Diehard Disneyland fans might not have to leave the country to get their fix of the Magic Kingdom after all.
The government's dropped a pretty big update: plans have shifted, and instead of that original entertainment complex proposal, they're now exploring the possibility of bringing Disneyland to Thailand. Yes, you read that right.
The earlier proposal was all about creating this massive entertainment complex to boost tourism and pump up the national economy. We're talking theme parks, water parks, sports stadiums, concert venues and even a legal casino, quite the lineup.
But now the focus has switched to landing a Disneyland theme park instead of that casino-led vision. Officials have instructed the EEC Office to start scouting suitable land, so things are moving.
The ambitious plan 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 a lot easier for tourists.
Right now, authorities are checking out sites across four provinces to attract global investment. Don't expect Mickey Mouse tomorrow though, completion may stretch beyond the current government term, but at least the groundwork's being laid.
Worth noting that Asia already has three Disney resorts. 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 world's largest Enchanted Storybook Castle.
So what would a Thai Disneyland actually look like? That's anyone's guess right now, but it's definitely an exciting prospect for Southeast Asian Disney fans who won't have to hop on a plane to find the magic.