Could Disney Build a Third Theme Park in China?

Bob Iger recently visited China and promised something not at all unexpected.

In the aftermath of the historic success of Zootopia 2, The Walt Disney Company wants to do more business in China.

However, the intrigue stems from where Iger spoke these words and what that implies.

Could Disney build a third theme park in China soon? Let’s talk it through…

What Just Happened?

On Friday, Bob Iger participated in a public appearance alongside China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang.

The two did some gladhanding, and their conversation quickly appeared in the press.

The state news agency, Xinhua, published some of Iger’s comments. Here’s a quote:

“Iger said Disney is confident in China’s development, and will continue to expand its investment in China and better promote exchanges and cooperation between the United States and China.”

You can read more of MickeyBlog’s coverage here, and I’ll throw in this quote as well.

As The Hollywood Reporter notes,  Disney had already given a full-throated commitment to China.

Disney “has more business in China than perhaps any other American entertainment conglomerate.”

That’s partially because Mickey Mouse toys are in demand around the world.

Given the massive population of China, Disney merchandise will always sell well there. It’s a volume game.

What’s more significant now is how well Disney has performed lately in China.

As I always say, timing is everything in the corporate world, which matters greatly here.

Over a cold start to the 2020s, Disney recently thawed the ice of the Chinese box office.

Both Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire & Ash have performed extraordinarily well in China.

Also, Shanghai Disneyland is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Disneyland turned 20 in 2025. Both parks seem to be doing quite well.

To a larger point, each one weathered the storm of the global pandemic.

Simultaneously, Disney earned more respect for its aplomb and understanding during that crisis.

Overall, Disney is quite possibly THE most trusted American corporation in China.

The Awkward Conversation

Why are Iger’s comments generating headlines? Well, I think you probably know.

Right now, China’s relationship with the United States is quite strained.

Without debating the politics of it, let’s just state the basics.

The United States government distrusts China so much that we forced the sale of TikTok to an American consortium.

Similarly, America has blocked the sale of powerful computer processor chips to China.

There’s been some inconsistency in the implementation of this policy, but let’s be clear.

China and the United States are currently battling on multiple fronts.

Most notably, China seeks to usurp the United States as the most powerful economic force in the world.

That struggle has remained for many years now and isn’t going away anytime soon.

However, we now have a new area of focus: artificial intelligence and the computerization of society.

With the two countries locked in a battle for control of the future of technology, the world’s a bit prickly right now.

Why Disney Is Sidestepping Politics

While China is no longer the most populous country, it’s still home to more than 1.4 billion people.

That’s a lot of Stitch Pillow Pets that Disney can sell, and don’t even get me started on Zootopia.

For whatever reason, the anthropomorphic animal story has resonated in China.

We knew this already after Disney built the first Zootopia themed land at Shanghai Disneyland.

Now, Zootopia 2’s record-setting performance for a Hollywood release in China has crystallized the point.

More and more, Disney is accepting that its best monetization path is international.

We recently witnessed this reality with the announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi.

Similarly, the impending debut of the Disney Adventure reinforces the truth here.

Disney has squeezed all the money from North American audiences that it possibly can.

Now, it seeks new worlds to conquer or, in this case, at least new countries.

Disney has sagely tightened up its business interests overseas as well.

The company took full control and ownership of Disneyland Paris and now holds 48 percent of Hong Kong Disneyland to boot.

We’re witnessing a methodical reshuffling of the layers of control at Disney’s international parks.

Simultaneously, Disney Cruise Line has expanded its operations to visit dozens of countries.

As of March, it’ll have a home port in Singapore, something that would have seemed unimaginable before now.

Therefore, we can understand why CEO Bob Iger has become more of an international statesperson.

He willingly risks domestic political heat to open new doors for Disney overseas.

Every time Iger does this, he’s taking a gamble that he may receive blowback from the American government.

So, why is he sidestepping politics? Iger is thinking about the Disney of 2040 and beyond.

Could Disney Build a Third Theme Park in China Soon?

I told you last year that Disney telegraphed its Walt Disney World plans for the 2040s.

That’s when a fifth theme park should be fully operational and hosting more guests.

Similarly, Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be more than a decade old by 2045.

Iger’s current moves are setting the table for Disney’s revenue explosion 20 years from now.

As part of those moves, he’s at least exploring the possibility of another Disney theme park in China.

We can read the tea leaves on this one by noticing where Iger spoke on Friday.

He wasn’t in Shanghai or Hong Kong, the places that currently house Disney theme parks.

No, Iger spoke in Beijing. Why is that important? It’s a city with a population of nearly 22 million.

For comparison, the entirety of Southern California has a population of 23-24 million.

This is when I casually mention that Beijing resides 800 miles from Shanghai and 1,400 miles from Hong Kong.

The 800-mile drive from Beijing to Shanghai takes 12-13 hours, while Beijing to Hong Kong is 24 hours or more.

Given the incomprehensible amount of gridlock in these regions, it’s an impractical exercise. Iger is at least exploring the same strategy in Beijing that he did with Abu Dhabi.

Building another theme park here would immediately appeal to many of the 22 million residents.

They wouldn’t have to fly or drive to Hong Kong or Shanghai. They could just visit the Disney park in their city.

As with Disneyland, this park could cater to the locals so much that it wouldn’t even need tourists.

Thus, the idea makes sense, even if Disney is exploring it at a bad time from a political perspective.

Wait, You Didn’t Answer!

Okay, you caught me. I haven’t explicitly stated whether Disney will build a third theme park in China soon.

That’s because all of this is speculative based on Iger’s location on Friday and his actions.

He’s obviously shaking hands and kissing babies in China because he’s by nature a political animal.

Along the way, he’s keeping his ear to the ground about possible Disney projects.

Beijing, as the 16^th most populous city in the world and one of the wealthiest to boot, makes perfect sense.

So, the answer is likely no for now. However, I fully believe that at some ideas are currently being explored.

Remember that Disney didn’t commit to Abu Dhabi until many months after the idea was pitched.

As the Vice Premier stated, “China welcomes enterprises from all countries, including Disney, to continue investing in China and deepening their presence, and share China’s opportunities to achieve greater development.”

Folks, Beijing Disneyland would be a pretty great development.

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