Podcast Summary

Podcast: New Books Network
Episode: Jenny Banh, Fantasies of Hong Kong Disneyland: Attempted Indigenizations of Space, Labor, and Consumption (Rutgers UP, 2025)
Host: Donna Doane Anderson
Guest: Dr. Jenny Banh
Date: January 25, 2026

Main Theme

This episode explores Fantasies of Hong Kong Disneyland, Dr. Jenny Banh’s analytical work examining Disney’s attempts to localize—or “indigenize”—its iconic theme park model within the complex, contested space of Hong Kong. The conversation delves into how global corporate interests, Chinese government investment, and Hong Kong’s unique status intersect to reshape the management of space, labor, and consumption. Through engaging personal reflection and deep fieldwork, Dr. Banh critiques the park’s struggles with adaptation, authenticity, and local acceptance in a transnational context, contrasting its efforts with the success of the local Ocean Park.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Genesis of the Project and Personal Inspiration

[03:37–07:51]

• Labor Focus: Dr. Banh, a Chinese restaurant “labor kid,” always had an interest in labor, space, and consumption stemming from her upbringing in Ferguson, Missouri.
• Fieldwork Roots: Her previous research on sweatshops in El Monte, CA, inspired her to examine international labor issues linked to transnational corporations, including Disney.
• Pivot to Hong Kong: Originally intending to research sweatshops in mainland China, she reoriented her work to Hong Kong Disneyland due to political sensitivities and safety concerns.
• Pop Culture Lens: A lifelong fan of cartoons, she chose a topic that bridged her academic skills and personal inclinations.

Memorable Quote:
"My original goal was to go to China, work at a sweatshop in Hong Kong ... But my actual topic could have gotten me myself into some deep issues ... I switched from going to mainland China to instead going to Hong Kong and actually having a very similar analysis." — Jenny Banh (05:06)

2. Anthropological Methodology and Fieldwork

[08:51–13:26]

• Long-term Immersion: Conducted nearly two years of fieldwork in Hong Kong over a 15-year period; returned multiple times to verify data.
• Interviews & Masking: Interviewed both top executives and lay workers, intentionally masking identities out of necessity.
• Continuous Change: Noted Disney’s constantly shifting landscape and contextualized observations with major events (e.g., Hong Kong protests).
• Limits of Expertise: While she observed the sociopolitical upheavals, Banh refrained from deep commentary on Hong Kong’s democracy movement—leaving that to local experts.

Memorable Quote:
"The field work was ... so much ... amazing. And also the machine of Disney is constantly changing ... the elephant in the room was the Hong Kong riots... I specifically touched upon, but didn't touch upon it because again, I’m not a local." — Jenny Banh (12:26)

3. Labor, Neo-Colonial Contracts, and Economic Imbalance

[14:48–23:13]

• Colonial Legacy: Hong Kong’s history as a British colony informs current local identity and perceptions of both freedom and modernity.
• Unequal Contracts: The deal behind Hong Kong Disneyland mirrored historical “unequal treaties”—Hong Kong funding 90% but owning only 57%.
• No Local Democracy: The park’s approval was steered by elite committees, not the public’s vote.
• Disillusionment: Initial hope (“savior” narrative) quickly soured as public realized the financial realities and lack of profits.
• Profits Flow Out: Disney, as the “survivor,” continued extracting franchise fees even as the park lost money, further fueling resentment.

Memorable Quote:
"So the contract is ... one entity doing 90% of the work ... only owning 57%. That is not equal ... it was sold to the Hong Kong people as a savior ... without telling people the actual numbers ... when the transparency ... came out, one of the feeling was anger." — Jenny Banh (19:28)

4. Indigenization: Culture, Space, and Hard-Learned Lessons

[23:13–31:25]

• Definition Used: Banh applies “indigenization” in the anthropological sense—a process of local adaptation and appropriation.
• Superficial Adaptations: Disney publicized indigenization attempts, such as hiring a feng shui expert, but local workers saw these as token gestures.
• Culinary Misfires: Efforts to “localize” through food (offering shark fin soup at weddings, local-style cuisine in the park) repeatedly backfired, either due to environmental backlash or failure to meet diverse, sophisticated local tastes.

Memorable Quote:
"To the credit, they did hire a feng shui expert ... But these laborers are like, these workers, like, ‘No, that’s just ... to make money for the owners. It makes no, no difference.’" — Jenny Banh (27:15)

• Food Culture Clash: Hong Kong’s stellar, affordable culinary scene made it impossible for Disney to compete with high-priced mediocrity. Neither westernized fast food nor half-localized options satisfied any of the region’s diverse consumers—including mainlanders, locals, and expats.

Memorable Quote:
"It's a very hard lift to satisfy all these different groups. But each time I went, Donna, I witnessed the argument each and every time I would see American Westerner go into the bakery and go, 'that's not pie. That's not cake.' ... Hong Konger like, 'it's so expensive. I can get this ... down the street.' ... So, dissatisfied people." — Jenny Banh (32:37)

5. Social Friction and the Realities of Space Management

[31:29–39:03]

• Queuing Culture Clashes: Recounted frequent, sometimes comical arguments between Hong Kongers (trained to queue) and mainland Chinese visitors (with different line behaviors), leading to daily flashpoints in the park.
• Deeper Tensions: These moments were manifestations of larger social and political divides between Hong Kongers and mainlanders.

Memorable Quote:
"Every single time I went there in terms of space, I witnessed a screaming argument. Every single time ... you had the frazzled like Hong Kong Disneyland worker, saying in Cantonese and kind of like ... Mandarin, 'please stand in line.' ... And then you know that these Mainlanders do not speak Cantonese." — Jenny Banh (36:10)

6. Contrast with Ocean Park: The Triumph of Local Connection

[40:24–48:21]

• Ocean Park’s Success: Continues to thrive through authentic localization, staff-dedication, embracing nostalgia, and genuine engagement with Hong Kong’s culture.
• Responsive Leadership: CEOs Tom Mehrmann and Allan Zeman listened to and valued local opinion, leveraging viral marketing and respecting “Cantonese-ness.”
• Labor Differences: Ocean Park’s staff is local, with better cohesion, morale, and no major scandals; Disney, by contrast, has faced labor unrest, inequality, and fatalities.
• David vs. Goliath: Despite Disney’s resources, Ocean Park repeatedly outperformed Disneyland in profit and attendance.

Memorable Quote:
"Ocean park is their competitor ... deep in the heart of Hong Kongers ... For multiple reasons: birthday free tickets, class trips ... and kind of like olden day Hong Kong ... I did interview the top people ... and they were saying, you know, they were like not treated equally by the other designers ... their voices weren't as heard. Right. But Ocean Park, that's a Hong Kong people. Hong Kong." — Jenny Banh (44:25)

• Future Solution for Disneyland: Dr. Banh suggests a “double ticket” or cooperative marketing between the two parks as a potential path forward.

7. Looking Forward: Dr. Banh’s Future Work

[48:21–53:01]

• Upcoming Projects: New works will focus on Asian “Eat Eats” (foodways), Asian American women (especially anti-Asian violence during COVID), and educational barriers in Southeast Asian communities.
• Institutional Vision: Banh’s activism extends to supporting the new Asian American Studies major at Fresno State, with hopes for new PhD programs in the future.

Memorable Quote:
"My next book will be on Asian Eats. But after that, I will do Asian American women and how they're depicted ... and then ... Southeast Asian educational barriers and bridges ... There's a big need and I want to see [a PhD in Asian American Studies] in my lifetime." — Jenny Banh (50:27)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Colonial-Era Contracts:
  “...Disney went to mainland China and said, hey, would you do this Disneyland? They said no ... Hong Kong does not have democracy ... It was a committee ... So ... this contract was quite unequal ... it was sold to the Hong Kong people as a savior, without telling people the actual numbers.” — Jenny Banh (18:55)
• On Indigenization Attempts:
  "To their credit, they did hire a feng shui expert ... but these laborers are like, 'that's just ... to make money for the owners.'" — Jenny Banh (27:15)
• On Culinary Frustrations:
  “Hot dog wrapped in plastic ... curry balls in plastic for triple the price. Not really tasting that great. ... No one’s going to buy it.” — Jenny Banh (31:54)
• On the Hong Kong/Mainland Social Divide:
  “It's kind of like a Venn diagram of different palates ... it's hard for Disney to get ... how are you satisfying these Venn diagrams ... Each and every time, I would see dissatisfied people.” — Jenny Banh (32:37)
• On Ocean Park’s Enduring Appeal:
  "There is such an indexual dragging, like nostalgia for this place ... it's inexpensive, it's fun ... it's not a Rolls Royce, it's a Honda. It's doing great, and you don’t need a Rolls Royce.” — Jenny Banh (41:12)
• On Leadership and Listening:
  “These two men respect Hong Kong and they earn[est]ly asked what do Hong Kong people like? ... listening to the locals ... These leaders respect and are prideful of Hong Kong in a way I haven't seen before.” — Jenny Banh (43:20)
• On What Could Save Hong Kong Disneyland:
  “One is a Hong Kong people’s park. One is a transnational Disney park. They have to combine for them to ... sustain ... a double ticket ...” — Jenny Banh (49:15)

Episode Segment Timestamps

• [03:37] — Dr. Banh’s background, inspirations, and research pivot to Hong Kong Disneyland.
• [08:51] — Methodological approach: fieldwork, data gathering, and updates.
• [14:48] — Historical background: British colonialism, “unequal treaties,” and the neocolonial contract for Disneyland.
• [23:13] — Definition of indigenization; superficial/local adaptation attempts by Disney.
• [28:48] — Indigenization through food: shark fin soup and local culinary culture.
• [31:29] — Space and social frictions: queuing culture and cultural misunderstandings.
• [40:24] — Ocean Park: contrasts, authentic localization, leadership, and profits.
• [48:21] — Future of Disneyland in Hong Kong and Dr. Banh’s upcoming projects.

Conclusion

Dr. Jenny Banh’s Fantasies of Hong Kong Disneyland weaves personal history, ethnographic insight, and sharp cultural critique to examine the disjunctures and contradictions when a global leisure brand seeks local authenticity in a fraught, hybrid territory. The episode is rich in both analytic depth and wry, firsthand observation, making it a rewarding listen or read for anyone interested in globalization, cultural adaptation, or Hong Kong’s contemporary identity. Dr. Banh’s reflections on labor, food, and space expose fault lines that even the "Happiest Place on Earth" can’t wish away.