Disney Says Malaysia Theme Park is Fake News

An update from the Walt Disney Company released today addresses plans to construct a new Disney Theme Park in the Southeast Asian country of Malaysia.

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Previously, Malay State Heritage and Culture Executive Council Member Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis had announced plans for a “Disneyland Melaka” during a State Executive Council (EXCO) press conference. The proposed theme park, which EXCO planned to locate in Jasin, part of Penisular West Malaysia, apparently would have been similar to the original Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.

However, unlike the somewhat larger Disneyland Parks that together span 500 acres, Melaka’s “Disney City” would have been built on just 200 acres of land at a cost of approximately $440,044,000.00 USD.

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Many questioned the country’s claims yesterday as no Disney representative was present at the conference. Today, Disney has (indirectly) addressed the rumors, calling reports on Jailani’s announcement “purely speculative and misinformed.”

Jailani’s full statement was as follows (translated to English):

“After more than 20 years, we will have our very own new theme park and even though it might not be so large I feel that it will be more than enough to live up to the Disneyland name which is an achievement and feat in itself to be brought to our shores.”

Due to a misunderstanding, when reporting on the statement, the New Strait Times took this to mean Disney would actually sponsor this new Park, rather than merely being the inspiration or comparison to beat, so to speak.

In fact, Southeast Asia CNN reporter Heather Chen took to Twitter to share details of her conversation with a Disney spokesperson:

To clarify: My tweet has now been deleted on orders of Disney. But the original clarification I made from reaching out and reporting still stands — There are no official plans for a Disney themed park in Malacca, earlier reports were purely speculative and misinformed.

— heather chen (@heatherchen_) November 17, 2022

Additionally, Chen noted in a reply to this post that Disney had asked her to delete her original commentary citing Disney, as they do not wish “to be associated” with speculation surrounding Melaka’s Disney City, and have no plans to address them directly.

Some Malaysian Twitter users reacted with disappointment that there will be no Southeast Asian Disney Park, while others pointed out they would rather their government apply itself to more pressing issues such as the country’s cost of living and lack of employment opportunities first.

On the other hand, Melaka’s State Executive Council has not yet specified if they retain their plans for the $200 million Maglev public transportation system, which would have spanned 14 miles and carried Guests straight to the Disney Park. Such an undertaking could create a new economic market for Melaka should it come to pass.

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All in all, it’s clear the Walt Disney Company has no plans currently to construct any form of Disney Park in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Disney fans hoping to visit a Disney Park while in Asia will have to head east to Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, or Shanghai Disneyland. Additionally, they may wish to check out the second-gate Tokyo Disneysea.

Although a Disney Park will not come to Malaysia, perhaps another theme park might, similar to the way that Universal Studios Singapore was born. Until then, which country do you think Disney should build a new theme park in next?