, while in Tokyo it will set you back the equivalent of 374 yuan. A ticket to the Disney park in Los Angeles costs $99.
Elsewhere in China, Chimelong Seaworld Park in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, is priced 350 yuan on regular days, and 380 yuan on peak days.
Disney said that the twotiered pricing in Shanghai will allow the park to manage what it expects to be periods of strong demand at its newest destination.
Kelly Ryner, the president of Thinkwell Asia, a Los-Angeles-based firm specializing in design and production of ventures like theme parks, said the fact Disney has priced its tickets to be more competitive in the Chinese marketplace speaks to the quality of its brand, and a strong commitment to the Chinese people.
“You don’t want the park so expensive that Chinese people cannot afford to go there,” said Ryner.
“It is smart to make it affordable, and to build love with the local people.”
Disney’s sixth site worldwide, Shanghai is targeted to attract 25 million visitors annually, mostly from the prosperous Yangtze River Delta region.
Chris Yoshii, vice-president and global director of Leisure Asia of AECOM (Hong Kong), said Asia’s theme park market had a good year in 2015, with tour- ism and domestic business continuing to grow.
“We expect the Chinese mainland to have growth of 4-7 percent this year, with Hong Kong showing a slight decline due to falling visitation,” said Yoshii.
“The opening of Shanghai Disney will be a big event in Asia in 2016.”
In a recent interview with China Daily, Bob Iger, Walt Disney chairman and chief executive, said the company had prioritized the importance of crowd management for its new park in Shanghai.
Yoshii said Shanghai Disney is likely to have a daily capacity that is safe and enjoyable.
“Once its capacity is reached, the park will need to close the gates to more visitors.
“It’s possible that people may arrive at the park and not be able to get in, and so officials in Shanghai should help to maintain order by keeping people well informed about conditions at the site.”
It is smart to make it affordable, and to build love with the local people.”
Kelly Ryner, president of Thinkwell Asia