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In 1955, Walt Disney entralled the world with the construction and opening of his Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. Today, the original park is now a multi-park resort and there are parks and resorts in Florida, Tokyo and Paris. In August of 1998, Disney announced their intentions to build the fifth such resort around the world in Hong Kong.
On 2 November 1999, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (The SAR Government), Mr Tung Chee Hwa, announced that Disney would be building a theme park and resort hotel complex on Hong Kong's Lantau Island. The project would be undertaken as a joint venture between The SAR Government and Disney under the banner of Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited. The SAR Government has a 57% control of shares in the project, while Disney retains the other 43%. The projected cost of the park was around the $14.1 billion mark.
At this stage in the development, the then-Walt Disney Attractions Chairman, Judson Green, announced a spectacular park. Imagineers had designed Peter Pan and Little Mermaid attractions in Fantasyland. Adventureland would have been the place to visit a dinosaur archeological site and ride a jungle rollercoaster. More importantly, the original plans included a Toon Town and a Frontierland, the latter of which was to feature Haunted Mansion, river rapid rafts and the It's Tough to Be a Bug show (for some reason). As you will see, it became a smaller Disney world after all.
Construction
Before work on the actual park could commence, the appropriate land was needed for the site. Having already decided on Lantau Island, the SAR Government undertook a massive land reclamation project, extending the otherwise limited space they had for the park. The project gave the team an expandable 126 Hectares (310 acres) on which to place the park, hotels and recreation centre.
Phase I construction began on the actual resort in January 2003, with site preparation and appropriate infrastructure having been built in the interim. The infrastructure work was undertaken by The SAR Government, at a projected cost of $13.6 billion. The location for the contruction began on reclaimed land in Penny Bay, on Hong Kong's Lantau Island. It was also to be the shortest construction in the history of Disney theme parks.
When Disneyland Paris, formerly EuroDisney, opened in 1992, there was a great deal of friction concerning the cultural values that Disney were placing in the middle of Europe. As a result, feng shui - being the ancient Chinese tradition of placement and arrangement of space to try and achieve a kind of harmony with the environment - was considered from the the very start of construction. For example, neither of the hotels have a level "four". The number four is considered unlucky in Chinese culture, as it closely resembles the word for "death".
By May 2004, when a second major press release was made available detailing the 'Facts and Figures' of the park, it was clear that some major changes had been made to the plan. Gone was any mention of Peter Pan, the Little Mermaid, dinosaurs and rollercoasters in the jungle. Indeed, gone altogether was any mention of Toon Town and Frontierland. A few months later, in September of the same year, a Castle Topping ceremony took place for Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Fantasyland. It was one of the smallest Sleeping Beauty Castles in the world. With a pre-opening reputation for a park that was being built on the cheap, Hong Kong Disneyland quickly gave the original concept ofAutopia a greenlight. Unfortunately, this ride would not appear in the park until mid-2006, long after opening-day reactions had been made. This first phase of the construction met with some additional controversey, especially when activists learned of plans to sell Shark Fin soup in parks (a decision that was later quashed). However, in addition to the park, a recreation area - surrounding the man-made Inspiration Lake, which doubles as an irrigation service to the Resort - was built, as well as an Esplanade and twoHotels with a total of 2100 rooms.
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Opening and Reaction
In midst of the original Disneyland's 50th Anniversary 'Happiest Celebration on Earth' events, Hong Hong Disneyland opened to the public. On 12 September 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland - Disney's fifth resort and eleventh park - opened its gates to the public. The opening featured a mix of Chinese traditional celebrations and Disney parades. Present at the gala opening were Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government); Zeng Qinghong, Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China; Michael D. Eisner, then-Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer; and Robert A. Iger, Walt Disney Company President, Chief Operating Officer and CEO-elect. (Iger is now the CEO of Walt Disney).
The general reaction to Hong Kong Disneyland was mixed to say the least. While the opening day was not quite the disaster that befell the original opening of Disneyland in 1955, there were problems. Chief amongst these were the size of the park and the problems with estimating the size of the crowds. This resulted in massive waits for the limited number of rides available, and food and beverage stands throughout the park.
Although Hong Kong Disneyland is the closest thing to an exact replica of the original park - especially Main Street - it opened with a mere 22 listed attractions (as opposed to 44 in Paris, 45 in Tokyo and Florida, and 65 in California, for example). Following the 2001 opening of Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, perceived by many as a sub-standard 'mini-park', the smaller size of Hong Kong Disneyland was interpreted by several commentators as both a cost-cutting exercise by Disney and a sign of 'cookie-cutter' theme park design. Adding to this theory was the fact that only four of the usual six 'Lands' debuted with the park, with Frontierland and Mickey's Toon Town being the most notable absences. Indeed, only 100 of the mapped 300 acres was used at the time of its debut.
The size of the park, and the restrictions on the number of guests the area could hold, became apparent during the park's first Chinese New Year celebrations in 2006. Hong Kong Disneyland underestimated the pull of crowds during the holidays, and many people with pre-sold tickets were being turned away from a capacity-full park. The problems with the park were widely reported, including sensational stories of guests being turned away from the gates and images of children being thrown over fences. Keen to rid themselves of the stigma of this public relations nightmare, and prevent further ticketing trouble, Hong Kong Disneyland has introduced 'special day' tickets as of April 2006.
Generally speaking, Hong Kong has remained a financial and critical success. Despite some initial problems with crowd dissatisfaction and lower-than-expected sales, the park has overcome its teething problems rather quickly, and has almost erased the stigma that hung around Disneyland Paris for years (and it didn't even have to change its name)! A combination of local and international tourist-targeted promotional acitivity - primarily to Asia-Pacific countries including South-East Asia and Australia - as well as ticketing strategies, holiday-themed activities, and a genuine attempt at meeting customer needs has resulted in increased ticket sales and a steady flow of people through the gates.
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The Future of Hong Kong Disneyland
As early as the day after the opening of the park, there has been talk of expansion. Given the smaller size of the park, and its close proximity to mainland China, it seems inevitable that Hong Kong Disneyland will expand in the near future. As mentioned, the original 1999 plans depicted a much larger Hong Kong Disneyland, complete with two additional lands and many more rides.
The first phase of extension is already complete, with three new attractions being added to Tommorow Land: Autopia, a UFO Zone play area and Stitch Encounter, based on Disney's Lilo & Stitch. Autopia is the first all-electric version of the popular attraction, boasting a smoother ride, different sound effects and an alien landscape. These opened to kick off summer 2006.
A park promenade presently blocks the area carved out for a Phase 2 Extension, and some speculate that this land will be used for a second park or additional 'lands'. Disney has confirmed that the classic it's a small world attraction will appear in Hong Kong Disneyland in the first half of 2008, and will feature a number of aspects unique to the park. In Summer 2007, the park is set to see the opening of an Animation Academy on Main Street, along with a new summer parade called Mickey's WaterWorks.
Naturally, rumours fly thick and fast when it comes to a Disneyland. Commentators have discussed the likelihood of Peter Pan's Flight being heavily tipped for Fantasyland. Even more rumours fly about proposed Pirates of the Caribbean, either in an extended Adventureland or in a newly constructed Frontierland. Some say that it will be a combination of Pirates of the Caribbean, and the log-flume Splash Mountain. Haunted Mansion is also rumoured for either Adventureland or a Frontierland. Finally, speculation about the inclusion of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad continues, as well as talk of importing Tokyo's Raging Spirits rollercoaster. Indeed, with the exception of the announced attractions, all forthcoming rides are subject to change. We can't stress enough that until we hear the official word, all of these things are simply rumours.
If the park continues to expand and grow, there are even talks of a second Chinese park opening in Shanghai or a second gate at the existing Hong Kong Disneyland.
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Timeline
August 1998 Hong Kong Disneyland announced
2 November 1999 Disney and The SAR Government form Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited and announce initial plans
10 December 1999 Official signing of agreement between Hong Kong SAR Government and The Walt Disney Company
Summer 2000 Land reclamation project for Hong Kong Disneyland site begins
November 2002 Plans for the two Hotels are unveiled
January 2003 Ground is broken on Phase I Construction
23 September 2004 Castle-topping ceremony
25 April 2005 Disney Resort Line Train (MTR) in unveiled
1 August 2005 MTR service begins
15 August 2005 Inspiration Lake opens to public
12 September 2005 Hong Kong Disneyland opens to the public
3 January 2006 Hong Kong Disneyland introduces flexible date tickets 3 February 2006 Angry patrons storm sold-out park gates
13 July 2006 Tomorrowland expands with Autopia, UFO Zone and Stitch Encounter
12 September 2006 Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates its First Anniversary
29 September 2006 Hong Kong Disneyland sells its first Annual Passes
14 December 2006 Hong Kong Disneyland officially announces 2007/2008 launch of the Animation Academy; Mickey's WaterWorks Parade and It's A Small World
May/June 2007 Adventureland temporarily transformed into Pirate Land
Summer 2007 Mickey's WaterWorks and Animation Academy opens
Spring 2008 Art of Animation, Turtle Talk, Muppets Mobile Lab and High School Musical Live open
27 April 2008 it's a small world opens
2009/2010 New Adventureland attraction to open - Major construction ongoing since 2008
November 2002 Plans for the two Hotels are unveiled
January 2003 Ground is broken on Phase I Construction
23 September 2004 Castle-topping ceremony
25 April 2005 Disney Resort Line Train (MTR) in unveiled
1 August 2005 MTR service begins
15 August 2005 Inspiration Lake opens to public
12 September 2005 Hong Kong Disneyland opens to the public
3 January 2006 Hong Kong Disneyland introduces flexible date tickets 3 February 2006 Angry patrons storm sold-out park gates
13 July 2006 Tomorrowland expands with Autopia, UFO Zone and Stitch Encounter
12 September 2006 Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates its First Anniversary
29 September 2006 Hong Kong Disneyland sells its first Annual Passes
14 December 2006 Hong Kong Disneyland officially announces 2007/2008 launch of the Animation Academy; Mickey's WaterWorks Parade and It's A Small World
May/June 2007 Adventureland temporarily transformed into Pirate Land
Summer 2007 Mickey's WaterWorks and Animation Academy opens
Spring 2008 Art of Animation, Turtle Talk, Muppets Mobile Lab and High School Musical Live open
27 April 2008 it's a small world opens
2009/2010 New Adventureland attraction to open - Major construction ongoing since 2008
Main Street USA
It is difficult to imagine a Disneyland without a Main Street. The original Disneyland Park in California bases its design on Walt Disney’s home town of Marceline, Missouri around the turn of the 20th century. It is a classic slice of Americana that conjures up the idealistic concept of ‘Anytown, USA’. Park guests step back in time to the early 1900s as they enter the park, experiencing an idealised version of American life. Populated with shops, restaurants, bands, parades and nostalgia tucked away in every corner, Main Street is where everyone begins their Hong Kong Disneyland journey. While every park has constructed a variation on the Main Street theme – Tokyo’s World Bazaar being the most removed from the original – Hong Kong Disneyland has an exact replica of the original, right down to the last detail. For first time Disneylanders, stepping into Hong Kong Disneyland’s Main Street will be like stepping into the American past. For visitors of other parks, you’ll be entering a replica of a replica. However, Hong Kong Disneyland still manages to offer a few of its own unique spins to the concept. Main Street is the first ‘themed’ area of Disneyland you’ll encounter once you enter the park, and its turn of the 20th century charm makes for a lovely transition from the world of today to the magical world of Disneyland. Most visitors will be tempted to march straight through the area on their way to the comparatively more exciting attractions and rides found in Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland is your portal to all of these lands, put aside at least some of your day to stop and smell the roses on Main Street.
Disneyland Railroad
All aboard! Following a strong Disney tradition, the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad is the first attraction that guests see when they enter the park, with Main Street Station sitting above the floral Mickey display at the entrance. Guests have to walk under the railway tracks to find their way onto Main Street, where they can choose to either explore the park on foot or ride the railroad. As such, the railroad is one of the most popular attractions in the park and tends to be busiest in the mornings as guests ride it first to get an overview of the park. Starting out from Main Street Station the train travels into the jungles of Adventureland. As the train rolls past the exotic plant life keep a watchfull eye for the Adventureland attractions and even some animals and natives by the track! Before long Fantasyland is reached as the train rolls past the well kept and ornate garden beds that offer panoramic views of the area. Stopping at Fantasyland station, passengers may disembark if they wish and more join the train before it is again underway, heading back to Main Street. Passing by it's a small world and the Storybook Theatre, the train heads into Tomorrowland. As the train steams into the world of tomorrow guests are offered a panoramic view of the land a few visual treats for those on the lookout. The train continues on through thick vegetation before emerging once more at Main Street Station, where another lot of guests are eager to experience the railroad. On any given day guests will find 1 or 2 different trains making the journey around the park. Each train consists of 5 carriages, with a passenger capacity of 50 people each. The seats are arranged in 3 rows facing in towards the park, on 3 tiers ensuring that even people in the last row have an unobstructed view of the scenery as it passes by. Train number 1 is painted pale green with dark green trim whilst train number 2 is painted dark red with forest green trim. The carriages making up train #1 are all named after locations that are historically significant to the Walt Disney Company: Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale, Los Angeles and California. The carriages of train #2 are similarly named after locations that were important in the life of Walt Disney himself: Chicago, Marceline, Kansas City, Hollywood and Orlando.
Even though there are only 2 carriage sets available for use on the railroad, there are 3 different engines that can be used to haul them. Each engine is almost identical except for the colours, the funnel (smoke stack) shape and the headlamp on the front. Engine number 1 is named Walter E. Disney after Walt himself and is blue with red trim. Engine number 2 is named Roy O. Disney after Walt's brother and co-founder of the Walt Disney Company and is red with green trim. Engine number 3 is named Frank G. Wells after the chairman of the Walt Disney Company from 1984 to 1994 and is black with red trim.
City HallThe most prominent feature on Main Street is the City Hall. Although Disney officially lists this as an “Attraction”, less naïve travellers will know that this is the biggest ‘Information kiosk’ in the park. However, in some ways it is far more valuable than a major thrilling attraction (known in fan circles as an ‘E-Ticket’). It is the place to ask questions, make dining reservations, exchange currency, leave messages, find guide maps in multiple languages, and even hire strollers and wheelchairs from the Fire Department next door.
Main Street VehiclesDon’t feel like taking a leisurely stroll down Main Street? Why not hop on one of the Main Street Vehicles? Running around Main Street and Town Square, the Paddy Wagon and Main Street Taxi will ferry the footsore and nostalgic alike around this piece of yesteryear. The double-decker Omnibus is a nice way to check out the detail of Main Street from high-and-low vantage points. You may even get to ride in the Main Street Taxi when the parade begins!
Running at least once a day, Disney on Parade crawls along the route between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland (near the Storybook Theatre) and the Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. Read more about Disney's unique parades here
This traditional marching band can be found stomping down Main Street at various times. At others, you'll find them positioned on The Hub where Main Street ends and the gateway to Fantasyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle - begins. This classic bit of Americana seems right at home on Main Street, USA.
"A whole new world" awaits guests after dark as Disney in the Stars lights up the hub and Sleeping Beauty Castle with lights, projections and pyrotechnics. Start a spark of conversation by reading our full coverage on the fireworks here
Dining
From the 'turn of the century' American facade of the exterior, you'll enter to find more traditional Chinese trappings inside and authentic 19th Century Chinese table service. In addition to Cantonese dishes such as dim sum, and other local treats, you'll find a selection of Western dishes as well.
Market House Bakery Who can resist the smell of a bakery? Here Hong Kong Disneyland bakes fresh pastries and other aromatic delights. If you've just rolled out of bed and have gone straight into the park first thing in the morning, we recommend some freshly-baked goodness to give you a bit of energy for the Theme Parking ahead of you.
Main Street Corner Café Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily. Hosted by Lee Kum Kee, world renowned specialists in authentic Chinese sauces (at least that is what their press says), this place boasts Hong Kong-style coffee house waffles, congee, afternoon tea and noodles. A great casual dining experience. Shopping
Emporium/Mercantile/Carriage House The Emporium is the place to go if you want to take home some Disney souvenirs. Clothing, plush toys, key-rings, candy and all sorts of other special gifts can be found in this area. Extending into the Mercantile and Carriage House, it makes it the largest Disney store in the park.
Specialist Shops Main Street Sweets for candy; The Curiosity Shop for men’s and women’s apparel; Centennial Hall for kids stuff and Midtown Jewellery for your dangly bits. Main Street Photo has all your photographic needs. If you want an image of yourself with a difference, try the Silhouette Shop. Crystal Arts specialises in glass figurines and collectibles, as well as glassblowing and etching.
Animation AcademyIt's not often that traditional Main Street changes its spots, but in Summer 2007, the Animation Academy opened next door to the Disneyland Story. Here guests can pick up pen and paper and learn how to draw - the Disney way. Ever fancied yourself as a Disney animator? Here is your chance to find out if you've got what it takes!
Art of Animation In Spring 2008 Main Street will be further expanded with the addition of this new attraction, sharing Disney's animation legacy and the details behind it. Guests will be able to enjoy artwork, sketches, drawings and maquettes, with the highlight being a fully dimensional Pixar Zoetrope.
Fantasyland
When Walt Disney opened the original Fantasyland in California back in 1955, he said: "Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart and to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." While it could be said that all of Disneyland is one big fantasy, it is here in Fantasyland that the fairy tale heart of the Disney empire can be found. Representing many of the best aspects of Disney's animated classics, Fantasyland is where you step into a living, breathing fairy tale.
Sleeping Beauty Castle How else would you enter a world of fantasy and imagination but through the gates of a castle? The Sleeping Beauty Castle is your gateway to fantasy...and Fantasyland! Walk through the castle gates here.
it's a small world This attraction opened in April 2008. This major addition to Fantasyland is a Disney classic. This indoor boat ride employs technology and scenes not seen in any other Disney attraction. It also introduced 'small world' versions of Disney characters to the ride.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh The most popular of the four rides in Fantasyland, guests will hop aboard a Honey Pot where they will encounter a storybook wonderland. More about this FASTPASS attraction can be found here.
Mickey's Philhar Magic In Mickey's PhilharMagic, guests will don specially designed 3D glasses, guests will see all their favourite characters leap off the screen and appear right before their very noses.
Golden Mickeys
One of a number of shows to watch in the park. It is a tribute to old Hollywood musicals, with all the glitz and glamour that you would expect from a show featuring just about every Disney character you could care to name.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant Climb aboard Dumbo and fly high above Fantasyland. The best part is, you've got the magic feather and you control how high and low it will go.
Mad Hatter Tea Cups Arguably one of the most famous of the Disneyland rides, it is also one of the most dizzying. Climb inside a giant tea cup and spin until you're dizzy. It sounds fairly wacky, but the mad geniuses at Walt Disney Imagineering made it work!
Cinderella's Carousel Every amusement park has a carousel, and every Fantasyland has one too. Ride ye olde horsey thingy, based on the California original!
The Sword in the Stone Pull the Sword from the Stone and be crowned King or Queen for a day. Times vary for the ceremony. Check the official site, or obtain a park guide from the Entrance or the City Hall on Main Street.
Fantasy Gardens Situated right in front of the Fantasyland Train Station. Meet all your favourite characters and have your photo taken with them. This is one of the true unique highlights of Hong Kong Disneyland.
Fantasyland Station Railroads and Disney have always gone hand-in-hand, and Hong Kong Disneyland is no exception. Departing from the Main Street Station, Fantasyland is the only other place you can board this 'around the world' express.
Dining and Shopping
Royal Banquet Hall This place has four showcase kitchens: a Steam kitchen serving dim sum; Kettle kitchen that will fill you up with curries and stews; the Sushi and Tempura kitchen and a Grill kitchen, bringing you sausages, satays and steak. This one is only open for Lunch and Dinner.
Clopin's Festival of Foods A 240-seat festive atmosphere, and another four open-show kitchens with noodle, wok and barbeque kitchens. Ideal for quick bites. This one is also only open for Lunch and Dinner.
Shopping in Fantasyland The Storybook Shoppe provides shoppers with the finely crafted works based on great storybooks. Merlin's Treasures is more of a general gift store. For any Pooh-related merchandise, go crazy in Pooh Corner.
Small World Ice Cream Since it's a small world opened in April 2008, this ice creamery has filled a sweet hole in the local cuisine. Offering traditional vanilla, chocolate and strawberry (with real strawberries), as well as sesame flavours, it's a great treat on a hot (or cold) day.
Tomorrowland
Prepare to explore the far-off reaches of the universe in the whimsical space port of Tomorrowland. Here a vision of the future is brought to life through immersive scenery and exciting attractions that are literally out of this world. From the immense sphere bearing the land’s name at the entrance, to the wavy neon-laced buildings, towering spires and multicoloured orbs, Tomorrowland is a visually appealing hive of activity. Guests can choose from several space adventures, take a break with some retail therapy or simply relax in one of the eateries that make up this slice of the park. For the most exciting vision of the future, visit Tomorrowland after dark, when the well designed lighting really makes the area “take off”!
Space Mountain Towering above Tomorrowland are the gleaming white spires of Space Mountain, the park’s only roller coaster. Journey through the darkness of space, and even witness the explosion of a supernova.
Autopia Autopia invites guests of all ages to take the wheel of talking electric cars of the future for a drive under the railroad through alien landscapes.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters For a more interactive experience, go to “infinity and beyond” to save the universe from Zurg’s evil clutches. Piloting a two-seater spaceship, shoot the targets and help Buzz stop Zurg!
Stitch Encounter Ever wanted to talk to the cute and fluffy Stitch? You get your chance in this interactive theatre show. Stitch has even learned English, Cantonese and Putonghua for the occasion!
Orbitron A 'hub and spoke' attraction. That is, a number of carriages rotate around a central hub, attached by a sturdy spoke. A huge 8 metre diameter map of the universe covers the centre of the attraction, around which the 16 craft spin.
UFO (Unbelievably Fun Objects) Zone Cool off in this interactive play area. Robots spraying water, water ray guns, 'smoking' crashed ships (that actually spray a fine mist of water) and other wet and wild objects.
Dining and Shopping
Starliner Diner Yell space-related hyperbole when you visit this 800-seat diner. Largely typical of American fast food, but Chinese char siew (barbaque pork) burgers are a specialty of the Diner!
Comet Café This 'food-court' style diner focuses on foods from the Jiang Nan region of China. Wok-fried foods, noodles and BBQ products. Ideal for a quick midday or evening break.
Space Traders/Star Command Suppliers At the respective exits of Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters are these two shops. Buy all your futuristic fare and on-ride photos.
Adventureland
Exotic lands and death-defying exploration waits within the boundaries of Adventureland! Get ready to don your safari suit in a place where you can do so without fear of the fashion police. From its treacherous waterways and jungle islands, to its lush atmosphere, unique dining and shopping experiences, you’ll discover the adventurous heart of Hong Kong Disneyland in Adventureland. As you take your first explorative steps into Adventureland, it is difficult not to notice the powerful River of Adventure that runs like a vein through Adventureland. If Adventureland is an integral part of Disneyland, then it is the River of Adventure that leads us to the beating heart of it. Combining the concepts of the Rivers of America from the original Disneyland, along with the Jungle River Cruise and Tarzan's Treehouse™, Hong Kong Disneyland forms one of the more unique Adventurelands in all of Disney's worlds.
Jungle River Cruise See elephants playing in their natural habitat, crocodiles gathering along its muddy banks, jungle encampments overrun by apes and angry natives. You might even spot a Tiki god!
Tarzan's Treehouse Tarzan’s Island and Treehouse™, is where you’ll learn how Tarzan became one of the most famous names of the jungle as you climb and explore the many rooms of his treehouse.
Festival of the Lion King One thing Disney always does brilliantly is put on a show. With bright and colourful costumes, vocalists and impressive acrobatics, watch an adaptation of the story of The Lion King as it comes to life.
Liki Tikis This play area for young adventurers features ancient Tikis that spray water to cool down young Adventurers. These also serve as a water feaure, one of the elements that keep with the principles of feng shui.
Dining and Shopping
Tahitian Terrace Restuarant & the River View Cafe
The Tahitian Terrace features South Asian and Guangdong-style barbeque and wok-fried dishes on the menu! At the River View Café, watch the Jungle River Cruise go past as you snack upon a family-style fixed menu.
Professor Porter's Trading Post Show friends your survived Adventureland with a souvenir! This is the only shop on the frontier. Pop in to see if they are carrying any supplies you might need for the trek out of there.
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Fireworks and Parades
Everyday Summer Halloween Christmas A perfect Disney day is one where guests have the opportunity to watch a wonderful daytime parade as well as a spectacular evening fireworks show. Not only does Hong Kong Disneyland offer both of these things, but it does so every single day of the year! So be prepared, reserve a space on the hub and get ready because this page compiles links to each of the park's parades and fireworks shows, categorised by season.
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Everyday Entertainment
Disney on Parade
Disney in the Stars
Mickey's Rainy Day Express
Summer
Blast Mickey's WaterWorks (Debuted Summer 2007)
Halloween
Halloween Costume Mini-Parade (Halloween 2006 only)
Glow in the Park Parade (Debuted Halloween 2007)
Christmas
Let it Snow Parade (Debuted Christmas 2007)
Rides and Attractions
Hong Kong Disneyland boasts a full day of things to do. However, with different attractions found in different lands, it sometimes gets a little confusing as to which ride goes where. While we've also written detailed summaries of each land and attractions, to make life easier, categorised by land.
Main Street, USA
Disneyland Railroad
Main Street Vehicles
Fireworks and Parades
Animation Academy
The Art of Animation
Fantasyland
Sleeping Beauty Castle
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - FASTPASS
The Golden Mickeys
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Mad Hatter Tea Cups
Cinderella's Carousel
Sword in the Stone
Fantasy Gardens
Disneyland Railroad
Fireworks and Parades
it's a small world
Adventureland
Jungle River Cruise
Festival of the Lion King - FASTPASS
Tarzan's Treehouse and Island
Tomorrowland
Space Mountain - FASTPASS
Autopia
Buzz Lightyear
Astro Blasters - FASTPASS
Orbitron
Stitch Encounter
UFO Cool Zone
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Coming Soon
Adventureland Construction (2009/2010)
CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS - While we do not know exactly what is being constructed behind Adventureland, the construction is clearly visible to visitors - and it is large. Reports have indicated that it will be permanent, but not a ride per se. Leading suggestions indicate a maze, possibly a haunted one. Although you didn't hear that from us. See suggestions below.
CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS - While we do not know exactly what is being constructed behind Adventureland, the construction is clearly visible to visitors - and it is large. Reports have indicated that it will be permanent, but not a ride per se. Leading suggestions indicate a maze, possibly a haunted one. Although you didn't hear that from us. See suggestions below.
Pirates of the Caribbean (2009/2010)
Another long-rumoured attraction for the Hong Kong theme park, either in an extended Adventureland, or a newly constructed Frontierland or PiratesLand. Some say that it will be a combination of the traditional animatronic Pirates of the Caribbean, and the log-flume Splash Mountain.
Tickets
There are so many things to see and do in Hong Kong Disneyland that you'll probably need at least a full day. Of course, to get in there to see and do them, you are going to need a ticket first.
Tickets entitle the owner to a full day inside the park, which includes unlimited use of the attractions and rides. It will also allow the guest to access the FASTPASS machines on selected attractions, which lets you jump the queue under certain conditions. Naturally, this ticket price does not include food and merchandise.
Please note that unlike other Disneyland parks, tickets tend to be date specific, rather than multi-day passes.
Getting a Ticket
Gone are the days where you had to line up at the Main Gate with your admission price in hand and wait for a ticket before lining up again to get into the park. Hong Kong Disneyland offers a number of different ways to purchase a park ticket.
Online:
If you are reading this site, then you can probably purchase a Disneyland ticket. Simply log on to the official site and purchase your desired number of tickets. You can then pick up your ticket from either Main Entrance AutoMagic Ticket Dispensing Machines; Main Entrance Ticket Booths or Guest Relations Windows (open one hour before the gates) or the MTR Hong Kong Station (Tung Chung Concourse).
Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express:
Not only can you pick up pre-booked tickets there, but you can also buy tickets from the MTR Hong Kong Station (Tung Chung Concourse). Talk about handy!
Hotel Lobby:
As a guest of either the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel or Disney's Hollywood Hotel, you are guaranteed park ticket availability for the length of your stay. Book, reserve and pick up park tickets, all from the convenience of your hotel lobby.
Travel Agent:
If you are putting together a package deal with a travel agent, or simply prefer them to online bookings, most travel agents are all too happy to book park tickets for you as well, even if you are staying at a hotel not on Disney property. If you get ticket vouchers, you can usually redeem these at any point where you would regularly buy tickets.
Main Entrance:
Of course, if you find yourself at Hong Kong Disneyland's main gates and want to go in, you can buy your tickets right there.
If you are reading this site, then you can probably purchase a Disneyland ticket. Simply log on to the official site and purchase your desired number of tickets. You can then pick up your ticket from either Main Entrance AutoMagic Ticket Dispensing Machines; Main Entrance Ticket Booths or Guest Relations Windows (open one hour before the gates) or the MTR Hong Kong Station (Tung Chung Concourse).
Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express:
Not only can you pick up pre-booked tickets there, but you can also buy tickets from the MTR Hong Kong Station (Tung Chung Concourse). Talk about handy!
Hotel Lobby:
As a guest of either the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel or Disney's Hollywood Hotel, you are guaranteed park ticket availability for the length of your stay. Book, reserve and pick up park tickets, all from the convenience of your hotel lobby.
Travel Agent:
If you are putting together a package deal with a travel agent, or simply prefer them to online bookings, most travel agents are all too happy to book park tickets for you as well, even if you are staying at a hotel not on Disney property. If you get ticket vouchers, you can usually redeem these at any point where you would regularly buy tickets.
Main Entrance:
Of course, if you find yourself at Hong Kong Disneyland's main gates and want to go in, you can buy your tickets right there.
If you are part of a large group or wish to have some other special arrangements made, you should call the Hong Kong Disneyland Group Sales Office at +852 1-830-830.
Ticket Prices
Tickets at Hong Kong Disneyland are a little but different to some of the other parks, as they are divided into three ticket types. Regular Days are typically weekdays; Peak Days tend to be weekends and Special Days are usually holidays or festival occasions. To see what type of day your visit will fall on, the best place to look is the official site, as it keeps an updated list of Special Days.
Note: The prices below are intended as a guide only. Ticket prices will change based on the day you are visiting and Disney's own price changes. Please check the official site for any changes before visiting.
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Regular
Peak
Special
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Adults
HK $295
HK $350
HK $350
Children
HK $210
HK $250
HK $250
Seniors
HK $170
HK $200
HK $200
Annual Passes
Following the success of 2006's Summer Passes, Hong Kong Disneyland had begun offering its first annual passes. Offering the owner unlimited visits to the park, except on block-out dates, for a year from the date of purchase, the Annual Passes are the most economic way to visit the resort frequently.
There are three different passes; Value, Deluxe and Premium, providing three levels of access and passholder benefits.
The Value pass entitles the holder to park access on weekdays, except certain block-out dates, for a year from the purchase of the pass. This equates to around 230 days of park access and is the price of 2.2 regular single day tickets. Block-out date calendars can be viewed on the calendar at the official site.
The Deluxe pass entitles the holder to park access on all days for a year from the date of purchase, except for block-out dates determined by Hong Kong Disneyland. This equates to around 340 days of park access and is the price of 3.7 peak single day tickets. This pass also includes free parking for private cars between 8:30am and 10:00pm at the Hong Kong Disneyland Auto Plaza. Block-out date calendars can be viewed on the calendar at the official site.
The Premium pass entitles the holder to park access on every day for a year from the purchase date and is not restricted by block-out dates. It is the price of 5.1 special or peak single day tickets. Passholders are also offered free parking of private cars at the Hong Kong Disneyland Auto Plaza between 8:30am and 10:00pm and other periodically changing exclusive benefits; current details can be on the official site. The number of Premium Passes is limited to 5000, thus they may not be available for purchase if all 5000 are currently issued.
All pass holders will receive a lanyard with their pass and, if they purchase it electronically, the lanyard and any free gifts must be redeemed from the Pass Processing Centre inside the park.
Pass holders receive benefits and discounts at the resort throughout the year.
Purchasing a pass is similar to buying a normal ticket; it can be done online, at the Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express, a Hong Kong Disneyland hotel lobby or at the main entrance to the park. Guests wishing to purchase a pass are required to provide photo ID to be put on the pass, which also lists their name.
Normal day tickets can be upgraded to Annual Passes at the Pass Processing Centre, situated next to City Hall when in the park. Guests can also visit the Pass Processing Centre to upgrade their Value and Deluxe passes to Deluxe or Premium passes for the extent of their validity.
Value
Deluxe
Premium
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Adults
HK $650
HK $1300
HK $1800
Children/Students
HK $460
HK $930
HK $1250
Seniors
HK $370
HK $740
HK $1000
Some conditions apply. Please check official site for details.
Things to Remember About Tickets
Buy early and don't miss out! You can buy and collect tickets from more than one place. Be sure to check the official site to see what type of day you want to visit on. Only Special Day tickets guarantee entry to the park on a select day, entry using other tickets is subject to park capacity. If planning to visit more than 2 days, an Annual Pass may be cheaper.
FASTPASS
Anybody who has ever been to a Disney park knows that the big rides always draw the biggest rides. However, with so much to see and do in the park, who wants to spend the whole day in lines? To that end, Disney has created FASTPASS: an electronic ticketing system that saves you a place in a special queue!
FASTPASS is a service that is free to guests with a valid Hong Kong Disneyland Park admission ticket. At any given FASTPASS attraction, there is a FASTPASS Distribution Machine. Simply insert your admission ticket into this machine and you will given a FASTPASS, allowing you to return to the attraction within an hour-specific window and jump the regular queues. A typical transaction would see a guest arrive at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, for example, at 11:00 AM and find that there is a 45 minute or more estimate in the stand-by lines. If you think that you would rather go and see some other sights and sounds of Disneyland instead of waiting in the queue, you can obtain a FASTPASS from the conveniently located Distribution Machine. You will receive a ticket that tells you to return between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM*. You can then go off and enjoy less crowded rides, have a bite to eat and do some shopping, safe in the knowledge that you can walk straight in to a shorter FASTPASS lane in your specified window.
An example of a valid FASTPASS ticket can be seen below.
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Point 1 on the FASTPASS tells you which attraction you have obtained a FASTPASS for.
Point 2 lets you know when you can turn up at the attraction to use the FASTPASS.
Point 3 lets you know when you may obtain another FASTPASS.
Point 2 lets you know when you can turn up at the attraction to use the FASTPASS.
Point 3 lets you know when you may obtain another FASTPASS.
While attractions are subject to change, presently the FASTPASS service is available on Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Festival of the Lion King. With the ability to jump the queue in such an easy way, many will now be asking: "Why don't I just get a FASTPASS for every attraction?" The simple answer is: you can't. Once you have obtained a valid FASTPASS allowing you to return to a ride within a specific time frame, you CANNOT obtain another FASTPASS for that attraction - or any other - until after the specified time on the ticket. Using the ticket above as an example, you'll see that under Point 3 another FASTPASS may be obtained after 2:00 PM.
If you do try to obtain another FASTPASS before it is allowed, or try to obtain a FASTPASS for a second FASTPASS attraction while still carrying a valid FASTPASS, you will merely receive an Invalid FASTPASS (pictured above).
While it is sometimes fun to just go with the flow and see where Hong Kong Disneyland takes you, occasionally a little planning is required to get the most out of your day. On busier days, FASTPASS could be an invaluable resource. Learn how FASTPASS works, use it to its full advantage and you may find that it is your best friend on the day.
* Times displayed are by way of example only. Each FASTPASS window may differ.
Getting There
Before you can enjoy all the wonders that Hong Kong Disneyland has to offer, the first task is going to be getting there. This sounds like an obvious this to mention, but all too many holidays are ruined or wasted by spending hours simply wandering around trying to find how to get somewhere.
Hong Kong Disneyland is located in Penny Bay, Lantau Island. This is the largest of Hong Kong's island and home to its International airport and famous Po Lin Monastery and its giant statue of Buddha. Hong Kong Disneyland is found in the north-eastern part of Lantau Island, and is approximately two kilometers from Discovery Bay.
For both international and domestic visitors, there are a number of ways to access the island.
International Visitors
Like most Disney parks, Hong Kong Disneyland is largely dependant on tourism to sustain its business. As such, despite the billions of people that live next door in China, a great many of the visitors to its gates are going to be international tourists.
Most major international commercial airlines fly on a regular basis to Hong Kong. Visitors would be advised to search the web or visit their local travel agent for the best price and tickets for you. Whoever you fly with, your arrival in Hong Kong is only a hop, skip in a jump away from Hong Kong Disneyland. As the resort is located on Lantau Island, visitors may even fly over the resort on their way to the newly-built Hong Kong International Airport (known as Chek Lap Kok Airport to the locals). It is also conveniently located on Lantau Island.
From there, visitors can catch a taxi, join the MTR (changing at Tsing Yi Station for a link to the Tung Chung line to Sunny Bay for a change to the Disneyland Resort Line and Disneyland Resort Station), by bus or their own arranged transport, such as a shuttle or hire car. By taxi or private car, it is only about 15 minutes from the airport to the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
MTR Disneyland Resort Line
The Disneyland Resort Line is the first dedicated train service to a Disney park in the world. The train itself could almost be considered a Disneyland attraction, as it has been designed by Disney Imagineers just for this special service. Although the trains themselves resemble the sleek and modern trains of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system, they have been 'Disneyfied' as much as possible. Painted in bright colours, the windows are red-trimmed Mickey Mouse ears! Inside the carriages, riders will see photos showcasing Walt Disney's love of trains; hand-straps that resemble Mickey's head and bronze statues of Disney characters.
Working with Hong Kong's existing MTR Railway system, the Disneyland Resort line has two main stations. Disneyland Resort Station can be accessed by joining the MTR at any point and getting to Sunny Bay Station on the Tung Chung line, where guests can change for a special train bound for Disneyland! Similarly, once you've finished your day at Disneyland, you can return to any part of Hong Kong along the MTR routes by re-joining the train at the Disneyland Resort Station and changing at Sunny Bay to rejoin the regular MTR network.
For a full list of MTR timetables, route maps and scheduled changes, be sure to visit the MTR Corporation's website.
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MTR Resort Line Passes
To use the MTR line, you may choose a Disneyland Resort Line 1-Day Pass. Available at all MTR Stations and the Airport Express, the passes entitle the user unlimited travel to and from the Disneyland Resort Station for a full day within 6 months of the purchase date. Available at HK$50 each*, they come in collectible character designs, as pictured above. It's your passport to the Disneyland Resort!
If you're at the Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express counter at Hong Kong Station, you can also buy your Disneyland tickets in advance, including ones your've ordered online, or take advantage of the all-in-one train and park ticket offer.
Bus
There are six local and cross-boundary buses available that will get you to the Disneyland Resort.
Buses during the morning and peak hours to look out for are Routes R11, R21, R22, R33 and R42*. The Route Number R8A runs between Inspiration Lake and the Disneyland Resort every 10 to 20 minutes between 9am and 7pm daily. The fare is only HK$3*.
There are also two cross-boundary bus routes providing transport services between Hong Kong Disneyland and Mainland China via Huanggang / Lok Ma Chau and Lo Wu Control Point at Sheung Shui KCR Station.
Finally, if you are staying at one of the Resort's two Hotels, you will have Resort Shuttle available to you free of charge. These take you from the Hotels to the Disneyland Resort Public Transport Interchange (PTI) and back again. The PTI is an additional 5 minutes walk away from the entrance to the Theme Park. This service runs 24 hours a day, and runs every 20 minutes during most of this time. At peak times (8:00am to 1:00pm and 4:00pm to 11:00pm), the service runs every 10 minutes. Between 12:00am and 6:00am, the service operates from the PTI to the Hotels only.
Car or Coach
If you prefer to get to Hong Kong Disneyland under your own steam, car parks are available at the resort. The car parks open two hours prior to the gates, and it remains open for two hours after the park closes.
Designated parking pays are available for people with a "Disabled Person's Parking Permit" for the convenience of guests. These designated bays can be seen on the Resort Overview Map found on our Around the Resort page.
There are additional fees for parking if you choose to use these facilities. While these are subject to change, the table below* should give you some idea of what to expect.
Capacity
Daily Rates (HK$)
Car
1100 spaces
$120/day
Coach
290 spaces
$150/day
Motorcycle
50 spaces
$40/day
Additionally, there is a private car park and coach car park designated as pick up/drop off areas for buses.
MTR Station
If you are staying off-property, your first port of call at Hong Kong Disneyland is probably going to be the MTR Station. Disneyland's MTR Station is designed to reflect Victorian-Era architecture, just as the Disneyland Hotel and many other elements of the resort follow this theme. Feature large open spaces that spill out onto the Park Promenade, the MTR Station is the hub of transport activity in and out of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
The station itself has only one platform, and this is fitted with specially-designed automatic platform gates to stop people from falling onto the tracks.
Working with Hong Kong's existing MTR Railway system, the Disneyland Resort line has two main stations. Disneyland Resort Station can be accessed by joining the MTR at any point and getting to Sunny Bay Station on the Tung Chung line, where guests can change for a special train bound for Disneyland! Similarly, once you've finished your day at Disneyland, you can return to any part of Hong Kong along the MTR routes by re-joining the train at the Disneyland Resort Station and changing at Sunny Bay to rejoin the regular MTR network.
For full details on Getting There, see our dedicated page on transport options here. You'll also find MTR ticketing options there as well. For a complete list of MTR timetables, route maps and scheduled changes, be sure to visit the MTR Corporation's website.
To use the MTR line, you may choose a Disneyland Resort Line 1-Day Pass. Available at all MTR Stations and the Airport Express, the passes entitle the user unlimited travel to and from the Disneyland Resort Station for a full day within 6 months of the purchase date. Available at HK$50 each*, they come in collectible character designs. It's your passport to the Disneyland Resort!
If you're at the Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express counter at Hong Kong Station, you can also buy your Disneyland tickets in advance, including ones your've ordered online, or take advantage of the all-in-one train and park ticket offer.
