Hong Kong
The newest Disneyland opened last week, in Hong Kong, and even by Disney standards, the lines were outrageous. Amid reports that some parkgoers managed to get into just four attractions in an entire day, some observers looked for cultural explanations for the long waits. According to Hong Kong sociologist Rongrong Zhou, individualistic Westerners will simply get out of a line and go somewhere else when there are too many people in front of them. But the Asian tendency, she told The New York Times, is to make “social comparisons.” Asians will look behind as well as ahead of them, she said, and if they are better off than others, they’ll stay put. “The longer the line,” she said, “people think the service is more worthwhile.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellationCartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop sceneIn the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
