Hong Kong Disneyland
Encyclopedia
Hong Kong Disneyland is located on reclaimed land
in Penny's Bay
, Lantau Island
. It is the first theme park located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
and is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks
. The park opened to visitors on 12 September 2005. 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
. For instance, a bend was put in a walkway near the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort entrance so good "qi" (chi) energy wouldn't flow into the South China Sea.
The park consists of five themed areas: Main Street, U.S.A.
, Fantasyland
, Adventureland, Tomorrowland
and Toy Story Land. The theme park's cast members speak in Cantonese, English, and Mandarin. Guide maps are printed in traditional and simplified Chinese as well as English, French, and Japanese.
The park has a daily capacity of 34,000 visitors — the least out of all Disneyland parks. It has so far fallen short of 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, inciting criticisms from local legislators. However, the park attendance slightly increased by 8% in the third year, attracting a total of 4.5 million visitors in 2007. In 2009, the park attendance again increased by 2% to 4.8 million visitors. The attendance continued to surge and received 5.23 million guests in the 2009/2010 fiscal year. Since the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, the theme park has hosted over 25 million guests. According to AECOM
and TEA
, Hong Kong Disneyland is the 15th most visited theme park in the world in 2010, with 5.2 million visitors.
Hong Kong Disneyland currently occupies 22.4 hectares (55.4 acre), it will be expanded to 27.4 hectares (67.7 acre) when three new themed areas are completed. After the expansion, the park is expected to handle 7.92 million to 8.92 million visitors annually. The park capacity will increase to handle up to 10 million visitors annually over a 15 year expansion period.
of Hong Kong Disneyland after the finishing of land reclamation in Penny's Bay
. The audience included Tung Chee Hwa
, then Chief Executive of Hong Kong
; Michael D. Eisner, former Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company
; Robert A. Iger, president of The Walt Disney Company; and Jay Rasulo
, former president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
. 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
. Hong Kong Disneyland opened to the public at 13:00 local time on September 12, 2005.
and is unable to see or hear any other realm. The idea behind this was to develop theatrical "stages" with seamless passages from one land to the next. The public areas occupy approximately 22.4 hectares (55 acres). When the park initially opened, it consisted of four classic themed areas:
In 2014, Hong Kong Disneyland will include a total of seven themed lands and be expanded to 27.4 hectares (68 acres). The new themed areas are:
Throughout the park are 'Hidden Mickeys', or representations of Mickey Mouse heads inserted subtly into the design of attractions and environmental decor.
An elevated berm
supports a narrow gauge railroad that circumnavigates the park.
Though being very similar to Anaheim's main street, the theme is heavily influenced by European immigrants. Plaza Inn — which has the identical exterior design as the one in Disneyland — mimics a classical Chinese eatery that was created by a wealthy American couple who were infatuated with Chinese culture. Another restaurant, the Market House Bakery is reminiscent of a bakery founded by a Viennese
pastry chef
who brought the world's most famous desserts from the Austrian
imperial court
.
Unlike Main Streets from other parks, Main Street at Hong Kong Disneyland is built mainly of wood
instead of stone
. There are no horse-drawn streetcars, though tracks for the streetcars can be seen from the concept arts.
, which is circled by the Jungle Cruise
— much like the Rivers of America
in most Frontierland
theme areas. The Adventureland is also home to the "Festival of the Lion King
" show.
, as well as the Fantasy Gardens
where costumed Disney characters can be met.
and Stitch Encounter
.
movies, such as an enlarged Woody
, Rex, an oversized paper plane, and Luxo Jr.
The land is located to the west side of Hong Kong Disneyland, behind Fantasyland
.
and Critter Country
. The themed land reminisces an abandoned mining town called "Grizzly Gulch", set amidst mountains and woods. The centerpiece structure will be Grizzly Peak
, inspired by Disney California Adventure. The town was set to be founded August 8, 1888 — the luckiest day of the luckiest month of the luckiest year — by prospectors looking to discover gold.
" as well as a nighttime firework show "Disney in the Stars
", and "Tinker Bell Castle Illumination", a new nighttime show that debuted along with "Celebration In The Air". Seasonal entertainment, such as "Disney's Haunted Halloween", "A Sparkling Christmas", and "Disney's Chinese New Year", are held in the park to celebrate major holidays.
,Kowloon
and Hong Kong Island
Jointly operated for Long Win Bus
R8 Disneyland <>Lantau Link Toll plaza
Disney in the Stars
Muppet Mobile Lab
. Much of the album are Cantonese or Mandarin cover of theme songs of animated Disney films. The package contains a DVD featuring music videos. The album does not contain any music used in the park.
DVD
The Phase 1 Extension began with three new attractions for Tomorrowland
that opened in the summer of 2006. In 2008, the Art of Animation
, located in the Opera House, and the classic attraction "it's a small world" were added. The outer edge of Adventureland was under construction from early May to September 2008, adjacent to Festival of The Lion King. A temporary structure for Demon Jungle, an exclusive attraction for the 2008 Halloween, was built.
of Hong Kong on funding the upcoming extension. The park plans to introduce three new theme lands, which will increase the total land area of the park by about 12 hectares. A number of new rides had been chosen and will be built in order to the market of young-adults and teenagers. It is reported that the preparation for groundbreaking has been finished and the park is ready to start the construction once it has granted permission from the government.
On 30 June 2009, Donald Tsang
, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
, announced that the expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland had been approved by the Executive Council
. The park will receive three new themed lands — Grizzly Trail, Mystic Point
and Toy Story Land — which all located outside the Disneyland Railroad track, south to the current Adventureland.
The park will feature a total of seven themed areas after the completion of all the new attraction. The groundbreaking took place on 13 December 2009 for the construction of the three new lands.
) and a third hotel are taken into discussions. For long-term construction, with the reclaimed land reserved for the Phase 2 Extension, it is expected that the resort's second Disney theme park will be built on that site. A Phase 3 Extension is also being considered by the Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong Government.
Although the park's shareholders and the Hong Kong Government set pressure upon the park to lower the capacity, the park insisted on keeping the limit, only agreeing to relieve the capacity problem by extending the opening time by one hour and introducing more discounts during weekdays. However, the park stated that local visitors tend to stay in the park for more than nine hours per visit, implying that the mentioned practices would do little to solve the problem.
During Chinese New Year 2006, many visitors arrived at the park in the morning bearing valid tickets, but were refused entry, because the park was already at full capacity. Disgruntled visitors attempted to force their way into the park and climbing over the barrier gates. Disneyland management was forced to revise their ticketing policy and designated future periods close to Chinese public holidays as 'special days' during which admission would only be allowed through a date-specific ticket.
scanned at the entry gate. Visitors are not warned of the policy beforehand. Fingerprinting is done of all visitors older than 11 years of age, and is used to associate ticket media with the person using it. The company claims that the surface of a guest's finger do not contain sufficient information to recreate a fingerprint image. Nonetheless, forensic specialists note that the data collected are more than adequate to establish a positive identification.
In response to negative publicity locally and to boost visitor numbers, Hong Kong Disneyland offered $50 discounts for admission tickets to holders of Hong Kong I.D. cards in the period before 2005 Christmas
. Also, from March to June 2006, the park offered Hong Kong I.D. card holders the opportunity to purchase a two-day admission ticket for the price of a single day ticket.
Land reclamation in Hong Kong
Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since the mid-19th century.-Projects:One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction...
in Penny's Bay
Penny's Bay
Penny's Bay or Chok Ko Wan is a bay in north-eastern Lantau Island, and is the site of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which consists of the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney's Hollywood Hotel, and the Inspiration Lake. It is connected by a highway and a rail...
, Lantau Island
Lantau Island
Lantau Island , based on the old local name of Lantau Peak , is the largest island in Hong Kong, located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands District of Hong Kong...
. It is the first theme park located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a resort built by the Government of Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company in Hong Kong on reclaimed land beside Penny's Bay, at the northeastern tip of Lantau Island, approximately two kilometres from Discovery Bay...
and is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks
Hong Kong International Theme Parks
Hong Kong International Theme Parks Ltd. is an incorporated company jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company and the Government of Hong Kong), founded in 1999. It owns and operates the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, on Lantau Island, Hong Kong....
. The park opened to visitors on 12 September 2005. 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
Feng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
. For instance, a bend was put in a walkway near the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort entrance so good "qi" (chi) energy wouldn't flow into the South China Sea.
The park consists of five themed areas: Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the main entrance of the many 'Magic Kingdom'-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world....
, Fantasyland
Fantasyland
Fantasyland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world. Each Fantasyland has a castle as well as several gentle rides themed after Disney movies...
, Adventureland, Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland
- Tomorrowland 1955–1967 :The first Tomorrowland opened at Disneyland on July 18, 1955, with only several of its planned attractions open, due to budget cuts. The construction of the park was rushed, so Tomorrowland was the last land to be finished. It became something of a corporate showcase,...
and Toy Story Land. The theme park's cast members speak in Cantonese, English, and Mandarin. Guide maps are printed in traditional and simplified Chinese as well as English, French, and Japanese.
The park has a daily capacity of 34,000 visitors — the least out of all Disneyland parks. It has so far fallen short of 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, inciting criticisms from local legislators. However, the park attendance slightly increased by 8% in the third year, attracting a total of 4.5 million visitors in 2007. In 2009, the park attendance again increased by 2% to 4.8 million visitors. The attendance continued to surge and received 5.23 million guests in the 2009/2010 fiscal year. Since the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, the theme park has hosted over 25 million guests. According to AECOM
AECOM
AECOM Technology Corporation is a professional technical and management support services firm. The company is ranked as the number one design firm for 2010 and 2011 by Engineering News-Record and number one by Architectural Record. It provides services in the areas of transportation, planning,...
and TEA
Themed Entertainment Association
The Themed Entertainment Association is an international non-profit association that represents creators, developers, designers and producers of themed entertainment...
, Hong Kong Disneyland is the 15th most visited theme park in the world in 2010, with 5.2 million visitors.
Hong Kong Disneyland currently occupies 22.4 hectares (55.4 acre), it will be expanded to 27.4 hectares (67.7 acre) when three new themed areas are completed. After the expansion, the park is expected to handle 7.92 million to 8.92 million visitors annually. The park capacity will increase to handle up to 10 million visitors annually over a 15 year expansion period.
Dedication
Construction
Hong Kong Disneyland had the shortest construction period among all the Disneyland-style theme parks. On January 12, 2003, more than 400 guests celebrated the groundbreakingGroundbreaking
Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and...
of Hong Kong Disneyland after the finishing of land reclamation in Penny's Bay
Penny's Bay
Penny's Bay or Chok Ko Wan is a bay in north-eastern Lantau Island, and is the site of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which consists of the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney's Hollywood Hotel, and the Inspiration Lake. It is connected by a highway and a rail...
. The audience included Tung Chee Hwa
Tung Chee Hwa
Tung Chee Hwa, GBM was the first Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China....
, then Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
; Michael D. Eisner, former Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
; Robert A. Iger, president of The Walt Disney Company; and Jay Rasulo
Jay Rasulo
James A. "Jay" Rasulo is the Senior Executive VP and CFO of the The Walt Disney Company. Prior to this, he was chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts from October 2005 until December 2009 when he switched positions with Thomas O. Staggs...
, former president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises...
. 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
Sleeping Beauty Castle
Sleeping Beauty Castle is the fairy tale structure castle at the center of Disneyland Park and Hong Kong Disneyland. It is based on the late-19th century Neuschwanstein Castle,with some French inspirations .-Disneyland version:Opened July 17, 1955, the castle is the oldest of all Disney castles...
. Hong Kong Disneyland opened to the public at 13:00 local time on September 12, 2005.
Timeline
- 1998
- August - The Walt Disney Company and the government of Hong Kong announce their intention to construct a themed entertainment park in Hong Kong, the second in Asia
- 1999
- February - Penny's Bay, Lantau Island is announced as the future site of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
- December 10 - Disney and the Hong Kong Government sign an agreement for building the second Disney Resort in Asia
- 2003
- January - Construction on Hong Kong Disneyland Resort begins
- 2004
- November 22 - Disney announces that the opening day of the park has been re-scheduled from 2006 to September 12, 2005
- 2005
- September 12 - Hong Kong Disneyland opens to the public at 13:00 local time
- 2006
- June - HKDL announces to release Summer Passes to boost its first year attendance
- July 13 - Autopia, Stitch Encounter and UFO Zone opens in HKDL as first part of its expansion
- August - Exclusive treats are provided for Summer Pass holders so as to further boost the park's attendance
- September 4 - More than 60,000 Summer Passes have been sold since July 1. However, Hong Kong Disneyland has missed its target of 5.6 million in the first year of operation, with only about 5 million guests entered the park since the opening
- September 28 - HKDL launches its annual pass
- September 30 - Disney's Halloween celebration held for the first time through October 31, 2006
- December 14 - HKDL announced three new attractions to be added to the park in 2007-2008
- 2007
- June 26 - HKDL revealed its attracttions for the park's 2007 summer - "Mickey's Summer Blast" and announcement of Mickey's Water Works Parade and Animation Academy's opening date- July 14, 2007
- December 19 - HKDL revealed 4 new attractions and entertainment venues to open in 2008 with "it's a small world": Muppet Mobile Lab, High School Musical Celebration, Turtle Talk with Crush and the Art of Animation
- 2008
- April 28 - "it's a small world" opens in HKDL as first extension of Fantasyland
- 2009
- July 10 - The Legislative Council of Hong KongLegislative Council of Hong KongThe Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
approved the three land expansion of HKDL - December 13 - Groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the three land expansion
- July 10 - The Legislative Council of Hong Kong
- 2010
- September 12 - HKDL celebrates its 5th year milestone
- 2011
- January 21 - HKDL hosts the year-long 5th anniversary programme "Celebration in the Air"
- November 18 - Toy Story Land opens
Park layout
The park is divided into "lands" (themed areas) and well-concealed backstage areas. On entering a land, a guest is completely immersed in a themed environmentTheming
Theming refers to "the use of an overarching theme...to create a holistic and integrated spatial organization of a consumer venue." Often themes are derived from history, different cultures and fantasy....
and is unable to see or hear any other realm. The idea behind this was to develop theatrical "stages" with seamless passages from one land to the next. The public areas occupy approximately 22.4 hectares (55 acres). When the park initially opened, it consisted of four classic themed areas:
- Main Street, U.S.A.Main Street, U.S.A.Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the main entrance of the many 'Magic Kingdom'-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world....
, designed to resemble an early 20th-century Midwest town; - Adventureland, featuring jungle-themed adventures;
- Toy Story Land, based on the Disney·PixarPixarPixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
film series Toy StoryToy Story (franchise)Toy Story is a CGI animated media franchise created by Pixar and distributed by Disney, beginning with the original 1995 film, Toy Story. The franchise focuses on a group of toys that secretly come to life and end up unexpectedly embarking on life-changing adventures...
. - FantasylandFantasylandFantasyland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world. Each Fantasyland has a castle as well as several gentle rides themed after Disney movies...
, bringing to life characters and places from Disney's movies for children; - TomorrowlandTomorrowland- Tomorrowland 1955–1967 :The first Tomorrowland opened at Disneyland on July 18, 1955, with only several of its planned attractions open, due to budget cuts. The construction of the park was rushed, so Tomorrowland was the last land to be finished. It became something of a corporate showcase,...
, an optimistic vision of the future.
In 2014, Hong Kong Disneyland will include a total of seven themed lands and be expanded to 27.4 hectares (68 acres). The new themed areas are:
- Grizzly Gulch, reminiscing an abandoned mining town set amidst mountains and woods. Opening 2012.
- Mystic PointMystic PointMystic Point, scheduled to open in 2013, is a new exciting themed land in Hong Kong Disneyland. It is set in a dense, uncharted rain forest surrounded by mysterious forces and supernatural events. The site will feature Mystic Manor, a Haunted Mansion style attraction with a trackless ride system...
, heart of a dense, uncharted rain forest where supernatural events take place. Opening 2013.
Throughout the park are 'Hidden Mickeys', or representations of Mickey Mouse heads inserted subtly into the design of attractions and environmental decor.
An elevated berm
Berm
A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier separating two areas. Berm originates in the Middle Dutch and German berme and came into usage in English via French.- History :...
supports a narrow gauge railroad that circumnavigates the park.
Lands of Hong Kong Disneyland
The park has five themed areas hosting various rides, shops, restaurants, and live entertainment.Main Street, U.S.A.
Inspired by the Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland, the buildings of this Main Street are almost identical to those in Anaheim. Like other Disney theme parks, Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street, U.S.A. serves as the entrance of the park. Plans originally featured a restaurant under the Railroad station, but were scrapped due to budget reasons. The decor is small-town America from the years 1890-1910.Though being very similar to Anaheim's main street, the theme is heavily influenced by European immigrants. Plaza Inn — which has the identical exterior design as the one in Disneyland — mimics a classical Chinese eatery that was created by a wealthy American couple who were infatuated with Chinese culture. Another restaurant, the Market House Bakery is reminiscent of a bakery founded by a Viennese
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
pastry chef
Pastry chef
A pastry chef or pâtissier is a station chef in a professional kitchen, skilled in the making of pastries, desserts, breads and other baked goods...
who brought the world's most famous desserts from the Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
imperial court
Imperial Court
An Imperial Court is the noble court of an empire .For example:*The noble court of an Emperor of China, Emperor of Japan, Emperor of Ethiopia, Emperor of Austria, Emperor of India, Emperor of Persia, etc....
.
Unlike Main Streets from other parks, Main Street at Hong Kong Disneyland is built mainly of wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
instead of stone
STONe
is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Sin-Ichi Hiromoto. Kodansha released the two bound volumes of the manga on April 23, 2002 and August 23, 2002, respectively.The manga is licensed for an English-languague released in North America be Tokyopop...
. There are no horse-drawn streetcars, though tracks for the streetcars can be seen from the concept arts.
Adventureland
Hong Kong Disneyland's Adventureland is the biggest among all Disney parks. It features a large island area home to Tarzan's TreehouseTarzan's Treehouse
Tarzan's Treehouse is a walk through attraction at Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland. It is styled after the 1999 film Tarzan.-Disneyland version:...
, which is circled by the Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise
The Jungle Cruise is an attraction located in Adventureland at many Disney Parks, including Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland. At Hong Kong Disneyland, the attraction is named Jungle River Cruise...
— much like the Rivers of America
Rivers of America (Disney)
The Rivers of America is an artificial river found in the Frontierland district of the Magic Kingdom-classed Disney theme parks around the world. The first river was built in Disneyland when the park opened in 1955. It surrounds Tom Sawyer Island, which can be reached by rafts traveling from the...
in most Frontierland
Frontierland
Tokyo Disneyland's instance is known as Westernland, as "frontier" does not adequately translate into the Japanese language. The Mark Twain sails this park's Rivers of America...
theme areas. The Adventureland is also home to the "Festival of the Lion King
Festival of the Lion King
Festival of the Lion King, an original interpretation of the Disney animated film The Lion King, is a live stage musical performed in Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Florida and in Adventureland at Hong Kong Disneyland...
" show.
Fantasyland
Fantasyland features Sleeping Beauty CastleSleeping Beauty Castle
Sleeping Beauty Castle is the fairy tale structure castle at the center of Disneyland Park and Hong Kong Disneyland. It is based on the late-19th century Neuschwanstein Castle,with some French inspirations .-Disneyland version:Opened July 17, 1955, the castle is the oldest of all Disney castles...
, as well as the Fantasy Gardens
Fantasy Gardens (Disney attraction)
Fantasy Gardens is an attraction located at Fantasyland in Hong Kong Disneyland, which is presented by Kodak. Visitors can encounter and take photos with most Disney characters in these lush gardens, such as*Mickey Mouse*Minnie Mouse*Pluto*Goofy...
where costumed Disney characters can be met.
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland features an emphasis on metallic trim, dominated by blue and purple hues. Since the opening of the park, unique attractions have been added into the Hong Kong's Tomorrowland, such as a new AutopiaAutopia
Autopia is a Disneyland attraction, in which patrons steer specially designed cars through an enclosed track. Versions of Autopia exist at Anaheim, California, Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France, and at Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island, Hong Kong...
and Stitch Encounter
Stitch Encounter
Stitch Encounter is an interactive show located in Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland. A similar attraction, under the name "Stitch Live!", is located inside Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris....
.
Toy Story Land
Opened November 18, 2011. Toy Story Land at Hong Kong Disneyland is themed using bamboo to act as giant blades of grass surrounding the area. The themed land will make use of characters from the Toy StoryToy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
movies, such as an enlarged Woody
Sheriff Woody
Sheriff Woody Pride, or simply Woody, is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Toy Story franchise . He is voiced by Tom Hanks in the films, and by Jim Hanks in most other media.-Toy Story:...
, Rex, an oversized paper plane, and Luxo Jr.
The land is located to the west side of Hong Kong Disneyland, behind Fantasyland
Fantasyland
Fantasyland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world. Each Fantasyland has a castle as well as several gentle rides themed after Disney movies...
.
Grizzly Gulch
Grizzly Gulch, scheduled to open in 2012, is Hong Kong Disneyland's equivalent of FrontierlandFrontierland
Tokyo Disneyland's instance is known as Westernland, as "frontier" does not adequately translate into the Japanese language. The Mark Twain sails this park's Rivers of America...
and Critter Country
Critter Country
When Splash Mountain opened at Tokyo Disneyland, Critter Country was specifically created for it. The only other attraction in this area is Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes . Because of the land's small size and the popularity of Splash Mountain, Critter Country is extremely crowded throughout the day...
. The themed land reminisces an abandoned mining town called "Grizzly Gulch", set amidst mountains and woods. The centerpiece structure will be Grizzly Peak
Grizzly Peak (Disneyland Resort)
Grizzly Peak is the centerpiece of Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Grizzly Peak is a man-made, mountain in the shape of a grizzly bear, which represents California's state animal...
, inspired by Disney California Adventure. The town was set to be founded August 8, 1888 — the luckiest day of the luckiest month of the luckiest year — by prospectors looking to discover gold.
Mystic Point
Mystic Point, scheduled to open in 2013, is a new themed land in Hong Kong Disneyland. It is set in a dense, uncharted rain forest surrounded by mysterious forces and supernatural events. The site will feature Mystic Manor, sets as a home to a world traveler and adventurer.Entertainment and celebrations
The park features a daytime parade "Flights of FantasyFlights of Fantasy Parade
Disney's Flights of Fantasy Parade premiered on January 18, 2011 as part of the Celebration in the Air, celebrating the 5th anniversary of Hong Kong Disneyland...
" as well as a nighttime firework show "Disney in the Stars
Disney in the Stars
Disney in the Stars is the nightly fireworks performance at the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park in Lantau, Hong Kong.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...
", and "Tinker Bell Castle Illumination", a new nighttime show that debuted along with "Celebration In The Air". Seasonal entertainment, such as "Disney's Haunted Halloween", "A Sparkling Christmas", and "Disney's Chinese New Year", are held in the park to celebrate major holidays.
Pubic transports
Here is the pubic trasport to Tung ChungTung Chung
Tung Chung, meaning 'eastern stream', is an area situated on the north-western coast of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Tung Chung, currently one of the latest generation of new towns, was formerly a rural village around Tung Chung Wan, and along the delta and lower courses of Tung Chung River and Ma...
,Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
and Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
Jointly operated for Long Win BusLong Win BusLong Win Bus Company Limited provides bus service to northern Lantau Island and the Hong Kong International Airport...
and cityflyerCityflyerCityflyer is a airport coach service provided by Citybus . The service was started during the opening of the Hong Kong Airport in 1998.-Fleet:...
R8 Disneyland <>Lantau Link Toll plazaEntertainment
Flights of Fantasy Parade- The parade premiered on 18 January 2011 as part of "Celebration in the Air", celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Hong Kong Disneyland. The parade replaced Disney on ParadeDisney on ParadeDisney on Parade was a daytime parade of the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It was debuted on rehearsal days throughout June, 2005, before the grand opening of Hong Kong Disneyland on September 12, 2005. The parade takes a few floats and themes from Tokyo...
, which had been running since the park's opening. Steve Davison, producer of World of Color in Disney California Adventure, said that he was working on a parade for the 5th anniversary celebration.
Disney in the Stars
- Disney in the Stars is a nightly fireworks show based on Fantasy in the SkyFantasy in the SkyFantasy in the Sky was a fireworks performance at Disneyland Paris from 1993 to 2005 in Marne-la-Vallee, France, Disneyland in Anaheim, California from 1958 to 2000, shortly again in 2004, and at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, until 2003....
at other Disney parks. FireworksFireworksFireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
and pyrotechnicsPyrotechnicsPyrotechnics is the science of using materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound...
are coordinated to orchestrated classic Disney musics such as "A Whole New WorldA Whole New World"A Whole New World" is the Oscar winning featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is a ballad between the primary characters Aladdin and Jasmine about the new world they are going to discover together....
". The show premiered on 12 September 2005 at the park's inaugural ceremony.
Muppet Mobile Lab
- A Muppet Mobile Lab is a free-roving, audio-animatronic entertainment implemented on a SegwaySegway PTThe Segway PT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation machine invented by Dean Kamen. It is produced by Segway Inc. of New Hampshire, USA. The name "Segway" is a homophone of "segue" while "PT" denotes personal transporter....
platform. It features an interactive comedy show performed by two Muppet characters, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker, both riding their two-wheeled laboratory vehicle.
The Grand Opening Celebration Album
Hong Kong Disneyland: The Grand Opening Celebration Album was the soundtrack for the grand opening ceremony of Hong Kong Disneyland at Hong Kong Disneyland ResortHong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a resort built by the Government of Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company in Hong Kong on reclaimed land beside Penny's Bay, at the northeastern tip of Lantau Island, approximately two kilometres from Discovery Bay...
. Much of the album are Cantonese or Mandarin cover of theme songs of animated Disney films. The package contains a DVD featuring music videos. The album does not contain any music used in the park.
Track listing
- Released: 2 September 2005
- Label: Sony Music EntertainmentSony Music EntertainmentSony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
(Hong Kong) - Language: Cantonese and MandarinStandard MandarinStandard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
- Status: Out of print
- Jacky CheungJacky CheungJacky Cheung is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor. The Chinese language media refers to him, Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings , with more than 60 million records sold as of 2000....
- "Let the Wonder Soar" (讓奇妙飛翔) (Cantonese) - TwinsTwins (group)Twins is a Hong Kong-based female Cantopop duo which was created in the summer of 2001 by Emperor Entertainment Group . Twins is made up of two girls, Charlene Choi Cheuk-Yin and Gillian Chung Yan-Tung. They were a popular group in Hong Kong and a top band in China. Their fanbase included Japan,...
- "it's a small world" - Eason ChanEason ChanEason Chan Yik-shun is a prominent male singer in Hong Kong's music industry. Undoubtedly one of the most dominant male singers in the post-1997 era of Hong Kong music industry. Eason Chan has been praised by Time magazine as a front runner in the next generation of Cantopop...
- "A Whole New WorldA Whole New World"A Whole New World" is the Oscar winning featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is a ballad between the primary characters Aladdin and Jasmine about the new world they are going to discover together....
" (from Aladdin) - Karen MokKaren MokKaren Joy Morris, known more commonly in the Sinosphere as Karen Mok or Mok Man-Wai, is a three-time Golden Melody Award-winning Hong Kong-based actress and singer-songwriter.- Biography :...
- "When You Wish upon a StarWhen You Wish upon a Star"When You Wish upon a Star" is a song written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney's 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio. The original version of the song was sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket, and is heard over the opening credits and again in the final scene of the...
" (from PinocchioPinocchio (1940 film)Pinocchio is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the story The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. It is the second film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, and it was made after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and was released to theaters by...
) - TwinsTwins (group)Twins is a Hong Kong-based female Cantopop duo which was created in the summer of 2001 by Emperor Entertainment Group . Twins is made up of two girls, Charlene Choi Cheuk-Yin and Gillian Chung Yan-Tung. They were a popular group in Hong Kong and a top band in China. Their fanbase included Japan,...
- "Mickey Mouse Theme" - Jolin TsaiJolin TsaiJolin Tsai was born on 15 September 1980. She is a Taiwanese Golden Melody Award-winning Mandopop singer, dancer and actor. She is managed by Mars Entertainment Ltd .-Career:...
- "Under the SeaUnder the Sea-Parodies:In 1991, this song was parodied by musician Tom Smith with his song, "On The PC". This song was re-written in 1999 as "PC99".The song was parodied on the TV show Kappa Mikey where Mikey tries to convince a squid to live on land with him....
" (from The Little MermaidThe Little Mermaid (1989 film)The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 14, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in...
) - Kelly ChenKelly ChenKelly Chen is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Kelly has also been known as a diva in Asia. She has a great success in Asia Entertainment industry with nearly 20 million record sales of 38 albums...
& KellyjackieKellyjackieJackie Chan Hiu-ki a.k.a. Kellyjackie is a Hong Kong pop singer and a former member of a band called the Royals. Her artist name, Kellyjackie, is an amalgam of the name of her childhood idol, Kelly Chen, and her own name "Jackie"....
- "On a Date With Him to Disneyland" (他約我去迪士尼) - Nicholas TseNicholas TseNicholas Tse is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter, actor and musician, and son of actor Patrick Tse. He is a member of the Emperor Entertainment Group...
- "Bare Necessities" (from The Jungle BookThe Jungle Book (1967 film)The Jungle Book is a 1967 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Released on October 18, 1967, it is the 19th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was inspired by the stories about the feral child Mowgli from the book of the same name by...
) - CoCo LeeCoCo LeeCoco Lee , born on 17 January 1975, also known by her official English name as Ferren Lee, is a pop singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Coco started her career in Hong Kong but, after becoming popular in Taiwan, she was widely considered to be a Taiwan artist. She was born to a Chinese...
- "Colors of the WindColors of the Wind"Colors of the Wind" by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, was the 1995 Oscar-winner for Best Original Song from the Disney animated feature film, Pocahontas. It also won the Golden Globe in the same category as well as the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Movie...
" (from PocahontasPocahontas (1995 film)Pocahontas is the 33rd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and was originally released to selected theaters on June 16, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures...
) - Joey YungJoey YungJoey Yung is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress from Emperor Entertainment Group. She won the prestigious JSG "Most Popular Female Singer" and "Ultimate Best Female Singer - Gold" awards a record breaking six times, thus emerging as one of the premier Cantonese singers in Hong Kong...
- "Undying True Love" (from Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (1991 film)Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
) - Kelly ChenKelly ChenKelly Chen is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Kelly has also been known as a diva in Asia. She has a great success in Asia Entertainment industry with nearly 20 million record sales of 38 albums...
- "ReflectionReflection (song)"Reflection" is a song featured on the soundtrack of the 1998 animated film Mulan, recorded by American recording artist Christina Aguilera. In the months before the recording of the track, Aguilera approached RCA, which gave her the chance to record the theme song to the film Mulan...
" (from MulanMulanMulan is a 1998 American animated film directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, with story by Robert D. San Souci and screenplay by Rita Hsiao, Philip LaZebnik, Chris Sanders, Eugenia Bostwick-Singer, and Raymond Singer. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney...
) - Harlem YuHarlem YuHarlem Yu was born 28 July 1961. He is a Taiwanese Golden Melody Award singer-songwriter. He was the first artist to experiment with the style of R&B and rap in Chinese music. He has released 14 studio albums. He contribution to the Asian music industry has earned him the reputation of 'God of...
- "Can You Feel the Love TonightCan You Feel the Love Tonight250px|thumb|right|Simba and Nala embrace during the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" sequence."Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a song from Disney's 1994 animated film, The Lion King, composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice. It was described by Don Hahn , Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff as...
" (from The Lion KingThe Lion KingThe Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
) - Jacky Cheung - "Let the Wonder Soar" (讓奇妙飛翔) (MandarinStandard MandarinStandard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
)
DVD
- Subtitles: Traditional Chinese
- Region Code: All region
- "Let the Wonder Soar" (讓奇妙飛翔) music video – Jacky Cheung
- "Let the Wonder Soar" (讓奇妙飛翔) music video – Jacky Cheung
- "On a Date With Him to Disneyland" (他約我去迪士尼) music video - Kelly Chen & Kellyjackie
- Cars trailer
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe trailer
- Chicken Little trailer
- Sky High trailer
Finished construction
Tomorrowland
- Tomorrowland 1955–1967 :The first Tomorrowland opened at Disneyland on July 18, 1955, with only several of its planned attractions open, due to budget cuts. The construction of the park was rushed, so Tomorrowland was the last land to be finished. It became something of a corporate showcase,...
that opened in the summer of 2006. In 2008, the Art of Animation
Art of Disney Animation
The Art of Disney Animation is an attraction at the Walt Disney Studios Park, located in Disneyland Paris. It first opened in 2002, along with the park, and is situated in the Toon Studio area...
, located in the Opera House, and the classic attraction "it's a small world" were added. The outer edge of Adventureland was under construction from early May to September 2008, adjacent to Festival of The Lion King. A temporary structure for Demon Jungle, an exclusive attraction for the 2008 Halloween, was built.
Recent construction
The Walt Disney Company has been negotiating with the Commerce and Economic Development BureauCommerce and Economic Development Bureau
The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau is an agency of the Government of Hong Kong responsible for a range of activities such as commercial relations, investment, intellectual property enforcement, industry, tourism sector, consumer protection and market competition...
of Hong Kong on funding the upcoming extension. The park plans to introduce three new theme lands, which will increase the total land area of the park by about 12 hectares. A number of new rides had been chosen and will be built in order to the market of young-adults and teenagers. It is reported that the preparation for groundbreaking has been finished and the park is ready to start the construction once it has granted permission from the government.
On 30 June 2009, Donald Tsang
Donald Tsang
Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, GBM, KBE is the current Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong....
, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
, announced that the expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland had been approved by the Executive Council
Executive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
. The park will receive three new themed lands — Grizzly Trail, Mystic Point
Mystic Point
Mystic Point, scheduled to open in 2013, is a new exciting themed land in Hong Kong Disneyland. It is set in a dense, uncharted rain forest surrounded by mysterious forces and supernatural events. The site will feature Mystic Manor, a Haunted Mansion style attraction with a trackless ride system...
and Toy Story Land — which all located outside the Disneyland Railroad track, south to the current Adventureland.
The park will feature a total of seven themed areas after the completion of all the new attraction. The groundbreaking took place on 13 December 2009 for the construction of the three new lands.
Planned construction
Currently, a new shopping district (Downtown DisneyHong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a resort built by the Government of Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company in Hong Kong on reclaimed land beside Penny's Bay, at the northeastern tip of Lantau Island, approximately two kilometres from Discovery Bay...
) and a third hotel are taken into discussions. For long-term construction, with the reclaimed land reserved for the Phase 2 Extension, it is expected that the resort's second Disney theme park will be built on that site. A Phase 3 Extension is also being considered by the Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong Government.
Overcrowding problems
Just before the grand opening, the park was criticised for overestimating the daily capacity limit. The problem became apparent on the charity preview day on 4 September 2005, when 30,000 locals visited the park. The event turned out to be a disaster, as there were too many guests. Wait times at fast food outlets were at least 45 minutes, and wait times at rides went up to 2 hours.Although the park's shareholders and the Hong Kong Government set pressure upon the park to lower the capacity, the park insisted on keeping the limit, only agreeing to relieve the capacity problem by extending the opening time by one hour and introducing more discounts during weekdays. However, the park stated that local visitors tend to stay in the park for more than nine hours per visit, implying that the mentioned practices would do little to solve the problem.
During Chinese New Year 2006, many visitors arrived at the park in the morning bearing valid tickets, but were refused entry, because the park was already at full capacity. Disgruntled visitors attempted to force their way into the park and climbing over the barrier gates. Disneyland management was forced to revise their ticketing policy and designated future periods close to Chinese public holidays as 'special days' during which admission would only be allowed through a date-specific ticket.
Fingerprinting
As at other Disney theme parks, visitors to Hong Kong Disneyland have their finger biometricsBiometrics
Biometrics As Jain & Ross point out, "the term biometric authentication is perhaps more appropriate than biometrics since the latter has been historically used in the field of statistics to refer to the analysis of biological data [36]" . consists of methods...
scanned at the entry gate. Visitors are not warned of the policy beforehand. Fingerprinting is done of all visitors older than 11 years of age, and is used to associate ticket media with the person using it. The company claims that the surface of a guest's finger do not contain sufficient information to recreate a fingerprint image. Nonetheless, forensic specialists note that the data collected are more than adequate to establish a positive identification.
Public relations
Disney initially refused to release the attendance figures after media reports surfaced saying the park's attendance numbers might be lower than expected. Disney finally declared on 24 November 2005, that Disney had over 1 million guests during its first two months of operation.In response to negative publicity locally and to boost visitor numbers, Hong Kong Disneyland offered $50 discounts for admission tickets to holders of Hong Kong I.D. cards in the period before 2005 Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
. Also, from March to June 2006, the park offered Hong Kong I.D. card holders the opportunity to purchase a two-day admission ticket for the price of a single day ticket.