Disney planning early 2016 Shanghai opening

Due to the privacy of this information, the person has asked to remain unidentified, but mentioned that investors in the $5.4bn project will be updated about progress during a conference call on Tuesday.

According to Iger, the park in Shanghai will avoid the problems with debt which have hampered the Disney resort in Paris. It will gain from a bigger local population and a stronger economic situation.

Disney is expecting the travel market in China to have increased by 34% from 2012, by the time it opens this project. Iger stated that around 330 million potential visitors are located within a three-hour travel radius of the resort.

This is Disney’s first park on mainland China and is a joint venture between the California-based company and Shanghai Shendi Group, which owns 57%.

Confirmation of this information was not possible from either Disney or Shendi.

The project scope was increased during April last year upon announcement of additional attractions to the value of $800m. The increase was due to an improvement in the tourism market in China.

Iger stated that Disneyland, Shanghai is their best growth initiative globally in a very long time.