0Disney

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland is the first theme park inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks, an incorporated company jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company and the Government of Hong Kong.

The fifth Disneyland style park, the park is located on reclaimed land in Penny’s Bay, Lantau Island. After years of negotiations and construction, the park opened to visitors on September 12, 2005, considered an auspicious date according to Chinese almanacs for the opening of a new business. Disney attempted to avoid problems of cultural backlash by attempting to incorporate Chinese culture, customs, and traditions when designing and building the resort, including adherence to the rules of Feng Shui.

The park consists of four themed lands similar to other Disneyland parks: Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland. There is as yet no Frontierland, although it may be included in future expansion projects. The theme park’s cast members use English and Chinese, including Cantonese and Mandarin dialects, to communicate verbally. Guide Maps are printed in both Traditional and Simplified characters, Japanese, and in English.

The capacity of the park is 34,000 visitors per day, and is the smallest Disneyland park. It has so far fallen short of meeting its targeted visitorship figures. The park attracted 5.2 million visitors in its first year, below its target of 5.6 million. Visitor numbers fell 20% in the second year to 4 million, which was below company targets, inciting criticisms from local legislators.

The resort currently has 310 acres (1.3 km²), with the actual park taking approximately 100 acres (0.4 km²). With its small size cited often to explain its under-performance, the park has announced various plans for expansion. The classic Disney attraction, “it’s a small world”, opened on 28 April 2008. Furthermore, according to Bill Ernest, the executive vice president and managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland, the park is planning to add two unique theme lands in its future expansion. Over a 15 year expansion period, the park capacity will increase to handle up to 10 million visitors annually.

Dedication

“

To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Many years ago, Walt Disney introduced the world to enchanted realms of fantasy and adventure, yesterday and tomorrow, in a magical placed called Disneyland. Today that spirit of imagination and discovery comes to life in Hong Kong.Hong Kong Disneyland is dedicated to the young and the young at heart - with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration, and an enduring symbol of the cooperation, friendship and understanding between the people of Hong Kong and the United States of America.

”

Michael D Eisner and Donald Tsang, September 12, 2005

Construction

An audience of more than 400 guests celebrated the ground breaking of Hong Kong Disneyland on January 12, 2003. Those present included Tung Chee Hwa, then Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; Michael D. Eisner, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company; and Robert A. Iger, President of The Walt Disney Company.

On September 23, 2004, a special “castle topping ceremony” was held in the park to commemorate the placing of the tallest turret on Sleeping Beauty Castle. Among those present were Tung Chee Hwa, then Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Jay Rasulo, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Michael Eisner, then CEO of The Walt Disney Company; and Bob Iger, president of The Walt Disney Company, in addition to Mickey Mouse and other costumed characters. Hong Kong Disneyland had the shortest construction period among all of the Disneyland-style theme parks.

Future construction

The Phase 1 Extension began with three new attractions for Tomorrowland that opened in the summer of 2006. The three new rides for the 2007/2008 season are the Animation Academy, Mickey’s Waterworks Parade (a water-based summer parade), and “it’s a small world”.

With the reclaimed land reserved for the Phase 2 Extension and the Disneyland park being blocked by the Park Promenade (a pedestrian walkway which links the MTR Disneyland Resort Station, Disneyland park and Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel), it is expected that the resort’s second Disney theme park will be built on that site.

A Phase 3 Extension is being considered by the Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong government.

Themed areas

The park currently features four themed lands similar to those at other Disneyland parks: Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. The park is missing a classic land, Frontierland, but it may be built in the future.

In total, there are currently 27 attractions in Hong Kong Disneyland (3 additional ones will open at 2008), compared to 48 in Disneyland Park in Paris, 47 in Florida’s Magic Kingdom, 46 in Tokyo Disneyland Park and 57 in California’s Disneyland Park.

Main Street, U.S.A.

Main article: Main Street, U.S.A.

• Animation Academy
• The Disneyland Story
• Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad
• Main Street Vehicle
• Disney on Parade
• High School Musical LIVE!
• Muppet Mobile Lab

Adventureland

Main article: Adventureland

• Jungle River Cruise
• Raft to the Tarzan’s Treehouse
• Tarzan’s Treehouse on Tarzan Island
• Festival of the Lion King
• Liki Tikis

Fantasyland

Main article: Fantasyland

• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Cinderella Carousel
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Fantasy Gardens
• Fantasyland Train Station
• Mad Hatter Tea Cups
• Sleeping Beauty Castle
• Sword in the Stone
• The Golden Mickeys
• Snow White Grotto
• “it’s a small world”

Tomorrowland

Main article: Tomorrowland

• Space Mountain
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Orbitron
• Autopia
• Stitch Encounter
• UFO Zone

Characters

Main Street, U.S.A.

• Mickey Mouse
• Minnie Mouse
• Donald Duck
• Daisy Duck
• Goofy
• Pluto
• Chip and Dale

Adventureland

• Timon
• Marie

Fantasyland

• Mickey, Minnie and Goofy
• Winnie The Pooh
• Alice
• Snow White
• Princess Aurora
• Cinderella
• Belle
• Mushu
• Woody
• Jessie
• Stitch

Tommorrowland

• Buzz Lightyear

Entertainment and celebrations

The park features both a daytime parade “Disney on Parade” and “Disney in the Stars”, a fireworks show, in the evening. Seasonal entertainment, such as Disney’s Haunted Halloween, A Sparkling Christmas and Disney’s Chinese New Year, are held in the park to celebrate main festivals.

Entertainment

Disney on Parade

A day-time parade which features 9 floats with famous Disney characters including Mickey and Friends, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Disney Princesses, Alice, Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie.

Disney’s Rainy Day Express

A parade shown on rainy days that consists of a specially design train with characters wearing brightly colored rain coats.

High School Musical: LIVE!

A uniquely created mobile stage-show inspired by the movie High School Musical and its sequel High School Musical 2. It will feature a troop of singers and dancers mostly from the Philippines and Hong Kong which will travel along the Main Street and sing hit songs from the movie, including “What Time Is It?” and “Get’cha Head in the Game”. This is a new attraction launched on March 7, 2008 apart from the announced It’s a Small World.

Disney in the Stars

Nightly fireworks based on a similar format used in the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at other Disney theme parks, fireworks and pyrotechnics are co-ordinated to orchestrated classic Disney music such as “A Whole New World”.

Muppet Mobile Lab

a free-roving, audio-animatronic entertainment implemented on a Segway platform, an interactive comedy show performed by two Muppet characters, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker. The characters ride their two-wheeled rocket-ship/laboratory vehicle.

Seasonal entertainment

Mickey’s WaterWorks

A summer, water-themed parade that consisted of 7 new floats, 100 performers and 30 Disney characters. Originally created for Mickey’s Summer Blast celebration, Mickey’s WaterWorks made its debut on July 7, 2007. The parade has now ended after the mid-2007 season. However it is coming back in 2008 as announced by HKDL in its 2008 TV promotion video.

Glow in the Park Halloween Parade

This parade, designed for the Haunted Halloween event, featured seven brand-new floats and over 100 cast members including eight never-before-seen characters. The parade has now ended after the Halloween event.

‘Let it Snow’ Christmas Parade

A brand-new Christmas parade that will feature floats with Christmas decorations from Disney on Parade during the A Sparkling Christmas event from 23 November 2007 until 2 January 2008.

Park celebrations

List of past, current, and future park celebrations

Celebration	Attractions and entertainment*	Year
A Magical Christmas	Tree Lighting Ceremony	2005
Magical Chinese New Year	Chinese New Year Celebration Stageshow	2006
Disney’s Halloween	The Villains’ Lair; and Halloween Costume Mini-Parade	2006
A Magical Christmas	Santa’s Corner; and Mickey’s Sing-a-long Tree Lighting	2006
Disney’s Chinese New Year	Disney “Come and Celebrate” Stageshow	2007
Pirate Takeover	Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Boot Camp; Mirabella, the Gypsy Fortune Teller; “The Doctor of Soul” Voodoo Drum Show; Pirate Procession; and Pirate Party Nights	2007
Mickey’s Summer Blast	Mickey’s WaterWorks; and Stitch’s Summer Blast Dance Party	2007
Disney’s Haunted Halloween	Main Street Haunted Hotel; Space Mountain - Ghost Galaxy; Villain in Adventureland; and Glow in the Park Halloween Parade	2007
A Sparkling Christmas	Santa’s Workshop; Ice Fantasy; ‘Let it Snow’ Christmas Parade; and Sparkling Castle Lights	2007
Year of the Mouse Celebration	Mickey’s House; A Salute to Mickey Statues; Mickey’s Rockin’ the Mouse Castle Show; Adventures in Fashion; and Rhythum of Life: Dragon Procession	2008

Note*: Festive entertainment are shown in italic

Future attractions

In December 2007, the Hong Kong International Theme Parks announced four new attractions will be introduced in 2008, apart from the already-announced It’s a Small World. They are Muppet Mobile Lab, High School Musical: LIVE!, Nemo Submarine Turtle Talk and The Art of Animation.

Nemo Submarine Turtle Talk is an interactive attraction inspired by Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo. It gives guests a chance to have unscripted, real-time conversations with Crush. From his digital world under the sea, Crush chats, plays and jokes with Guests in a unique, personalised way. It will be introduced in Summer 2008.

The Art of Animation will be a walk-through attraction which mainly shows the concepts of Disney’s and Pixar’s films, including some never-seen concept art. The attraction is scheduled to open in Autumn or Winter 2008.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org