Introducing a New Theme Following Zootopia
"Attracts Various Age Groups"
Shanghai Disneyland in China, which was the first in the world to introduce the Zootopia theme zone, will add a Spider-Man theme.
According to China's state-run Global Times (GT) on the 13th, Shanghai Disneyland recently announced at the Disney Expo (D23 EXPO) that it will unveil a new attraction themed around Spider-Man. This announcement comes just eight months after the world's first Zootopia-themed area opened.
The large-scale attraction, which will be introduced as the first Marvel series, is a Spider-Man-themed roller coaster. It is designed as an immersive attraction where passengers embark on an adventure together when Spider-Man is in danger.
Disney's strategy is to broaden the age range of visitors through this. Professor Wang Jinwei from the Beijing International Tourism Science University explained, "Disneyland has traditionally targeted family visitors, but now by bringing in Marvel, it aims to attract more adult customers and cater to all age groups." Professor Wang added, "Current rides are of a mild style, so adding more thrilling ones will balance the experience and provide a more complete offering."
At the expo, Hong Kong Disneyland also revealed plans for Marvel-themed zones and attractions, including a Spider-Man concept. The Global Times analyzed, "The new announcements from the two Disneylands came less than a year after the latest themed zones opened, emphasizing that this American company continues to invest in the Chinese market."
Hong Kong Disneyland introduced the world's first Frozen theme in November last year, and Shanghai Disneyland opened the world's first Zootopia-themed zone in December. Professor Wang emphasized, "Theme parks can easily become tiresome, so introducing and mixing new attractions is essential to attract more visitors."
In fact, the two Disneylands that introduced new themes achieved solid results last year. According to the China Tourism Academy, by December 20, 2023, Shanghai Disneyland attracted over 13 million visitors, achieving record-breaking success. Hong Kong Disneyland recorded revenue of 5.7 billion Hong Kong dollars (approximately 1.027 trillion KRW) in the 2023 fiscal year, a 156% increase compared to the previous year, and reduced its net loss to 356 million Hong Kong dollars. Visitors increased by 87% to 6.4 million, and per capita spending rose by 54%.
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