I'm going to be honest, when I think of a "made in china" theme park, it scares me. The fact that Wanda built the park so much cheaper than Disney makes me worry about the quality and craftsmanship. We've all seen the cheap knock off versions of name brands, and many times you get what you pay for. Disney's reputation for quality will hopefully outshine Wanda's version of things. I'm hoping that cheaply built knockoff doesn't end in a few tragedies.
Honestly though, most things are made in China. Yes, Even authentic Disney things that we all love to buy .This is not uncommon. The labor it costs to make these are VERY cheap. Often times many items (including offical disney merch) are made in China, shipped to the US, then shipped BACK into china in other to "authenticate" itself.. which lends to the cost. It's odd, but it's how its done. There are also different levels of knock offs that you are talking about. Sometimes they are SO good, it is difficult to tell what is real and what is not real. Others are not and those are the things that fall apart in a day. In my experience, there is very little price point between the two.
It is a common understanding in China. It is very difficult to tell what is real, unless it is coming from a US address.
Wanda is working with the same materials that Disney is. The major difference here though I think, is the amount of money they are paying for labor. Labor in China is very cheap, especially for a Chinese based company. There are not labor laws to my understanding as you have here. Once you get through the red tape of being allowed to build, the building process is usually very quick and efficient. Same with the work force. I am sure that's apart of it too. Disney however, as US company has set standards that they have to follow to pay their work force and ensure their safety (it looks like cast members make them same here as they do in HK?). Wanda doesn't have to do that. Their park looks to be less extensive than Disney with four major rides, none of those being roller coasters. Cuts down on ware and tear from mother nature. I am unsure if they're apart of the IAAPA to help safety regulations, or if they have any kind of standard to be set?
No matter how big Wanda gets, or if they rip of ALL of the Disney characters and have exactly the same things.. There are going to be a large portion of people that will still go to Disney. Why? Because it is "authentic". It's "real". Its what people in the US do. They have things that Wanda will never have. Disney is able to bring a piece of the US to China, without people having to travel from china to get it.
Especially if disney sells "authentic" burgers. .. I lived in southern china for a little awhile. The ONLY place I could get a "real" hamburger (or ham-bob-boa), was a place in Guangzhou. Not even Hong Kong. And we looked. Believe me, we looked. Our co-workers were astounded when they realized this is what a hamburger was.
