Things Disney Can Learn from Its International Parks
Last time, we took a look at the current status of Disney’s American theme parks. However, international locales, especially the ones in Asia, are more informative.
Since these cities have already experienced the full brunt of Coronavirus, we can tell a lot about their recoveries. Here’s what Disney has learned from its international theme parks.
Disneyland Paris
Once Disney purchased full control of Disneyland Paris, the park’s future seemed bright. It still is, of course. However, Coronavirus will slow down the impending improvements.
Disney has already confirmed full-year delays for Electroland and Disneyland Paris Pride. The Marvel Season of Superheroes is canceled, too.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has decided that large gatherings aren’t an option in France until May 11. His regulations technically ban large gatherings until mid-July, a decision that could impact Disneyland Paris.
Macron points out the pink elephant dancing in the living room right now. Coronavirus isn’t contained and probably won’t be until someone develops a vaccine. So, many governments face the same debate.
When is the right time to re-open the parks? Nobody has a good answer to this question, even though tens of millions of people debate the answer on the internet each day.
For now, Disneyland Paris has launched a clever At Home site that you should check out. It’s nowhere near the real thing, but it’s a pleasant, much-needed distraction.
Otherwise, this park is similar to Disneyland. It only has a handful of essential employees keeping the lights on. All projects are on hold and could experience longer delays than expected.
Disney had every intention of funding a new and improved Disneyland Paris. However, budgetary constraints may prevent that from happening in the short term.
Frankly, we’re in wait-and-see mode on a lot of Disney stuff. A sudden budget shortfall of 80 percent is tough for any company. The company needed about 30 months to overcome 9/11 woes. I think the same timeline is reasonable here.
Hong Kong Disneyland
The noblest endeavor is occurring at Hong Kong Disneyland. Construction crews are currently laboring to repurpose part of the campus. It’ll become government quarantine facilities for Hong Kong.
The Walt Disney Company owns this land and has planned a park expansion at Penny’s Bay. However, the company has graciously put those plans on hold to aid the city of Hong Kong.
Out of all the tourist destinations I discuss today, Coronavirus has devastated Hong Kong the worst. Tourism fell 96 percent from February of 2019 to February of 2020.
Of course, civil unrest had already impacted the city. However, the decision to evacuate citizens from Wuhan caused additional unforeseen problems. So, the need for an open theme park feels trivial by comparison.
At the moment, one of the loneliest jobs in Hong Kong is working on the cleaning crew at Hong Kong Disneyland. Park officials paid the staff for an extended period. Still, the lack of a fixed timeline has forced Disney and the city’s government to reconsider.
Meanwhile, Disney’s Hong Kong management team has taken 30 percent pay cuts. Also, they had to accept unpaid days off as a way to lower the payroll immediately.
Activities at Hong Kong Disneyland
A writer at the South China Morning Post indicates that some activities are available at Hong Kong Disneyland’s three hotels. However, a Financial Times author paints a sad picture of the situation:
“At one of the resort’s hotels, the only parts of the complex that are still open, a pianist plays jazz covers of Disney classics to an almost empty lobby.”
The mere thought of that Disney music-loving pianist and their barren tip jar bums me out. On the bright side, Imagineers managed to clear out the space for the upcoming Avengers attraction before the park closed.
Also, workers made substantial progress on the upgraded castle. You can look at some of the pictures here.
Overall, I struggle to imagine Hong Kong Disneyland recovering from this anytime soon. It was already the least popular Disney theme park.
Now, it has social turmoil, a pandemic, and the long shadow of Shanghai Disneyland looming over it. Speaking of which…
Shanghai Disneyland
The first Disney park to close is now the one that everyone’s watching carefully. Shanghai officials recently authorized a limited re-opening of some Shanghai Disneyland campus activities.
The reason that this park is proactive stems from China’s COVID-19 status. Somehow, the country has only reported roughly 2,500 new infections since March 1.
Yes, I realize that many people reading this will question the numbers. Your skepticism is more than justified. China allegedly tossed out more than 40,000 cases at one point.
According to Shanghai officials, the city has recorded only a handful of cases this month. Overall, its confirmed infection total is 536, which is about half of Orange County, Florida’s numbers. Yes, that’s suspicious.
The Phased Re-Opening at Shanghai Disneyland
Still, the Chinese government is a part-owner at Shanghai Disneyland. This entity wouldn’t allow the park to operate in any capacity if it were a public health risk to do so.
Here’s the official status of the phased re-opening according to the official website:
“Shanghai Disneyland remains closed as we continue to closely monitor health and safety conditions and follow the direction of government regulators. However, as the first step of a phased re-opening, Shanghai Disney Resort will partially resume operations on March 9, 2020, with a limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational experiences available…”
So, we have more than a month’s worth of data thus far. The system has worked well, as people have their temperatures checked before entering the Disney campus.
How Shanghai Disneyland Admission Works Right Now
Once inside, Disney fans can visit Wishing Star Park, Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, and the shopping district. However, it’s the entrance process that brings the most curiosity.
The Shanghai QR Code system includes two colors: red and green. To enter the park, you must have green because that indicates good health/no signs of COVID-19. Guests are also expected to wear masks throughout Shanghai as a precautionary measure.
I should add that the QR code color aspect has changed. Originally, potential guests only needed the QR code itself. Now, they must verify green status, the proof of good health.
In reading these criteria, you can understand the challenges in transferring similar safety measures to Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Americans feel strongly about civil liberties. Even during the pandemic, many have chosen not to wear protective masks.
Several tech companies like Apple and Google are developing tracking technology. However, it faces scrutiny from several privacy groups and even the EU.
So, Disney executives can take cues from Shanghai Disneyland’s current strategy. Unfortunately, some of the ideas are difficult to duplicate in the United States.
Tokyo Disneyland
I have a friend who just moved from America to Japan. He’d previously lived in New York City and Los Angeles, but his wife received a huge promotion that took them to Asia for a few years. Over the past few months, he has provided cultural insights on why Japan avoided the worst of COVID-19.
Societal habits like wearing masks when sick protected Japan against the early outbreak. Similarly, bowing rather than shaking hands helped. And many Japanese cash transactions involve placing money in a dish rather than in a cashier’s hand. These small things added up, at least for a time.
For months, Japan became a curiosity in the medical community for its lower Coronavirus infection numbers. Alas, the country couldn’t hold out forever. Airborne viruses are insidious that way. Sadly, Tokyo’s in the cascade now.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe first declared a state of emergency in Tokyo on April 7. On April 16h, he expanded this directive for the entire country. Tokyo Disneyland won’t re-open until May 6 at the earliest.
More about Tokyo Disneyland
In fact, the Oriental Land Company (OLC) recently stated that they won’t bring back Tokyo Disneyland until mid-May at the soonest. Until then, the parks will remain closed. This turn of events also delays the highly anticipated arrival of New Fantasyland, which will feature a Beauty and the Beast ride.
OLC has also closed the Ikspiari shopping mall. So, Shanghai is well ahead of Tokyo on the return schedule currently. In truth, Tokyo Disneyland might take the longest to re-open. Its early success proved unsustainable.
While the rest of Asia suffered mightily during the first wave, Japan avoided the worst. Now, it’s quadrupled the number of confirmed infections since April 1. My friend just told me that he has hunkered down in anticipation of a prolonged stay-at-home period.
However, Tokyo Disneyland does have some activity right now, at least behind the scenes. Park observers have reported testing of the upcoming monorail fleet. Also, the new entrance and security area construction is underway. So, at least something is happening at the park during this difficult time.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the news from Disney parks around the world isn’t great. Disneyland Paris faces financial woes. For Tokyo Disneyland, the problem is the pandemic itself. And Hong Kong Disneyland just can’t catch a break.
Fortunately, the situation is improving at Shanghai Disneyland. That’s everyone’s best hope for a Disney park re-opening right now. So, we’re all watching this park carefully.