Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan as Disney finalises multi-billion dollar expansion for Tokyo theme park
Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan are coming to Disney's Tokyo theme park, after the operator announced a multi-billion dollar agreement with the Oriental Land Company for the largest expansion in the history of DisneySea.
Expected to open in 2022, the development, which has been budgeted at ¥250bn (US$2.26bn, €1.95bn, £1.7bn), will see an eighth port comprising three themed areas opened, as well as a new luxury hotel.
The port, says Disney, is inspired by a magical spring, which will open up into each of the Disney worlds. The expansion will include four major attractions, as well as three restaurants and a retail outlet.
In the Frozen area, guests can explore the kingdom of Arendelle, which will feature the boat ride already in existence at Disney's Epcot theme park and under development at Hong Kong Disneyland. In addition, a restaurant inside the castle will sit at the foot of a snow-covered mountain scene.
Rapunzel's tower will be the iconic attraction for the Tangled area, which will allow visitors to explore the forest and tower where she lives. The area will also include an attraction that follows Rapunzel to the lantern festival and a restaurant inspired by the hideout of the film's thugs.
Never Land, the home of Peter Pan, will be home to two attractions and a restaurant. Landmarks include Never Land's mountains, Captain Hook's pirate ship and Skull Rock. The first attraction will be a flight simulator, taking guests over the jungles of Never Land into a battle with Captain Hook. The second attraction will take guest to Pixie Hollow, the home of Tinker Bell. The area's restaurant is inspired by the Lost Boys' hideout.
The hotel will be themed to Disney fantasy and will offer views of the entire port area. It will offer 475 bedrooms, while a retail store will be available on the first floor, as well as two restaurants.
The development will take up 140,000sq m (1.5 million sq ft), with 100,000sq m (1.1 million sq ft) dedicated to the theme park and hotel. With the expansion, the licensing agreement between Disney and the Oriental Land Company – which currently runs until 2046 – has been extended to 2076.
"Together with the large-scale enhancement of Tokyo Disneyland, scheduled to start
operations in 2020, this new project marks a major step in the evolution of Tokyo DisneyResort into a one-of-a-kind themed resort where guests will enjoy even more magical
Experiences," said a statement from the Oriental Land Company.
"In the 35 years since the grand opening of Tokyo Disneyland, Japan has undergone rapidgrowth and Oriental Land has consistently offered new experiences that can be shared by guests of all ages that they can only have at Tokyo Disney Resort."
Japan’s theme park market has recently shown signs of increasing, as US operators Disney and Universal continue to invest in new attractions.
In recent years, Universal has funded its major Harry Potter expansion, as well as investments into a new area opened last year devoted to Despicable Me’s Minions.
A ¥60bn (US$534m, €451m, £397m) Nintendo and Mario-themed area is also in progress, with the attraction expected to open in 2020 ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Disney is also creating its own competition in Asia. In 2016 it launched Shanghai Disneyland, which drew 11 million visitors in its first year. China is also a hotbed for theme park development, with more than 60 new parks expected to open by 2020, though the government has recently tried to curb this development fearing projects are low quality or financially untenable.
Frozen Tangled Peter Pan Tokyo Oriental Land Company theme park DisneySea Epcot Hong Kong Never Land Captain Hook Japan
¥5bn Finding Nemo attraction coming to Tokyo's DisneySea
Disney will invest US$4.5bn in a 10-year expansion of its Tokyo theme parks
Jasmine's Flying Carpets to land at Disney Tokyo
Tokyo Disney visitor numbers on the increase
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
BodyHoliday plans 10-15 locations in the next 15 years
Floating wellbeing destination planned for London’s Royal Docks
Aman Group to open second Janu in Dubai with inaugural Janu Club
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
