Hong Kong Disneyland
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HongKongDisneylandLogo.jpg
Hong Kong Disneyland is a theme park currently being built by The Walt Disney Company and the Government of Hong Kong as part of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in reclaimed land off Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. The park will feature four themed lands - Main Street, USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland) similar to those at other Disney parks, and nightly fireworks.
The park will welcome its first guests on September 12, 2005 (Monday).
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Construction
On November 18, 2004, a special ceremony was held in the park to commemorate a major building milestone - the placing of the tallest turret of Sleeping Beauty Castle (a major symbol of the park) in place. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Tung Chee Hwa and the president of Disney Parks and Resorts, Jay Rasulo, as well as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Michael Eisner were all there, as were Mickey and the gang.
Hongkongcastle.jpg
As of February 2005, the park's major attractions are completed and only themeing is needed on these. Scenery and decorations in the park are still yet to be completed, as are building façades. The gardens are to be laid in late-March.
Transport
The Disneyland Resort Line is one of the major means to reach there. It is an MTR Railway Line connecting the current railway metro system to Hong Kong Disneyland.
Attractions on Opening Day
This subject has caused a lot of criticism among Disney fans. There is not one attraction that will be open on opening day that is unique to Hong Kong Disneyland, and the number of attractions is quite limited. Also, many "classic" attractions (such as "it's a small world," the Haunted Mansion, or Pirates of the Caribbean) considered essential to Magic Kingdom-style Disney theme parks have not been included. The following released line-up is as follows;
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Mickey's PhilharMagic
- Jungle Cruise
- Space Mountain
- Mad Tea Party
- Carousel
- Tarzan’s Treehouse
- Tarzan Rocks!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Disneyland Railroad
- Astro Orbitor
Autopia is comfirmed to appear sometime shortly after opening as it is on the park map while Pirates of the Caribbean will come later in a updated form.
Controversies
Shark fin soup controversy
Disney plans to serve shark fin soup, a traditional Chinese delicacy, at wedding banquets [1] (http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GE31Ak01.html). Animal rights groups protested in June 2005, citing the declining shark population in global waters.
As a result, Disney removed shark's fin soup from its menu. They will still offer the soup if their clients insist on having it served at their wedding banquet, but they will distribute leaflets about shark conservation to discourage the choice. [2] (http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GF10Ak01.html)
Smoking
Disney is also criticized for allowing smoking at its Hong Kong Disneyland restaurants -- a practise banned in its American theme parks and even smoker-friendly Japan.
Trivia
- The plans for the park, when released in early 2001, made it clear that Hong Kong Disneyland would be based on the original 1950 plans for Disneyland in California - including just four lands (Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland). Public outcry both from Disney fans and the Chinese caused the addition of Frontierland to the plans which would come later on, possibly as a second phase expansion.
- This is the first project of The Walt Disney Company's extension into Asia (despite the Tokyo Disney Resort having opened more than twenty years ago). Animation studios have been set up in India, Disney has been extensively advertising and publicising the traditional characters on billboards and Asian-only Disney cartoon shows, and plans are being drawn up for a second Chinese resort in the mainland, probably in Shanghai. Scouts are also reportedly surveying Australia for a new resort.
See also
- Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
- Penny's Bay
- Tourism in Hong Kong
- List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
External Links
- Hong Kong Disneyland (Official Website) (http://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/eng/index.html)
- Hong Kong Disneyland news (http://www.disneylandreport.com)
- Gallery of publicity photos and park map (http://www.picturetrail.com/hongkongdisneyland)