China’s richest man, Wanda Group CEO Wang Jianlin, has declared war on Disneyland - Polidicks

Wang said he hoped to make the mainland’s first Disneyland, which opened in Shanghai on June 16, “unprofitable in the coming two decades.” Wang, the world’s biggest commercial real estate developer, opened a rival amusement park complex that cost 22 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) in third-tier city Nanchang days after Disneyland’s China debut. Wang said Wanda plans to build 15 similar amusement park complexes in China and three to five abroad before 2020. His newest, in Hefei, northern China, cost over 35 billion yuan and will be welcoming guests from Sept. 24. Wang compared his strategy to playing mahjong, saying, “If Disney wants to win a hand, we will intercept it by building amusement parks.” Wang’s ultimate goal, he said during the recent interview, is to “change the world where rules are set by foreigners.” In other words, Chinese should make the final calls. He also criticized Chinese people who go to Disneyland, using an idiom that means “to be crazy about foreign things and obsequious to foreigners,” adding that “the once-glorified Disneyland is part of the past.” [url]http://qz.com/768740/chinas-richest-man-wanda-group-ceo-wang-jianlin-has-declared-war-on-disneyland/[/url]

[QUOTE]Wang[/QUOTE] [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Snipe" - Craptasket))[/highlight]

Talk is cheap, disney IP is incredibly popular around the world, esp in east asia. It isn't really a "build it and they will come" deal, Disney's parks were built after they made a name for themselves in film, and they used that reputation to leverage into the theme park business and set a global standard.

If he really is declaring war, he better study. [url]https://www.quora.com/Military-Strategy-What-are-the-optimal-siege-tactics-for-taking-Magic-Kingdoms-Cinderella-Castle[/url]

I think they're overly ambitious. People enjoy Disney because it has lore based around it. You know the characters when you come in and you can point out, not only that but Disney also invests in making the theme parks feel alive. I don't think this group can do that because they don't have the patience to set the foundation of loveable characters (By children and parents alike) for it to be amusing. EDIT: I tried looking up some pictures and all I got were photoshopped / drawn ones. I don't really have optimism for the amusement park. Because if it's out and already such a big venue then there should at least be some pictures floating around of it.

His reasons for doing this kind of sicken me. It seems he is disgusted by anything "foreign". I can't imagine rejecting everything that isn't from your own culture.

[QUOTE=meek;50969856]His reasons for doing this kind of sicken me. It seems he is disgusted by anything "foreign". I can't imagine rejecting everything that isn't from your own culture.[/QUOTE] Well, a lot of Chinese are obsessed with foreign culture, especially American, to a degree that many other countries aren't. I can see how that can be scary and uncomfortable for the population who grew up with Chinese culture and can't connect with their kids about it, because they're too busy obsessing over Japanese, American, and European media.

[QUOTE=Wealth + Taste;50969876]Well, a lot of Chinese are obsessed with foreign culture, especially American, to a degree that many other countries aren't. I can see how that can be scary and uncomfortable for the population who grew up with Chinese culture and can't connect with their kids about it, because they're too busy obsessing over Japanese, American, and European media.[/QUOTE] To add onto this no country has experienced a cultural purge like China. Within the Great Leap Forward the Communists demolished a lot of heritage buildings and other such notable things, only leaving the Forbidden Palace left standing as a trophy to their conquest. The only things you'll see from China nowadays are more in the rural or spiritual enclaves. It's quite a shame really.

[QUOTE=Wealth + Taste;50969876]Well, a lot of Chinese are obsessed with foreign culture, especially American, to a degree that many other countries aren't. I can see how that can be scary and uncomfortable for the population who grew up with Chinese culture and can't connect with their kids about it, because they're too busy obsessing over Japanese, American, and European media.[/QUOTE] So 'Mercaboos essentially? Huh, I wouldn't have considered this a major issue before.

[QUOTE=Keyblockor1;50969714]I think they're overly ambitious. People enjoy Disney because it has lore based around it. You know the characters when you come in and you can point out, not only that but Disney also invests in making the theme parks feel alive. I don't think this group can do that because they don't have the patience to set the foundation of loveable characters (By children and parents alike) for it to be amusing. EDIT: I tried looking up some pictures and all I got were photoshopped / drawn ones. I don't really have optimism for the amusement park. Because if it's out and already such a big venue then there should at least be some pictures floating around of it.[/QUOTE] I'll be an exact copy of Disney land except all the characters will be Chinese knockoffs instead.

[QUOTE=parsley;50969623] Wang’s ultimate goal, he said during the recent interview, is to “change the world where rules are set by foreigners.” In other words, Chinese should make the final calls. [/QUOTE] Zero for self awareness as then everyone else would be dealing with "rules set by foreigners". Either way this guy sounds kinda nutty.

obviously hes never heard of quality over quantity. disneylands are super successful because they carefully choose the places to build and the attractions inside and they dont half ass anything. [editline]29th August 2016[/editline] also use the [quote] tag please for OPs its not too hard

You out do Disney by having a comparable IP to fight them against which I doubt he does It's not just the rides people go for. It's the brand

[QUOTE=fruxodaily;50970863]You out do Disney by having a comparable IP to fight them against which I doubt he does It's not just the rides people go for. It's the brand[/QUOTE] I think the only thing that could compete with Disneyland would be Nintendo land, though kids are not into Nintendo like they used to be. But then again, there are a lot of Nintendo fans in midlife crisis with extra time and money, like Pokemon Go showed.

[QUOTE=AntonioR;50970876]I think the only thing that could compete with Disneyland would be Nintendo land, though kids are not into Nintendo like they used to be. But then again, there are a lot of Nintendo fans in midlife crisis with extra time and money, like Pokemon Go showed.[/QUOTE] Wow, why didn't that happen?

[QUOTE=Smooth Jazz;50970926]Wow, why didn't that happen?[/QUOTE] One is actually being build for 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but that should have been done years ago.

I highly doubt he would succeed. It might end up like [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderland_Amusement_Park_(Beijing)"]this abandoned[/URL] [URL="http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/12/chinas-abandoned-wonderland/100207/"]amusement park[/URL] in China. It's quite interesting and eerie if you dig deeper into it.

Wonder if he'll try for the wonderland location. Even more curious, I wonder where he'd try abroad.

While I think he's being overly ambitious I hope he does well. If you can make a park that can compete well with Disneyland than you made a pretty spectacular themepark.

[QUOTE=meek;50969856]His reasons for doing this kind of sicken me. It seems he is disgusted by anything "foreign". I can't imagine rejecting everything that isn't from your own culture.[/QUOTE][QUOTE=greasemunky;50970009]Zero for self awareness as then everyone else would be dealing with "rules set by foreigners". Either way this guy sounds kinda nutty.[/QUOTE]You do realize that by looking at it that way he's basically Walt Disney, right?

[QUOTE] Some of China’s netizens said they found Wang’s comments xenophobic (link in Chinese, registration required). “I am sorry, but what is Wanda?” wrote one. “People will spend money going to Disney in China no matter how expensive it is because it has a brand value… How can you just use a financial statement to downplay Disney’s cultural influence?”[/QUOTE] These internet comments pretty much nailed it, it's a waste to build these parks and with China heading towards [URL="http://qz.com/614921/chinas-coming-crash-could-dwarf-the-great-recession-says-an-investor-who-called-2008/"]a massive recession that could make the Yuan lose 1/3rd of it's value[/URL] all these parks will do is eventually hemorrhage money and probably close within the next decade. This is pretty much the definition of a money pit.

[QUOTE=davethestoner;50971927]While I think he's being overly ambitious I hope he does well. If you can make a park that can compete well with Disneyland than you made a pretty spectacular themepark.[/QUOTE] It won't be, they'll have the quality of small town county fairs and be populated by all kinds of lovable characters like Mike the Mouse, Sleepy Beautiful, and of course everyone's favorite hero: The man in the spider suit. I'm just hoping nobody dies when the public finds out the hard way that the metal roller coasters are made from aluminum siding held together with caulk.

On a somewhat more amusing note if you literally wanted to go to war with Disney it has more than enough money to buy what it needs to become an independent nuclear capable state. As of right now I imagine a Disney themed Outer Heaven with castles on the oil rigs.

[QUOTE=meek;50969856]His reasons for doing this kind of sicken me. It seems he is disgusted by anything "foreign". I can't imagine rejecting everything that isn't from your own culture.[/QUOTE] The foreign thing is just a dog whistle to rally people to his cause. Anyone that successful in business is fully aware that foreign business is the only reason China is making so much progress.

So basically a bootleg of Disneyland? Well that's not stereotypical at all. In any case I hope it fails.

[QUOTE=spectator1;50973562]So basically a bootleg of Disneyland? Well that's not stereotypical at all. In any case I hope it fails.[/QUOTE] You better not hope it fails, because that's not how the world market works. Our globe is so interconnected and dependent on each other that the failure of any major country effectively becomes the failure of all.

disney are an unparalleled marketing force with a legal team like a juggernaut. this is going to be a bloodbath of shitlaw.

-snip-

[QUOTE=aznz888;50973590]You better not hope it fails, because that's not how the world market works. Our globe is so interconnected and dependent on each other that the failure of any major country effectively becomes the failure of all.[/QUOTE] I don't think he wants China as a country to fail, just the theme park.