Now that HKDL has secured its' expansions for the coming 5-6 years, what will we get next? Star Wars or Avatar land?
As you know Disney is now differentiating its theme parks to make sure every park is a bit different and unique to attract more international visitors, therefore we cannot assume that Star Wars and Avatar land will be build in every park in Asia.
My bet is the following :
-Avatar land will be build in Shanghai. The Avatar movie is much more well known in China compared to Star Wars due to the historical suppression of Western Media in China in the 1970's.
Chinese people do recognise the Star Wars brand but they don't really know or love the story and its characters. Also Avatar's world, Pandora, was originally inspired by a National Forest Park in China. So Avatar land seems very logic to me as the first major expansion to this newest park and when its build in Shanghai, it will probably not be build in Hong Kong.
-As for Hong Kong, I honestly don't think we will get anything, at least not as the first ones. It will be 2023 when the Marvel Area is completely build. Marvel itself is already a big IP. However, I think there is more chance for Star Wars in Hong Kong then Shanghai, since HKDL is much more targeted to the international customers in Asia compared to Shanghai.
Also HKDL already introduced the Star Wars vibe with the Hyperspace mountain / Jedi training temple / Star Wars-Meet and greet which will all be replaced with something of Marvel in the following years, so its logical to keep something of Star Wars in Hong Kong (it will probably be a modified version in the possible 2nd Gate land, that is if all goes well after the expansions).
-Star Wars land will probably go to Tokyo first , it was the only park in Asia with a Star Tours ride for years and Japanese people are much more familiar with the Star Wars story.
The recent announced expansions of Tokyo will be completed in 2020 already giving them much more time to plan and lobby for the next expansions with WDC ( right after the US parks debut the 2 Star Wars lands in 2019. Perfect timing.)
As you know Disney is now differentiating its theme parks to make sure every park is a bit different and unique to attract more international visitors, therefore we cannot assume that Star Wars and Avatar land will be build in every park in Asia.
My bet is the following :
-Avatar land will be build in Shanghai. The Avatar movie is much more well known in China compared to Star Wars due to the historical suppression of Western Media in China in the 1970's.
Chinese people do recognise the Star Wars brand but they don't really know or love the story and its characters. Also Avatar's world, Pandora, was originally inspired by a National Forest Park in China. So Avatar land seems very logic to me as the first major expansion to this newest park and when its build in Shanghai, it will probably not be build in Hong Kong.
-As for Hong Kong, I honestly don't think we will get anything, at least not as the first ones. It will be 2023 when the Marvel Area is completely build. Marvel itself is already a big IP. However, I think there is more chance for Star Wars in Hong Kong then Shanghai, since HKDL is much more targeted to the international customers in Asia compared to Shanghai.
Also HKDL already introduced the Star Wars vibe with the Hyperspace mountain / Jedi training temple / Star Wars-Meet and greet which will all be replaced with something of Marvel in the following years, so its logical to keep something of Star Wars in Hong Kong (it will probably be a modified version in the possible 2nd Gate land, that is if all goes well after the expansions).
-Star Wars land will probably go to Tokyo first , it was the only park in Asia with a Star Tours ride for years and Japanese people are much more familiar with the Star Wars story.
The recent announced expansions of Tokyo will be completed in 2020 already giving them much more time to plan and lobby for the next expansions with WDC ( right after the US parks debut the 2 Star Wars lands in 2019. Perfect timing.)
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