Mickey Mouse vs Big Big Wolf: Disney's battle for Chinese wallets

Bob Iger, chief executive of The Walt Disney Co, and his family walk the red carpet after the premiere of the Chinese version of The Lion King at Shanghai Disneyland.[Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Disney did not immediately respond to request for comment, but it is betting on its years of experience running the world's most successful parks, supported by its suite of movies, TV shows and merchandise.

It will not want to repeat its experience in Hong Kong, where its smaller park lost HK$3.8 billion ($490 million) from 2008 to 2011, according to its Hong Kong government partner. The park turned a small profit from 2012 but fell back into the red last year.

For its first foray into the Chinese mainland market, the company has tailored the new park to local tastes.

Out goes "Main Street", the idealized smalltown America at the heart of its other parks, and in comes a large garden featuring Disney's take on the Chinese zodiac. It hired a retired PLA general to direct its Tarzan show at the park, and a Mandarin-language version of the Lion King musical makes its debut at the opening ceremony.

"Size, though, was very important because we wanted to make a very loud statement," CEO Iger told investors in May. At 390 hectares, the site has two hotels, a lake and the biggest and most interactive Disney castle yet.