ONCE upon a time but not so long ago, a state government announced that it wanted to get the Walt Disney company to set up a theme park but the plans were thwarted by the evil witch called the Asian Financial Crisis.

The gallant Mentri Besar who came up with this idea was soon replaced, and the dream of a magic kingdom in the Kinta Valley never came into being.

A few years later, another Mentri Besar, of a neighbouring state, tried to revive the Disneyland dream but this time the good people managing the land where dreams come true were too distracted with another park – the one in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Disneyland, the fifth Magic Kingdom-style park, is located on Lantau Island and was opened to visitors on Sept 12, 2005.

Then last year, word started to spread again that another attempt was being made to get Walt Disney to spread its magic to Malaysia.

The story goes that there is a 200ha site in the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) that has been set aside for a Disney-like theme park.

There were even reports that Khazanah Holdings boss Datuk Azman Mokthar had meetings with the people who control Mickey Mouse.

In 2005, during Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s visit to Japan, Azman was seen bringing several Japanese investors to meet the Prime Minister. Among them were senior officials of Oriental Land – the Japanese partner of Tokyo Disneyland.

However, the magic kingdom folks issued a standard reply, saying they had no specific interest in setting up a park in South-East Asia, at least not yet.

Then earlier this year, senior Disney officials were given a tour of the IDR and the 200ha, which is near the second link. They were also given a detailed briefing on the new development region as well as the special concessions offered to foreign investors but till today there has been no official word from Disney.

Assuming that Disney is interested, will the theme park still materialise, as there are many other obstacles in the way?

Based on the Hong Kong and Tokyo experience, it takes between five and six years for a Disney theme park to start operation from the day the plan is drawn up. As it takes so long to start, the question is will a theme park be still needed by then?

Disney’s first venture out of the United States was the Euro Disneyland outside Paris. Until today, it hasn’t been all that profitable. Tokyo’s is not exactly raking in the big bucks as well, while the one in Hong Kong is still not recording the crowds the authorities expected.

I was in Hong Kong Disneyland last Friday and told the kids to be ready to wait for hours for any of the 21 rides; but lo and behold, the waiting time was less than an hour – at some there was no queue at all.

Will the same fate befall a Disney park in the IDR? Hong Kong expected Chinese tourists to flood its magic kingdom, but the initial rush has petered out.

Mickey Mouse and gang have switched tactics and are now focusing on Hong Kongers; offering various discounts to local residents.

However, to be fair, the theme park is limited by law to only 28,000 visitors a day.

Even if the crowd were there, a Malaysian Disney theme park would have to overcome certain cultural issues.

The following is a conversation I overheard while watching the “Let it snow Christmas Parade” along Main Street USA.

Chinese man: “You from Malaysia-ah?”

Malay man: “Ya, from Shah Alam. How about you?”

Chinese man: “Alor Star. Wah, I see that your whole family is here.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the parade, led by a dance troupe.

Chinese man: “Wah, you see ah? The girls’ skirt so short one.”

Malay man: “That’s why got to come to Hong Kong to see. In Malaysia, sure cannot one. Beyonce wanted to come also, they told her to dress up. So, how to have a public parade?”

Chinese man: “Wah, you see the Little Mermaid ah? Dressed in just a bikini top and a fish tail? Sure cannot one in Malaysia.”

The views of these two Malaysians may not be a true reflection of how the authorities will react as I found nothing offensive about the dressing of the participants. Then again I also think Beyonce is well covered up.

My fear is that we will try to over-Malaysianise our Disneyland if it ever comes to be.

The daily parade is an upbeat affair with dances trooping down Main Street USA because it is about making everyone happy, especially the kids. I hope that, if the theme park is ever set up, we do not force Disney to change the street to Chow Kit Road or worse.

All Disneyland theme parks have Main Street USA and not having one means not having Disney.

As for the dressing, I hope the authorities realise that a Malaysian Disneyland will be a major attraction for foreign tourists. This means we have to cater for all nationalities and therefore we must be broad-minded enough to allow for short skirts and American themes.

Yes, we can infuse Malaysian elements into the rides or the dressing of the general service staff, but not the performers.

Then there is the question of competition from Singapore’s already announced Universal Studio theme park on Sentosa Island.

There are those who argue that Universal’s is already under way and will be ready even before ours can get off the ground.

Then there are others who claim that there will not be sufficient crowd for two theme parks so close together.

However, I disagree. One only needs to look at the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. There are several theme parks next to each other along the same road. These parks just feed off each other’s energy and strength.

Singapore’s Universal Studio and Malaysia’s Disneyland will not be very big and will probably cater to about a million visitors a year. But the very fact that they are so close together means there will be more reason for tourists to come.

The two parks and the authorities must learn to work together.

There should even be a ferry service linking the two parks so that visitors can enjoy the best of the two worlds and countries.

I think Disneyland is doable in Malaysia, especially in Johor, but we must get our act together to ensure that we provide the kind of service all Disney visitors are accustomed to.

Our senior news editor Wong Sai Wan is now a Disney convert, and in the words of his new friend Mickey, wishes everyone “a Merry Christmas and a magical New Year.”

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