04 August 2010

Disney English Learning Centers Excel in China

Disney currently operates 14 centers in Shanghai and Beijing and plans to open more throughout the mainland.

I can't imagine this adds much to the company's bottom line, but it's an opportunity to introduce Disney characters to a Chinese people that are generally unfamiliar with the Disney brand.

This kind of indoctrination, for lack of a better word, was sorely lacking before Hong Kong Disneyland opened, and the Disney name just didn't have the cultural cache they were counting on. It was a costly mistake and one they can't afford to make with Shanghai Disneyland.