News Blog

Shanghai needs a Disneyland like it needs 18 million more people. But often times here, like in the case of Tongren Lu or the Oriental Pearl Tower, garishness supersedes function. And in the case of the Shanghai Disneyland, the plans for which have been resuscitated as of Tuesday, garishness supersedes the thousands of Chinese people who are being relocated to make way for a giant fake castle. According to Wednesday’s China Daily, “Qian Weizhong, director of the economy committee of Nanhui district, said residents had moved off the land targeted for Shanghai Disneyland, in suburban Chuansha town.” We all know what that means. The “residents had moved” could translated as “the residents were moved.” Anyhow, Disney, who refused to acknowledge any new development in China, said that it would only comment on its existing failed venture in China, Hong Kong Disneyland, and not any future failing ventures. But the ball is rolling on Shanghai Disney, which will occupy 6.7 square kilometers in the Nanhui district of Pudong, 4 times the size of its Hong Kong counterpart. Authorities have begun construction on a Disneyland exit to the A20 highway in Pudong and plan on putting a Disneyland stop on the upcoming Metro Line 11. They could build a teleportation device to Shanghai Disneyland, and Chinese people still probably wouldn’t be the slightest bit interested in going. And if they were, then Hong Kong Disneyland might not have been such disaster. That place has offered discounted ticket promotions about as many times as the “It’s A Small World” ride operator has heard that song. Disney is an American thing. It’s hard to adore Donald Duck and Goofy in China when both of them would be more suited for a lunch menu than a theme park.Correction: Shanghai Disneyland will occupy 6.7 square kilometers, not 6.7 square meters. Thanks to Yokie Kuma for reading the posts so carefully.