Shanghai Disney Resort will finally open its doors on June 16 as the first theme park located in mainland China. It will open as a 963-acre theme park and entertainment complex.
The conglomerate first saw Shanghai's potential in the 1990s and sent a letter of intent by 2002. The park was set to open in 2008 but was not fulfilled.
However, construction only began in 2011 mainly due to an expansion plan that was added to the original proposal. Disney owns 70 percent of the joint venture that will be operating the park. The park is also owned by state-backed consortium Shanghai Shendi with 57 percent of the share.
In a press release from the official website of The Walt Disney Company, CEO Robert A. Iger said that the newest member of the Disney Parks family will be a one-of-a-kind, world-class destination that will be authentically Disney yet distinctly Chinese.
Shanghai Disneyland will have six themed lands. These are Mickey Avenue, Adventure Isle, Tomorrowland, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland and Treasure Cove, which is based on the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean."
Some of the park's amenities will still be under construction when it opens. However, the much awaited gigantic princess castle and a Tron Lightcycle rollercoaster will be ready by opening day. A Mandarin-language stage production of the musical "The Lion King" will also be included in the number of attractions.
Around 2,000 employees have been hired and an additional 8,000 workers will be hired in the next five months in time for the opening.
In April 2014, the Hollywood Reporter quoted Iger as saying at the Milken Institute Global Conference that there are roughly 8,000 construction workers working and living on the property to build a quintessential Disney experience. He also added that Shanghai Disney is most probably the largest foreign investment in China.
Aside from the theme park, the resort will also have Shanghai Disneyland Toy Story Hotel, a shopping and dining area called Disneytown and a recreational area with a walking lake and park called Wishing Star Park.
