Disney Announces First China Resort, No China Disney Timeshare Planned at this Time

The Walt Disney Company and Shanghai Shendi Group have broken ground on the first Disney resort to be built in mainland China.

The Disney Resort in Shanghai, will, according to spokespeople for the Walt Disney Company, “be both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.” Look for Shanghai Disneyland as a themed park in the style of the Magic Kingdom, with several themed lands and a Disney castle in the heart of the park.

“We’re incredibly excited to build a Disney resort in Shanghai, one of the world’s most vibrant cities,” says Thomas O. Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We are hard at work designing Shanghai Disneyland, which when complete will be a special place where guests of all ages will discover a world of imagination, creativity, adventure and thrills.”

With construction estimated to take 5 years, upon opening Shanghai Disney will include approximately 960 acres, with room to grow in the future. Look for two themed hotels, a dining, entertainment and retail center, a lake and recreational area and an 11-acre green space at the park’s center. The green space, unique to this Disney park, will be designated for cultural celebrations and family events.

At this point, there are no reported plans to add a Shanghai Disney timeshare resort to join the other Disney Vacation Club properties.

Permits for Shanghai Disney were announced in 2009. A joint venture management company is being formed by Disney, in which Disney will hold a 70 percent stake and the Shanghai Shendi Group will hold 30 percent. The estimated investment in the construction of the park is roughly 0.7 billion US dollars, shared between Disney and the Shanghai Shendi Group.