The owner of Tokyo Disneyland, Oriental Land Co., Ltd. has broken ground ona75 billion yen ($637 million) Tokyo Disneyland development projectcreating brandnew attractions at the park. This representstheir largest single investment since the Grand Opening of Tokyo DisneySea Park back in 2001.
The Tokyo Disneyland development is due to complete and openin spring 2020.
Oriental Land Co., Ltd., which licenses the theme from the Disney company,officially launched the project at agroundbreaking ceremony on April 5th.This took place at the site proposed for the development of the new attractions. It waslaunched by the president and COO of Oriental Land Co., Ltd., Kyoichiro Uenishi, alongside DisneycharactersMickey and Minnie Mouse.
Tokyo Disneyland Development Bets on the Beast
Featuredin the newdevelopment will be some of Disney's most popular characters.These will include a Beauty and the Beast Area (a working title)a live entertainment theater (name TBA)and in addition a brandnew attraction themed around theDisney film Big Hero 6 (name TBA).There will also be a new Minnie Mouse greeting facility.The announcement comes at a challenging time for the Japanese park. Tokyo Disneyland and its sister park Tokyo DisneySea experienceda fall in theirattendancefor the second year in a row.Admissions to both Disney parks fell by 0.6 percent to ajust over 30 million.
This is in stark contrast to its competitor,Universal Studios Japan (USJ). Like the Disney parks, it celebrated its 15th anniversary last year.However, unlike the Disney parks, Universal Studios Japanis enjoying record attendance.The 14.6 million visitors lastyear markedan increase of 700,000 on the year before and a third year consecutive year of growth.
All images copyright Disney.
