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Asia already has three Disney resorts scattered across the continent. Tokyo Disney Resort was the first outside the US and includes the only ocean-themed Disney park in the world, Tokyo DisneySea. Hong Kong Disneyland's got the World of Frozen, the first complete Frozen-themed land anywhere. And Shanghai Disney Resort boasts the largest Enchanted Storybook Castle on the planet.
So what would a Thai Disneyland actually look like? That's anyone's guess right now, but Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says Thailand is ready to attract a global theme park to the Eastern Economic Corridor, and pretty adamant it can happen.
The Walt Disney Company hasn't issued any official statement, press release or investor document about this from the American side. But that hasn't stopped officials from moving forward with their vision.
The original plan included theme parks, water parks, sports stadiums, concert venues and even a legal casino. But now the focus has switched to landing the kingdom’s very own Disneyland. Officials have instructed the EEC Office to start scouting suitable land, so things are definitely moving.
The current proposal includes a world-class theme park and an 80,000-seat international stadium within the Eastern Economic Corridor. Infrastructure upgrades are key here, especially that high-speed rail linking three airports, which would make getting around significantly easier for tourists.
Right now, authorities are checking out sites across four provinces to attract global investment. The government picked the EEC as the strategic location because it's already got the infrastructure sorted. The area benefits from international airports, rail systems, high-speed trains and deep-sea ports. It also offers seamless connectivity to major tourist cities like Bangkok, Pattaya and Rayong.
So will Disney actually commit? And more importantly, would a Thailand resort offer something unique enough to stand out from its Asian siblings?