The residents in the area have invested in the land and their homes in the hopes that Disney will build there.  They would like to receive a relocation package in case their land is needed in the name of progress. 

Here are some details according to a recent article:

The recent buzz has been fanned by Chinese media reports saying that Disney and Shanghai officials had come to terms, with the Burbank-based entertainment giant easing up on some of its earlier demands because of the current financial climate. A Disney spokeswoman in Hong Kong, Alannah Hall-Smith, responded that there was “no deal, no announcement.”

But informed Shanghai officials, among others, believe that the project is pretty much settled. All that’s needed, they say, is a stamp of approval from leaders in Beijing at a key economic planning session expected to be held this month.

Shanghai is the largest city in China.  It is hoped that a Disney theme park project there would stimulate the economy.  Disney may be hoping to introduce Mickey Mouse and the other Disney characters to more people in China.