Disneyland Hong Kong! Grand Opening.

[CookieS]

I'm surprised by the emergence of Hong Kong Disneyland (http://disney.go.com/inside/issues/stories/v050913.html). I must have been out of the loop, because this is the first I've heard of this. It appears they've pratically remade Disneyland somewhere in Hong Kong. The article has some pictures you can scope out.

Not long ago, it was nothing but a stretch of sand and landfill in Penny's Bay. In January 2003, two-and-a-half years of feverish construction commenced. And this week sees the debut of the world's newest outpost of magic. Modeled closely on Walt Disney's original Disneyland park but graced with unique features, Hong Kong Disneyland is poised to open -- and the Imagineers who created it couldn't be more excited.

The Insider spoke to Tim Delaney, Walt Disney Imagineering vice president and executive designer, who guided the design of Hong Kong Disneyland's Tomorrowland. He told us what it was like creating the Park, and about what's new and unique to Hong Kong Disneyland.

"I've been in Hong Kong for a total of about eight months," says Tim. "The weather was certainly a challenge - with the monsoon seasons, horizontal wind, and instant downpours.

We spent most days - and often nights - on site, overseeing the construction, testing the new effects in Space Mountain, and working with the artist on the 52 planetary globes to be sure the high-tech paint provided just the right effect."

Planetary globes? It should be clear that Hong Kong's Tomorrowland, and indeed the whole Park, is not a carbon copy of other Disneyland-style Parks around the globe. In fact, much care was taken to make Hong Kong Disneyland a unique destination that blends beautifully into its surroundings and expresses the culture of Hong Kong, as well as the magic of Disney. Hong Kong Disneyland mixes classic attractions like the Jungle River Cruise and the Mad Hatter Tea Cups with features you won't find anywhere else - like a lush Fantasy Gardens that gives Guests a chance to meet Disney Characters, and a virtual koi pond in the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel's flagship restaurant, the Golden Lotus. Disneyland Hotel also sports a hedge maze formed in the shape of a certain famous big-eared profile.

Envisioning Tomorrowland posed a special challenge, according to Tim. "We had to create a 'land of tomorrow' right across the bay from the ultimate 'city of the future.' We said to ourselves, 'how do we build tomorrow in the real Tomorrowland of Hong Kong?'"

"We chose to create a Tomorrowland that is 'other-worldly,' with a spaceport and planetary theme. In the context of the high-tech environment of Hong Kong, this made the most sense," Tim explains.

Read More.. (http://disney.go.com/inside/issues/stories/v050913.html) What Do you guys think? Oh yeah, the official website is located here (http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage). Love the music :)

[TimTwoFace]

I'm sure it's a good park and all, but unless I lived in the area, I wouldn't be making any trips to go see it any time soon - it looks almost identical to the original Disneyland, but with only about half the attractions.

In time, I'm sure it'll be really cool, though.

I wonder where Disney will decide to build a brand new park next.

-Tim

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

All I hear about Euro Disney is jokes and how it's a big failure compared to the American parks. Can't help but wonder about the HK one in that way.

[SimpsonGuy100]

If I was in Hong Kong, I would be happy. But from my view, it looks pretty tacky compared to all the other parks across the world. I heard rumours that they were once going to make a Disneyland in Scotland but I don't think it will happen. Not really.

All I hear about Euro Disney is jokes and how it's a big failure compared to the American parks.
A big failure? Is that correct? If it is, I'm really shocked. I have been to Euro Disney (now called Disneyland Resort Paris) 3 times already and me and my family absolutely love it! How could it possibly turn out to be bad...at all?

[sKorpia]

WARNING! Lots of images ahead.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/3f97f320.jpg
The Disney-fied MTR trains that take people to the park.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/cd7260fb.jpg
Mouse handholds

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/2faa0bf1.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/7b7dd2b8.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/9eef1ae8.jpg
All along the train were bronze statues of various Disney figures. (Top to bottom: Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Chip and Dale) Other figures included Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Tinkerbell, and Jiminy Cricket.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/b7ef85c2.jpg
At the junctions between cars were these old photo insets of the original Disneyland.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/fcfba497.jpg
Part of the Disneyland Resort train station.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/8b37878a.jpg
The gate to the Disneyland Resort. Because exiting the station would have meant paying another fare to get back to Kowloon, I just snapped the shot from within the station.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/f700bf3b.jpg
The world through mouse windows.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/0c88afd4.jpg
The train line opened up over a month before the actual park opened. As you can see, I wasn't the only one in those early days who wanted to check out the new trains. Unfortunately, I had to leave shortly thereafter so, until I can get back to HK, I'll have to wait to see the park itself.

[Metroid_spy]

WARNING! Lots of images ahead.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/3f97f320.jpg
The Disney-fied MTR trains that take people to the park.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/cd7260fb.jpg
Mouse handholds

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/2faa0bf1.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/7b7dd2b8.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/9eef1ae8.jpg
All along the train were bronze statues of various Disney figures. (Top to bottom: Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Chip and Dale) Other figures included Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Tinkerbell, and Jiminy Cricket.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/b7ef85c2.jpg
At the junctions between cars were these old photo insets of the original Disneyland.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/fcfba497.jpg
Part of the Disneyland Resort train station.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/8b37878a.jpg
The gate to the Disneyland Resort. Because exiting the station would have meant paying another fare to get back to Kowloon, I just snapped the shot from within the station.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/f700bf3b.jpg
The world through mouse windows.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/0c88afd4.jpg
The train line opened up over a month before the actual park opened. As you can see, I wasn't the only one in those early days who wanted to check out the new trains. Unfortunately, I had to leave shortly thereafter so, until I can get back to HK, I'll have to wait to see the park itself. Cool pics! Everything's all mouse shaped. Well after all its Disney.

[DisneyBoy]

I eagerly await the day I can visit Disneyland Paris. The castle looks stunning!

As for Hong Kong Disneyland, I don't see myself ever getting enthusiastic about it. Besides, didn't people living in Asia fly over to Florida or California strictly to visit a Disney resort before? By building a theme park closer to those people, is Disney tapping into the market, or simply losing the money they would have earned at the other parks?

[SimpsonGuy100]

I eagerly await the day I can visit Disneyland Paris. The castle looks stunning!It is indeed. Especially near the nighttime, it just gleams! If you want to go there, I say good on you! It's a wonderful, beautiful and really, really fun place and I highly recommend it to anybody.



WARNING! Lots of images ahead.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/3f97f320.jpg
The Disney-fied MTR trains that take people to the park.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/cd7260fb.jpg
Mouse handholds

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/2faa0bf1.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/7b7dd2b8.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/9eef1ae8.jpg
All along the train were bronze statues of various Disney figures. (Top to bottom: Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Chip and Dale) Other figures included Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Tinkerbell, and Jiminy Cricket.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/b7ef85c2.jpg
At the junctions between cars were these old photo insets of the original Disneyland.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/fcfba497.jpg
Part of the Disneyland Resort train station.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/8b37878a.jpg
The gate to the Disneyland Resort. Because exiting the station would have meant paying another fare to get back to Kowloon, I just snapped the shot from within the station.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/f700bf3b.jpg
The world through mouse windows.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/0c88afd4.jpg
The train line opened up over a month before the actual park opened. As you can see, I wasn't the only one in those early days who wanted to check out the new trains. Unfortunately, I had to leave shortly thereafter so, until I can get back to HK, I'll have to wait to see the park itself.
Nice train! But I'm still not that convienced with Disneyland HK yet. Hopefully the pics of the park will come soon.

[ToOn~g@l]

WARNING! Lots of images ahead.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/3f97f320.jpg
The Disney-fied MTR trains that take people to the park.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/skorpianfyre/cd7260fb.jpg
Mouse handholds

Now why did they not think of those before, those are awesome, and the monorails would look more inviting if they had those features.

Yeah I did not know they were opening a Hong Kong Disneyland until I started working here, one of my managers would say 15 days until Hong Kong Disneyland and I would be like, what's happening in Hong Kong?

I love the castle there, it looks cuter than the other four to me for some reason, and it seems smaller.

Any way I would like to say congrats to those who made it all possible, and that they will be able to thrive there.

[TimTwoFace]

I remember hearing that Euro-Disneyland was a failure when it first opened, due to a whole swatch of reasons; lately, though, I thought it had improved to become respectable and draw decent crowds.

I'd like to check out all the Disney parks just to see the differences between them and the two American parks, some day; I wonder when the park in India is going to be built.

-Tim

[CookieS]

Disneyland Hong Kong is almost exactly like Disneyland, California. I don't think I'd go there specifically to visit it. I suppose the Hong Kong locals enjoy a little bit of Americana in their backyard. Serious, if you've been to Flordia or California, Hong Kong doesn't offer anything different. I think EuroDisney has a little bit more of a twist on the Disney formula.

[Sailor V]

I know it's awesome!

[SimpsonGuy100]

I know it's awesome!
Which one? The HK one, the one you got where you are or Euro-Disney?

[Discloner]

By building a theme park closer to those people, is Disney tapping into the market, or simply losing the money they would have earned at the other parks?Not really...since all the people paying to go to Hong Kong Disney will still be giving the company the money they would've spent on going to Disneyland or DisneyWorld. Just now more people are likely to go...considering they don't have to pay for transcontinental airfare, nor worry about being able to deal with the language barrier.

In a sense, it's taking away from the crowd at the various other Disney resorts...but Disney's getting the money anyway so I doesn't really matter.

[TimTwoFace]

I wonder if this new park will affect the amount of people making a pilgrimmage to Tokyo Disneyland...

-Tim