Hong Kong Expansion

[Gerard]

new lands for Hong Kong
http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/

Grizzly Trail
Grizzly Gulch, Frontier Gold-Mining Town

Mystic Point

Toy Story© Land
Disney·Pixar-themed Play Area for Kids of All Ages

[KeithS]

You beat me to it - there will be a lot of discussion about this in the coming days!

Some of the things coming soon to HKDL:
A new roller coaster
A new ride using the trackless ride system like Pooh's Hunny Hunt!
The Adventurer's Club! (but without the show I guess...)
All unique theming!

Things are looking up at HKDL

Micechat are currently running a thread on this with some much larger concept art images. See it here:
http://micechat.com/forums/hong-kong-di ... t-art.html

[ajp]

Haven't been to HK, so won't really understand what this will do to expand the park, but any expansion is good expansion. The theming looks good though, so I'm looking forward to seeing it. That club trip Keith mooted will be a good one.

The one thing that did strike me when I was reading the Reuters article was the mention of this work being critical in view of the proposed 2014 opening of the Shanghai park. Is it just me or is Disney now in a position of having to compete with itself? They are urgently expanding HK to ensure that it is still seen as a viable alternative to the, much larger (stated to be 10x larger) and newer park and resort in Shanghai. I assume (and it is only an assumption) that some of the trade comes from Mainland China to HK park, so this extra cash into HK may be too little too late.

I may actually put off a trip to HK now until 2014, and I suppose a double header into Shangai would be the obvious trip (although China is still not a desired destination). But I hope that the Shanghai locale will not cut off their HK nose to spite their overall corporate face.

By the way, where's Loomis? Haven't seen him around for such a long time.

[KeithS]

Is it just me or is Disney now in a position of having to compete with itself?

Not sure if they are thinking about competition from themselves, but I do think they are desperately worried about other competition - namely the new Universal Studios park which is well under construction in Singapore (Disney was originally looking at the site for a park of their own...but they dragged their feet and lost out - just like when they lost the Harry Potter opportunity).

Also Paramount and Universal are building theme parks in South Korea - which is setting itself up to be an Asian mega theme park hub (although construction has begun on both parks, it has slowed down due to the financial crisis - I'm starting to feel these parks may never see the light of day - just like the South Korean MGM theme park that was announced in 2006, but later cancelled).

By the way, where's Loomis? Haven't seen him around for such a long time.

Me neither - I don't know if his website is running either - if not, now is the time to kick start it again!

[mushu mama]

I read some of the micechat thread about these expasions, but when they start dissing DCA, I went elsewhere. It irritates me when people go on about how DCA is substandard entertainment. Some of my favourite parts of my whole trip were to be had in DCA. The just don't know how lucky they are to be able to visit so regularly, and someone should tell them that Grizzly river refers to the water and the bears.... not the grumply folk peopling the park.

Anyhoo.... i'm all for any exansion to a park in a place that absolutely fascinates me. China has some mystical draw on me and thats the next place I am going - whenever that might be. Can't wait to see first hand how Disney translates into Chinese culture. Love the whole thing.

Lisa. -/

[KeithS]

I read some of the micechat thread about these expasions, but when they start dissing DCA, I went elsewhere.

Tell me about it! I only linked that thread because they had the big versions of the HK Expansion artwork.

Yep - sometimes they don't know what they have in their own backyard. But I guess they complain about it like Sydneysiders complain about the railway system - we actually have good trains, but complain because we don't know any better (not as good as Tokyo and HK - but way better than most other cities - try catching a train in LA or Toronto and see how the other side lives!)

[mushu mama]

yep, the pictures were good.

Thanks for the links.. .I don't have the time to go looking for that stuff so its great to be able to check out whats happening with one click.

And for a slight twist on the expansion discussion....
I served an Australian lady at work today who just moved back to Australia from Shanghai( yes, I was eavedropping and heard her talking about it to her mum) and I asked if she knew much about the new park there. She said " do I ever!.... I lived next door to where they are building it... literally next door" I could have pumped her for more info had I not been flat out in the middle of a massive sale day. She was very interesting though. I didn't hear anything new that I hadn't read, but the perspective of someone who'd had it happening on her doorstep was very interesting. Its a small world after all.

Lisa. */

[BrizMarc]

I am amazed that they are going ahead with the Shanghai park. I keep reading reports thats its on and then off and then on and then off. I say just leave hongkong and put all the effort into it.

[churros]

Wasn't sure if anyone had seen the HKDL artwork
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2009/ ... twork.html

[Loomis]

The new Walt Disney Company 2009 Annual Report gives us a look back at how the parks have been performing, but also gives us a glimpse into the future of attractions at parks around the world. We all know what will be happening at HKDL, but now we have some video to show you from the same report!

The HKDL Source : New video on HKDL expansion

Enjoy!

[churros]

I don't want to wait until 2014 to go back to HKDL

[KeithS]

Hong Kong Disneyland officially opened the new Toy Story expansion yesterday!

Can't wait to see the other two areas finally opening in the coming 18 months.

[churros]

News article
http://www.ntn24.com/news/news/toy-stor ... disneyland

and a YouTube clip (you need an interpreter)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... vqGQDx2ir4

[churros]

and here's the opening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahuH49jxR0w

[BrizMarc]

Looks cheap and nasty. I hope the other new lands are a bit more exciting. This feels very rushed and to be honest themeing lands singly to movies just doesnt do it for me.