(cache) Hong Kong Disneyland [Archive] - Page 2

HongKongDisneyland

November 26th, 2005, 04:51 AM

Hong Kong's economy will likely attain the government's revised growth target of 7 pct for 2005 as growth is being achieved across virtually all sectors of the economy, said David O’Rear, chief economist at the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC).

HONG KONG (AFX) - Hong Kong's economy will likely attain the government's revised growth target of 7 pct for 2005 as growth is being achieved across virtually all sectors of the economy, said David O’Rear, chief economist at the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC).
"In the past two years, increases in the international prices of crude oil and the strength of the US dollar have not had any material impact on the growth of Hong Kong's economy," he said.
"Even if the economy grows at a slower pace in the fourth quarter of this year, I don't see this having any impact on the government's growth target for the whole year," he said.
Earlier today, government economist K C Kwok said Hong Kong's real gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter rose 8.2 pct year-on-year, compared with a revised 7.3 pct growth in the second quarter.
He said the government has raised its GDP growth forecast for 2005 to 7.0 pct from an original forecast of 4.5-5.5 pct growth, due to a robust 7.3 pct expansion in the first nine months -- the same growth as that achieved in the second quarter.
Kwok said the economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter on the back of a continued surge in goods and services exports, re-acceleration in consumer spending growth, and a sustained notable rise in machinery and equipment investment, he said.
He traced the growth to merchandise exports, which rose 12.8 pct year-on-year, a 4.6 pct increase in private consumption and a 2.4 pct expansion in overall investment spending.
O'Rear said the principal driver of Hong Kong's economy has always been its its export trade and this phenomenon will remain unchanged in the foreseable future.
"Only about 30 pct of the growth of Hong Kong's economy is attributed to domestic factors, such as investments and domestic consumption, and the rest is accounted for by exports. For as long as Hong Kong's exports remain robust, the economy will continue to perform strongly," he said.

He noted that while the different sectors of the economy contributed in varying degrees, growth was across the board and this phenomenon helped the economy grow much stronger than expected in the third quarter.
"The opening of Hong Kong Disneyland in September, strong inflows of tourists from mainland China, healthy retail sales, a modest increase in capital expenditures - all these demonstrated across-the-board growth in the economy," he said.
Kwok said the global economy continued to expand at a fairly strong pace in the third quarter, and the dampening effects of higher oil prices and US interest rates have so far been moderate.
"On the whole, the external environment is still largely positive," he said.
O'Rear, however, noted that it will be very difficult for Hong Kong to achieve in 2006 a growth rate comparable to its revised growth target this year.
"In the event of a slowdown of the US economy, this will inevitably affect China's export trade and in turn, Hong Kong's re-exports. As a consequence of a possible slowdown in Hong Kong's exports, growth rate of the territory's economy in 2006 will likely be lower than this year's," he said.

hkskyline

November 26th, 2005, 04:56 AM

Isan

November 26th, 2005, 08:44 AM

Hong Kong Disneyland's attendance well down on predictions
Monday November 21, 11:22 AM

http://sg.yimg.com/xp/afp/20051121/577541783.jpg

Hong Kong's Disney theme park has drawn much lower than expected visitors in the two months since opening, a press report says.

A headcount of visitors to the park carried out by four reporters of the South China Morning Post showed that 12,972 people visited on Sunday November 13, and 11,399 entered on Wednesday November 16.

The government, which owns a 57 percent stake in the three billion US dollar resort, said it expected 5.6 million visitors in its first year of operation, equivalent to an average daily attendance of 15,342.

The park failed to attract the crowds despite introducing a discounted price for Hong Kong residents from November 8 to December 8, the report said.

Disney and the government have so far refused to reveal the park's daily attendance figures.

Rail operator MTR Corp has said the Disneyland Resort line carries 10,000 people on weekdays and 20,000 on Sundays.

A Disneyland spokeswoman dismissed the headcount, saying: "Any attempt to count our attendance is flawed" while a Tourism Commission spokeswoman declined to reveal the figures for commercial reasons.

HongKongDisneyland

November 26th, 2005, 10:17 AM

The question has never been whether Disneyland is making a positive contribution to the Hong Kong economy. It obviously is a great addition. The issue is that attendance is lower than expected. That's all.

I don't think attendance is lower than expected. it is already quite good since they opened the park in off-season.

It's not fair to make any judgement now, they have just opened the park since Sept 12. (only 2.5 months) Seasonal fluctuation is not uncommon.

So give them at least one year and see how they perform.

HongKongDisneyland

November 26th, 2005, 10:30 AM

Hong Kong Disney Turnout on Track

Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday said Hong Kong Disneyland was on track to meet its long-term attendance goals, saying Chinese news reports of a slower-than-expected start for the resort were overblown.
Disney said the Hong Kong resort had drawn more than 1 million visitors since opening Sept. 12.

The attendance numbers are the first that the Burbank-based company has provided for the Hong Kong resort.

The park, which was jointly developed with the Hong Kong government, had been expected to draw 5.6 million visitors in its first year, a third of them coming from mainland China.

The numbers signal that Hong Kong Disneyland may help the company expand in Asia. Chief Executive Robert Iger has said Disney may open another park in Shanghai after 2010.

"Hong Kong Disneyland has become a successful launching pad for Disney," said Laura Martin, an analyst with Soleil-Media Metrics. "Success at Hong Kong Disneyland accelerates Disney putting more assets in Asia."

Disney criticized Chinese news reports as having unfairly characterized the performance of the park since the company launched the resort, its second Asia destination after Japan.

"When we build a resort, we do so with the expectation that it's a long-term asset lasting well beyond 50 years," Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo said in a statement.

hkskyline

November 26th, 2005, 04:22 PM

I don't think attendance is lower than expected. it is already quite good since they opened the park in off-season.

It's not fair to make any judgement now, they have just opened the park since Sept 12. (only 2.5 months) Seasonal fluctuation is not uncommon.

So give them at least one year and see how they perform.
The anticipated attendance was 15,000 a day according to initial government estimates. Disney has revealed the actual attendance is about 10,000 a day, which is a 50% difference. It's quite a significant variance, but nevertheless the park is on the right track. It did open after the busy summer season, so I'd expect attendance to pick up by next summer.

HongKongDisneyland

November 26th, 2005, 06:02 PM

The anticipated attendance was 15,000 a day according to initial government estimates. Disney has revealed the actual attendance is about 10,000 a day, which is a 50% difference. It's quite a significant variance, but nevertheless the park is on the right track. It did open after the busy summer season, so I'd expect attendance to pick up by next summer.

I don't think Disney revealed that actual attendance is about 10,000 a day!
it is only the newspapers who made assumption that they made about 10,000 day. Disney already clarified that it is Well over 1 million, but still couldn't keep those people from saying it is EXACTLY 1 million.

In my opinion, to get a more precise picture of how HK Disneyland Performs, we should gauge its performance on a longer time frame. It would be meaningless or inaccurate to base only on 2.5 months of data.

sfgadv02

November 26th, 2005, 08:47 PM

scorpion

November 26th, 2005, 11:10 PM

patience gentlemen, patience. :)

Disney Phase II in effect as we speak, let's give her some time, like, say, more than 6 weeks to figure shit out for the next 30years??? :D

HongKongDisneyland

November 27th, 2005, 05:26 AM

Well obviously!! You wouldnt tell the people who read the newspaper the EXACT number that went into Disneyland. -_____________________-

You would round it off instead of saying "We have reached 1,234,434 of visitors since opening." ~_~

And I think you are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy obsessed with Disneyland. How old are you?

would u see the amount of money u put in yr bank being rounded off?? :nuts:

Well obviously, we are here to discuss things....
but i can tell you, you definitely wouldn't see me agreeing with you!!! LOL

Asking people how old here is rather Foolish !!

hkskyline

November 27th, 2005, 08:33 AM

I don't think Disney revealed that actual attendance is about 10,000 a day!
it is only the newspapers who made assumption that they made about 10,000 day. Disney already clarified that it is Well over 1 million, but still couldn't keep those people from saying it is EXACTLY 1 million.

In my opinion, to get a more precise picture of how HK Disneyland Performs, we should gauge its performance on a longer time frame. It would be meaningless or inaccurate to base only on 2.5 months of data.
Disney revealed that there were more than 1 million visitors in the first 100 days of operations, averaging to about 10,000 a day. Would Disney understate these patronage figures in light of mounting media allegations of poor attendance? I highly doubt it. If anything, Disney would want to show strong patronage to support its stance that the park is successful and popular. Therefore, the 1 million figure should be near the maximum of what their statistics show. If there were substantially more customers, would they hesitate to reveal them?

Once again, the fate of the park should not be judged by merely 100 days of data, as this doesn't even represent one business cycle. However, the media does have a right to be concerned when Disney's number is so much different from the government's preliminary estimate.

HongKongDisneyland

November 27th, 2005, 12:59 PM

Once again....

It is JUST an estimate!! it might be wrong in the first place..
so what a big deal?
just give it time to do their job!!!!

and media are not always RIGHT!!!some of the stories from Newspapers are usually exaggerations!!!! Truly and Completely believing in media would be disastrous or Stupid!

hkskyline

November 27th, 2005, 05:42 PM

City's Architect

November 28th, 2005, 07:50 AM

Any news or pictures about Hong Kong Disneyland expansion plans?
有冇迪士尼二期d新聞/相片???

HongKongDisneyland

November 28th, 2005, 09:06 AM

The big deal is why is that estimate off by 50%. The media didn't reveal the 15,000 number. It was an official government estimate for patronage from a few years ago. Disney revealed actual numbers were around 10,000. While SCMP's head count methods may not be statistically correct, the discrepancy between the government figure and Disney's revealed figure alone is a cause for concern.

I have been following up with the so-called official government estimation, this estimated number has been changed a number of times already. So i wouldn't be surprised that they will change it again. I think you better do your homework! The original estimated number wasn't 5.6 million, actually they started off with the estimation of 3 million!!!!! I was there in HK Disneyland on the date that SCMP was rumored to be doing an unofficial headcount, i really doubted if the figures they provided are really realistic!!!

shibuya_suki

November 28th, 2005, 10:14 AM

vvill

November 28th, 2005, 12:49 PM

quite interesting that disneyland decrease its selling price of ticket
dont hk people are very wealthy?
why not much hker come to visit
but i see so much hker in tokyo disneyland
they should build another new towns rather than what disneyland

because many hkers have been to disneylands around the world so it's not as attractive to them especially when hk's one is quite small compared to the rest.

obviously, it'd be better after the expansion.

hkskyline

November 28th, 2005, 04:50 PM

I have been following up with the so-called official government estimation, this estimated number has been changed a number of times already. So i wouldn't be surprised that they will change it again. I think you better do your homework! The original estimated number wasn't 5.6 million, actually they started off with the estimation of 3 million!!!!! I was there in HK Disneyland on the date that SCMP was rumored to be doing an unofficial headcount, i really doubted if the figures they provided are really realistic!!!
Just because the estimate was revised doesn't mean it is unreliable. Rather, revisions indicate an awareness of changing circumstances, which is great because the estimate is more reliable if it reflects the economic reality. The fact is, the most up-to-date estimate released by the government was 15,000 a day. Would an outdated estimate be used because the actuals were far lower but came close it? What about the assumptions that led to the 15,000 figure - were they inaccurate? I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that because an outdated government estimate came close to the actual, the present patronage numbers are justifiable. That's quite ignorant of the economic reality. They might as well pull a bunch random numbers out of a hat and one would comse close to the actual of 10,000 somehow.

For example, GDP growth estimates change over time. Robust results from Q3 have led to the government increasing the 2005 GDP growth estimate last week. If the actual result hits the previous estimate, then does that mean the government was right all along because it gave that estimate at one point in time? Of course not.

I also doubt how a headcount methodology could produce valid results. I'd rely on Disney's release of about 10,000 a day. However, I would cast further doubt how a visitor standing at the entrance for a few minutes could judge the adequacy of such a headcount for a whole day in a mere few minutes.

hkskyline

November 28th, 2005, 04:53 PM

quite interesting that disneyland decrease its selling price of ticket
dont hk people are very wealthy?
why not much hker come to visit
but i see so much hker in tokyo disneyland
they should build another new towns rather than what disneyland
Just because people are wealthy doesn't mean they'll fork out an arm and a leg for anything. There must be value for money.

Interestingly, the actual makeup of Disneyland's visitors has baffled the original predictions. Hong Kong visitors comprise the largest group of visitors to Disneyland, and not the mainland tourists.

That being said, 10,000 a day isn't bad for a new park opening after the summer busy season. Considering a significant amount of that came from Hong Kongers, local support of the park is quite strong.

sfgadv02

November 29th, 2005, 02:01 AM

I am surprise Hong Kong Disneyland hasnt replied yet...he is usually on top of things. -_____-

HongKongDisneyland

November 29th, 2005, 04:59 AM

Just because the estimate was revised doesn't mean it is unreliable. Rather, revisions indicate an awareness of changing circumstances, which is great because the estimate is more reliable if it reflects the economic reality. The fact is, the most up-to-date estimate released by the government was 15,000 a day. Would an outdated estimate be used because the actuals were far lower but came close it? What about the assumptions that led to the 15,000 figure - were they inaccurate? I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that because an outdated government estimate came close to the actual, the present patronage numbers are justifiable. That's quite ignorant of the economic reality. They might as well pull a bunch random numbers out of a hat and one would comse close to the actual of 10,000 somehow.

For example, GDP growth estimates change over time. Robust results from Q3 have led to the government increasing the 2005 GDP growth estimate last week. If the actual result hits the previous estimate, then does that mean the government was right all along because it gave that estimate at one point in time? Of course not.

I also doubt how a headcount methodology could produce valid results. I'd rely on Disney's release of about 10,000 a day. However, I would cast further doubt how a visitor standing at the entrance for a few minutes could judge the adequacy of such a headcount for a whole day in a mere few minutes.

wrong accusation again!!!!! and enough said! pls do yr homework...!! you still do not convince me a bit with yr argument!!!

First of all, I never said an outdated estimate would be used. i only pointed out that 5.6 million is not their original estimate!!
------>Since you said "It was an official government estimate for patronage from a few years ago."
------>"the estimate is more reliable if it reflects the economic reality"
For the estimate to be more reliable, it is more than just reflecting economic reality, for example, consumer behaviour, changing tastes of tourists, political considerations, etc. Estimating Attendance at the park is not the same as estimating economic preformance at HK.

Secondly, you made wrongful accusation that visitor spent few minutes at the entrance could judge the adequacy of such a headcount for a whole day. Did u witness the way the headcount was done? Did you know what statistical method they used? did the headcount was done in a whole day? Did you witness that visitor was only at the entrance for a few minutes? why they picked those 2 dates? why they didn't do it within a reasonable longer time frame? It is very obvious, that the validity of the headcount is questionable! everyone has the right to question the validity of the headcount.

I would cast further doubt with your ability to reasoning.

superchan7

November 29th, 2005, 05:07 AM

Because of the economic downturn in the late 1990s, people in HK have become relatively frugal and do not want to rush to spend so much. This habit has continued even after an impressive economic recovery in 2003-2005 and will likely continue for a while until people feel more secure about their future once again.

That is why HKers are so quick to complain about high prices and fare hikes.

Terrence

November 29th, 2005, 08:36 AM

I think it's still under consideration and discussion

hkskyline

November 29th, 2005, 05:42 PM

Union launched by Hong Kong Disney staff

HONG KONG, Nov 28 (AFP) - Employees of Hong Kong Disneyland will launch a union to protect workers' rights and campaign for fairer treatment like Disney workers elsewhere in the world, a union spokeswoman said Monday.

The group, called Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members' Union, would be launched on Tuesday and at least 100 people were expected to join, said union spokeswoman Elaine Hui.

She said complaints from the park's employees have increased since its opening in September and over 100 employees had complained about long working hours and unfair overtime payments from Disney's newest park.

"Our workers in Hong Kong seem to get the worst treatment compared with the other Disney employees in Paris, Japan and the United States," said Lee Cheuk-yan, general secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions.

"We hope that the union will have more dialogues and help improve working conditions for the employees," he said.

Lee said the Hong Kong staff members have a 15-minute break every four hours while the staff from other Disney theme parks get a break every two hours.

Hui said Hong Kong workers get their overtime payment based on monthly work hours of 195 while it was calculated on daily eight work hours for all the other Disney workers.

"Sometimes our workers may be required to work five hours a day or sometimes up to 13 hours a day which is a very cunning thing to do," Hui said.

hkskyline

November 29th, 2005, 05:55 PM

wrong accusation again!!!!! and enough said! pls do yr homework...!! you still do not convince me a bit with yr argument!!!

First of all, I never said an outdated estimate would be used. i only pointed out that 5.6 million is not their original estimate!!
------>Since you said "It was an official government estimate for patronage from a few years ago."
------>"the estimate is more reliable if it reflects the economic reality"
For the estimate to be more reliable, it is more than just reflecting economic reality, for example, consumer behaviour, changing tastes of tourists, political considerations, etc. Estimating Attendance at the park is not the same as estimating economic preformance at HK.

Secondly, you made wrongful accusation that visitor spent few minutes at the entrance could judge the adequacy of such a headcount for a whole day. Did u witness the way the headcount was done? Did you know what statistical method they used? did the headcount was done in a whole day? Did you witness that visitor was only at the entrance for a few minutes? why they picked those 2 dates? why they didn't do it within a reasonable longer time frame? It is very obvious, that the validity of the headcount is questionable! everyone has the right to question the validity of the headcount.

I would cast further doubt with your ability to reasoning.
The Hong Kong government released an expectation of 5.6 million visitors a year, or 15,342 per day, in the first year of operation. This figure has been around for quite some time. Judson Green, chairman of Walt Disney Attractions, released a conservative attendance target in the 5-million range back in 1999 (Reuters article, 2 November 1999, "FOCUS - HK Disney deal could boost economy"), when the park plan was announced.

Factors such as consumer behaviour and tourism are affected by the economic reality. If the economy sours, consumer spending will tighten, and tourism may also be affected if the downturn is regional, which is probable in light of today's global economy. Since tourism is closely related with the economy, prediction models for Disneyland's patronage should not deviate significantly from a GDP-prediction model.

A headcount at the admission stands is definitely not a statistically-acceptable method. They are extrapolating the park's performance based on merely 2 consecutive days of data, failing to take into account the economic cycle. So for sure the methodology is questionable, let alone using a mere head count at the entrance. There should be at minimum a series of dates with a volatility analysis before any conclusion can be reached.

I don't see how political considerations play a major factor. Unless China relaxes its individual visit scheme to the whole country, the flow of visitors to Hong Kong will still be strong, given that the mainland economy continues to grow. Once again, economics is a major driver behind Disneyland's patronage.

Isan

November 30th, 2005, 09:06 AM

hkskyline

December 2nd, 2005, 01:59 AM

LCQ6 : Construction works of Hong Kong Disneyland
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Government Press Release

Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (November 30) :

Question:

It has been reported that the construction costs of the facilities in Hong Kong Disneyland ("HKD") are excessively high, which casts doubt on whether the Government, being the major shareholder of the joint venture company of HKD, has closely monitored the relevant expenditure. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the details of the construction costs of various facilities in HKD, to enable the public to assess whether such facilities are good value for money;

(b) of the criteria and procedure adopted for vetting and approving the estimated expenditure on the construction of the various facilities; and

(c) whether it will strengthen its efforts on monitoring the expenditure on the future extension works in HKD; if it will, how they will be strengthened; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

The financing of the Hongkong International Theme Park Limited (HKITP) comes to a total of HK$14.1 Bn, comprising equity injection made by the Government and The Walt Disney Company (TWDC), as well as loans provided by the Government and commercial entities. The portion related to the Government was approved by Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in 1999, and construction works of Hong Kong Disneyland were completed on schedule and within the approved financing arrangements.

According to HKITP, TWDC undertook the planning of all facilities in Hong Kong Disneyland with over 50 years' experience of building and operating theme parks. In doing so, TWDC has taken into account local circumstances whilst reflecting its own unique style and character. The construction materials and workmanship for every element within the park are subject to stringent quality standards to ensure that the design concept could be brought to life.

Hong Kong Disneyland is being run in accordance with the usual commercial principles and model of TWDC. In order to ensure that HKITP could secure the most favourable terms from contractors in future tendering exercises and that its bargaining position will not be affected, construction costs in the contracts should not be released.

During construction stage, the management company of Hong Kong Disneyland is required to report on work progress and expenditure to the HKITP Board of Directors. Under close monitoring of the Board, construction of Hong Kong Disneyland was completed on schedule and within the approved financing arrangements.

hkskyline

December 3rd, 2005, 08:09 AM

加強培訓新入職員工
迪士尼允改善職安
03/12/2005
太陽報

http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/news/20051203/img/sn18120302_big.jpg

【本報訊】有鑑於香港迪士尼樂園開幕以來，經常被投訴罔顧樂園表演人員的職業安全，立法會議員王國興及工聯會權委副主任葉偉明等，昨日與迪士尼高層會面近一小時研究改善措施，樂園方面答應願意改善，並承諾日後會定期與工會會面。

承認招聘過程有不足
王國興與迪士尼樂園行政總裁（營運）安明智，及人力資源服務總監莫家樂會面後表示，樂園答應展開多項改善，包括給予表演人員足夠時間進行熱身、減輕戲服重量，在聘請新員工時會依其體格安排工作，又會研究為員工安排兩套戲服更換，又表示已向員工提供化妝用的止汗劑及頭巾，以防溶妝影響眼睛。

對於員工投訴合約沒有列明工作範圍，王國興引述樂園指，樂園傳統希望各員工熟悉園內各項工作，以有效發展人力資源及培訓人才，就以跳舞人員為例，他們一天只有兩場巡遊，工作量不足，才會安排他們兼任接待員。

樂園承認，招聘過程存有不足之處，同意在日後培訓時，向新入職員工清楚說明工作範圍。至於僱員政策手冊的修改，只適用於一般的政策，如員工購買樂園禮品的折扣率，並不涉及僱傭條例。

Isan

December 4th, 2005, 08:37 AM

http://tinypic.com/i5au4w.jpg

hkskyline

December 7th, 2005, 04:42 PM

Disney park helps boost tourism in Hong Kong
Still, the city-island faces street protests and the potential threat of bird flu.
Jerry W. Jackson, Sentinel Staff Writer
7 December 2005
Orlando Sentinel

Hong Kong Tourism Board representatives were in Orlando on Tuesday to tout the Chinese territory and promote a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign that starts next year.

Among the pluses: Gross domestic product surged by 8.2 percent in the third quarter, boosted by the new Hong Kong Disneyland, hotels and development. That followed a 7.3 percent growth rate in the second quarter, revised upward from 6.8 percent.

Tourism increased 5.9 percent in September compared with the same month a year ago, and 7.6 percent to 16.9 million people for the first nine months of the year.

But Hong Kong faces challenges as well, with calls for more democracy filling the streets with protesters, and preparations for the possibility of a bird flu pandemic that could smash the golden egg of tourism.

"The protests were peaceful. It's another example of how Hong Kong really is working very well" since the handoff of full control from Great Britain to China eight years ago, said Jeffrey Shubert, regional director of the Americas for the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Shubert said China has afforded Hong Kong considerable self-control, with no media censorship and the ability to start businesses and enjoy other freedoms. "People see that things have not changed for the worse," as many feared, said Shubert, who lived in Hong Kong for three years in the mid-1980s.

As for the threat from bird flu, Hong Kong is perhaps better prepared than any major city in the world because of its experience with SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, Shubert said. SARS brought international travel to a virtual halt in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia in 2003, when the mystery disease struck with little warning.

"They learned their lesson," Shubert said. "Hong Kong is much more aware of the realities of what can happen. They have taken major steps not only to prevent this [bird flu] but to prepare for it. They monitor everything that crosses the border, and they are obsessed with doing everything possible to deal with it."

SARS infected 1,755 in Hong Kong and killed 299 there before fizzling out for unexplained reasons.

Bird flu so far is mainly a killer of fowl, but scientists fear it might develop human-to-human transmission and kill millions of people. Some researchers say that still is unlikely, however, and the longstanding scientific thinking that pandemics occur with regularity has now been largely discarded.

Lillibeth Bishop, another Hong Kong Tourism Board representative from Los Angeles, said Hong Kong has more to offer than many world travelers might think, beyond the shopping and dining for which the city-island of 6.8 million people is best known. The recent opening of Disneyland grabbed headlines, but other new attractions and infrastructure have been added or are in the works, she said.

"Hong Kong is the only city in Asia in the top 10 world destinations for tourism," she said, and a new television ad campaign featuring Hong Kong is now running in cable-TV markets in key U.S. markets, including the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. "Florida is very important to us, especially South Florida," Bishop said.

Among the new features in Hong Kong is the Ngong Ping 360, a cable-car-style "skyrail journey" attraction that opens in early 2006. It will give visitors a stunning view of the green mountain scenery of Lantau Island and access to the Po Lin Monastery and the Giant Buddha.

The new Hong Kong Wetland Park, near the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, offers bird watchers a chance to see some of the more than 300 species that frequent the area.

Jerry W. Jackson can be reached at 407-420-5721 or jwjackson@orlandosentinel.com.

BOX: Hong Kong Location: On southeastern coast of China. Size: More than 683 square miles, including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula and 235 outlying islands. Population: More than 6.8 million. Language: Cantonese and English. Typical U.S. Traveler to Hong Kong: Singles and couples traveling without children, 45-60 years old with family income of $75,000 or greater. More information: www.discoverhongkong.com/usa SOURCE: Hong Kong Tourism Board.

sfgadv02

December 8th, 2005, 01:31 AM

Ill-mannered mainlanders taking the Mickey out of Hong Kong Disneyland

Ill-mannered mainlanders taking the Mickey out of Hong Kong Disneyland
Though Japan's already prickly relations with China didn't need to be enflamed any further, Shukan Post (12/16) -- one of the country's top-selling weeklies -- has come out with a goofy rant about the foul manners Chinese are displaying at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Running under the headline "Outcry at Hong Kong Disneyland over Chinese pissing and spitting everywhere," Post takes the Mickey out of mainlanders, who have made up 26 percent of the theme park's 1 million-plus visitors since it opened in September."Actually visiting Hong Kong Disneyland provides you with examples in all sorts of places of some pretty eye-popping behavior," the magazine writes.

Unlike Disney theme parks across the world, including Tokyo Disneyland, lines appear to mean little in the latest Magical Kingdom, where queue jumping is a given, the rag says.

Trash in the form of cigarette butts and discarded soda bottles is strewn throughout the park's sidewalks in such quantities that sanitation staff under strict orders to clean messes as soon as they appear can't keep up.

Hong Kong locals are just as flustered with their mainland brethren.

"Hong Kong was under British control for a long time, so the Chinese living in Hong Kong have at least a basic understanding of acceptable manners," a resident of the Fragrant Harbor city tells Shukan Post. "But Chinese from the mainland don't even know the existence of the word 'manners.' They have no custom of lining up. It's a waste of breath to tell them off."

Mickey's Philharmajic, a 3-D theater touted as one of the major attractions of Hong Kong Disneyland, has turned out to be a main source of souvenirs for mainlanders visiting the park, the weekly says, saying that they pocket the special glasses used to watch the movie instead of returning them at the end of the film as park operators ask all guests to do.

"These glasses are great souvenirs," a Chinese mainlander tells the weekly. "We're paying big money to get into this park, so I don't see why we should have to give them back."

Rest at the park is also an impossibility, apparently, with park benches frequently occupied by middle-aged men lying down to take a nap, "Chinese-style," according to the magazine.

Shukan Post quotes a Guangzhou daily telling stories of a Chinese mother who let her young son piddle in the pond below Sleeping Beauty's Castle, then sat by idly while he ran around the park without any pants on. When challenged, the mother apparently said she was hamstrung because her little boy couldn't hold on any longer.

Hong Kong Disneyland operators acknowledge there has been a bit of cultural friction."It's a fact that we have received complaints about bad-mannered guests since we opened in September," a park spokesman tells Shukan Post. "However, we have people from a variety of cultural backgrounds coming to the park, so it's understandable that there are all different types of behavior. We train out staff in dealing with this situation."

Birei Kin, a social commentator who claims to be well versed in Chinese culture, says China needs to change.

"China, especially the mainland, has a tendency to regard all actions in terms of whether they will bring a profit or loss. People live with the belief that obeying rules causes them to lose," the commentator tells Shukan Post. "Go to a toilet if you really want to see an example of ill manners. They don't flush and you've got urine and feces overflowing everywhere, but nobody is at all ashamed by it. Beijing is hosting the 2008 Olympics and I find it hard to see morals improving by then." (By Ryann Connell)

December 6, 2005

What a shame IMO...

hkskyline

December 9th, 2005, 07:45 AM

Discovering Disney
Books, 'outreach programs' were needed to ready the Chinese for Asia's 'happiest place on Earth'
But Disney's newest theme park on Lantau Island has made 'Mickey Mao' a hit
Bill Taylor
Toronto Star
26 November 2005

HONG KONG -- The little girl in the angel suit, complete with wings, halo and celestial pink boots, is cute but no cherub.

The cellphone dangling from her waist is a dead giveaway as she gallops hither and yon, turning from time to time to yell at her parents to hurry up! She's speaking Cantonese but there's no mistaking her message.

It is a small world after all, and getting smaller. There are times when the new Hong Kong Disneyland feels claustrophobic but, then again, the original Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. isn't very big either.

When it opened 50 years ago as "the happiest place on Earth," it was all about bringing different world experiences, albeit candy-coated, to Americans. Today, with Disney theme parks on three continents, it's all about selling candy-coated middle-America to the world.

But Disney is what Disney is. You either check your cynicism at the gate or go into sugar-shock as you board the Disneyland Express at the appropriately but coincidentally - named Sunny Bay MTA station. The transit authority is totally onside - the government has a 57-per-cent stake here. You can buy entrance tickets at Hong Kong station and the trains for the one-stop ride from Sunny Bay have windows and hand-holds with Mickey Mouse ears.

The park, a half-hour, $26 Hong Kong ($4 Cdn.) ride from the city centre, is on Lantau island, best known up to now for its gigantic statue of Buddha and Chek Lap Kok airport. This is close enough to the park that the thunder you hear isn't an approaching storm, but jetliners on final approach.

Visitors from mainland China are important to the success of the new park - though Hong Kong officials are said to be less than thrilled by plans to have a Shanghai Disneyland up and running by 2010.

Children in Hong Kong, which still has a strong Western presence, are far more familiar with Disney than kids in China. But the corporation did its homework well ahead of the Hong Kong park's opening, with a series of "outreach programs" on the mainland to introduce what some critics have called Mickey Mao. With Chinese government co-operation, some schools introduced Disney stories into their curriculum.

Pop star Jacky Cheung was hired to host a TV program showing classic Disney movies in Hong Kong and on the mainland. And a clothing chain, with more than 600 stores in China, started carrying Disney clothing.

When Hong Kong Disneyland opened its gates, everyone knew what the park and its characters was all about.

This is the smallest of the Disney parks, with a maximum capacity of about 30,000 visitors. It has three themed areas - Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; and Tomorrowland. There are two hotels with a total capacity of 1,000 guests.

Many visitors, it seems, are unfamiliar with the whole theme-park concept, especially the Fastpass, which lets you book a ride time and bypass the line. In the first days after the park opened Sept. 12, many thought they needed a Fastpass simply to get on a ride. (Sept. 12 was chosen as auspicious by traditional Feng Shui consultants).

There have also been problems, in the first few days at least, of visitors smoking where they shouldn't - reportedly even in Sleeping Beauty's castle - spitting, going barefoot and letting their kids urinate in the flower beds.

On the day I'm there, business is brisk, everything is moving smoothly and the longest line is for pictures with Mickey and Minnie. There are far more adults than kids. Trains arrive full and people are snapping away before they're out of the station.

There's a Space Mountain rollercoaster with the usual warnings about not riding if you're pregnant or have a heart condition but, otherwise, the handful of rides are on the tame side.

The chance to get married here is reportedly already popular: "Begin your forever today," says the blurb. "Stage your intimate ceremony under the fanciful gazebo in the romantic surroundings of Hong Kong Disneyland."

There are three packages - Crystal, Emerald and Diamond, which costs $10,888 (about $1,650 Cdn.), "plus 10 per cent service charge per table of 12 persons. Minimum spending requirement applies." Included are "a comprehensive range of Disney background music; eight-tier fairytale wedding cake for photographs; a choice of Disney-themed fresh wedding cake; one luxurious night's stay at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel; six regular day tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland."

If you're really lucky, that little angel in pink boots might show up to bestow a blessing. Just remember - that halo isn't real.

Ticket prices go up in July and August, weekends and public holidays. Adult day tickets go from $295 to $350 HK ($45-$53 Cdn.); children 3-11, $210-$250 HK ($32-$38 Cdn.), seniors, $170-$200 HK ($26-$30 Cdn.). For information, visit www.hongkongdisneyland.com

Bill Taylor is a feature writer at the Star.

Isan

December 13th, 2005, 03:31 AM

Hong Kong Disneyland Spreads the Magic of Christmas with Festive D-Cards
9 December 2005

People around the world can now share in the fun of Hong Kong Disneyland’s first Magical Christmas with a personalized personalised and interactive online holiday “D-card” (Disney card) featuring Mickey Mouse and his pals against the winter wonderland backdrop of Main Street USA.

Visitors to Hong Kong Disneyland’s website can click on the 'Create a Christmas D-card' icon to design their own special snow-capped greeting that is available in English, traditional and simplified Chinese.

Budding designers can choose which Disney friend - Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip ’n’ Dale or Santa Goofy - will be the star of their personalized personalised D-card, while a host of colorful Disney-inspired ornaments and stars are available to adorn the towering Christmas tree. And to add to the magic, a selection of gifts can be placed under the tree for a true holiday atmosphere.

For those inspired to own an actual piece of Disney magic, all of the tree ornaments and Christmas gifts featured on the D-card are available for purchase throughout December at Hong Kong Disneyland.

“The holiday greeting D-card is a way for our guests who have enjoyed a full day of fun at Hong Kong Disneyland to continue their first Magical Christmas experience by sharing it with friends and family all over the world. The D-card is also an exciting way to invite loved ones to join together to celebrate the holidays at the park,” said Roy Tan Hardy, Vice President, Marketing, Hong Kong Disneyland.

The holiday D-card follows closely in the footsteps of the launch of the Share your Magical Moments online photo album where guests are invited to share their favorite stories and photos from Hong Kong Disneyland.

“Each day we receive tremendous feedback from guests about the wonderful experiences they are having at Hong Kong Disneyland.

This new online photo album provides an opportunity for everyone to share their happiest moments, while at the park with family and friends. No two magical experiences are the same at Hong Kong Disneyland, therefore this photo album will be a fascinating, interactive journey for every visitor and hopefully will inspire others to share their own stories” said Hardy.

For each story shared online, guests can download personalizsed desktop wallpaper where they can insert their favorite Hong Kong Disneyland photo with the date. Guests can also download a Magical Christmas December calendar that is filled with holiday cheer and features all the Disney friends.

WANCH

December 13th, 2005, 09:57 AM

Oh man, till now I haven't been to HK Disneyland! Just don't have the time!

Aboveday

December 13th, 2005, 11:24 AM

I have time but no mood ....

WANCH

December 13th, 2005, 12:34 PM

The thing is I already been to the ones in Anaheim and Paris and I find those more attractive! HK Disneyland lack more rides especially The Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster!

But this one is the most scenic of all the Disneylands! I would like to see images of HK Disneyland from the top of any Lantau peak!

sfgadv02

December 14th, 2005, 01:37 AM

Are there plans for a Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster in phase 2?

hkskyline

December 14th, 2005, 07:10 AM

Philippine SEA Games gold winners get trips to Hong Kong Disneyland

MANILA, Dec 11 (AFP) - Filipino athletes who won gold at the just-ended Southeast Asian Games are getting an additional reward -- trips to Hong Kong Disneyland, courtesy of their corporate sponsors -- a spokesman said Sunday.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, who organized a foundation for the country's athletes, will give each a three-day trip to Hong Kong, including a Disneyland visit, said the spokesman of Arroyo's husband, Jesus Santos.

About 228 Filipinos won gold medals in 113 events during the games that were held in the Philippines from November 27 to December 5. Some 175 of them had already confirmed they would join the trip to Hong Kong.

hkskyline

December 14th, 2005, 07:13 AM

Disneyland sells out for the first time
14 December 2005
South China Morning Post

Tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland sold out for the first time yesterday since its opening in September, and the tourism sector believes it could be attributed to the World Trade Organisation meeting.

The theme park made the announcement in a statement but refused to release the numbers. Spokeswoman Esther Wong Wing-han said walk-in tickets had sold out in three hours from when the park opened at 10am.

"We immediately released a statement to the media when we received news that tickets to the park had sold out at 1pm," Ms Wong said, adding that visitors who had already pre-purchased tickets were still able to visit the park.

But she did not reveal how many tickets were sold, nor did the company have numbers indicating whether hotel bookings had increased yesterday.

"We also do not have the maximum number of tickets available for visitors in a day," she said.

The park received much criticism last month for refusing to reveal attendance numbers. A count of visitors entering the park, carried out by the South China Morning Post last month, recorded 12,972 visitors on Sunday, November 13, and just 11,399 on Wednesday, November 16. It has said it has a maximum capacity of 30,000 visitors.

Travel Industry Council director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said the high demand could be attributed to the school holidays and the WTO conference.

"Mainland tours are not allowed to visit the Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Convention and Exhibition Centre because of the WTO, so I believe they have all flocked to the theme park," Mr Tung said.

A visitor to the park yesterday said she had had to queue for at least two hours for rides and some souvenir shop shelves were nearly emptied by shoppers.

hkskyline

December 14th, 2005, 08:13 AM

LCQ6: Management of HK Disneyland
Government Press Release
Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Following is a question by the Hon Margaret Ng and a reply by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, in the Legislative Council today (December 14):

Question:

In late 1999, the Government and The Walt Disney Company set up a joint venture company - the Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited ("HKITP") to build and operate the Hong Kong Disneyland. In its paper submitted to the Finance Committee of this Council for its meeting on 26th November 1999, the Administration stated that two non-executive independent directors mutually agreed by both shareholders would be appointed to the Board of Directors of HKITP. It has been reported that such appointments have yet to be made. Concerning the governance of HKITP, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the reasons for its failure to-date to appoint the independent directors and not regularly keeping this Council informed of the progress in this respect;

(b) of the action it has taken, since the establishment of HKITP, in regard to appointing the independent directors; and

(c) whether, in accordance with the principles of transparency in and accountability for public finance, it will publish all the directors' reports and audited financial statements of HKITP since its establishment; if it will, of the timing for that; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

In 1999, the Government and The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) formed a joint venture company, the Hongkong International Theme Park Ltd (HKITP), to develop and operate the Hong Kong Disneyland.

While the Hong Kong Disneyland Management Limited is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the theme park, the Board of HKITP exercises a supervisory role. The Board of HKITP currently has nine members. Five of them are appointed by the Government. They are the Financial Secretary, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works and Commissioner for Tourism. The other four members are appointed by TWDC. The Government and TWDC may, if they so agree, appoint up to two independent non-executive directors to the Board.

Upon the establishment of HKITP, the Government and TWDC have discussed the question of the appointment of independent non-executive directors. We consider that the primary objective during the construction stage of the theme park is to ensure the timely completion of the works within budget. Other than monitoring the project through the Board, we also set up a Steering Committee on the Implementation of Hong Kong Disneyland under the chairmanship of the Financial Secretary, which meets monthly to monitor the progress and expenditure of the Government's infrastructure works, construction of the theme park and other complementary arrangements. Under the Steering Committee, a works progress committee was set up to monitor the progress of the construction of the theme park and the Government's infrastructure works and deal with works-related matters. The Disneyland Readiness Committee set up in May 2004 coordinated interfaces of the work of various stakeholders in preparation for the opening of the theme park and monitor works progress. In view of the focus of the construction stage, both parties agreed in 2000 that it was not the appropriate time for the appointment of independent non-executive directors. The Board of Directors decided in 2000 that the appointment of independent non-executive directors should be made at a later stage. The Government briefed the Economic Services Panel of this Council in October 2000 of this decision.

Under the supervision of the Board and the Steering Committee, the Hong Kong Disneyland was completed on time and within budget.

Now that the Hong Kong Disneyland has entered the operation stage, there is a wider spectrum of matters for the Board to supervise. In line with our original plan, the Government considers it opportune now to consider the appointment of independent non-executive directors. The Government is in the process of discussing with TWDC the appointment of independent non-executive directors to the Board.

HKITP is a private company, there is no requirement under the Companies Ordinance for a private company to publish its directors' reports and audited financial accounts. Although TWDC invests jointly with the Government in HKITP, the Government has to respect the company's interests and its operation under commercial principles will not be compromised due to the disclosure of commercially sensitive information. As an international financial and business centre, we have to respect the right of a private company to protect its commercially sensitive information. The directors' reports and audited financial accounts of HKITP contain commercially sensitive information regarding the operation of the Hong Kong Disneyland. In accordance with its way of commercial operation, TWDC would not disclose individual accounts of its theme parks. But being a listed company, TWDC will disclose information on the performance of its theme parks in its annual report.

Thank you.

hkskyline

December 15th, 2005, 02:21 AM

More Flexibility Makes Hong Kong Disneyland Easier to Visit

HONG KONG, Dec 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - Experiencing the magic of Hong Kong Disneyland will soon be easier than ever with the introduction of flexible date tickets. Starting January 3, 2006, guests may purchase non-date specific tickets and use them during a 6-month period following their purchase.

The new tickets are part of Hong Kong Disneyland's commitment to making the guest experience as seamless and magical as possible, while allowing greater flexibility in planning a full day of fun at the park.

"Our parks are always evolving and we receive a steady stream of feedback which allows us to adapt in order to make a great experience even better. Our guests and travel industry partners around Asia have told us they want the opportunity to buy tickets that are not date specific. As a result, we're happy to introduce new flexible tickets that will make planning a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland easier and more convenient," said Roy Tan Hardy, Vice President, Marketing, Hong Kong Disneyland.

The Honorable Howard Young, Legislative Counselor representing Tourism Functional Constituency, said, "The new strategy enhances and widens the partnership with the tourism industry. I am confident it will bring win-win results."

Hong Kong Disneyland will offer three types of park tickets (for more information, guests can visit hongkongdisneyland.com ):

Regular days -- Monday - Friday
(Adults HK$295, Kids HK$210, Seniors HK$170)

Peak days -- Weekend and certain vacation periods
(Adults HK$350, Kids HK$250, Seniors HK$200)

Special days -- Holidays or other date-specific special occasions
(e.g. Christmas Day, New Year's Day and days during Chinese New Year and Golden Week). Peak days and Special days (priced the same) are expected to be very popular with guests.

Guests who purchase Regular day and Peak day tickets can visit the park on the same day type within six months of their ticket purchase. Guests who purchase Special day tickets will receive a date-specific ticket for their chosen date.

For guests who already have purchased date-specific tickets, they can exchange the original tickets for the new flexible tickets at Guest Relations window at the Main Gate at the front of Hong Kong Disneyland Park.

"This new ticket offering means our travel industry partners will be better able to provide options to Mainland China and overseas guests who will want flexibility when visiting Hong Kong Disneyland," said Hardy.

Tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland are available through a variety of channels: Travel agents, online at hongkongdisneyland.com , the Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express at MTR Hong Kong Station, the Main Gate at the front of Hong Kong Disneyland Park and Group Sales office for groups of 100 and larger.

About Hong Kong Disneyland

Located on lush Lantau Island overlooking Penny's Bay, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a brand-new, world-class family entertainment and recreation center consisting of a magical, Disneyland-style theme park of shows and attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (400 guestrooms), Disney's Hollywood Hotel (600 guestrooms) and Inspiration Lake, a public area featuring boat rentals and a 3.5 hectare arboretum. Offering guests of all ages a full day immersed in imagination and creativity uniquely Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland is home to Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Mulan and other Disney characters beloved the world over.

A joint venture of The Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort employs 5,000 cast members. The HKSAR Government estimated the first phase of the project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong over a 40-year period. The project was announced in 1999 and construction began in 2003.

Isan

December 16th, 2005, 11:17 AM

迪士尼推出半年期門票
旅行社佣金提高盼吸引大陸遊客

【本報香港訊】香港迪士尼樂園1月3日起推出有效期六個月的一次入場門票，但票價維持不變，估計可吸引更多廣東省旅客到迪士尼。不過，日後顧客除了購買廿多天指定的「特別日子」門票外，不能再指定入場日期。此外，迪士尼又將給旅行社的佣金提高三倍，盼吸引更多大陸旅客。

香港迪士尼樂園市務及銷售副總裁陳敬考指出，公司收到大量亞洲旅遊業界及顧客意見，要求提供沒有指定入場日期的門票，以方便計畫行程，決定推出有效期六個月的門票，購買「平日」和「指定日子」門票人士，可於取票後六個月內，於相應的日子進場，不過在廿多天「指定日子」，例如平安夜、聖誕、元旦、農曆新年初一、初二、黃金周等，顧客只可購買印有指定入場日子的「特別日子」票。

為避免顧客來到樂園後發現爆滿掃興，迪士尼會在網頁、電台、地鐵、公路等地方預先公布入場情況。

此外，迪士尼將給旅行社的佣金，由以往每售出25張成人門票，每張可獲5元佣金，改為六個月內每售出100張成人票，每張有20元佣金、每張小童和長者票佣金為10元。

經濟發展及勞工局局長葉澍說，迪士尼樂園公司是私人公司，美國迪士尼從來沒有公布入場人數，他認為香港迪士尼已有改進，總之沒違背敏感商業資料就可以公布。

2005-12-15

hkskyline

December 18th, 2005, 07:54 PM

More photos : http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/20050830hkdisneyland

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552055.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552061.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552064.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552065.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552066.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552067.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552068.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552069.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552070.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552073.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552074.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592345.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592346.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592348.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592350.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592351.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592352.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592355.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592356.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592359.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592360.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592978.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592979.jpg

Isan

December 19th, 2005, 02:00 PM

Enjoy a magical New Year's Eve at Hong Kong Disneyland
19 December 2005

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1! It will be a magical countdown to 2006 at Hong Kong Disneyland. More entertainment, more food, more fun and more magic is in store for guests when they welcome 2006 at Hong Kong’s newest hot spot for ringing in the New Year as the park stays open until 1:00am.
Enjoy a magical New Year's Eve at Hong Kong Disneyland

“Hong Kong Disneyland will be a one-of-a-kind, immersive night of entertainment on New Year’s Eve,” said Roy Tan Hardy, Vice President, Marketing, Hong Kong Disneyland. “It will be a dynamic party for people of all ages. Guests will be able ride their favorite attractions, catch a Broadway-style show or hit the dance floors around the park as they countdown to midnight. It’s a full day of fun and the place to be seen this New Year’s Eve.”

During the day on New Year’s Eve, guests will celebrate the final day of Hong Kong Disneyland’s Magical Christmas with carols, special holiday food, lighting of the Christmas tree, snowfall at 6:00pm and the nightly fireworks.

Then, at 9:30pm, Hong Kong Disneyland transforms into a New Year’s Eve party like no other for guests of all ages.

• In front of Sleeping Beauty Castle guests will be able to swing to the enchanting tunes of Tony Carpio and his big band.

• In Fantasyland, guests can dance the night away to the sounds of the Mystery 5 band that will get the guests grooving to the sounds of reggae, R&B and soul.

• Tomorrowland features a VJ who will spin favorite toe tappin’ tunes to keep the party hopping.

The highlight of the evening is a park-wide countdown to midnight. Five large video screens placed around the park will feature live coverage of the bands at the Castle and in Fantasyland and the VJ in Tomorrowland.

All of the favorite Hong Kong Disneyland merchandise shops and attractions will remain open until 1:00am and added performances of the hit Broadway-style productions of “Festival of the Lion King” and “Golden Mickeys” will ensure singing and dancing throughout the park.

In addition to all of the Hong Kong Disneyland restaurants remaining open throughout the night, additional food stands will also be available to tempt every palate.

On Main Street USA, the air will be filled with the spicy scent of succulent Nuremberg sausages and chicken and lamb satays. In Fantasyland, guests’ food fantasies will come true with pan-fried corn on the cob and delicious grilled chicken wings.

Guests exploring Adventureland will discover juicy chunks of tandoori chicken and lamb kebab on pita bread and barbecued chicken wings. And in Tomorrowland, the food will feature mini mixed grill and tandoori chicken with naan bread.

Accompanying these tasty treats will be a selection of warm drinks from honey citron tea, ginger warmer and hazelnut coffee and festive inspired drinks Christmas Star, New Wish and White Treasure.

“Hong Kong Disneyland is the place for the whole family to celebrate the dawning of a new year,” added Hardy. “When you combine our spectacular Disney entertainment with the popular attractions and great party enhancements, there is no better place to celebrate New Year’s Eve than Hong Kong Disneyland.”

hkskyline

December 19th, 2005, 07:06 PM

In fantasy country
18 December 2005

Essential tips for a day tripper to Hong Kong Disneyland

Disneyland has always been a land of the imagination whether it be in Florida, France or Tokyo. And even in the newbie theme park in Hong Kong, the charm of fantasy isn't far away.

Hong Kong Disneyland is the smallest Disney park and has the least number of rides. And one day is enough to experience the 16 rides and shows in all three zones of the theme park - Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

The park is open from 10am to 7pm on weekdays and until 9pm on weekends, so, you have a maximum of 9.4 hours to complete all you may want to do in a day.

One way of speeding up things is to pay double and get a "Fast Track" ticket.

However, it's probably not the fairest thing to do because while you're on the "Fast Track", hundreds of people are queuing out there trying to get in.

Well, to spend a day in Hong Kong's Disneyland without regret, here are some pointers to what you shouldn't miss.

When you step into the park, you see Main Street USA, a typical American town of the early 1900s with a variety of charming shops and restaurants, as well as lively marching bands.

At every corner, several Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto, hang around to pose for pictures with the visitors.

Age is no barrier here. Kids, adults and even old people queue up to have a few photographs taken with the friendly looking characters.

Next, walking through the Sleeping Beauty Castle and turning to Adventureland, you see the Jungle River Cruise.

A guide takes you on an exotic journey along a river where intrigue, surprises and jungle humour wait at every turn.

Disneyland has guides who speak three languages - Cantonese, Mandarin and English.

Since the opening, thousands of people from the mainland have flooded the theme park. Therefore, taking the English-language ride would be wiser because the queue for it is far shorter.

Another highlight is the Festival of the Lion King. Visitors can witness a colourful pageant of music and dance, celebrating Disney's animated classic "The Lion King".

The 30-minute show takes place at noon, 2, 4.30 and 6pm.

The next spectacle worth witnessing is The Golden Mickeys in Fantasyland.

It takes place at Disney's Storybook Theatre and is an event in which awards resembling the Oscars are presented to doyens in the world of animation. The 30-minute show takes you back to Disney's well-known animated films, including "Tarzan", "Mulan", "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast".

Next on the list is Mickey's PhilharMagic where Mickey and his friends take you on a three-dimensional journey. Seeing the animated characters close up with surround sound and other special effects is truly impressive.

The next two attractions are in Tomorrowland, called Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Space Mountain. At Astro Blasters, players can spin their Star Cruisers 360 degrees while firing hand-held laser cannons. You blast enemies and amass points, then compare the score with other Space Rangers. Space Mountain has roller-coasters that ride into space.

Even Napoleon's army travelled on its stomach. So do the visitors to Disneyland. There are eight restaurants in the park , each decorated in the style of a Disney cartoon town, and 11 souvenir shops along the Main Street, smothered in the aroma of fresh-baked goods.

trueapprentice

December 19th, 2005, 08:28 PM

HK disney is big enough to cover in one day, so it is not that small ar when i went

WANCH

December 20th, 2005, 05:56 AM

True compared to other where you can buy a two or three day pass!

hkskyline

December 20th, 2005, 06:31 PM

205 gold medalists prepare for HK trip
Some people probably thought it was a joke when First Gentleman Mike Arroyo promised that if the country won the Southeast Asian Games overall championship the gold medal winners will be treated to a Hong Kong Disneyland vacation
17 December 2005
Manila Bulletin

It seems the joke is on the skeptics as the preparations for the HK trip were completed yesterday for the grandest vacation for top Filipino athletes.

The SEA Games gold medalists and other sports officials, including Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, will be leaving for Hong Kong on Monday and will return on Wednesday.

"This is a good Christmas gift to all the athletes who helped us win our first overall SEA Games title," said Ramirez. "At last, after all the hard work of our athletes, First Gentleman has fulfilled his promise and I’m happy about it."

"After this vacation we are now looking forward to the training of our athletes for this year’s Asian Games and 2008 Beijing Olympics. Each gold medalist really deserves to enjoy this memorable Hong Kong trip," he added.

A total of 205 SEA Games gold medalists – 39 from traditional boat race men and women team, 18 from men’s baseball, 34 from men and women’s softball team, 10 from Wushu, 7 from aquatics, 9 from athletics, 8 from archery, 7 from Arnis, 5 from Billiards, 10 from boxing, 2 each from cycling and bodybuilding, 3 from dance sport, 10 from fencing, 4 each from bowling, golf, judo, muay thai and shooting, 5 from wrestling, 6 from tae kwon do, one each from sailing, Pencak Silat, gymnastics, lawn ball and equestrian – will be enjoying the Hong Kong trip.

The all-expenses paid trip will also include a $300 pocket money for each athlete from the First Gentleman’s fund.

Isan

December 23rd, 2005, 12:42 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland releases Limited Edition Pin Sets over Christmas and New Year’s Eve
23 December 2005

Hong Kong Disneyland today put on sale a Happy Holidays 2005 six-piece pin collection which features Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto – complete with gifts and a centerpiece Christmas tree.

Hong Kong Disneyland Director of Merchandise, Phyllis Wong said, “The Happy Holiday collection captures the warmth and magic of the holiday season at Hong Kong Disneyland and is the perfect way to commemorate our first Christmas in Hong Kong.”

Only 2,005 Christmas pin sets will be available for sale, which come presented in a golden gift box with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Each Happy Holidays 2005 pin set is priced at HK$390 and will be available at the Kodak Camera Shop on Main Street USA.

On New Year’s Eve, Disneyland guests can usher in 2006 with a walk down memory lane as Hong Kong Disneyland releases another 500 limited edition pin sets featuring Mickey Mouse in his most acclaimed films through the years. From the classic feature animation, Steamboat Willie as he appeared in 1928 to modern day Mickey Mouse, this 13-piece collectors’ set is sure to be a hit with Disney enthusiasts.

“Beloved Disney friend Mickey Mouse has been an icon since his first appearance, and the limited edition pin sets recreate the spirit of our fun-loving and world famous mouse through the decades,” said Wong.

The 500 pin sets of Mickey Mouse through the years will be available from 9.30pm onwards on December 31 at the Kodak Camera Shop on Main Street USA.

LordCarnal

December 29th, 2005, 06:22 AM

I was able to talk to one of the staff in disneyland.. They didn't give a definite time but I think it will open soon... Phase II features a race track I guess.. but I'm not quite sure...

How is the lagoon by the way?

WANCH

December 29th, 2005, 07:15 AM

What HK Disneyland needs is a Big Thunder Mountain :D

Duopolis

December 29th, 2005, 06:17 PM

How does HK Disneyland compare with the one in Paris? HK's seems to be much smaller, but i'm judging only by photos, so i can be wrong.

Sorry for my poor english :D

Isan

January 1st, 2006, 09:14 AM

http://hk.yimg.com/hk/providers/od/20060101/0101nhko05b1.jpg

東方日報專訊】香港迪士尼樂園迎接開幕後第一個除夕及新年，首次延長開放時間至凌晨一時，園內四周充滿熱鬧的派對氣氛，樂園更向在場遊人大派新年禮物，踏入凌晨一刻更綻放燦爛火，各人在音樂聲及歡笑中迎接新一年。唯一美中不足之處，就是米奇老鼠等迪士尼明星沒有參加倒數派對，同時迪士尼在沒有公布下，昨日將園內汽水售價由十五元加價至二十元。

迪士尼在上月曾四度宣布全場爆滿，不過發言人指昨日並沒售出所有門票，大部分遊戲及表演只須輪候三十至四十分鐘。

樂園在除夕夜充滿熱鬧的派對氣氛，美國小鎮大街的浪漫飄雪及每睌九時花匯演，令遊人如癡如醉。

迪士尼在晚上九時半開始除夕派對，在明日世界、幻想世界等主題區大派哨子等禮物，又有飲品供應及樂隊表演，不少人隨之起舞。

樂園昨晚亦出售五百套限量版米奇襟章，每套十三款，引來一陣搶購。

睡公主城堡前堆滿人群

接近凌晨時分，在場人士的情緒益發高漲，睡公主城堡前的大舞台堆滿人群；眾人齊聲由五倒數至一，每數一下，其中一個主題區便會放出火製造氣氛。

直至凌晨一刻，睡公主城堡再次綻放火，不過米奇及米妮卻沒有參加倒數，令許多遊人失望不已。迪士尼發言人無解釋原因，只說有關節目一早已安排好。

市民何小姐昨日到迪士尼歡度除夕兼慶祝生日，她大讚樂園新年氣氛濃厚。對於新年願望，她希望工作順利。

此外，部分遊人發現迪士尼內的汽水售價突然增加五元，由過往的十五元加至二十元，引來一陣微言。

hkskyline

January 3rd, 2006, 06:32 PM

South China Morning Post
December 28, 2005
Mousekeeping
A few rocky starts taught Disney some valuable lessons. Only time will tell if Hong Kong will get its money's worth
Robin Kwong

There was a palpable excitement when the new Disneyland theme park opened, but the sceptics and critics were not so easily impressed. Press reports described the first few months as a "rocky start". Controversy arose over the cultural sensitivity of the park's food, and some locals called the park's management policies "absurd".

Then there was the matter of attendance. Two months after opening, the number of visitors was just over half of what Disney had estimated. Questions arose as to whether the park's prices were too expensive. Others questioned its finances, particularly in view of its costly construction.

Any of that sound familiar? Perhaps, but the above description was reconstructed from old newspaper articles of Tokyo Disneyland's opening in April 1983. By summer, the crowds were streaming in, and on August 13, the park drew a record 94,378 visitors. When September rolled around, a reporter from The New York Times was already writing that the park "may become as big a success as its big brothers in California and Florida".

In its first year, Tokyo Disneyland attracted 10 million visitors, and this was despite the fact that there was no direct train service to the park at the time. Attendance hovered at just above the 10 million mark for the next three years, before it started a more or less steady climb upwards - benefiting along the way from the opening of a second park, Tokyo DisneySea, and a new monorail line - to more than 25 million visitors last year.

If Tokyo Disneyland's eventual success could serve as an encouraging model for Hong Kong Disneyland, park and government officials in Hong Kong can also take some consolation, of a different kind, from comparisons with Paris' EuroDisney venture.

Local press lauded Disneyland, in comparison with the US$4.4 billion EuroDisney's opening in 1992.

A year before its opening, EuroDisney's then chairman, Robert Fitzpatrick, said: "My biggest fear is that we will be too successful." Those words would soon come back to haunt him.

The first sign of trouble was a controversy over Disney's strict staff dress code during the hiring phase before the park's opening. But unlike Hong Kong, where the code merely raised eyebrows, in France it sparked the indignation of local unions and prompted a government labour inspector to lodge a complaint against EuroDisney.

The conflict, in particular with the communist-led Confederation Generale du Travail, escalated with the unions carrying out a strike on the commuter rail line linking Paris with the theme park on its opening day. By mid-afternoon on opening day, 12,000 parking spaces at EuroDisney - which has a capacity for 60,000 - had not been filled. Disney officials did not release attendance figures for that day.

French intellectuals also lambasted the "invasion" of Mickey and Minnie. Prominent theatre director Ariane Mnouchkine dubbed EuroDisney a "cultural Chernobyl". It hardly helped either that the park initially failed to offer wine in its restaurants.

By the end of the second month, only 1.5 million had visited the park, hardly up with Disney's ambitious projection of 15 million in the first year. EuroDisney seems now to have found its feet, attracting 12 million visitors a year, and it is now the No1 European destination, although it still falls far short of original estimates.

It is, however, EuroDisney's finances that are still a worry. Euro Disney SCA, the listed theme park operator that was 49 per cent owned by Disney, saw its shares lose more than half their value within the park's first year, partly because of the company's high debt and rising costs.

On December 23 that year, Euro Disney's auditors warned that the park may have to be shut down. Euro Disney has since gone through two debt restructurings to stave off bankruptcy, in 1994 and last year.

John Ap, associate professor in tourism management at Polytechnic University, said Hong Kong Disneyland was unlikely to repeat Euro Disney's mistakes. "The Disneyland Paris park itself was very successful," Professor Ap said. EuroDisney's finances were dragged down by large loans taken out to develop more than 5,000 hotel rooms - far more than demand could support. "[Disney] truly got their fingers burnt," he said. "I think they learned a lesson from that experience."

In Hong Kong, Disney built only two hotels, with a total of 1,400 rooms.

Given the fortunes of the Tokyo and Paris Disneylands, it is hardly surprising that the general consensus of those keeping an eye on Hong Kong Disneyland is that it is still too early to tell. As Roy Tan Hardy, Hong Kong Disneyland's vice-president of marketing and sales, said: "Judging success now is like watching the opening credits for a movie and deciding right then if it will be an Oscar winner."

Richard Foglesong, a political science professor at Rollins College in the United States and author of Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando, said: "There is some precedent for a slow start followed by a rush of visitors ... It may take five years to know for sure whether the park is economically successful."

Both Hong Kong Disneyland and the Tourism Commission, however, were upbeat about the park's performance and the benefits it promises to bring to Hong Kong. They said there was little worry that the park would fail to attract sufficient mainland visitors. "We know that Hong Kong Disneyland is clearly resonating with people from Hong Kong, mainland China and other parts of the region," Mr Hardy said.

That was echoed by Paul Leung, chairman of Hong Kong Inbound Travel Association, who predicted Disney would reach its target of having one third of its visitors from the mainland. "The new open tickets scheme from Disney helps a lot," he said. "Unlike Ocean Park, many tour operators did not build Disneyland into their itinerary originally, because it was too risky to commit to fixed-date tickets."

He said, however, that the big boost would not likely come until next year, when the Ngong Ping 360 cable car opened. "Then tour operators will be able to offer both attractions in one package. As it is, Hong Kong Disneyland is not enough to occupy a full day." Professor Ap added that brand recognition and pricing were two factors that would determine Hong Kong Disneyland's popularity north of the border.

However, legislator Emily Lau Wai-hing said initial impressions of the park among legislators were not good. She criticised that projection of economic benefits as being too distant. "I worry about whether we'll see any benefits in the next four years, let alone 40," Ms Lau said.

Professor Foglesong said that apart from time, paucity of information also hampered any assessment of Hong Kong Disneyland's success. "It's very hard to tell whether Hong Kong Disneyland is meeting expectations, because the Disney Company is even less transparent than the Hong Kong government," he said.

Andrew Work, executive director of the Lion Rock Institute, a local free-market think-tank, said more than just attendance or revenue figures would be needed to measure the success of Disneyland for Hong Kong. "Aside from direct consumption at the park, it's very difficult to estimate how much off-site tourism spending is attributable to those who came only because a Disney exists," he said. There was also no information on whether tourists stayed in Hong Kong longer because of Disney, or what Hong Kong Disneyland's profits were after remittances to its parent Disney Company.

These were all questions that "should have been considered before asking Hong Kong taxpayers to bear the majority of the financial risk for the project", Mr Work said.

At the end of the day, the discussion may be moot for the government and Disney, Mr Work said. "Will missing targets be a problem?" he asked. "Only Disney and the Hong Kong government know. Disney gets a guaranteed management fee. The Hong Kong government doesn't have to worry about Disney - it's off books. So who cares if it makes money or not?"

Hong Kong's taxpayers should, for one.

WANCH

January 4th, 2006, 07:50 AM

Till now I haven't even been to HK Disneyland!

But it's good that it's making $$$ :)

hkskyline

January 8th, 2006, 08:02 PM

Hong Kong a roller coaster for Disney
By Kent Ewing
Asia Times
January 6, 2006

HONG KONG - There was good end-of-year news for the Walt Disney Co in this newly crowned Disney city: finally, three months after its much-heralded opening, Hong Kong Disneyland sold out twice in December. The bad news, however, may be that the World Trade Organization had to come to town for its sixth ministerial conference, which culminated in street rioting and 1,000 arrests, to fill the park the first time. And nothing less than the birth of Christ was required for the second full house.

The holiday season has been kind to Disney. Overall, however, the company's first four months in Hong Kong have been like one of its more exhilarating roller-coaster rides - full of dips and rises and marked by sharp, exciting and sometimes even frightening turns. For the record, Disney executives express beaming satisfaction with their Hong Kong takeoff. But they also have no doubt written up a list of new year's resolutions for the Hong Kong park, chief of which must be to boost the so-far-disappointing attendance.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, which owns 57% of the US$3.2 billion resort, is counting on 5.6 million visitors in its first year, or an average of 15,342 a day. A head count over a two-day period by four reporters for a local newspaper, however, tallied 12,972 on one day and 11,399 on the other. Disney's vice president of marketing and sales in Hong Kong, Roy Tan Hardy, dismissed the count as inaccurate and misleading, adding: "We're actually very happy with the attendance ... so we are not concerned."

But Tan Hardy also refused to reveal the company's own attendance figures, which goes to the heart of Disney's public relations problems in Hong Kong. Surveys show that as many as 80% of Hong Kong residents support Disneyland's presence here. But most also chafe at the company's lack of transparency - especially since Hong Kong taxpayers footed 90% of the cost of constructing the resort in a sweetheart deal that gave Disney a 43% share of the profits for a 10% investment. The lopsided arrangement shows just how badly the Hong Kong government wanted to bring the Magic Kingdom to the city. Just as badly, the government now wants the deal to pay off.

So far, reviews are mixed. Although Disney plans to expand the park, its present size of 130 hectares makes it by far the smallest Disneyland in the world. Consequently, many Western visitors find Hong Kong Disneyland cramped and, on those infrequent occasions when large crowds do turn out, claustrophobic. Westernized Hong Kong Chinese also complain.

But for visitors from mainland China, Disney's biggest target audience in Hong Kong, the experience is very different. For the most part, they appear to be having a great time, but there is a twist: they do not spend as much money as Disney would like, because they take so much time snapping photos and lingering over meals. Some of them make the short trip on the special Disney train line that runs from the city to Lantau Island, where Disneyland is located, and spend all their time taking photos in the beautifully landscaped public area, which features a lake and a large arboretum, without ever actually entering the park.

Other strange tales emerging from these opening months include reports of mainland visitors taking photos of themselves on the monitor image of the Space Mountain roller-coaster ride, instead of purchasing the photo from Disney; jumping out of the Mad Hatter's Tea Cups as the ride begins (to snap pictures, of course), thus halting the ride for everyone; photographing their children standing beside the balloon seller, but not buying any balloons; and occupying restaurant tables for as long as an entire day.

Disney may not have anticipated every cultural challenge from the mainland, but the company has nevertheless gone to great lengths to make the Hong Kong park attractive and culturally sensitive to Chinese visitors. After all, it is not Hong Kong's population of nearly 7 million that has Disney executives so excited; rather, the potential audience of 1.3 billion on the mainland is the company's biggest target. Disney, for example, consulted feng shui masters - that is, experts in the Chinese art of harmonizing people and their environment - about the design of the resort, which faces the South China Sea with mountainous Lantau serving as a striking backdrop. The only eyesore in the area, the three stacks of Lamma Island's power station, are hidden behind hectares of parking lots.

In addition, signs throughout the park are written in both Chinese and English, and there are bilingual how-to explanations for each of the park's 13 rides. While Westerners complain that other Disney parks offer more rides and bigger thrills, Disney's research showed that mainland visitors desire a tamer experience. You will still find Disney standards such as Space Mountain, the problematic Mad Hatter's Tea Cups, the Jungle Cruise and the Buzz Lightyear Astro-Blasters. But it seems such creations as Fantasy Gardens - where visitors can mingle and pose for photographs with Mickey, Minnie and other Disney characters - are more appealing to mainland visitors.

Disney has also clearly been attentive to local tastes in its choice of food. There is a wide variety of international cuisine on offer at the Hong Kong park, but Chinese staples abound. Disney even took (yet another) public relations hit, this time from conservationists, when it put shark's fin soup, a traditional Chinese delicacy served to mark big occasions, on the wedding-banquet menu at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. (Because of fears of overfishing and revulsion against the brutal way in which the fins are harvested, the dish is illegal in a number of countries, but not in Hong Kong or on the mainland.)

With all this effort to attract mainland visitors, why, then, are the results so far modest at best? There could be a number of reasons.

First of all, the 17 test days on which Disney opened the park gates for selected visitors before the official September 12 opening were generally considered a disappointment, receiving unfavorable reviews in both the Chinese- and English-language media in Hong Kong. One particular test day - a charity day that filled the park to its supposed capacity of 30,000 people - was a notable fiasco, with visitors suffering waits of more than two hours for rides and restaurant tables. Government officials were alarmed enough by what happened to question whether Disney had overestimated the number of people the park could hold.

And then, once the park opened, it did not help the company's image when a former security guard, sacked by Disney for allegedly using foul language on the job, climbed to the top of the building housing Space Mountain and threatened a suicide jump in protest against his release. In November, Disney employees, complaining of unfair treatment, launched a union, taking some more of the "magic" out of Hong Kong's Disney experience.

In fairness to Disney, however, Euro Disney (now Paris Disneyland) faced more controversy and teething problems than Hong Kong Disneyland when it opened in 1992. You can be certain that Euro Disney did not have 80% support from the French when it opened, one reason being that the park initially did not serve wine - in France! Disney has a track record of learning from its mistakes, and demonstrated this during the past month when the company proved that the Hong Kong park could hold 30,000 and run smoothly. Now Disney executives must figure out a way to make that happen on a more regular basis.

Some observers have wondered whether the hotel and ticket prices at the resort are too high to lure the mainland hordes across the border. The resort's two hotels, with the cheapest room going for $128, are expensive by any standard. To Hong Kong residents, however, admission prices to the park are quite reasonable: on week days, it is $38 for an adult ticket and $27 for children; on weekends, the respective prices go up to $45 and $32. That makes Hong Kong Disneyland the cheapest of any of Disney's five parks around the world, but it is still a costly proposition for many on the mainland - where, despite roaring economic growth, the gross domestic product per capita is only $5,600, as compared with $30,000 in Hong Kong and $40,000 in the United States.

Coming off an attendance bump over the holidays, Hong Kong Disneyland starts the new year with fresh resolve and optimism. "The biggest challenge of bringing a Disney park to this part of the world," said Disney marketing strategist Tan Hardy, "is that not all audiences grew up with Disney stories and characters, so there are varying levels of familiarity and understanding. Our priority has been to introduce audiences all over the region to the classic Disney experience ... through TV, road shows and interactive media events."

Although the results to date are somewhat underwhelming, Disney executives are betting the bank on linking the success of Hong Kong Disneyland to continued economic growth on the mainland. And, despite a few public relations glitches, it remains a very good bet - especially after Hong Kong taxpayers put down 90% of the $3.2 billion ante.

Kent Ewing is a teacher and writer at Hong Kong International School.

hkskyline

January 11th, 2006, 12:32 AM

Hong Kong Disneyland Promotes Bull Ernest
Mon Jan 9, 10:58 PM ET
AP

HONG KONG - Bill Ernest has been promoted to executive vice president and managing director of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, the company said Tuesday.

Ernest, a 12-year Disney veteran, replaces Don Robinson, who's leaving the company to be president of the Baha Mar Resorts in Nassau, Bahamas, according to a Disney statement.

Ernest has been managing director of operations at the Hong Kong park. He helped launch the Disney Cruise Line in Florida in 1998 before transferring to Hong Kong.

He had also managed resort operations at Walt Disney World in Florida and other Disney resorts since he joined the company in 1994.

Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened last September, is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the local government.

hkskyline

January 14th, 2006, 08:26 AM

桃花王迎賓售米奇揮春
迪士尼變身賀狗年
14/01/2006

http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/news/20060114/img/sn14011409_big.jpg

http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/news/20060114/img/a140114_big.jpg

充滿美國文化色彩的香港迪士尼樂園，今年春節將變身為富有中國節慶色彩的主題公園。這也是全球迪士尼樂園，首個舉辦慶祝農曆新年的活動，迪士尼大小卡通主角在農曆新年期間，都會穿上應節服裝；美國小鎮大街更會擺放十四呎高「桃花王」迎賓，迪士尼精品店亦首見米奇揮春、食肆更供應發財年糕。迪士尼最大規模的本土化活動，將在這個春節為市民帶來驚喜。

迪士尼商品發展、旅遊、特別項目及聯盟市務總監林寶彤指出，是次乃全球迪士尼樂園首次舉辦農曆新年活動，狗年大年初一，「奇妙新春」賀歲活動正式拉開序幕，為了尊重中國傳統，進入樂園的樂迎道上，燈柱都會掛上色彩鮮豔的揮春，由樂園正門通往美國小鎮大街的拱門上，會貼上桃花樹枝為背景的春聯，而兩旁的樓房亦會掛上大紅爆竹及貼上精緻的剪紙工藝，寓意迎接春天來臨及為樂園帶來好運。米妮昨日更督促工人在園內擺放花卉，裝飾樂園每一角落。

每晚舞龍舞獅表演
由大年初一至正月十五日（本月二十九日至下月十二日），樂園為遊客準備了一系列特別的賀歲活動。在這段期間每晚六時三十分，銅鑼鼓聲將徐徐響起，配襯精采奪目的舞龍舞獅表演，在睡公主城堡前的舞台載歌載舞。每晚將有一個幸運家庭獲邀上台為三隻醒獅點睛，而迪士尼多名卡通人物亦會穿上一身傳統應節服飾，加入表演隊伍。

炮製招財進寶盆菜
樂園廚師亦趁農曆新年炮製了多款傳統應節食品，小鎮大街上的小賣亭及市集餅店會售賣各種可口小食，如年年有餘脆米餅及米奇賀年曲奇等。樂園及酒店內的餐廳亦會推出多款新春佳餚，如河景餐廳會供應「招財進寶盆菜套餐」；香港迪士尼樂園酒店內的中菜廳晶荷軒，則會推出集大江南北特色的九道菜新春菜譜。

香港迪士尼亦特別在農曆新年期間，推出過百款獨家發售的中式精品，包括印有中文吉祥語句的揮春、利是封及徽章、中式應節服飾、布偶及糖果禮盒等。其中一套以穿中式禮服的米奇老鼠、米妮老鼠及布魯托為造型的特別版徽章，更是限量二千六百套，但中國人重「好意頭」，徽章將不會有與「四」字相關的編碼出現。 http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

Isan

January 16th, 2006, 06:44 AM

Hong Kong Disneyland to be Blooming Lovely this Chinese New Year
13 January 2006

http://www.asiatraveltips.com/newspics/061/HKDisneyland.jpg

Hong Kong Disneyland will be a flowery abundance of color throughout Chinese New Year with a wonderful array of chrysanthemums, dahlias and tangerine trees scattered at strategic locations throughout the park.
Hong Kong Disneyland is Blooming Lovely this Chinese New Year

Disney friends Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck spent the morning with Hong Kong Disneyland’s talented team of horticulturalists caring for the many flowers that will adorn the park.

Minnie Mouse was particularly entranced by the masses of delicate blossoms while Daisy Duck tendered to a small tangerine tree. Cast member John Chiu said, “We have been carefully nurturing these plants and flowers over the past few months to ensure they are ready for the festivities. Hong Kong Disneyland will have a profusion of flowers adorning the park this Chinese New Year for all the guests to enjoy.”

Hong Kong Disneyland’s Chinese New Year celebration will run from January 29-February 12, 2006 with a series of special activities and decorations to welcome the start of the Year of the Dog.

Miichal

January 16th, 2006, 08:06 PM

Greetings from Poland. Watch this www.impet.opole.pl

hkskyline

January 19th, 2006, 04:48 AM

LCQ3: Employment of PWDs by HK Disneyland
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Government Press Release

Following is a question by the Hon Dr Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung and a reply by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, in the Legislative Council today (January 18):

Question:

Regarding the employment of persons with disabilities (PWDs) by the Hong Kong Disneyland ("HKD"), will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of PWDs currently employed by HKD, with a breakdown by the modes of employment and job nature;

(b) of the respective longest and shortest employment periods among the former and existing HKD employees who are PWDs; and

(c) whether the Administration will request HKD management to set an indicator for employing PWDs; if it will not, whether it has assessed if this runs contrary to the Government policy of assisting PWDs in securing jobs?

Reply:

Madam President,

The Hongkong International Theme Parks Limited (HKITP)'s employment policy is to provide equal opportunities to all applicants, including persons with disabilities (PWDs). If an applicant, who is a PWD, possesses the necessary skills and qualities for a job, HKITP is very willing to employ him. To ensure that potential PWDs are aware of job opportunities at HKITP, apart from its normal advertising channels, HKITP has since August 2005 developed a process to disseminate recruitment information to PWDs. It passes a monthly update on all job openings to the Social Welfare Department (SWD), Labour Department (LD) and Hong Kong Council of Social Services. HKITP has undertaken to review every application referred by these channels.

In addition, HKITP has arranged site visits for representatives from SWD and LD to introduce the operation of the theme park to them so that the two departments can better explain the job opportunities offered by HKITP to their clients. Representatives of the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, SWD and LD have met with the Hong Kong Disneyland to introduce to them the employability of PWDs and the support services provided by government departments for the employment of PWDs, e.g., job matching and referral services and how to make use of the services and products of non-governmental rehabilitation organisations. This two-way communication will continue.

Since August 2005 over 100 PWDs have expressed interest to HKITP in employment opportunities at Hong Kong Disneyland. Currently, 25 PWDs are working full-time in various positions across different lines of business in the theme park, including cleaning, hotels, food and beverage, and clerical and administration support. They joined the company at different points in time since park opening. In addition, HKITP has contracted out short-term projects to rehabilitation organisations through the Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) under SWD. This has provided job opportunities to PWDs. Between August and December 2005, a total of 66 employment opportunities for PWDs have been provided through this channel.

It is the Government's policy to assist PWDs to develop their personal capabilities for securing jobs in the open market, so as to enable them to become self-reliant and integrate fully into society. The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, SWD and LD encourage and help employers to employ PWDs. The Government has also launched a series of measures to encourage and assist employers in the public and private sectors to employ PWDs. For example, SWD and LD have provided funding to non-governmental organisations to provide employment-related training to PWDs. LD itself will also provide training of similar nature to some of its clients, e.g. job interview skills.

The Government will not require a particular employer to set up a specific employment indicator for the employment of PWDs. Hon Lee Cheuk-yan asked a question on employment of PWDs by the Government on 4 May 2005. The Secretary for the Civil Service’s reply stated our long-standing policy: "The Government, and indeed the whole community, should help PWDs to find jobs on the basis of their abilities rather than disabilities. Under a compulsory employment quota system, PWDs will be perceived as a liability, making them difficult to be accepted by their peers at work. A mandatory employment quota system is therefore unlikely to be effective in achieving the desired results." On the same occasion, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food also said, "A majority of the countries which used to implement the quota system, the United Kingdom, for example, have already given up the system since 1995 as it was not reckoned as a good measure. A lot of European countries deem that combating discrimination is the most important task presently. ....From the point of view of PWDs generally, especially those PWDs having a job at the present moment, they think that they have to be treated equally with other staff at work. They should enjoy no special status, nor should they enjoy any status simply because of compliance with certain legislation."

We believe that the prevailing policy and arrangements, which place emphasis on vocational rehabilitation, promotion and practical assistance, are appropriate for the objective of promoting employment opportunities for PWDs.

hkskyline

January 20th, 2006, 03:57 AM

Celebrate the Magic of Chinese New Year at Hong Kong Disneyland
Corporate Press Release

(HONG KONG, January 9, 2006) - Thundering drum beats, swirling dragon dancers, striking red and gold Chinese outfits and blossoming flowers will all herald the start of a magical Chinese New Year celebration at Hong Kong Disneyland.

From January 29 to February 12, 2006, a series of special activities will take place throughout Hong Kong Disneyland to welcome the start of the Year of the Dog.

Every day, the park will come alive to the sound of drum rolls, cymbals and gongs and a wave of bright color as dragons, lions, dancers and musicians dance their way around a specially designed stage in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Special guests will be chosen to bring the three lions to life in an eye dotting ceremony on stage. As the live percussion grows louder the lions and dragons will perform a lively dance to welcome the start of Chinese New Year, before being joined on stage by Disney friends Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto and Chip and Dale all looking elegant in their new Chinese outfits.

The Disney friends will offer their Chinese New Year greetings to an excited crowd before welcoming one lucky family to receive a special gift. As popular Disney tunes sound through the air, streamers will cascade from the top of Sleeping Beauty Castle onto the crowd below for a vividly colorful finish to the ceremony.

A visit to Hong Kong Disneyland at Chinese New Year would not be complete without a special photo with beloved Disney friends, who will be dressed up in their specially tailored Chinese outfits just in time to create memorable photos for every guest.

Adding to the Chinese New Year atmosphere, blossoming plants will welcome guests as they enter the park and stroll along Main Street USA. In Town Square, a delicate plum blossom tree will flower throughout the first 15 days of Chinese New Year.

The lampposts on the entranceway to the park will feature brightly hued fai chun (red couplets) wishing guests a happy Chinese New Year while over the archway leading into Main Street USA a large greeting decorated with sprigs of plum blossoms will welcome the arrival of spring and good fortune into Hong Kong Disneyland.

Long strings of red firecrackers will dangle from the stately columns of the buildings along Main Street USA, while the windows overlooking the main thoroughfare will be beautifully ornamented with paper cutting designs in the shape of flowers and leaves.

Inside the many stores at Hong Kong Disneyland there will be plenty of special Chinese New Year-inspired gifts available for family and friends.

Guests will be able to choose from Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Pluto stuffed toys wearing traditional Chinese outfits and decorative wall hangings featuring a range of Disney friends with Chinese New Year greetings, which are sure to add a festive sparkle to every home.

Children will delight in wearing the Disney-inspired Chinese outfits over the Chinese New Year holiday. For little boys there is a royal blue satin jacquard outfit woven with Mickey Mouse and small red firecrackers, while little girls will love wearing a red long-sleeved Chinese-style satin, jacquard jacket and matching skirt embellished with the smiling face of Winnie the Pooh and gossamer white dragonflies.

Wafting through the air of Hong Kong Disneyland will be the scent of delicious treats as chefs whip up tantalizing traditional menus to bring guests together during this very special holiday.

Outdoor vendors will be dotted throughout Main Street USA selling an assortment of Chinese New Year snacks including savory turnip cake, corn in sweet honey butter sauce and deep fried fish skin chips.

At the nearby Market House Bakery, guests can select from Mickey-shaped mango pudding, Fortune Fish crispy rice cakes and a delicious selection of take home goodies including Mickey's Chinese New Year cookies all tied up in a golden gift bag.

Traditional Chinese meals for lunch and dinner can be enjoyed at restaurants throughout the park, including Riverview Cafe in Adventureland, Plaza Inn on Main Street USA and the Royal Banquet Hall in Fantasyland from January 27 to February 12.

For guests who extend their Hong Kong Disneyland experience and choose to stay in one of the two hotels, the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel or Disney's Hollywood Hotel, the magic never ends. Special set menus, decorations, balloon crackers and dragon dances will ensure an immersive experience like never before. And, to commemorate the start of the Year of the Dog, every night children will be told a different tale about a famous Disney dog.

Whether guests choose to celebrate in small or large groups, Hong Kong Disneyland is the place to gather for a truly magical start to the Chinese New Year.

Isan

January 21st, 2006, 12:46 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland launches Special MTR Promotion
19 January 2006

http://www.asiatraveltips.com/newspics/061/FaiChunandTickets.jpg

The Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express Counter took on a festive sheen today as bright red and gold posters offering special Chinese New Year greetings were displayed.
Hong Kong Disneyland launches Special MTR Promotion

Disney friend Mickey Mouse also paid a special visit to wish the Ticket Express cast members a prosperous New Year and to offer specially designed Hong Kong Disneyland fai chun to lucky guests.

From January 21-28, every Disneyland guest who purchases an MTR Disneyland Resort Line 1-Day Pass will receive two exclusive Hong Kong Disneyland fai chuns (while stock lasts). The festive fai chuns feature Mickey Mouse wearing specially tailored Chinese attire, wishing guests a magical and lucky year and Pluto wishing guests plenty of luck and fortune in the Year of the Dog.

In celebration of Chinese New Year, from January 21-February 5, guests who purchase an MTR Disneyland Resort Line 1-Day Pass at any MTR or Airport Express Customer Service Centre or at the Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express counter will have a chance to win one of three Hong Kong Disneyland holiday packages.

The lucky winners will receive a magical package which includes one night accommodation at Disney’s Hollywood Hotel (share room for four) and four Hong Kong Disneyland park tickets.

Hong Kong Disneyland’s Chinese New Year celebrations will run from January 29-February 12, 2006 with a series of special activities and decorations to welcome the start of the Year of the Dog.

Isan

January 26th, 2006, 03:06 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland Ambassador Angela To and Disney VoluntEARs Bring New Year Wishes to Elderly
25 January 2006

http://www.asiatraveltips.com/newspics/061/AngelaToandElderly.jpg

Elderly residents at centers throughout Tsing Yi in Hong Kong received a special visit today as Hong Kong Disneyland Ambassador Angela To and 10 Disney VoluntEARs arrived to help residents celebrate the start of the Year of the Dog.

The Ambassador and the Disney VoluntEARS spent the day visiting 400 elderly people at the Cheung Hong Baptist Church Elderly Centre, the Fook On Church Social Centre for Elderly, the Po Keung Kuk Mrs Chao King Lin Neighbourhood Elderly Centre and the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service Tsing Yi Elderly Centre.

Colorful Hong Kong Disneyland fai chuns and cookies were distributed as the Ambassador and Disney VoluntEARs wished all the residents good fortune and happiness in the Year of the Dog.

“Hong Kong Disneyland is celebrating the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong for the first time,” said Ambassador, Angela To. “We want to celebrate the joy of welcoming the New Year with our park guests as well as our neighbourhood.”

raymond_tung88

January 26th, 2006, 03:42 PM

Isn't Disney expanding the park? I heard they were already reclaiming a second half of the park. Does anyone have renderings or know what kind of park it will be?

Isan

February 1st, 2006, 03:23 PM

迪士尼爆滿數百人門外聚集鼓譟 -本地
2006年2月1日 HKT: 下午 03:09:00
迪士尼樂園今日的門票售罄，由於有數百名持有套票的旅客不能入場，在門外鼓譟。

有數百名旅客迪士尼樂園門外不肯離開，大批警員帶同警犬到場維持秩序，又防止有人偷入樂園。

樂園就在門外貼出告示，指即日門票已經售罄，又表示持有一日票的旅客可以退票，至於購買了套票的旅客，就要再等安排。部份是經旅行社購買樂園套票，有效期為半年。

Isan

February 2nd, 2006, 04:21 PM

Angry crowds storm Disneyland over ticket row

Angry scenes shattered the holiday mood at Hong Kong Disneyland as hundreds of ticket-holders rushed the gates after being told the park was full, according to officials and TV reports.

Scores of visitors, many of them mainland Chinese visiting the resort during the Lunar New Year holiday week, scaled the sharp railings of the locked gates to get to rides while others scuffled with staff.

Cable television showed security guards looking on helplessly as the irate crowd, most of whom had paid 300 dollars (38 US dollars) for their tickets, surged towards the 3 billion dollar amusement park.

The scenes of mayhem followed heated arguments the day before between Disney officials and visitors after the new ticketing scheme left hundreds stranded outside.

The "flexible" ticket system allows customers to visit any time within a six-month period but doesn't guarantee entry on days when the park is full.

A Disneyland spokeswoman played down the incident.

"It was brought under control very early on after we sorted out the problem and let the people in," she told AFP.

The ticket chaos is the latest in a string of setbacks to hit Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened to huge fanfare in September.

A row over plans to serve shark's fin soup at its restaurants prompted an international outcry as conservationsists, worried at the delicacy's toll on shark populations, threatened to lead a boycott.

The park also ran into trouble with labour leaders after staff complained of being overworked and underpaid.

The company refuses to reveal attendance figures for the park, which has a daily capacity of 30,000.

Since opening it has only publicly declared itself sold out on eight days, despite cutting entry prices for local visitors over the Christmas period.

The park's managing director, veteran Disney staffer Don Robinson, was replaced last month.

Isan

February 3rd, 2006, 12:06 PM

迪士尼玩殘遊客
連續兩日落閘一句遺憾算數

http://www.singpao.com/20060203/photos/f808637.jpg

　迪士尼樂園未能汲取前日爆滿引起混亂的教訓，昨日再出現同樣問題，引起內地旅客不滿爬入園內，政府對事件表示關注，會敦促樂園作出改善，樂園亦承諾會汲取是次經驗改善，包括延長今日開放時間由早上8時半至晚上9時，網上售票暫停，考慮於旺季增加持有「指定日門票」才能進場的日子，有立法會議員則批評迪士尼這兩天事件安排失當，嚴重影響了本港旅遊業的形象，更指持票旅客可向迪士尼索償。記者潘嘉寶、李健瑜報道

　迪士尼於昨早約8至9時在地鐵、樂園外貼出告示和透過電子傳媒發出廣播，表示門票已售罄，呼籲旅客改天再來，但仍然不斷有人來，至10時左右拉閘拒絕遊客入園，最高時一度有數百人在閘外聚集及鼓譟，部分人情緒十分激動，有的更抱起小朋友強行攀過閘欄，曾有約20名遊客成功爬入樂園，但隨即被樂園的保安人員帶走，另外，有遊客在大閘燃火機，亦隨即被保安人員阻止。

有人燃點火機保安制止
　至下午1時，樂園重新開閘讓持票人士進場，讓苦候了幾小時約100多名持有有效門票的人士進場，遊客在樂園重開後均感到很高興，但仍有遊客感不滿認為樂園管理混亂，遊玩興致大減，而部分遊客中午過後離開迪士尼，他們均批評樂園內過分擠擁，需要最少花上半小時玩機動遊戲或去洗手間，樂趣大減，因此決定提早離場。

男女攀閘硬闖險象環生
　迪士尼接連兩日因爆滿而拒絕持票人士入園之事件引起極大回響，並引起作為樂園股東的政府介入，政府發言人表示政府對於樂園預售票務安排這兩天對旅客造成不便，表示關注，認為在票務安排及旅客入場控制方面均有可改善的地方，而樂園亦承諾會作出改善。

　昨晚樂園執行副總裁及行政總裁安明智（Bill Ernest）發出聲明表示，對於有遊客未能進入樂園而感失望，樂園對此感到遺憾及致歉。樂園亦因應情況採取一系列措施，包括延長今日開放時間，及和旅遊業界保持聯絡，就到訪旅行團作出適當安排等。

　多位立法會議員批評樂園近兩日的安排失當，指有損本港旅遊業形象。立法會議員李華明表示「新春假期，年初一至初五都是內地假期，如果還以平日水平售票，會引起無可預計的爆滿。」而楊孝華議員則表示這兩天引起的混亂，或多或少影響了本港的旅遊形象，希望迪士尼能夠研究新的售票方法，如劃位或設定入場人數的限額。

議員批評樂園損港形象
　本身是大律師的湯家驊議員則指持票的遊客未能入園是可入稟小額錢債審裁處控告迪士尼毀約，他解釋門券並無清楚列明園方是有權拒絕遊客進場，因此遊客可向樂園索償，包括門券費用、交通費，甚至心理上的損失等。

　不過，旅遊發展局認為今次只是個別事件，不會影響本港的旅遊形象。本港仍有其他景點供旅客遊覽，而旅客並非單為一個主題公園來港。

　另外，消委會發言人表示近幾天並未收到有關主題樂園的投訴，消委會總幹事陳黃穗提醒出售預售門票的公司，要清楚考慮本身的承擔能力及自身能否提供承諾的服務

http://www.singpao.com/20060203/photos/m808597SP.jpg http://www.singpao.com/20060203/photos/m808598SP.jpg http://www.singpao.com/20060203/photos/m808599SP.jpg

WANCH

February 3rd, 2006, 12:11 PM

Till now I haven't been to HK Disneyland!

sfgadv02

February 4th, 2006, 02:11 AM

Yea, me neither.....but I wouldnt go during Chinese NY....

hkskyline

February 4th, 2006, 03:07 AM

Disneyland may change ticket system after protests
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Saturday, February 04, 2006

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/newsimage/20060204/disney.jpg

Hong Kong Disneyland is considering changing its ticketing system following three days of chaos outside the park sparked by ticket holders being turned away because the park was full.

A Disney spokeswoman said Friday that the company has learned from the unruly behavior over the Lunar New Year, and will consider making changes to ticket arrangements for peak holidays.

Some mainland visitors queued outside the Magic Kingdom from 5.30am hoping to get in Friday after hundreds of ticket holders were locked out Wednesday and Thursday, and then tried to storm the gates.

All visitors Friday were allowed inside even though Disney said the park was full.

One of the main criticisms of the park has been that, unlike for the first few days of the Lunar New year, Wednesday and Thursday were not deemed special days, which would have required tickets valid only for that day.

The debacle over the holiday period has drawn strong condemnation.

Legislator Fred Li said: "Disney keeps making mistakes, so I think we should send non-government and non- Disney people to sit on the board of directors to represent the Hong Kong people and monitor its management. It's time for the government to review [the situation]."

Li also quoted Financial Secretary Henry Tang as saying he is unhappy about the problems at Disney, and agreed that it has ruined Hong Kong's image. The park is 57 percent owned by the city and the rest by the US entertainment giant.

Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Sandra Lee said: "The government has already ordered [Disney] to solve the problems as soon as possible."

Friday, visitors complained of long queues for rides and for facilities such as washrooms. Mr Tan, a home decoration company owner who came with eight friends and relatives from Guangdong, said the theme park had left a bad impression. "There are too many people and the park is too small," he said. "We didn't enjoy our time here, so we just left at 10am."

Michael Wu, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents, anticipated the theme park would return to normal Saturday, as the holiday peak would be over.

Isan

February 4th, 2006, 11:17 AM

迪士尼連兩天騷亂港府決插手
逾千遊客被拒入場狂搖鐵閘又爬又燒財爺致電樂園高層要求改善

http://www.worldjournal.com/news_pics/b130614440202_40202031.JPG
　一名旅客突破防線，一躍進入樂園。

【本報香港訊】繼1日有旅客衝擊香港迪士尼樂園後，2日迪士尼再次爆滿，拒絕持有門票的遊客入場，逾千名憤怒的遊客以狂搖鐵閘、打火機燒閘，甚至爬閘硬闖等激烈行動表達不滿。由於一連兩天出現失控情況，港府高層終於介入事件，聲言對迪士尼樂園連日來引起的混亂深表關注，敦促樂園改善。
政府2日晚發表聲明，早在樂園發生爆滿令遊客鼓譟的首日，財政司司長唐英年已親自致電樂園高層了解，但再次出現混亂，港府高層認為不可再容許事情鬧大，已敦促樂園改善。

在政府高調介入後，香港迪士尼樂園一改連日來只叫持半年有效門票的遊客擇日再臨的態度，樂園執行副總裁安明智對於有遊客未能進入樂園表示遺憾及致歉。更決定延長開放時間、暫時停止網上售票。

迪士尼2日連續第四天爆滿，早上9時已透過電台廣播及張貼告示通知遊客停止入內，但10時開門前，已有約二千人在大閘外及售票處聚集，當時秩序良好，不過，樂園在10時半關上通往售票處的鐵閘，令被拒門外的遊客大為鼓譟，一度有逾千名被拒入場者聚集在閘外起哄。

部分遊客怒氣沖沖，有人狂搖樂園鐵閘，有人拿出打火機燒鐵閘，亦有人爬過鐵閘，甚至將小童推過閘頂。在閘內的職員不時將硬闖者推回閘外，令遊客從閘頂墜下，而成功「闖關」者則被職員截停帶走。直至下午1時，樂園重新開放，約五百名仍在閘外的遊客立即衝入場。不過部分遊客剛辦好退門票手續，眼見樂園重開，亦未能進入樂園遊玩，紛紛指摘樂園安排不善。

2006-02-03

hkskyline

February 4th, 2006, 06:20 PM

Thousands queue at Hong Kong Disneyland after chaos

HONG KONG, Feb 3, 2006 (AFP) - Thousands of people queued outside Hong Kong Disneyland before dawn on Friday, hoping to get in after two days of angry scenes between park staff and ticket-holders who were denied entry.

The park apologised for the chaos, which saw crowds try to storm through the gates on Thursday after guards said Disneyland had been sold out even though hundreds of visitors, many from mainland China, had purchased valid tickets.

Scores of people scaled the fences to get to the rides after the gates were locked, and some disappointed customers scuffled with security personnel at the site. Many ticket-holders were also locked out on Wednesday.

"We are very sorry some of our guests have not been able to visit Hong Kong Disneyland over the past few days, and fully understand their disappointment," managing director Bill Ernest said in a statement.

"But to ensure guest safety and preserve the unique guest experience, we have had to limit guest entry at certain times," he said.

Disneyland recently introduced "flexible" tickets which customers can use on any one day during a six-month period but which do not guarantee entry if the complex, which is majority-owned by the Hong Kong government, is full.

"Disney's decision to refuse holders entry was a breach of contract," said Hong Kong lawmaker Ronny Tong.

The park's reported daily capacity is 30,000, and tickets cost 300 Hong Kong (38 US) dollars.

Hong Kong television showed thousands of people waiting outside on Friday morning, with the first arriving at 5:30 am (2230 GMT Thursday) to ensure they were allowed in. The company said it would stay open later than usual.

It also said demand was higher than expected due to a large number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting during the Lunar New Year holiday week.

The park has suffered several public relations setbacks since opening in September.

A row over plans to serve shark's fin soup prompted an international outcry from conservationists. The plan was dropped.

The park also ran into trouble with labour leaders after staff complained of being overworked and underpaid.

hkskyline

February 4th, 2006, 06:22 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland to adjust ticketing system after crowds tried to storm park
4 February 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong Disneyland will adjust its admission system after hundreds of ticket holders from mainland China were turned away and tried to storm the park, a Disney executive said Saturday.

The problem stemmed from a system in which most tickets sold are valid for six months, but do not guarantee entry on any given day. Hundreds of Chinese New Year holiday-makers who held such tickets, many from the mainland or Taiwan, were barred from the park Wednesday and Thursday because it was already full.

Television footage showed crowds rebuffed trying to push through the entrance gate, while others clambered over the iron fence.

Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest said the park will not scrap flexible-time tickets, which the tourism industry had demanded.

But the park may set aside peak days for date-specific ticket holders only, Ernest told a news conference.

Turned-away holders of flexible tickets can ask for refunds, he said.

"I personally apologize to the people of Hong Kong, as well as the people of mainland China, for the experience," Ernest said. "We are still learning in this market. This our very first Chinese New Year, frankly."

Ernest said visitor numbers during the holidays have been "unprecedented," but declined to provide an attendance figure.

Hong Kong Disneyland, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the Hong Kong government, opened in September to lukewarm demand. Officials have said the lower-than-expected initial attendance was because many tourists believed that the park would be too crowded in the first few months.

Ernest said keeping crowding under control in the park is important for public safety.

hkskyline

February 5th, 2006, 10:03 AM

South China Morning Post
February 5, 2006
Disney chief chokes on his words, but gets out an apology
May Chan

The head of Hong Kong Disneyland yesterday made an emotional public apology over the ticketing chaos during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Bill Ernest, executive vice-president and managing director of the Lantau theme park, also conceded the entertainment giant needed to improve its understanding of Chinese culture.

He had to pause between sentences as he choked back his words during a press conference.

"We regret that anyone may have been inconvenienced. No one is more disappointed than we are. As a father, I understand how frustrating it is to disappoint your children," he said, his voice tailing off as he spoke.

Mr Ernest, who has been in the top job for less than a month after the surprise departure of Don Robinson, then bowed his head and remained silent before continuing: "But our first priority is to protect our guests."

A Disney spokeswoman later said Mr Ernest had become emotional because he was thinking about his daughter, who had just celebrated her birthday.

The park drew fire from government officials, travel agents and the Consumer Council after hundreds of ticket holders were turned away on Wednesday and Thursday because the park was full.

Critics say a dual system of flexible tickets, which allow one visit within a six-month period, and date-specific tickets was at the heart of the problem. Date-specific tickets are issued for special event days and holidays, but those issued before the introduction of the flexible-ticket system on January 3 do not guarantee entry.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were deemed "regular" days, even though the Lunar New Year holiday on the mainland runs for a week. Many of those turned back were mainland tourists.

Mr Ernest said the park had no plans to scrap the flexible ticket system but would look at adjusting it.

When asked if Disney needed to better understand Chinese culture, he replied: "That's a good question [and] we're still learning."

Hundreds of visitors queued outside the park before it opened at 8.15am yesterday, but the chaotic scenes of last week were not repeated. Disney refused to release figures on park admissions or the number of tickets sold during the Lunar New Year.

Consumer Council chief executive Pamela Chan Wong Shui said the park could be in breach of contract by denying entrance to ticket holders. She urged the park to meet the council to discuss refunds and compensation.

Mandy Tam Heung-man, of the Legislative Council's economic services panel, said the apology was too late. "And it's ? meaningless because [management] fails to be accountable to the public."

hkskyline

February 6th, 2006, 01:42 AM

Hong Kong leader says city 'disconsolate' over Disneyland chaos
By HELEN LUK
5 February 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong's leader Donald Tsang said Sunday his city is "disconsolate" over the chaos that erupted when hundreds of mainland Chinese tried to storm Hong Kong Disneyland after they were refused entry despite having tickets.

"We feel disconsolate, but we have learnt a lesson," Tsang said on a radio program.

"I feel sorry for our mainland compatriots who were disappointed by the incident," Tsang said. "I hope there'll be no repeat of what happened."

Hundreds of angry Chinese New Year holiday-makers, mostly from mainland China or Taiwan, tried last week to force their way into the park after they were denied entry because it was full.

They had earlier bought tickets that were valid for six months but did not guarantee entry on a specific day. Some of the rebuffed patrons tried to push through the entrance gate, while others clambered over an iron fence.

Tsang said Sunday the government has expressed its concern to the Walt Disney Co.

At a news conference a day earlier, Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest emotionally apologized to turned-away tourists and promised to adjust the park's admission system.

Ernest said visitor numbers during the Lunar New Year holidays were "unprecedented."

"As a father, I understand how frustrating it is to disappoint your children," he said.

However, he defended the use of the open-date tickets, saying there was a high demand for them.

He said the park may set aside peak days for date-specific ticket holders in the future, and will offer refunds to flexible ticket holders who are turned away.

Hong Kong Disneyland, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the Hong Kong government, opened in September.

spicytimothy

February 6th, 2006, 02:48 AM

sfgadv02

February 6th, 2006, 02:53 AM

This is retarded... it's not that big of a deal...

u think ppl would climb the fence and storm the gate in Tokyo, Paris, Florida, OC? I don't think so. Freaking mainlanders... borderline barbarians. pushing their own children over the fence... it's so freaking dumb what do they actually think that would achieve anyways?

sorry just gotta rant.. had enuf of this shit.

Completely agree, when we were in Ocean Park, those mainlanders tried to go ahead of us, but we blocked them, they seriously need to learn some manners. Y___Y

WANCH

February 6th, 2006, 05:22 AM

Just one word, discipline. Just like what happened in Manila last weekend!

hkskyline

February 7th, 2006, 11:30 PM

Disney admits talks over Shanghai park
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, February 08, 2006

In a sign that a deal may be imminent, Disney officials have for the first time admitted it's negotiating to build a theme park in Shanghai, shortly after disclosing that the Lantau park contributed to the California-based entertainment giant's stellar results in the quarter ended December.
But Hong Kong tourism officials rejected fears that a new park in the mainland would significantly hurt the six-month-old Penny's Bay attraction.

Speaking Tuesday after revealing the plan that has been widely rumored for years, Walt Disney chief executive Robert Iger said: "We have ongoing discussions - ongoing and ongoing and ongoing - with the Chinese government about a park in Shanghai."

Throughout last year, Hong Kong and mainland media reported Shanghai hopes to start construction of a Disneyland theme park in 2008. But neither Iger -who described Shanghai as attractive due to its high population and rapid economic development - nor city officials would comment on a timetable Tuesday.

A Shanghai city government spokesman said: "Since building a Disney theme park is an international project, we ultimately will have to get central government approval."

While noting that no deal has yet been inked between the two sides, a Hong Kong Disneyland spokeswoman reiterated that another Chinese park would not open before 2010.

Dismissing worries that the new park will trip up the Lantau attraction just as it is getting its footing, Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents chairman Michael Wu said: "Shanghai attracts mainland tourists, while Hong Kong's visitors are from Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and so on."

Democratic Party lawmaker Fred Li, a critic of the Lantau park, said: "Since Disney is planning to open another theme park in China, it must position us and Shanghai differently, otherwise this is stupid commercial behavior."

While less sanguine, Tourism Board public relations manager Lucinda Wong said: "A Disney theme park in Shanghai would not present a significant threat to the success of Hong Kong Disneyland. China is a huge market that can easily support more than one Disneyland."

At Tuesday's conference call, Iger expressed satisfaction with Hong Kong Disneyland, which had early trouble meeting its projections for ticket sales, but had four sold-out days last week.

Disney's latest results are for its first quarter in the 2005-2006 financial year and the first full quarter to include Hong Kong Disneyland.

While the company as a whole spurted up by 7 percent, its parks and resorts revenues rose by 13 percent to US$2.4 billion (HK$18.72 billion) and the segment's operating income rocketed 51 percent, to US$375 million.

hkskyline

February 10th, 2006, 12:41 AM

Hong Kong Disneyland gets lost in translation
Theme park hits snags in its effort to tap China market
By Geoffrey A. Fowler in Hong Kong and Merissa Marr in Los Angeles
9 February 2006
The Wall Street Journal Asia

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Chinese tourist Li Zeng wandered Hong Kong Disneyland yesterday -- and left after two hours. Mr. Li isn't that familiar with Mickey Mouse and his companions, and he and his father didn't ride any rides, buy souvenirs or eat food. "We don't understand this park," said Mr. Li, waiting for his tour bus. "We gave up looking at the map."

Five months after Walt Disney Co. opened its Hong Kong theme park in a bid to tap the booming China market, the cultural divide that separates Mickey and Mr. Li is emerging as a major challenge. It is one that the company is now trying hard to bridge, though with mixed results.

The need to adapt was on full display here last week. After Disney underestimated the number of people who would visit during mainland China's week-long Lunar New Year holiday, vacationing crowds poured in, filling the park to its maximum capacity. Disney officials ordered the gates shut, and hundreds of angry Disneyland guests from China who held valid tickets found themselves unable to enter. Some engaged in shouting matches with park staff and at least one excluded family tried to pass a child over the park's wrought-iron fence.

Before last week, Disney's bigger problem wasn't too many visitors, but too few. It drew public rebuke over low attendance from local politicians, who questioned the wisdom of the Hong Kong government's 57% stake in the park. Local retailers said they didn't get the sales boost they were expecting from the new tourists Disneyland had promised to draw.

While Disney maintains that the park is overwhelmingly popular with most visitors, some travel agencies report confusion. "Many customers complain they do not know how to enjoy Disneyland," says Chen Mei, the international tours manager of the Ju Cheng agency, which brings groups to the park from the city of Zhongshan in southern China.

Some tourists show up at the park only to wander aimlessly around Main Street U.S.A., snap a few photos with Marie the Cat -- a character from the 1970s film "The Aristocats" -- and then leave. Marie is familiar to some from the movie's repeat showings in southern China, and also happens to look like another Asian favorite, Hello Kitty. However, Disney officials say their research indicates that in Asia, "the mouse beats the cat."

Disney trumpeted attempts to accommodate Chinese culture, some of which later drew fire. Conservationists attacked the company for planning to serve environmentally unfriendly shark's fin soup at banquets, and Disney later decided to forgo the practice. Efforts to woo local celebrities backfired when some complained of mistreatment by American Disney executives. Disney designed the park for Chinese tourists, who the company said preferred photo opportunities over roller coasters, yet many visitors now criticize the park for being too small.

The company is "still learning" about Chinese culture, said the park's managing director Bill Ernest on Saturday during an emotional public apology for last week's ticket fiasco. Said Jay Rasulo, the head of Disney's theme park division: "Part of the way we make people happy is that we listen, learn and adjust as necessary."

These lessons are crucial for Disney as Chief Executive Robert Iger holds what he calls "ongoing negotiations" to open a third Asian park in Shanghai and seeks to build the company's consumer products, movie and television business in China.

To help confused visitors like Mr. Li, since November Disney has started producing special "one-day trip guides" in Chinese, beyond the basic maps, to explain in clear terms exactly why to do -- and what to do inside -- Disneyland. "You can get together with family to relax and improve communication and relationships with the people you love," reads the guide. Disney hands out the fliers inside the park, and at other Hong Kong tourist attractions.

Mr. Rasulo says the guest experiences at the park are "some of the best in the world," with more than 90% of guests Disney interviewed last week saying they had a positive experience.

Making sure the Chinese travel industry is satisfied, too, remains a cultural challenge. When the Ju Cheng agency publicly threatened to sue over last week's ticket problem, Disney offered a conciliatory tone -- and refunds for people who couldn't come back on another day.

Even before last week's incident, Disney was changing the way it does business at the park. Disney has given VIP treatment to a new group of Chinese celebrities at its park to help woo fans. It cut the cost of tickets for local residents during a low period for tourists, and added a local promotion, snow, to Hong Kong's subtropical climate. Disney also now produces marketing that includes the testimonials of people who have visited the park, instead of slick studio shots.

Perhaps most significantly, Hong Kong Disneyland is changing the way it works with Chinese travel agents, some of whom have been reluctant to sell tickets. Zhang Jian, communications director of Jiangsu Overseas Travel Agency, complains that selling Disneyland tickets doesn't earn her company any money, "and when there are problems, we have to eat the cost and other troubles."

Most mainland Chinese still take vacations through package tours, and they currently make up about 50% of the Chinese visitors to the park. The guides who direct these tours frequently select hotels, restaurants, shopping stops and even tour destinations based on where they share in the profits. Because of lucrative deals with tour operators, one Hong Kong transvestite cabaret brags that its five-times-a-day $20 show draws more Chinese tourists on a regular basis than Disneyland.

Mr. Ernest says Disney, which doesn't have much experience with those sorts of financial arrangements, now realizes changing something as simple as how it offers dinners can make a big difference to the local travel industry. Currently, Hong Kong Disneyland doesn't offer tour packages for visitors from China that include pre-arranged dinners, standard fare for China. Without group dinner deals and considerable commissions, Disney wasn't offering guides much financial incentive to funnel tourists into the park. "We just weren't competitive," Mr. Ernest says, compared to the commissions and deals offered the industry at other attractions in Hong Kong.

Now Mr. Ernest says he is considering starting a "dining with Disney" program. That would be a good way, he says, to entertain guests after the nightly fireworks. Special group breakfasts with Disney characters are another option, he says.

To build relationships, Disney is also giving Chinese travel agents a 50% personal discount if they come visit its park and hotels. Disney also beefed up incentives for tour operators to build a Disneyland visit into packages by increasing the margin it offered them to about US$2.50 per adult ticket. It also changed its sales packages to include open-ended instead of just fixed-date tickets so that operators wouldn't have to eat the cost of returned tickets. It was that ticketing system combined with unexpected crowds, says Disney's Mr. Ernest, which created the problems last week.

Disney declines to release specific attendance figures. When Hong Kong legislators demanded some public accountability in late November, two months after the park's mid-September opening, Disney said that it had hosted more than one million guests. While that on average looked set to put the park behind its 5.6 million forecast for the opening year, Mr. Rasulo says the park still expects to reach that level.

With these changes, Disney officials say overall attendance is "ramping up," particularly among mainland Chinese tourists, whose attendance during the Lunar New Year period more than doubled compared to another week-long Chinese holiday in October.

Understanding the peaks and troughs of attendance is another thing Disney concedes it has yet to master. On last week's overload, Mr. Rasulo noted that Disney had a similar experience with the EuroDisney park based in Paris: after the first summer, the park was inundated in September with locals who had been putting off their trips to avoid the early wave of tourists.

Juying Qin in Hong Kong contributed to this article.

hkskyline

February 10th, 2006, 04:58 AM

Disney will do better, says Tang
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, February 10, 2006

Financial Secretary Henry Tang said Thursday he is confident the Disneyland management will improve operational arrangements to avoid a repetition of the chaos that occurred during the Lunar New Year when hundreds of ticket holders were denied entry.

Tang made the comments after a four-hour meeting with the theme park's management at Central Government Offices. He said the government had expressed concern over the incident and the effect it would have on the tourism industry.

"Disney promised to learn from that incident and said it will adopt measures to improve admission arrangements during holidays and to communicate with the local and mainland travel industries," Tang said.

Disney managing director Bill Ernest said both sides had agreed to hold regular meetings since Hong Kong Disneyland was a joint project between Disney and the government.

"We talked specifically about the peak seasons, such as Christmas and Chinese New Year, and we talked about the ongoing success of Hong Kong Disneyland. We had a great meeting," Ernest said.

Meanwhile, Disney's public relations and sales team held a separate meeting with the travel industry in a bid to seek solutions to problems.

Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents chairman Michael Wu said Disney had promised to set up a hotline for travel agencies with regard to park admission arrangements.

"There's also to be a notification mechanism as well as arrangements enabling us to book in advance specific dates for our tours," Wu said.

Hong Kong Inbound Travel Association chairman Paul Leung confirmed the discussions but did not elaborate.

However, he said those who had pre- booked tickets and had not been able to enter the theme park could ask travel agencies for refunds.

hkskyline

February 10th, 2006, 05:32 PM

Disney's Mobbed Kingdom
Besieged by would-be patrons, Hong Kong Disneyland had to turn many away. A PR debacle, it also has execs eyeing a second park in Shanghai
Bruce Einhorn
6 February 2006
BusinessWeek Online

The folks at Hong Kong Disneyland can't seem to catch a break. For months, the problem was that there were too few visitors at the new theme park, Disney's (DIS) first in Asia outside of Japan. Now there are too many. With China on a week-long holiday to celebrate Chinese New Year, tens of thousands of visitors from mainland China have descended on Hong Kong for a "Golden Week" of eating, shopping, and getting their picture taken with Mickey, Goofy, and the rest of the Disney gang.

The Hong Kong park, which opened in September, measures just 100 acres, making it Disney's smallest. But local officials -- the park is joint venture between the Hong Kong government and Disney -- hope that it will eventually grow to rival that of the original Magic Kingdom in Anaheim, Calif.

SELF-INFLICTED TROUBLES. To keep crowds from spilling out of Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Main Street USA, Disneyland officials have set a maximum capacity of 30,000 visitors for the Hong Kong park. Until recently, that wasn't much of a problem. But during the Chinese New Year "Golden Week," the park has maxed out after just a few hours.

That's turned into a public relations disaster for Disney, as furious tourists denounce the Mouse. The top official of the park tried to control the damage on Saturday. "Unfortunately, because of the high demand, we were not able to accommodate everyone who came to the park," Bill Ernest, executive vice president and managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland, told a news conference. "No one is more disappointed about this than we are. And we apologize to those who have been inconvenienced."

It's partly a problem of Disney's own making. In early January, the Hong Kong park introduced a new ticketing system that gives a ticket holder the opportunity to visit for one day within a six-month period rather than on a specific day.

This move away from date-stamping tickets was in response to concerns from local travel agents and others that selling tickets that were limited to a set day wasn't flexible enough for Chinese tourists. Since admission is on a first-come, first-serve basis, if the park fills up quickly, many people who purchased their tickets in advance find themselves stuck outside with tearful children and nowhere to go.

OVER THE TOP. On Feb. 2, some irate ticketholders took matters into their own hands, scaling the fence surrounding the park. Newspapers quoted angry visitors denouncing Disney and Hong Kong. With visitors from China playing such an important role in Hong Kong's tourist and retail industry, the Hong Kong government has been quick to try to show the mainlanders that it cares about their gripes.

Following the fence-scaling on Thursday, the Hong Kong government issued a statement calling for Disneyland executives to do a better job. "We are concerned that this advance sales arrangement has caused a lot of inconvenience to guests who could not enter," read the statement. "We consider that there are areas for improvement such as the ticketing and guest-entry arrangements. We have reflected these concerns to the senior management of the theme park and requested them to make improvements."

The good news for Disney: people want to get in, which is a nice change from a few months ago. The park got off to an inauspicious start in late summer, when Hong Kong was in the grips of a heat-and-smog wave that made visibility poor and locals grumpy [see BW Online, 9/13/05, "Disney's Not-Do-Magic Kingdom"].

HITTING ITS NUMBERS. The launch was accompanied by some major public-relations problems, involving everything from serious overcrowding during the pre-launch test runs to the alleged mistreatment of stray dogs captured at the site. "It was a mess," says Allan Zeman, chairman of Ocean Park, the other government-owned theme park in Hong Kong. Adds Zeman: Many of the problems "were things that somebody who did their homework should have realized and understood."

Disneyland hasn't released attendance numbers, but Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, says that the park is on course to hit its first-year target of 5.6 million visitors. In early January, there was a shakeup of top management, with managing director Don Robinson leaving the company. He was replaced by Bill Ernest, a Disney veteran who had served, among other positions, as vice-president of resort operations at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

While the Hong Kong part is certainly smaller than what visitors familiar with other Disney parks might expect, Rasulo says the plan is to eventually double its capacity. And, he adds, Disney is still talking with the Chinese government about opening a second Chinese Disney park. Despite a recent report in the South China Morning Post that the Beijing government was interested in hosting a Disney park, Rasulo says that Disney is eyeing another metropolis. "Shanghai is one of the most appealing places to us," he says.

"MIDCOURSE CORRECTIONS." A Shanghai park would still be many years off, though. The focus right now is on making Disney's Hong Kong offering work. The park will be adding several new attractions this year, including the Autopia car-driving ride in Tomorrowland. Rasulo also stresses that Disney is working more closely with travel agents specializing in arranging visits from mainland Chinese. "We've shifted a little," he says, "but these are not out-of-the-ordinary midcourse corrections."

If the crowds this week are any indication, the Chinese certainly seem to be interested in hanging out with Mickey and friends. Still, as the Golden Week problems demonstrate all too well, Disney has some work to do in order to make sure its first foray into China is a success.

Isan

February 12th, 2006, 07:42 AM

迪士尼拒客佛山百人獲賠償
順德一旅行社先支付5.5萬元樂園高層赴廣州謝罪承諾退款

【中央社香港十日電】中國佛山順德一批在香港迪士尼樂園被拒於門外的觀光客，已各獲旅行社賠償人民幣五百至六百元，成為首批因為持票入園遭拒而獲得賠償的中國遊客。
據南方日報今天報導，賠償金是來自組織前往迪士尼遊玩的順德當地一家旅行社。這家旅行社透露，迪士尼代表今天將到廣州，與各旅行社協商補償事宜。

據報導，在當地消費者保護機構的調解下，旅行社為這一百位遊客提供賠償，其中50名一日遊遊客各得到人民幣500元，另外50名遊客得到600元，共計賠償5萬5000元。

消委會認為，旅行社沒有履行或沒有完全履行旅遊合同義務，應當承擔賠償責任。

【本報香港訊】香港迪士尼樂園高層10日到廣州就新春拒客入場向業界道歉，並承諾退款予受影響的包銷商和遊客。

迪士尼樂園高層10日到廣州與廣東省門票包銷商春茗，並討論票務問題。迪士尼首先向在場人士派發由香港迪士尼行政總裁安明智簽署的道歉信，內容指出，樂園對新春期間未能滿足每一位客人深感遺憾及致歉，希望數周內完成檢討售票安排，又會向大陸旅行社發問卷，就五‧一安排諮詢業界意見。

信件提到已購買六個月有效票但未能在2月1日或2日入場的人士，若在門票有效期內無法將門票退回樂園，可將門票退還銷售商及退款。至於旅行社若持有這些新春無法使用的六個月門票、但又不打算轉售，也可與樂園洽談直接退款。

旅遊發展局主席周梁淑怡10日再砲轟迪士尼，直指迪士尼有「大阿哥」心態，今次不快事件與樂園事前準備不足及不習慣香港市場有關。

2006-02-11

Isan

February 13th, 2006, 09:25 AM

Hong Kong Disneyland Speaks with Travel Industry Leaders
13 February 2006

http://www.asiatraveltips.com/newspics/062/DonaldDuck.jpg

Following the many ticketing problems that clients of Hong Kong Disneyland experienced during Chinese New Year, the company has been meeting and communicating with travel industry leaders, wholesalers and retail agents to map out future plans which may include adding additional date-specific ticket days to the calendar.

In letters to wholesalers and travel agents, Hong Kong Disneyland Executive Vice President and Managing Director Bill Ernest wrote, “For the convenience of the travel trade, if your clients are unable to reuse their tickets within the six-month window and you choose not to resell these tickets, we will be happy to discuss with you a refund of the tickets directly to you.”

For people who were unable to use their Hong Kong Disneyland tickets on February 1 or 2 and cannot return to the park during the six-month validity period and would like a refund, they should return their tickets to the location where they were purchased.

Over the course of last week, Hong Kong Disneyland executives met with their Travel Industry Advisory Board, leaders of the Travel Industry Council, inbound operators and individual wholesalers in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

“We’ve always had a close working relationship with the trade in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Asia. They’ve helped us by offering valuable input and insights in the Disney ticketing process and doing business in Asia. We are committed to continuing this important relationship moving forward,” said Roy Tan Hardy, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Hong Kong Disneyland.

“We are very happy Hong Kong Disneyland is meeting with the various travel trade groups and seeking our counsel. We support the six-month flexible ticket option because it was developed in response to feedback from wholesalers, retailers and guests. And we know Hong Kong Disneyland is looking at options to be better able to meet high guest demand,” said Joseph Tung, Executive Director, Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong.

In response to the overwhelming during the Chinese New Year holidays, Hong Kong Disneyland is exploring the option of adding more Special Days, which require date-specific tickets, for expected high-demand periods, such as the upcoming Golden Week in May.

“We look forward to working with Hong Kong Disneyland and know that new procedures will be put in place to ensure an enjoyable experience at the park for all guests,” said Charles Ng, Managing Director, Sincere Travel in Hong Kong.

http://www.asiatraveltips.com/newspics/062/BeautyandtheBeast.jpg

WANCH

February 13th, 2006, 09:54 AM

Isan, I don't think asiatraveltips allows their images to be shown.

hkskyline

February 19th, 2006, 01:29 AM

By "GeForce3" from a Hong Kong photography forum :

#1
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5200.jpg

#2
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5201.jpg

#3
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5202.jpg

#4
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5203.jpg

#5
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5204.jpg

#6
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5205.jpg

#7
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5206.jpg

#8
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5207.jpg

#9
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5211.jpg

#10
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/apollo/disney/IMG_5217.jpg

hkskyline

February 28th, 2006, 03:05 AM

Disneyland additions raise mixed reactions
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Hong Kong Disneyland has aroused mixed reactions from the travel industry after announcing it will expand to include three new attractions by the summer.

Speaking at the Legislative Council economic services panel meeting, the park's managing director, Bill Ernest, said Monday that Disneyland, built largely with public funds, will use its own operational revenue to pay for the new attractions.

This was the first time the park officially announced it will go ahead with the interactive show Stitch's Encounter, and UFO Cool Zone, a water-themed play area the park began building last December, according to a filing with the Buildings Department.

Even before opening last September, Disney said it would push ahead with the third attraction, the classic car ride Autopia, but Monday was the first time they put a firm timeline on it.

Predicting the attractions will boost ticket sales for the park by 20 percent this summer, Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents chairman Michael Wu said it will especially appeal to "visitors from overseas and the mainland."

But Inbound Tours Operators Association chairman Charles Ng played down the new attractions since they "are mostly just for kids."

Also at the panel meeting, Tourism Commissioner Eva Cheng said Disney and the government are reviewing the existing facilities, which were found to be inadequate for a chaotic few days during the Lunar New Year.

Ernest, who took charge shortly before the holiday anarchy, said during the meeting "we won't have the problem again," predicting the May "golden week" holiday will be successful.

But he would not commit on whether the park will extend the number of special days - when only dated tickets gain entry - during the holiday.

On the fourth and fifth days of the Lunar New Year, the park turned away a large number of visitors who had tickets, because those days were deemed "special," sparking criticism that the park lacked understanding of traditional Chinese culture.

He said to ensure this does not happen again, the park is working with travel trade partners and doing surveys in the mainland to decide how many special days to designate for the coming golden week.

Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip, who with Financial Secretary Henry Tang meets regularly with Disney officials, warned: "if [a similar chaotic episode] happens again, we will deal with it very strictly."

hkskyline

March 1st, 2006, 06:48 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland to adjust admission system to prevent chaos during holidays
By HELEN LUK
1 March 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong Disneyland announced Wednesday it has adjusted its admission system to prevent chaos that erupted during the Chinese New Year holiday when hundreds of visitors tried to storm the park after being denied entry.

The adjustment involves setting aside 11 extra days -- around Easter and China's Labor Day holidays -- when only visitors holding date-specific tickets can enter the park, Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest said during a telephone conference call.

The newly designated "special days" run from April 14-21 and May 4-6. The decision came following consultations with the tickets' wholesalers and travel industry representatives, Disney said.

Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened in September, now sells three types of tickets: "regular days," "peak days" and "special days." The first two types are valid for six months but do not guarantee entry on any given day, while only the third type is date-specific tickets for holidays when the greatest number of visitors is expected.

During the Chinese New Year in late January, the Hong Kong Disneyland shut its gates after hundreds of mainland Chinese and Taiwanese ticket-holders tried to force their way in after being turned away as the park was already full. Some clambered over the park's iron gate.

The embarrassing incident prompted a public apology from Ernest, who promised to improve the admission system. Hong Kong's leader Donald Tsang also publicly criticized the company.

On Wednesday, the executive said he believes the new measure will help prevent such incidents from occurring in future.

"We do not want to close the gate again," Ernest said. "That is not an experience we want to repeat."

"We do believe that with these new special date, it really adds a sense of order and a lot more predictability when it comes to numbers of our guests on any particular day," he said.

Earlier this week, Disney said it planned to add three new attractions to the theme park as part of its expansion plan.

The additions are the Autopia electric car ride, Stitch Encounter, an interactive theater show, and UFO Zone, made up of water-squirting robot, rocket ship and flying saucer.

The three attractions, located in the Tomorrowland section of the park, will be open to the public this summer.

Ernest said July and August are already designated as peak months -- when ticket prices are 19 percent higher -- and the company has no immediate plan to set aside "special days" during those months.

Hong Kong Disneyland is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the Hong Kong government, which shouldered the bulk of the construction fee.

hkskyline

March 8th, 2006, 05:32 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland too crowded: Chinese official
8 March 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong Disneyland is too crowded, a senior Chinese tourism official said Wednesday, hinting that another Disney park is necessary to accommodate demand from China's huge population.

The comments by Shao Qiwei, director of China's State Administration of Tourism, came a day after Shanghai's mayor Han Zheng said the city was preparing to build China's second Disney theme park.

"China has a very large population. We now have 1.3 billion people. The market is very large. As far as I know, Hong Kong Disneyland is now very crowded," said Shao, whose comments were broadcast on Hong Kong's Cable TV.

The Hong Kong theme park, which opened in September, was widely criticized in January when it turned away hundreds of Lunar New Year holiday makers from mainland China because the park was full. Chaos erupted when angry crowds tried to force their way into the park.

The embarrassing incident prompted a public apology from Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest and a dressing down from Hong Kong's leader Donald Tsang.

Authorities are carefully studying the issue of overcrowding in preparation for the possible building of the Disney park in Shanghai, Shao said.

The official Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday that no agreement has been reached on the park in Shanghai, quoting senior vice president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Leslie Goodman.

Hong Kong Disneyland is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the local government, which shouldered the bulk of the park's construction fees.

hkskyline

March 16th, 2006, 06:54 AM

HK sees no threat in Shanghai's plan for Disney park
14 March 2006
Xinhua's China Economic Information Service

HONG KONG, March 14 (CEIS) -- Hong Kong tourism's competitiveness will not be threatened by Shanghai's proposal to build a new Disney theme park, Hong Kong economic development chief said on March 14.

There is no worry about Hong Kong Disneyland's attractiveness to tourists, even a new theme park is opened in Shanghai as proposed, said Stephen Ip, secretary for Economic Development and Labor of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The HKSAR government has long heard of Shanghai's plan to builda Disney theme park, though an agreement has yet been reached between the city authorities and Walt Disney Company, Ip told the Legislative Council (LegCo).

On the other hand, Hong Kong Disneyland still has an edge to attract visitors, for it has been in operation for less than one year and would project more new games in the future, said Ip.

Last week, during the annual session of the National People's Congress, Mayor of Shanghai Han Zheng confirmed that the city is making preparations to build a Disney theme park and waiting for the permission from the State Council.

The news has raised Hong Kong media's attention, though Han stressed that the two cities have long benefited and will continueto reap interests from cooperation rather than competition.

Since it opened seven months ago, Hong Kong Disneyland has attracted large number of visitors, many of whom from China's mainland, despite a series of public relations crisis.

During the Chinese New Year holidays in February, the park had to close its gate to hundreds of visitors holding pre-purchased tickets for it reached the maximum accommodation capability soon after opening.

hkskyline

March 26th, 2006, 08:58 AM

Disney offer criticised for failing to give tourists what they want
21 March 2006
South China Morning Post

Disneyland is offering free photographs, meals and souvenirs to lure more mainland and overseas visitors. It is also offering Hong Kong residents two visits for the price of one.

Tour operators, however, say the theme park has yet to catch up with what tourists really want.

From now until September 30, mainland or overseas guests buying tickets through a travel agent will get a souvenir, a "buy one, get one free" main-course meal, or a free photo on Space Mountain or from "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" feature.

During the low season, from now until June, a special "Double the Magic" offer also entitles Hong Kong residents who buy a one-day ticket to visit the park a second visit free of charge. The second visit should be the same ticket type as the original and must be made by the same person.

The offer is not applicable to "special days", which include April 14 to 21, April 30 and May 1 to 6.

Senior vice-president of marketing Roy Tan Hardy said the special offers were based on tourists' needs. But Hong Kong Inbound Travel Association chairman Paul Leung Yiu-lam said the new arrangements were not very attractive to travel agents or visitors to Hong Kong.

"I don't think more people will go there just to get a free photo or a free meal," Mr Leung said. "Also, in most of the mainland cities, Ocean Park is still the icon of Hong Kong.

"Disneyland should work closely with travel agents on how to make the park a valuable part of the travelling experience in Hong Kong. People don't come to Hong Kong just because of Disneyland.

"Travel agents are not employees of Disneyland, and we have no responsibility to promote the park unless it can benefit the industry as a whole."

Legislator Fred Li Wah-ming welcomed the new incentives, but said the park should give more special offers to the disadvantaged.

"It makes sense to me to let more local people enjoy the park during low season," Mr Li said. "I wish the park would consider offering free or cheap tickets to low-income families, disabled people and senior citizens as well, because Hong Kong people have all invested in the park."

hkskyline

April 5th, 2006, 04:16 AM

Disney a poor communicator: survey
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Local residents generally still strongly support Hong Kong Disneyland, but most believe the company could communicate better with the public, a tourism academic said.

And while most Hong Kongers recognize the theme park's contribution to the economy and tourism industry, many are still concerned about the fairness of the deal to attract Disney to Hong Kong, the company's accountability, and the park's impact on the environment, said John Ap, an associate professor at Polytechnic University's School of Tourism and Hotel Management.

A survey conducted by the university last month and released Tuesday found mixed opinions about the park.

Of the 524 respondents, 86 percent expressed "continued and strong support" of Hong Kong Disneyland, with only 5 percent strongly opposed.

This is the highest figure recorded among similar surveys conducted by the university. The same number of people also welcomed the increase in tourists the park has been attracting to Hong Kong.

Nearly two thirds said "the benefits outweigh the costs" - compared with 76 percent who thought so when the last survey was conducted in 2004.

And regarding the administration's HK$13.6 billion deal to provide reclamation and infrastructure to attract Disney to Hong Kong, only 27 percent thought it was fair while 56 percent thought it was not.

Of the theme park's impacts on Hong Kong, respondents were most supportive of benefits such as employment and the economic contribution, but most critical of environmental issues such as noise and air pollution from nightly fireworks displays, and the effect on Chinese pink dolphins. Some 70 percent agreed that "opinions toward Hong Kong Disneyland have become more negative due to problems ... since opening."

Sixty-one percent said media coverage of the park was negative, while 11 percent said it was positive.

However, 46 percent said the coverage was fair while 29 percent believed it was not. But 71 percent claimed media reports had "no influence in shaping their opinions."

The theme park needs to address its governance, respondents said. Only 28 percent agreed that "Hong Kong Disneyland is a socially responsible company" while 47 percent disagreed.

Ninety-three percent agreed that "as a publicly funded project, the management of Hong Kong Disneyland should be accountable to the Hong Kong public," and 95 percent agreed that communication with the public should be improved.

Just under a third of respondents had visited the park, of whom 56 percent were satisfied with the experience while 22 percent were not.

Two thirds believed Disneyland would "complement rather than compete with Ocean Park" and 80 percent said both parks would offer comparable enjoyment.

"The interview opinions are more negative compared with previous survey results," Ap said.

"Knowing how the the community perceives the benefits and costs of a major tourism attraction such as Hong Kong Disneyland is essential to the development, viability and sustainability of this joint venture."

Mosaic

April 5th, 2006, 07:22 AM

It seems that HK Disneyland faced a lot of problems.

hkskyline

April 7th, 2006, 06:09 AM

Disneyland has failed to make mark, poll finds
6 April 2006
South China Morning Post

Mainlanders and Taiwanese have voted Ocean Park as the top entertainment destination, but Disneyland has not even been shortlisted in the category, a poll has found.

The two-month poll of mainland visitors was conducted in December by marketing company Just Events, along with the Hong Kong Association of China Travel Organisations, the Chamber of Hong Kong Computer Industry and Ho To (HK) Commercial.

Voters came from more than 10 mainland cities and provinces, including Shanghai and Guangdong, and some were from Taiwan.

In the entertainment category, Ocean Park, Lan Kwai Fong and the Jockey Club were rated the top three brands from five shortlisted entries. The two others shortlisted were Star Cruises and activities on Lantau Island including the Big Buddha, a Chinese village and the Ngong Ping 360 cable car project.

A detailed breakdown on the votes in the "PRC Provinces Tourists' My Best Hong Kong Brands" poll was not available.

Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said mainlanders viewed Disneyland as an icon of American culture instead of a Hong Kong brand.

"It does not mean that mainlanders don't find Disneyland attractive," Mr Tung said. "But it is true that they don't find it as unique as Ocean Park, Lantau Island and Lan Kwai Fong which are products of local culture."

A Disneyland spokeswoman said the park was less than a year old and it was no surprise that mainlanders were more familiar with established brands.

The survey also covered cosmetics retail stores, which were topped by Sasa, Bonjour and Aster. The best three shopping centres were APM Mall in Kwun Tong, Times Square in Causeway Bay and Langham Place in Mongkok.

hkskyline

April 7th, 2006, 05:39 PM

Disneyland's image has soured since its opening
5 April 2006
South China Morning Post

The public's impressions of Disneyland have soured since it opened in September, probably because of operational problems, a survey has found.

Disney put on a brave face yesterday, saying people were generally positive but had probably been influenced by widely publicised chaos, such as mainland visitors being denied entry during the Lunar New Year.

Seventy per cent of 524 randomly selected respondents to last month's phone survey by Polytechnic University's school of hotel and tourism management were more negative about the theme park now than before it opened.

The survey, carried out every year since 2000 except last year, found that 63 per cent of respondents thought the park's benefits outweighed its costs, down 13 points from 2004.

While 61 per cent said media coverage had been negative, 71 per cent said they had not been influenced by such reports. On a more positive note, 56 per cent thought the government's $13.6 billion investment in Disney was fair value - the highest rate since the annual study began.

But when asked if Disney was a socially responsible company, 47 per cent said no, and 95 per cent agreed it should improve communication with the public.

Comparing Ocean Park with Disneyland, two-thirds agreed they would complement, rather than compete with, each other. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 per cent.

Survey researcher John Ap, an associate professor at the school, said Disney needed to better cater to the behaviour and habits of mainland tourists.

"What is unpredictable is human behaviour. This is what Disneyland has to sort out - the way the mainland visitors are," he said.

A park spokeswoman said the poll results were probably affected by the "incidents in Lunar New Year", when thousands of frustrated ticket-holders were stranded outside the park because it was full.

"The overall response to the park has been positive," she said. "Disneyland has been talking to a wide range of stakeholders {hellip} We will continue to provide quality entertainment to our guests."

Hong Kong Inbound Travel Association chairman Paul Leung Yiu-lam said most mainland tourists were more concerned with park facilities than bad news coverage. "Tourists have said they wish to see more attractions," he said.

hkskyline

April 9th, 2006, 05:10 PM

Hong Kong Disney stung by new staff complaints

HONG KONG, April 9, 2006 (AFP) - Mickey Mouse and friends are not happy -- at least the staff who wear the cartoon characters' costumes in Hong Kong's Disneyland aren't.

The city's troubled Disney theme park was stung by yet more complaints Sunday when a staff union accused management of setting unfair pay scales and overworking crew.

The Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members Union said the resort, which is majority owned by the Hong Kong government, was also being stingy on contracts and holiday entitlements.

The union said staff employed to dress as Mickey and other famous characters and perform in the park's stage shows were paid up to 22 percent more than those who donned the same costumes in other parts of the park.

"Although character performers in the parade section and meet-and-greet ... have similar roles and qualifications as those of the show cast, their salaries differ unreasonably," the union said in a statement.

It said regular staff received 9,000 Hong Kong dollars (1,153 US dollars) a month, while show cast were paid 11,000 dollars.

It also said the company had begun hiring staff on short-term contracts to avoid paying health and other benefits.

Staff were working more than the 45 hours per week stipulated in their job descriptions and had been told they must multitask in other parts of the park.

"Many character performers have severe occupational injuries due to long working hours, insufficient break times, heavy and suffocating costumes and so forth," the statement said.

Disney management were unavailable for comment.

The union attack is the latest setback for the 3 billion US dollar resort, the first Disney theme park in China which opened to huge fanfare in September.

In February hundreds of customers went on the rampage outside the park after confusion over a new ticketing system saw them locked out despite having paid their 300 Hong Kong dollars entry fee.

It has also faced complaints from customers that the park is too small, that the hotels had been infested with pests and that there was too much emphasis on selling merchandise.

Staff formed the union late last year after many crew members complained of being exploited.

And although management will not reveal attendance figures, the park has only sold out on a handful of days since its opening.

hkskyline

April 12th, 2006, 05:00 AM

Disney boss eager to add attractions
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Disneyland managing director Bill Ernest said Tuesday the government should speed up the reclamation work for phase two of the theme park.

However, he agreed that several phase-one attractions have still to come on line, but will soon.

Ernest said concrete plans for phase two have still to be agreed between the two sides and will take some time.

He said that, apart from three "coming soon" attractions, there is room for other shows and exhibits in phase one. "It is not the number of attractions, but their size," Ernest said, adding that designing the various attractions was similar to fitting pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Ernest said that, when completed, phase one will be able to handle 10 million guests annually.

He said the most popular attraction is the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad, which runs from Mainstreet USA through Fantasyland.

In order to avoid the chaos that occurred during the Lunar New Year holidays, Ernest said the park will be adding 11 more "special days" for Easter and the May Day holidays, during which sales of tickets will be limited to prevent overcrowding.

During the Easter holidays the park will adopt a "cross utilization" system whereby back office staff will help those at the front line handle the crowd.

hkskyline

April 23rd, 2006, 04:42 AM

拒客入場挫士氣管理受制美總部
迪士尼高層爆劈炮潮
23/04/2006

【本報訊】香港迪士尼樂園開幕不足一年已爆發高層人員離職潮，四名總監級以上要員包括香港迪士尼開國功臣之一的市務高級副總裁陳敬考先後辭職。部分迪士尼員工埋怨香港管理層事事受制於美國總部，導致士氣異常低落，亦有傳是因為農曆新春期間發生不准持票遊客入場有關，但香港迪士尼行政總裁安明智否認有管治危機，強調樂園擁有穩健的管理團隊。

香港迪士尼最新一輪離職潮發生於上周四，陳敬考及市務策略總監柯慧璇雙雙請辭，且即時離職。陳敬考的下屬即香港迪士尼銷售總監周美寶上月亦已離職，至於前香港迪士尼行政總裁羅彬深則早於今年一月離開。

港員工被當「替死鬼」
美國華特迪士尼總部一直以來設有一個由五名美國高層管理的新部門，負責管理全球迪士尼市場。有香港迪士尼的員工埋怨，樂園所有重要事務都由美國總公司「話事」，但美國方面常做錯決定，事後卻找香港員工當「替死鬼」，以致內部士氣低落，許多人都正密謀跳槽。

香港迪士尼行政總裁安明智回應時指出，陳敬考等三名高層均是以私人理由請辭，強調香港迪士尼擁有穩健的管理團隊，沒有管治危機，樂園正尋覓合適人選填補他們的空缺。

安明智又提到，樂園在五一黃金周的門票仍未售罄，保證屆時運作必定順利，購買了指定日期門票的遊客定可入場。

入境團旅行社協會吳光偉對陳、柯請辭表示可惜，他說，二人在過去的一段長時間內，為樂園投入了很多精神及心思，並具積極研究改善樂園不足之處。他擔心，二人的離開無論對樂園運作及員工士氣，都會造成一定影響。 http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

City's Architect

April 30th, 2006, 05:44 AM

Hopefully Phase II plan will come out soon

City's Architect

April 30th, 2006, 07:45 AM

A pic. of Hong Kong Disney Resort Map
http://ahongkongdisneyland.disney.go.com/media/hkdl_v0100/en_US/maps/ResortOverviewMap.gif

HongKongDisneyland

April 30th, 2006, 08:00 AM

Hopefully Phase II plan will come out soon

The land for Phase 2 is still under reclamation. It is estimated that reclamation would be completed by end of 2008 or Jan 2009.

hkskyline

June 4th, 2006, 05:06 PM

Disneyland unfazed by Ocean Park ranking news
Wendy Leung
3 June 2006
Hong Kong Standard

Note : it seems the Forbes ranking does not include a large number of US parks with high attendance, so the rankings are not entirely accurate.

Hong Kong Disneyland has reacted cautiously to news that Ocean Park has been ranked the world's seventh most popular amusement park in a survey by Forbes magazine, urging critics to wait and see before passing judgment on Disneyland.

With its 4.03 million record- breaking year in 2005, Ocean Park ranked the seventh best-attended park in the world.

If Hong Kong Disneyland reaches its first year projected attendance of 5.6 million visitors, it will rank fifth this year.

"We're confident of reaching 5.6 million this year. The next four months this summer, with the school vacations, are critical,'' Disney managing director Bill Ernest said Friday.

Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman said: ``It is difficult to believe they will, but who knows? I hope they do.''

Several Chinese-language newspapers have made comparisons between the two theme parks.

"It's unfair to compare this year,'' said Ernest, noting Hong Kong Disneyland was only open for 3 months in 2005. "After a full-year's operations, the real story will come out.''

It is the first time Ocean Park has been listed in the Forbes ranking, Zeman said, adding the park had not enjoyed good attendances in recent years. "It was a huge surprise when I got the call,'' Zeman said. "I am also happy for Hong Kong, because Forbes is a worldwide magazine, so it's a great honor. It puts Hong Kong on the map.''

Given that Ocean Park is a home- grown theme park, the honor was a tribute to Hong Kong people's innovative spirit, Zeman said. He agreed that Hong Kong Disneyland has the potential to get on the list before long.

"Hong Kong Disney is a new park. It has just opened, so it's too early to tell. Disney parks in the US, Tokyo and Paris are all on the top of the list. It's good news for them too,'' he said.

"I won't predict figures for next year, because it depends on many factors, such as the weather and economy. But we will have many attractions to help us stay in the running.''

An article published in Forbes on Thursday, titled "The World's Most Popular Amusement Parks,'' said Ocean Park's new rides, discounts and other incentives helped pull in summer crowds.

Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Florida, Tokyo Disney and Disneyland Paris ranked the top three parks this year.

Forbes.com worked with trade publication Amusement Business and consulting firm Economic Research Associates to rank the top 10 international amusement parks by attendance last year.

hkskyline

June 4th, 2006, 05:08 PM

HK Disneyland tries best to attract mainlanders
29 May 2006
China Daily

Their intentions are crystal clear. Simplified Chinese characters are everywhere, and regional products such as Inner Mongolian milk are on sale at food and beverage stands. Travel agents offer customized promotional packages, and special tickets were issued for the Golden Week peak travel period in May.

Hong Kong Disneyland has been doing everything it can to attract more visitors from the Chinese mainland, says Bill Ernest, vice-president and managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

The scripts written in simplified Chinese characters available at two shows Golden Mickey and the Lion King help mainlanders understand the storylines, Ernest tells China Business Weekly. In the past, all the shows at the theme park were in English, and Chinese-language scripts were simply unavailable, according to Ernest.

Visitors can also opt for familiar Meng Niu dairy products, providing a welcome alternative to other famous beverages such as Coca-Cola. Ernest says Hong Kong Disneyland signed an agreement late last month with domestic milk producer Meng Niu, making it the theme park's official dairy supplier.

The vice-president says Disneyland has been actively seeking co-operative opportunities with other mainland companies.

"It is always nice to have our visitors see brands from their own region."

He says that offering familiar food and beverages is very important, since visitors will immediately feel comfortable in the park.

"Mainland visitors enjoy our food, especially the noodles, dim sum and barbecue."

Mainland visitors like to take a lot of pictures when they travel, so Disneyland has set up five locations throughout Fantasyland where visitors can meet characters and take pictures with them at any time of day.

"We set these locations aside, because we know our Asian guests, especially mainlanders, love to take pictures. This only happens at the park in Hong Kong, but not at other Disneyland parks," Ernest says. "Guests from the Chinese mainland are wonderful. They are curious about what our park looks like and what the attractions are. And they love to take photos."

The park has also launched a special promotion, "Extra Magic", which is exclusively targeted at mainland visitors.

Visitors can choose their own "Extra Magic" when they book a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland through a travel agent. The offer includes a photo on Space Mountain or The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, a 2-for-1 meal deal, or a Disney-themed souvenir. The promotion is available until the end of September.

Ernest mentions another promotion, "Double the Magic", that provides Hong Kong citizens with a second free trip to the theme park.

"Our friends from the mainland can't visit Hong Kong as frequently, so we offer them something else."

More and more mainland visitors have been coming to the theme park since it opened six months ago. Ernest says word-of-mouth has been a huge help. "Our visitors always tell their friends about their great experiences here."

Ernest says that between 85 and 90 percent of visitors have provided positive feedback. He adds that Disneyland offers guests a unique experience.

"We spend a lot of time thinking about the storytelling, costume design, the parades, the attractions and the different theme products. We want our visitors to really immerse themselves in the whole experience."

With two Broadway-style shows, unique Disney attractions, a nightly fireworks display, and two spectacular hotels, there's always something for everybody in the family, Ernest tells China Business Weekly.

The park was swamped with visitors during the Chinese New Year in late-January, and it had to shut its gates after hundreds of mainland ticket-holders tried to force their way in after being turned away when the park reached full capacity. But Ernest says they managed to successfully cope with the crowds during the May Day holiday.

The park sold special entry tickets from April 30 to May 6, in order to guarantee that guests come to the park on specific days, he says.

Mainland travellers currently account for one-third of the park's visitors, with another third from Hong Kong. Most other park-goers are from elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a joint venture between Walt Disney Co and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government. It employs 5,000 people.

The SAR government estimates the first phase of the project will bring up to HK$148 billion (US$19.0 billion) to Hong Kong over the next 40 years.

Earlier reports have quoted Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng as having confirmed that the city is preparing to build its own Disney theme park. It is currently waiting for permission from the State Council.

Hong Kong Disneyland declines to comment on the possibility of competition from the mainland's most developed city, however.

_00_deathscar

June 4th, 2006, 05:13 PM

HK Disneyland's going to be FOOKED when Shanghai's is complete - so I suggest instead of spending their whole budget and time trying to attract mainlanders to Disneyland, they attempt to lure a more international community - Australia and India - large places which don't have Disneyland, contribute quite a fair bit to the Hong Kong tourism industry, and Hong Kong is their closest alternative to Disneyland.

My dad raised that point today.

CFCheng

June 5th, 2006, 12:09 PM

hkskyline

June 5th, 2006, 05:11 PM

Disney's chief defends investment in HK park
11 May 2006
South China Morning Post

Disney chief executive Bob Iger has defended the company's investment in Hong Kong Disneyland, saying guest satisfaction is high, despite some unflattering media reports.

"I really believe this is a great asset that is going to create real long-term value for the company, and you can't really look at it in snapshot form seven months into its run, which hopefully will last forever," Mr Iger said.

He was speaking in Los Angeles as Disney reported a 12 per cent increase in net income to $5.7 billion in the second quarter, boosted by sales gains at theme parks and the ABC broadcast network. He said "guest satisfaction is very high" and "we've seen no problem at all with price and value relationship".

Disney chief financial officer Tom Staggs said more than 80 per cent of people attending the Hong Kong park rated it as "excellent", "very good" or "good".

But Mr Iger said the firm was evaluating certain issues, including the fact attendance was subject to more seasonal factors than first thought, and marketing efforts were not as effective as they could be.

Disney originally invested $2.45 billion of the $14 billion cost of the park, which is co-owned by the government and expected to attract 5.6 million visitors in its first year.

A government official said more marketing campaigns and three new attractions would be introduced this summer.

Disney did not release attendance figures, but Hong Kong officials said last December that average daily attendance was 14,000.

Widely reported ticketing chaos over the Lunar New Year led to the park turning away some visitors.

A two-week trial for the Ngong Ping 360 cable car and new attractions at Ngong Ping village will be held next month for staff, businesspeople, community groups and the media ahead of the opening.

_00_deathscar

June 5th, 2006, 05:19 PM

Will the new disneyland in Shanghai be much bigger than the one in HK?

Don't know about 'much', but I do believe it is BIGGER none the less.

In any case, Hong Kong got fucked over with regards to Disneyland....

hkskyline

June 5th, 2006, 05:23 PM

Don't know about 'much', but I do believe it is BIGGER none the less.

In any case, Hong Kong got fucked over with regards to Disneyland....
The shovels aren't even in the ground yet in Shanghai. Besides, a billion + Chinese will not shun Hong Kong to go to Shanghai's Disneyland. It doesn't make sense. There are 2 Disney parks in the US already. We have yet to see attendance and financial numbers to conclude HK Disney is a failure. The crowds of mainland tourists at the park show that they are doing something right at least.

What is likely going to happen if the Shanghai Disneyland is built is a change in the market focus. HK will attract southern Chinese while Shanghai will attract the northern Chinese. Nevertheless there is a few hundred million in each respective market - enough to keep both parks viable.

raymond_tung88

June 6th, 2006, 03:17 PM

What is likely going to happen if the Shanghai Disneyland is built is a change in the market focus. HK will attract southern Chinese while Shanghai will attract the northern Chinese. Nevertheless there is a few hundred million in each respective market - enough to keep both parks viable.

You never know... IMO, I think it really depends on what Shanghai Disneyland has to offer. If its bigger, has newer/better attractions, etc., it will definately take away from Hong Kong. Just because the distance from Shanghai and Hong Kong is far away doesn't necessarily mean people closer will only visit their respective parks. Remember, all it takes is a plane/ train ticket and everything's set. Lots of Japanese, Germans, Spanish, British tourists visit Disney World even though there are parks closer to them such as Tokyo and Paris.

Hong Kong Disneyland may not be a "failure" yet but its anticipated attendance record is far above the actual attendance record. Mainland tourists will always be lining up in Hong Kong NOT because of Disneyland but because of HONG KONG. I don't think they come just to go to the themepark, but to visit the city. Whilst in the city, they just plan a trip there to get the "full experience".

raymond_tung88

June 6th, 2006, 03:20 PM

Will the new disneyland in Shanghai be much bigger than the one in HK?

Yes... MUCH bigger!

I also agree with someone else who said that HK should attract people outside in the international community. THere's a huge market in Southeast Asia alone. Australia would also be great as well as South Asia.

hkskyline

June 6th, 2006, 04:48 PM

You never know... IMO, I think it really depends on what Shanghai Disneyland has to offer. If its bigger, has newer/better attractions, etc., it will definately take away from Hong Kong. Just because the distance from Shanghai and Hong Kong is far away doesn't necessarily mean people closer will only visit their respective parks. Remember, all it takes is a plane/ train ticket and everything's set. Lots of Japanese, Germans, Spanish, British tourists visit Disney World even though there are parks closer to them such as Tokyo and Paris.

Hong Kong Disneyland may not be a "failure" yet but its anticipated attendance record is far above the actual attendance record. Mainland tourists will always be lining up in Hong Kong NOT because of Disneyland but because of HONG KONG. I don't think they come just to go to the themepark, but to visit the city. Whilst in the city, they just plan a trip there to get the "full experience".
It's not in Disney's best interests to create destructive competition among two of its parks, so I doubt the Shanghai project will be substantially better than HK, or vice versa.

Estimated attendance figures are oftentimes overly optimistic. This happened to the Airport Express and West Rail. However, that doesn't mean the project is a failure. The lineups and full house days are examples of Disneyland showing its attractiveness to tourists. This is one additional attraction that makes Hong Kong a great city to visit as a whole.

hkskyline

June 7th, 2006, 01:07 AM

迪士尼「雙重奇妙」延至九月
07/06/2006

【本報訊】香港迪士尼樂園開幕八個月，一直堅稱入場人數達滿意水平，但卻於三月份旅遊淡季時推出名為「雙重奇妙」門票優惠，以「買一送一」回饋香港居民，樂園昨日再宣布，有關優惠延長三個月。旅遊業界批評，迪士尼的做法實際作用不大，認為樂園若不再提升吸引力，很容易會被全新景點昂坪360取代。

迪士尼樂園昨日宣布，針對香港家庭而設的「雙重奇妙」優惠時間延長，遊客於三月二十日或之後購買樂園推出的雙重奇妙門票，第二次遊覽樂園的限期由本月二十八日伸延至九月二十八日，讓香港市民有更多時間選擇到樂園遊玩。凡持有香港身份證人士，於本月二十七日或以前購買及使用樂園門票，即可享有雙重奇妙優惠，旅客可憑樂園門票，選擇在另外一個日子免費重遊樂園，但優惠不適用於特別日子，如九月十二日樂園開幕周年日，旅客當日需要購買指定日子門票進場。迪士尼發言人亦提醒市民，由於七、八月均已定為貴價票的「指定日子」，因此遊客於暑假期間若持「平日」門票到訪樂園，需補回五十五元的差價。

料將被昂坪360取代
入境團旅行社協會主席吳光偉認為，以迪士尼目前的吸引力，不足以讓旅客於數個月內再次到訪建議樂園與旅行社合作，擴大銷售網絡，否則很快會被即將開幕的昂坪360新景點取代。http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

HongKongDisneyland

June 12th, 2006, 06:41 PM

香港迪士尼樂園努力跨越文化差異

http://chinese.wsj.com/photo/MK-AG478_DISNEY_20060611163808.jpg
http://chinese.wsj.com/photo/MK-AG474_DISNEY_20060611164020.jpg

香港迪士尼樂園(Hong Kong Disneyland)行政總裁安明智(Bill Ernest)在數月前為中國旅游業的代表們精心舉辦了一系列晚宴。他的任務是﹕找出這家樂園的問題－－什麼原因導致這家開張儘半年的樂園陷入參觀人數下降的窘境。

安明智得到了明確、肯定的回應﹕迪士尼在中國的影響不夠大。大家都知道迪士尼這個名字﹐卻沒有覺得有必要去它的主題公園參觀一下。安明智說﹕這讓我們一下學到了很多東西。

作為回應﹐華特-迪士尼公司(Walt Disney Co.)週一開始啟動一個大型市場營銷活動。香港迪士尼樂園今年夏天也明顯增加了廣告投放﹐特別是在電視廣告方面﹐以吸引更多遊客並使他們對主題公園有更加清晰的認識。迪士尼在公園內部也進行了很多調整﹐以使中國人能夠更好地理解他們所看到的東西﹐以前很多中國遊客在游覽過程中似乎疑惑多於快樂。

WPP Group PLC旗下的奧美集團(Ogilvy & Mather)中國區副董事長汪少傑(Joseph Wang)說﹕我們幾乎需要手把手地領著遊客﹐告訴他們從這些體驗中應該獲得怎樣的樂趣。奧美集團是迪士尼此次市場營銷活動的合作夥伴。

這次新營銷活動對於香港迪士尼樂園能否實現第一年560萬遊客的目標至關重要。在最近的一個業績會議中﹐迪士尼首席執行長羅伯特•伊格(Bob Iger)稱香港迪士尼樂園是公司的一個潛在問題﹐並指出了公園遊客人數出人意料地大幅波動、以及營銷活動低於平均市場水平等問題。由此得出的結論是﹕香港迪士尼樂園必須在今年夏天奪迴大片失地。

瞭解中國遊客從最開始對迪士尼來說就是一個大問題。迪士尼公園以及度假區總裁傑伊•拉蘇洛(Jay Rasulo)說﹕“與其他迪士尼樂園的遊客不同﹐中國大陸遊客（的腦子裏）對迪士尼並沒有深入地瞭解。”

香港迪士尼樂園現在承認﹐早期市場營銷活動不夠積極是他們當初的一個重大失誤。香港迪士尼今年夏天的營銷活動支出是到目前為止所有營銷費用的四倍。汪少傑說﹐最早的迪士尼廣告中有一個從直升機上拍攝的公園全景﹐而新廣告則更加強調個人體驗﹐並將清楚地闡述迪士尼所能提供的假日體驗。在一個電視廣告中﹐迪士尼展現了遊客體驗景點的影像﹐並伴有畫外音﹕這裡是一片神奇的土地﹐任何事情都可能發生－－茶杯會跳舞﹐大象會飛。而在其最新的平面廣告上﹐展現的是這樣的畫面﹕外婆、媽媽和女儿每個人戴著一頂王冠游覽迪士尼樂園。

所傳遞的信息是使你的夢想化為現實﹐並且與家人一同分享這種經歷﹐使家人關係更緊密﹐汪少傑說。他還說﹐由於中國的等級觀念﹐家長和孩子之間的關係通常都很緊張。“我們想表達的是﹕放鬆一下沒什麼不好。”

但問題是這些活動傳遞的信息能否真正得到認同。比如一些廣告繼續採用一對父母加兩個孩子的核心家庭模式﹐在一個只允許生一個孩子的國家中採取這種模式本身可能就是個錯誤。

同時香港迪士尼樂園的“顧客行為研究人員們”正在關注中國遊客進入樂園後會產生的一些問題。他們在樂園內四處觀察﹐必要時還用秒表測量。他們發現中國遊客用餐時間比美國遊客平均長10分鐘﹐於是他們在就餐區域增加了700多個座位。還有一個變化﹕在體驗過山車的太空山(Space Mountain)前面增加警示信息（在貼出警示之前﹐一位不瞭解情況的遊客乘坐後出現了身體不適）。

另一個改變是在排隊方面。在香港迪士尼樂園的“森林河流之旅”(Jungle Cruise)景點前面﹐有三個不同的隊列﹐每隊的解說所使用的語言不同﹐這樣所有的遊客就可以聽到用母語講解的內容。但講普通話的遊客總是喜歡跑到英語隊列那邊﹐因為那個隊伍人總是相對少一些。這些遊客總想快點到最前面－－最終卻被英語導游的講解搞得滿頭霧水。雖然迪士尼一直的做法是讓所有隊伍交替前進﹐這樣就沒有隊列能夠比其他隊列前進地更快﹐但他們現在也開始在不同的隊列旁增加標識﹐明確告知遊客轉到其他的隊列後前進速度不會有任何差別。

除了增加普通話向導外﹐迪士尼還補充了很多普通話的閱讀材料﹐並在“獅子王的慶典”(Festival of the Lion King)以及“米奇金獎音樂劇”(Golden Mickeys)等演出中增加了普通話字幕﹐因為他們注意到觀眾總是無法理解很多好笑和精彩的部分。

“字幕非常有用﹐”現年34歲、來自浙江的金融工作者盧明（音）說﹐她最近和丈夫參加旅游團游覽了迪士尼樂園。不過﹐很其他許多人一樣﹐她也抱怨稱﹕這個公園太小了﹐比我們省裏的公園都小。我們家鄉有很多（主題）公園﹐這裡根本沒有什麼更令我們興奮的地方。

香港迪士尼樂園建在竹蒿灣的一塊通過填海形成的土地上﹐是全球最小的迪士尼樂園。安明智說﹐總體規劃是﹕在接下來的四至五年內﹐將樂園規模擴大至可容納1,000萬遊客的水平。一期將繼續推出三個新游樂場－－馳車天地(Autopia), 幸會史迪仔(Stitch Encounter)（根據迪士尼動畫片《星際寶貝》(Lilo & Stitch)創造的動畫電子遊戲設施）、以及戲水區Cool地帶(Cool Zone)。迪士尼還準備將小小世界(It's a Small World)游船項目在2007年夏天增加到幻想世界(Fantasyland)中。

旅行社表示﹐迪士尼終於開始傾听別人的意見了。中國大陸遊客主要是通過旅行社前往香港迪士尼樂園游玩的。“最開始他們就是那種根本不願瞭解當地市場以及中國文化的美國人﹐”中國國際旅行社(China International Travel Service)東南亞業務部經理、最近與安明智會面的旅行社代表之一劉英浩（音）說。“之後他們吸取了教訓﹐開始聽取大家的意見。我們已經進行了一些積極的討論。”

Merissa Marr / Geoffrey A. Fowler

Source : WSJ (http://chinese.wsj.com/big5/20060612/ffe191533.asp?page=article_front_big5_ffe) (chinese)

dannykylaw

June 12th, 2006, 07:16 PM

香港迪士尼樂園一定要建設多類型遊戲設施、及拡大面積、否則非常難吸引遊客入場。
鬼屋、蒸気船、鉱山車等等、香港迪士尼樂園也没有的。我実在有点失望！
香港迪士尼樂園的最大問題是、没有置身在夢幻/神秘楽園的感覚。
脱離了現実進入夢幻是我們想得到的感覚。建設小小世界是不錯的決定。
希望香港迪士尼樂園会好快輿美国、日本等迪士尼同様好玩。

hkskyline

June 18th, 2006, 07:09 AM

Monday, May. 08, 2006
Disney's Hong Kong Headache
The launch of its new theme park got off to a rocky start, but Disney's still got an appetite for the China market
BY MICHAEL SCHUMAN

http://img.timeinc.net/time/asia/magazine/2006/0515/micky.jpg

Disneyland is supposed to be "The Happiest Place on Earth," but Liang Ning isn't too happy. The engineer brought his family to Disney's new theme park in Hong Kong from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou one Saturday in April with high hopes, but by day's end, he was less than spellbound. "I wanted to forget the world and feel like I was in a fairytale," he says. Instead, he complains, "it's just not big enough" and "not very different from the amusement parks we have" in China. His seven-year-old daughter Yaqin disagrees, calling the park "fantastic," but her father grumbles: "If she wants to come again, "I'll send her with somebody else."

Hong Kong's Magic Kingdom has so far been a little short on magic. The $1.8 billion theme park, which opened last September, was touted by Disney executives as its biggest, boldest effort to build its brand in China, a potentially vast new market for its toys, dvds and movies. The Hong Kong government—which aggressively wooed Disney and is the park's majority owner"hoped Disneyland would help secure the city's reputation as one of Asia's top tourist destinations. However, the conservative approach of Disney and its partner has produced a pint-sized park that so far hasn't matched visitors' lofty expectations. Hong Kong Disneyland has a mere 16 attractions—only one a classic Disney thrill ride, Space Mountain—compared to 52 at Disneyland Resort Paris. Meanwhile, management glitches involving everything from ticketing to employee relations have further tarnished the venture's image. In a recent survey conducted by Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 70% of the local residents polled said they had a more negative opinion of Disneyland since its opening. "Disney knows the theme-park business, but when it comes to understanding the Chinese guest, it's an entirely new ball game," says John Ap, an associate professor at the university's School of Hotel and Tourism Management.

Nonetheless, Disney executives insist the park is on track. Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, says: "I feel great about how Hong Kong Disneyland is doing." Disney's own surveys of park visitors show an 80% satisfaction rate, among the highest of any of the company's parks, says Rasulo: "People feel this is a great experience."

The Burbank, California, headquartered company knows what it is talking about; it welcomed its 2 billionth visitor last week. And it is no stranger to tempestuous beginnings at an international park, at times caused by imposing a very American sensibility on foreign guests. When Disneyland Paris opened in 1992, Disney famously banned wine from park restaurants, much to the dismay of European bons vivants. In Hong Kong, Disney went out of its way to tailor the park to local tastes. Its "imagineers" installed Main Street's first Chinese eatery, along with Fantasy Gardens where Mickey Mouse, local favorite Mulan and other Disney characters reside so tourists can readily snap pictures with them—a priority for many Chinese visitors. Ironically, Disney's most high-profile stumble resulted from being too local. When executives decided to serve shark-fin soup, a Hong Kong favorite, environmentalists howled and Disney ignominiously yanked it from the menu.

Another embarrassment came over the Lunar New Year holiday beginning in January, a popular vacation time in China. Disney neglected to block off the entire week as "special days" for which visitors required specific tickets. Tourists with valid tickets got turned away at the front gates after the park quickly filled up; the jilted travelers screamed at park employees, while TV cameras filmed one family trying to pass a child over the fence. Henry Tang, the city's Financial Secretary, voiced concern that this disarray "might affect the image of Hong Kong's tourism industry." Bill Ernest, Hong Kong Disneyland's managing director, says the company "had no idea" that demand would spike so sharply at that time and adds that Disney has since expanded the number of "special days" to improve crowd control during holidays: "We don't make the same mistake twice."

Disney has also strained its relationship with Chinese travel agencies, which play a crucial role in funneling tourists into the park. Victor Yu Limin, a general manager at China CYTS Outbound Travel Service in Beijing, complains that Disney originally demanded several weeks' notice when the agency wanted to reserve a guaranteed number of rooms"a nearly impossible deadline, he says, as Chinese travelers often don't finalize trips more than a few days in advance. Agents also say they make so little money organizing Disneyland trips that they don't have any incentive to market the park. Disney has tried to improve its ties to travel agents by, for example, boosting the commission they earn on selling tickets and reducing the advance notice needed to secure hotel bookings. "We're listening to everything they have to say and adjusting where we can," says Josh D'Amaro, Hong Kong Disneyland's vice president for sales and travel-trade marketing. But, Yu says, Disney is "still far from understanding the real market in China. They started off doing business the American way, so they have encountered problems."

Some workers assigned to play the parts of supposedly cheery characters like Mickey and Tigger have also complained. In April, the Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members' Union made public a litany of gripes over poor pay, excessive work hours and, most of all, the sweltering conditions inside their costumes. Disney counters that the complaints are an "inaccurate representation" of the work environment at the park, that staffers have been granted extra rest days beyond those mandated by their contracts, and that their costumes are no different to those worn at its hot park in Florida.

Given the complexity of the Hong Kong operation, such "teething pains" are hardly surprising, says Rasulo. What may be tougher to solve, though, are the yawns the miniature park is generating among tourists. Rasulo says the park wasn't built on a grand scale because the Chinese didn't grow up with Disney and don't know the characters as well as Americans and Europeans do, which acts as a constraint on its potential audience. Ernest calls it a "great introductory park." They also point out that the company plans to keep adding new attractions at Hong Kong Disneyland, including an updated version of Disney's classic Autopia racing game, scheduled to open this summer. The government is reclaiming land on an adjoining site to expand the park further. But James Zoltak, editor of Amusement Business, a trade magazine for the theme-park industry, says Disney isn't moving quickly enough: it needs to "get on a crash course in terms of expansion. The rate of building it up has to be swifter than anything they've done at any of their parks."

While Ernest concedes that attendance is "a little behind" expectations, Disney is sticking to its target of 5.6 million guests in its first year. To hit these numbers, Disney is running aggressive promotions. Last month, the park offered free tickets for 50,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers, says Susan Chan, Hong Kong Disneyland's director of publicity, so they "can experience the Disney magic themselves [and] better share it with their passengers." And even if attendance lags for a while, Disney says the park is already benefiting its other businesses in Asia. Andy Bird, president of Walt Disney International, says there's been "a noticeable lift in our brand and character awareness" in China since the park's opening—for example, sales of Buzz Lightyear merchandise have jumped, in part because the character features in Disneyland's popular Astro Blasters ride. David Miller, an analyst at investment-banking firm Sanders Morris Harris in Los Angeles, agrees: "Hong Kong Disneyland has been a solid success in terms of opening up the brand in China."

Indeed, Disney continues to bet that its long-range investment plans in China will pay off, regardless of the recent headaches in Hong Kong. The firm is still in talks with Chinese officials about opening a mainland theme park, possibly in Shanghai, says Rasulo. "Have we made some mistakes?" he asks. "Absolutely. We are in a brand-new market. We have to keep listening and keep learning." Restoring Tinkerbell's health only requires a round of applause, but Hong Kong Disneyland will need a bit more work.

With reporting by Jeffrey Ressner/Los Angeles and Jodi Xu/Beijing

From TIME Asia Magazine, issue dated May 8, 2006 Vol. 167, No. 18

hkskyline

June 21st, 2006, 04:42 AM

Hong Kong Disneyland hiring up to 300 temporary staff ahead of peak summer season
20 June 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong Disneyland is hiring 200 to 300 temporary staff to help cater to anticipated strong demand during the theme park's first summer season here, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The new employees will be assigned to food and drinks outlets, merchandise sales and park operations and be paid an hourly rate of HK$40-HK$50 (US$5.2-US$6.4; euro4.13-euro5.08), Hong Kong Disneyland spokeswoman Glendy Chu said.

"It's our first summer here and we anticipate high demand," she said.

The theme park, which now employs about 5,000 people, has said it counts on a larger number of visitors during July and August to counter lagging attendance since it opened in September.

Hong Kong Disneyland aims to attract 5.6 million visitors a year. It has not disclosed its attendance figures, saying they are commercially sensitive information.

hkth

June 21st, 2006, 08:50 AM

RTHK news:
HK Disney's MD upbeat that visitor numbers will peak this summer 2006-06-21 HKT 08:08

The Managing Director of Hong Kong Disneyland, Bill Ernest, is optimistic that visitor numbers to the theme park will peak this summer. Speaking after a function, he said with new attractions opening next month, he hopes visitor numbers will climb. Mr Ernest said he would not step down if the park failed to reach its target of 5.6 million visitors in the first year of its operations.

hkskyline

June 27th, 2006, 05:33 AM

Summer passes for Disneyland
27 June 2006
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong Disneyland is introducing a summer pass to help boost attendance figures.

The summer pass will cost adults $450, children $320 and senior citizens $270 and allows guests unlimited visits to the theme park from July 1 to September 28.

"We're excited to be celebrating our first summer in Hong Kong and invite everyone to experience the magic of Hong Kong Disneyland with us," the park's managing director, Bill Ernest, said.

The promotion comes after attendance at Disneyland had fallen short of expectations, according to a source close to the theme park.

The source said last month that the park needed a strong showing this summer to meet its first-year target of 5.6 million visitors.

Local travel industry members have estimated that only 1.64 million people visited the park between its opening last September and May - a daily average of 7,000, compared to a daily average of more than 12,000 for Ocean Park.

The summer pass will be available from June 28 until September 27 at the park's main entrance ticket windows, Hong Kong Station and on the park's website.

The park has suffered a spate of incidents since opening, including a holiday ticketing debacle and management difficulties.

LordCarnal

July 6th, 2006, 06:17 PM

Some pics from my visit last year..

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/Hongkong/hk05.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/Hongkong/hk06.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/Hongkong/hk07.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/Hongkong/hk08.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/Hongkong/hk12.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/Hongkong/hk14.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/Hongkong/hk15.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/Hongkong/hk18.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/Hongkong/hk20.jpg

samsonyuen

July 9th, 2006, 07:27 PM

Looks nice, I've been to the two in the US, but haven't been to any other. When do the expansion phases begin?

hkskyline

July 11th, 2006, 05:55 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland Gets Set to Drive to the Future on July 13
Three new family attractions to offer more magic in Tomorrowland
Corporate Press Release

(HONG KONG, July 3, 2006) - Hong Kong Disneyland announced today that guests will soon experience more magic this summer as the Park unveils three new attractions in Tomorrowland - Autopia, Stitch Encounter and UFO Zone.

From July 13, 2006, guests will be able to cruise along the highways of tomorrow in innovative electric cars in Autopia, talk in real time with the mischievous blue alien, Stitch, in an intimate theatre at Stitch Encounter, and cool off from the summer heat with the water spraying and squirting UFO Zone.

A region-wide advertising campaign will provide a taste of the magic in store for guests at Tomorrowland from July 4.

READY TO ROLL: Buzz Lightyear, who makes regular meet-and-greet and photo appearances with guests in Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland, watches closely as cast members (Disney parlance for employees) put the final touches on the convertible scale model cars at Autopia, the newest Tomorrowland attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Buzz Lightyear, who stars in the adjacent attraction, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, is the popular character made famous in "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2," both Walt Disney Pictures presentations of Pixar Animation Studios films.

Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland has been expanded this summer with the addition of Autopia, Stitch Encounter and UFO Zone. The three attractions will open to guests July 13, 2006.

STITCH SPOTS HIS NEW HOME AT HONG KONG DISNEYLAND: The tiny and talkative alien known as "Stitch" spots the gleaming spires of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Hong Kong Disneyland on his space cruiser's radar screen.

With the help of young park guests, the animated Stitch sets the coordinates of his spaceship for a "landing" in Tomorrowland as he prepares for the July 13, 2006 Grand Opening of his new attraction, Stitch Encounter.

The blue alien, who debuted in Disney's hit animated comedy "Lilo & Stitch," stars in the new cutting-edge attraction where park guests, seated in an intimate theatre, carry on real-time conversations with the famous animated character.

The jaw-dropping technology allows for Disney fun like never before - Guests visiting the Space Traffic Control Center discover Stitch, aka "Experiment 626," tuned in on the Center's massive video screen. Stitch can talk to guests, play games and interact with them in surprising new ways. Stitch Encounter will be presented daily in three languages - Cantonese, English and Putonghua.

Hong Kong Disneyland is the first and only Disney theme park in the world where guests can experience Stitch Encounter.

SPLASH-TASTIC FUN: An alien oasis in the heart of Tomorrowland, the new UFO Zone (which stands for "Unbelievably Fun Objects") delights Hong Kong Disneyland guests amidst a futuristic spaceport where keeping cool is the number one rule. Water-full good times are always on tap whether guests want to get soaked or just enjoy a little sprinkling to keep cool from the Hong Kong sun.

Bathed in bright colors, UFO Zone is an interactive, alien landscape replete with splash-tastic fun bursting from water pop jets, bubblers, misters, thrusters and quirky squirters. Outer space sound effects combine with water effects to provide even more H2O-hijinks.

UFO Zone is just one part of a Tomorrowland expansion taking place at Hong Kong Disneyland. In addition, guests this summer are able to enjoy new attractions including Autopia, an outer space-themed, automobile driving attraction and Stitch Encounter, an intimate theatre featuring an immersive adventure into the wacky world of the tiny blue alien, Experiment 626, aka Stitch.

hkskyline

July 12th, 2006, 04:01 PM

HK Disneyland exec expresses confidence about hitting 1-year attendance target
By SYLVIA HUI
12 July 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - A Hong Kong Disneyland executive Wednesday said he was confident the theme park would hit its one-year attendance target of 5.6 million as the park unveiled new attractions aimed at boosting visitor numbers ahead of its first anniversary on Sept. 12.

Asked about the visitor number goal at the press briefing, Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest said, "I don't worry about that."

"We're thrilled that business is picking up. Summer is already looking very promising," Ernest said, noting that a ticketing scheme launched two weeks ago that allows unlimited entry to the park between July and September has been well received.

"If the last couple of months have been any indication, we are really off to a solid start," he said.

Ernest had said earlier visitor figures had been lower than expected, but that the final one-year attendance figure also depends on the park's performance during the peak summer months of July and August.

Hong Kong Disneyland's one-year report card will be closely watched because it is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the local government, with Hong Kong taxpayers shouldering most of the US$3.5 billion (€2.75 billion) construction cost.

The Hong Kong government is counting on the park to turn the city into a hub for family tourism. The park so far hasn't released attendance figures, saying the data is commercially sensitive.

In a bid too lift summer attendance, Hong Kong Disneyland has expanded its Tomorrowland section.

The new attractions include Autopia, a three-track driving attraction featuring electric vehicles and Stitch Encounter, a theater show that allows audiences to interact with the "Lilo & Stitch" character with Disney's interactive animation technology.

A third, UFO Zone, is a space-themed attraction that sprays and squirts water to help visitors cool down in Hong Kong's sweltering summer heat. The attractions were due to open to the public Thursday.

The park has also stepped up marketing in neighboring mainland China, where locals are less familiar with Disney characters than in Westernized Hong Kong.

hkskyline

July 12th, 2006, 08:59 PM

Disney considers annual pass idea
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Thursday, July 13, 2006

Hong Kong Disneyland might issue annual passes later this year after the success of its unlimited entry summer passes, the theme park's chief says.

Disney managing director Bill Ernest said Wednesday the summer passes have been very popular since the their introduction a fortnight ago.

"We are very pleased. It exceeds our expectation," Ernest added, without saying how many of the special passes had been sold.

Disneyland will now consider annual passes but this still depends on the overall success of the summer pass program, he said.

Ernest was speaking at the opening of the theme park's three latest attractions - Autopia, Stitch Encounter and UFO Zone.

The Autopia attraction employs 60 two-seat cars in a four-minute ride.

Stitch Encounter is an interactive cartoon show lasting 12 minutes that accommodates 120 participants per show.

UFO Zone, introduced with summer in mind, features water games.

Tim Delaney, vice president and executive designer of Walt Disney Imagineering, said the three new attractions took two years to conceive, design and install. "Autopia is suitable for families, even children," he said.

"It is based on the original Autopia ride that opened at California Disney in 1955."

One five-year-old boy said he liked the attractions very much.

"I found Autopia a lot of fun, I can drive here and I love to drive," he said.

His mother, however, said: "For adults, of course, it's just too slow."

Delaney said Hong Kong Disneyland plans to introduce more exciting rides in future, although Ernest declined to give a fixed date.

"We will announce our next expansion in the very near future," he said. "It will be a big surprise."

Honda Motors, an official sponsor of Autopia, will extend its alliance with Disney in future, Honda public relations division general manager Masaya Nagai said.

Honda's humanoid robot, ASIMO, was given its own theater at California Disney in June to mark the theme park's 50th birthday, Nagai said.

The company will discuss with Disney the possibility of bringing ASIMO to Hong Kong Disneyland, Nagai added.

hkskyline

July 31st, 2006, 05:51 AM

Disneyland 'predicts 500,000 shortfall'
31 July 2006
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong Disneyland is forecasting a potential attendance shortfall of about 500,000 in its first-year target of 5.6 million, according to sources close to finance and public relations staff at the theme park.

"Whatever the result of our first year, Hong Kong Disneyland is here for the long term. We are rooted in Hong Kong and we are part of the Hong Kong community now," said a spokesman, who added it was company policy not to disclose or discuss attendance figures.

The projection comes as the theme park gears up for the final two months of its first year of operation with hopes of an attendance boost from tourists and a strong summer showing. Average daily attendance so far this summer was between 13,000 and 14,000, said an operations source, half of the park's capacity of 28,000.

A pass offering unlimited visits during the summer break was launched on July 1 and sales have been higher than expected.

"We have taken into account the local seasonality and travel patterns of each region and are working to adapt our summer marketing and sales strategies to continue to build up attendance," the spokesman said.

Internally, before the theme park opened last September, Hong Kong Disneyland had forecast first-year attendance of 6.4 million, finance sources said. This is a daily average of about 18,000. But 5.6 million is the present forecast.

The launch of three new attractions at Disneyland about two weeks ago does not change its licensed capacity, which is partly based on washroom and toilet facilities.

The government confirmed the park is licensed to handle a maximum of 28,000 people at any one time. But during the Lunar New Year holiday, when the theme park was forced to shut its gates to visitors after quickly selling out, there were crowds of up to 36,000, the sources said.

"As the expansion of the theme park progresses, the handling capacity will also increase," an Economic Development and Labour Bureau spokesman said.

HongKongDisneyland

August 7th, 2006, 07:19 PM

香港迪士尼樂園

迪士尼擬推年票最貴1600元
籌辦6節日活動「谷客」

http://www.mingpaonews.com/20060807/_07gg004_.jpg

今個暑假推出450元的「夏日通行證」，可說是迪士尼樂園稍後推出年票的試金石，近日樂園門外都有約十名調查員（左一），諮詢遊客對推出全年通行證的意見。（李向琳攝）

http://www.mingpaonews.com/20060807/07gga.gif

【明報專訊】下月便開幕一周年的香港迪士尼樂園，正積極部署未來一年的「谷客」大計。據知，樂園有意推出不同類型的全年通行證，初步擬定價格由375至1600元﹔樂園亦計劃由10月舉辦萬聖節節慶起，在未來一年舉行6個節日活動，吸引旅客多次入場。樂園近日向賓客進行問卷調查，測試這些招數的吸引力。

香港迪士尼樂園發言人表示，早前樂園行政總裁安明智說，會視乎市場對暑假無限次入園的「夏日通行證」反應，考慮推出全年通行證，故樂園現在蒐集市場資料及賓客、旅遊業界意見作分析，暫時未有任何時間表或票價水平建議。

調查員樂園門外蒐意見

近日傍晚，都有一批由迪士尼委派的調查員在樂園門外，訪問離開的賓客，了解他們對樂園擬推出年票及不同節日活動的興趣。

有曾接受訪問的市民表示，問卷的內容相當詳細，調查員起初先了解賓客曾入園的次數，及來自什麼地方等，之後調查員翻出一個表格，內裏詳列樂園擬推出「通行證」票價，諮詢受訪者是否有興趣購買。

任玩年票入園5次始回本

按照問卷內容，迪士尼擬推出3種價格由375至1600元的通行證，包括只適用於周一至周五的「平日通行證」、不包括部分「特別日子」的「假日通行證」，以及全年365天任入園的「全年通行證」，成人票價由650至1600元(見右附表)。

以現時295元的成人一日門票(平日)計算，若購買最便宜的650元的「平日通行證」，一年入園3次便有賺﹔若購買全年入園任玩的「全年通行證」，則最少要入園5次(以指定日子門票350元計算)才有數。

附送酒店食店交通優惠

迪士尼似乎有意仿效美國迪士尼樂園的做法，向通行證持有人提供多項優惠。在訪問期間，調查員又受訪賓客為不同優惠的吸引力打分，在訪問中提及的優惠包括︰獲贈限量版迪士尼襟章及掛飾、樂園酒店房租八折、園內食店九折、九折乘地鐵往迪士尼、樂園免費泊車、可同時取得多個遊樂設施的「快證」(Fastpass)，以及獲安排與米奇老鼠等迪士尼朋友見面及拍照等。

調查員及後再翻出樂園未來一年的6個特備節日活動計劃，了解這些活動會否增加受訪者入園的興趣。據他們的諮詢內容，首個特別慶祝節日是10月的萬聖節，其餘包括聖誕節、農曆新年、春節及夏日特備節目等，其間一班迪士尼朋友將會穿著不同服飾與賓客見面。

明報記者梁美儀

HongKongDisneyland

August 7th, 2006, 07:23 PM

.....
海洋公園年票入場3次回本

【明報專訊】最高1600元一張的迪士尼全年任玩門票，是否物有所值﹖

迪士尼的調查問卷中，也有詢問受訪者有沒有購買「對手」海洋公園的年票。現時海洋公園推出的「智紛全年入場證」，成人票價由375元至495元，兒童票價則為188至250元。以成人一日票價185元計算，不論是持有只可在平日入場的「銀卡」，抑或是全年任玩的「金卡」持有人，一年入場3次便可「回本」。從「回本」角度看，將來迪士尼樂園的「假日通行證」及「全年通行證」持有人，或許要更密密入園才划算。

李華明促公布下一輪擴建

其實推全年通行證是迪士尼樂園的慣常做法，不論是美國、日本的迪士尼度假區，都有推出全年通行證。純粹從價格水平來說，香港的自然較便宜，但美國、日本的迪士尼度假區都包括2個或4個主題公園，香港則暫只有1個主題公園。

民主黨消費者權益政策發言人兼立法會議員李華明認為，若全年通行證的最高門票定價1600元，可能是「貴了一點」，必須要同時提供酒店、園內飲食及消費折扣等優惠，方有足夠吸引力。他認為，樂園推出全年通行證一定有助增加入場人數，但效力有多大，關鍵仍是樂園內的設施及節目是否具足夠吸引力，令市民及旅客有興趣一玩再玩，故樂園在上月開放3個新遊樂設施後，應盡快公布下一輪的擴建項目。他又樂園交代暑假期間推出、3個月內任玩的「夏日通行證」的市場反應。

hkskyline

August 8th, 2006, 05:13 AM

Disney in birthday gift to SAR
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Disney is planning to bring its special brand of magic to the city next month as part of the theme park's first anniversary celebrations.

Susan Chan Shou-shan, publicity director of Hong Kong Disneyland, said that instead of only holding programs and events inside the theme park, Disney is considering a series of celebrations, such as carnivals and lucky draws, in some busy spots in the city.

"Victoria Park in Causeway Bay is one of our options," Chan said, noting that it will be a celebration throughout the month, not just one day.

Unlike the grand opening ceremony last year, which dignitaries including Vice President Zeng Qinghong and Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam- kuen attended, Chan said the theme park will not invite political figures for the birthday celebrations.

"These events are aimed at thanking local residents for their support. We are still considering many options and working out the details," Chan said.

Hong Kong Disneyland opened on September 12 last year. The theme park had been expecting 5.6 million visitors to have attended by the time of its first anniversary. However, Disney managing director Bill Ernest said earlier that attendances were lagging behind the projected figures.

Chan said visitor numbers have been increasing by up to 30 percent since this summer started, but there is still a challenge to hit the projection.

An unlimited visitor summer pass introduced last month has helped contribute to the rise, Chan said, noting "the summer pass has been well- received."

Summer pass holders are now able to take advantage of extended operating hours and meet with Disney characters in Fantasyland exclusively, Chan said.

The theme park is considering introducing annual passes ranging in price from HK$375-HK$1,600.

Democratic party lawmaker Fred Li Wah-ming does not expect Disney to reach its first year attendance target.

"It really needs to attract more tourists by expanding and adding more attractions as soon as possible," he said.

samsonyuen

August 10th, 2006, 09:44 PM

From: http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/060810/1/42pke.html
______________
Friday August 11, 12:18 AM
Shanghai ready to build 3.75-billion-dollar Disney park

Shanghai has begun to prepare for a 3.75-billion-dollar Disney theme park, an official said, signaling the city is confident it can win the central government's approval for the complex.

"Everything is in the stages of early preparation," said an official with the city's planning and construction department surnamed Tang.

"We are awaiting for the approval from the State Council (cabinet)."

Asked to confirm media reports that the project was expected to cost 30 billion yuan (3.75 billion dollars), Tang replied: "Yes."

Tang refused to provided more details but media reports have said authorities had identified a 14.25-square-kilometre (5.7-square-mile) site that was four times the size of the Disneyland opened last year in Hong Kong.

Officials have a detailed plan that includes the construction of a subway line, expressways and a link to Pudong international airport, the China Daily said.

It also said that the government had begun relocating residents in the area, a claim which city officials vigorously denied.

"The relocation report is nonsense," said Ma Xuejie, vice director of the press office with the Pudong government.

In March, the mayor of the city of 17 million people acknowledged for the first time it was seeking to build a Disney park.

Hong Kong and mainland media have repeatedly reported that Shanghai hoped to start construction of the theme park in 2008 but Disney has insisted that any potential deal would not come before 2010.

Disney was not immediately available for comment Thursday.

Sexas

August 10th, 2006, 10:17 PM

^^ I have a feeling SH will have a Disney World and Hong Kong's one stay as Disneyland :( Is it little too fast since HK one don't even close to 50% done yet, it still have two more hotel, one more park and a huge shopping area need to build.

Rachmaninov

August 11th, 2006, 10:41 AM

The HK Disney will decline if it doesn't quickly finish the second phase I guess...

Travis007

August 11th, 2006, 08:19 PM

Here's the pics from my visit to HK Disneyland:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/DSC00411.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/DSC00417.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/DSC00421.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/DSC00422.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/DSC00424.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/DSC00457.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/DSC00458.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/936c98e0.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/8a73dedf.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/db00874e.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/ef369734.jpg

raymond_tung88

August 11th, 2006, 09:33 PM

Disneyland doesn't look very busy. When you went, did you have to wait long for the rides?

Also, are they planning on building the second park soon? Any clue as to what the theme is (waterpark, etc.)?

Rachmaninov

August 13th, 2006, 06:34 PM

Cool man. So that's you and your ... brother?

hkskyline

August 30th, 2006, 05:45 AM

HK Disney top park for keeping staff
26 August 2006
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong Disneyland has topped other Disney parks with its record for staff retention during the first year of operation, although it has lost nearly 20 per cent of workers.

The park's director of learning and development, Christine Wong Siu-ping, said: "A lot of our workforce joined us as fresh graduates, so after a while some of them go back to their studies, while some found other jobs closer to their homes {hellip} it may also be due to the hot weather in the summer."

Disney's latest figures, ending July 31, show that the retention rate of the 5,000 staff who joined the park since its opening last September stood at slightly more than 80 per cent, down from 90 per cent in February. The park, however, would not reveal its turnover rate, which differs from the retention rate as the former reflects the number of staff movements over a certain period of time, instead of the number remaining from a certain batch of workers. Unionists claim many cast members have left after suffering occupational diseases caused by the heavy costumes they have to wear. Disney's public relations team has also undergone a major reshuffle recently.

The city has seen more people changing jobs as the economy continues to improve. The latest quarterly manpower survey by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management shows the overall turnover rate for the first three months jumped to 2.97 per cent, up from 2.33 per cent in the previous quarter.

Ms Wong said another reason for the departures could stem from a clash between Disney and traditional Chinese culture.

"Disney promotes excellent service concept, but traditional Chinese concept may think a job that serving others is a bit humbling," she said.

In a Disney character quiz the theme park imposed on job seekers before its opening, the average respondent answered only three questions correctly out of 10 - far behind the 8.5-point average recorded in the United States.

"Unlike the Americans, who grow up with Disney characters, Hong Kong people may be more familiar with Japanese animation and comics," Ms Wong said.

Hong Kong Disneyland's visitors, most of whom are mainlanders, has also posed a challenge.

"Before opening, we prepared our staff to handle challenging situations like spitting and smoking, but it turned out the challenges did not quite meet our expectations," Ms Wong said.

These included queue-jumping incidents that had required crowd-control measures. Some mainland visitors climbed over the gate during the Lunar New Year holiday in February when the park was full.

In an effort to retain talented employees, Disney said it had raised pay just a few months after a general pay rise of 2 to 5 per cent in February.

hkskyline

September 4th, 2006, 07:11 AM

HK Disney considers annual pass on US lines
4 September 2006
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong Disneyland is expected to launch a multi-tier annual pass, offering different levels of benefits, as part of the theme park's first anniversary celebrations, sources close to Disney's finance department say.

The annual pass will probably be modelled after Disney's programme in the US, where passholders get up to 365 days of theme park admission and three or four tiers of discounts and benefits to choose from.

But although the US industry standard for pricing annual passes is 2.5 times the price of a one-day adult ticket, Hong Kong Disneyland is aiming much higher.

The finance department is looking to price the premier-level pass, which has no blackout dates and full privileges, at no less than HK$2,450, or seven times a one-day adult admission, the sources say.

An "expert" in annual passes has been brought in from Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for a six-month stint to help launch the annual pass in Hong Kong.

"We are looking at the annual pass offering," a Hong Kong Disneyland spokesman said. "We are collecting market information and have conducted a survey to gauge public opinion. There is no timetable and no details on the introduction of an annual pass. We will study the data collected."

A summer pass was launched on July 1, offering unlimited visits during the school holidays for HK$450, just HK$100 more than a one-day adult admission. The season pass, which the sources said was used to test the waters for an annual pass, proved popular, with better-than-expected sales, the theme park said.

"They were smart to introduce a summer pass, which has a limited life. The question is what will happen after summer and whether the pass is a one-off deal or will be extended," Polytechnic University tourism associate professor John Ap said.

hkth

September 4th, 2006, 03:12 PM

From news.gov.hk:
5 million visit Disneyland (http://news.gov.hk/en/category/businessandfinance/060904/html/060904en03005.htm)

Rachmaninov

September 4th, 2006, 04:57 PM

I couldn't believe that 85% of the visitors are satisfied with it!

hkskyline

September 7th, 2006, 06:34 AM

Hong Kong Disneyland falls short of 5.6 million visitor target in 1st year
By WILLIAM FOREMAN
4 September 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong Disneyland missed its target of 5.6 million visitors in its first year as the park had "teething problems" while trying to attract masses of tourists from mainland China's booming economy, an executive said.

The park has been extremely secretive about its attendance figures since it opened last Sept. 12. There has been wide speculation that it was struggling to meet its conservative attendance goal.

Bill Ernest, the park's managing director, told reporters at a first-year review briefing on Monday that Disneyland would meet its target later in September or in early October.

"We have well exceeded the 5 million figure already," said Ernest, who repeatedly declined to provide an exact figure.

Ernest said the attendance figure included people who visited the park on "familiarization tours" using free or discounted tickets. He said these people made up a small percentage of the overall visitors, but he wouldn't provide a figure.

The executive also wouldn't provide specific information about revenue or net profit. "I think we are on solid financial footing," he said without elaborating.

Hong Kong Disneyland and its two resort hotels are surrounded by mountains on lush Lantau Island, just 30 minutes away by subway from central Hong Kong. The park is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the local government, and local taxpayers paid most of the US$3.5 billion construction cost.

The park marked the U.S. company's biggest push into the Chinese market. The strategy was to lure the growing number of Chinese who can afford to travel to Hong Kong.

Ernest acknowledged that Disneyland has had difficulty trying to figure out the mainland market.

"Like all new ventures, there have been teething problems and adjustments," he said.

He said the park learned that guests demanded more flexibility and choices, especially when it came to tickets. They also wanted more special events, he said, and the park plans to launch new promotions for Halloween, Christmas and Chinese New Year.

Ernest said many of the Chinese tourists didn't understand the park's themes because they didn't grow up with Disney characters and stories. He said Disneyland was preparing a "pre-show" that visitors could watch after they enter the park. The show, between 10 minutes and 15 minutes, would explain "how the stories and characters knit together," he said.

The 5.6 million attendance figure was a conservative estimate because it was made in 2002 when mainland Chinese could only visit Hong Kong in tour groups. The regulation was relaxed in 2003 when the tourists were allowed to come on their own. That change led to a big jump in arrivals from the mainland -- Hong Kong's biggest source of tourists.

Ernest said Monday that the number of Chinese tourists at Disneyland traveling as individuals exceeded those in tour groups.

He said the summer months saw the best attendance, with between 20,000 and 30,000 visitors on any given day in July and August. In recent weeks about 50 percent of the guests were from mainland China, he said.

hkskyline

September 12th, 2006, 06:23 PM

Tuesday September 12, 2:50 PM
Hong Kong Disneyland Marks Anniversary

AP - Hong Kong Disneyland marked its first anniversary Tuesday, overshadowed by poorer-than-expected visitor figures, bad publicity and chaos at the gates.

Braving heavy rain, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy helped piece together a large puzzle that resembled a birthday cake, surrounded by park workers waving large Mickey-style gloves. Pop star Jacky Cheung, a celebrity spokesman for the park, applauded.

The cake was emblazoned with the words, "Thank you Hong Kong."

The Hong Kong government invested massively in the first Disney theme park on Chinese soil on hopes it would tap the huge China market and transform the territory into a regional family tourism hub.

Hong Kong taxpayers shouldered most of the $3.5 billion construction cost and own a 57 percent stake in the joint venture with The Walt Disney Co.

Hong Kong Disneyland, however, hasn't been an instant success. It missed its first-year target of 5.6 million visitors.

The park's managing director, Bill Ernest, said a week before the anniversary that attendance had exceeded 5 million but won't hit 5.6 million until later in September or in early October.

Adding to worries, that goal was conservative because it was made in 2002, when China only allowed its citizens to visit Hong Kong as part of tour groups. Beijing authorized individual travel to this semiautonomous former British colony in 2003.

In a ticketing miscalculation that became a major publicity debacle, the park had to turn away thousands of Chinese tourists with tickets during the peak Chinese New Year holidays in February. Angry guests tried to storm the park gates, with some climbing over them.

The park has also been dogged by negative publicity. Environmentalists protested shark's fin on the menu, and it was eventually dropped.

Critics accused park management of abusing its jurisdiction by asking health officers to remove identifying parts of their uniform in the park, and complained about the park's secrecy on attendance figures despite Hong Kong's huge public investment in the project.

Ernest called the initial slip-ups "teething problems."

He acknowledged not doing a good job of educating mainland Chinese tourists who haven't been exposed to Disney characters and themes in the past. The park plans to launch a "pre-show" briefing for visitors. It will also launch new promotions during Halloween, Christmas and Chinese New Year.

"They should understand they can't just bank on the Disney brand and not have to do any publicity or promotion. They shouldn't be so complacent," opposition lawmaker Sin Chung-kai said.

"I think they have learned their lesson after this year," he added.

John Ap, professor of hotel and tourism management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said it's too early to deliver the final verdict on Hong Kong Disneyland.

"It's going to take 10, 15 years for us to really say 'yeah, was it worth our while?'" Ap said. "No business is necessarily going to be operationally successful and viable in the first year of operation."

He said the park's record was still outstanding by local standards.

"How many attractions in Hong Kong can get 5 million plus visitors in its first year of operation?" Ap said.

The Hong Kong government has defended its investment, saying it's already seen signs of increased family tourism. Official figures show over 40 percent of overnight visitors to Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2006 brought their children, compared to 20 percent in the same period last year.

The government said in a statement ahead of the anniversary, Hong Kong Disneyland has created jobs and "provided a very good training ground for tourism practitioners."

"The government considers its stake in the Hong Kong International Theme Park Ltd. (Hong Kong Disneyland) as a long-term investment," the statement said.

"We know we've got a lot of work to do, but we're very pleased about the momentum," Ernest said at the anniversary celebration Tuesday.

HongKongDisneyland

November 16th, 2006, 10:37 AM

HKDLR.COM, (http://www.hkdlr.com) the Unofficial Disney Fan Site for Hong Kong Disneyland

Come and join !

We have added a new section " Nostalgia"

HongKongDisneyland

November 20th, 2006, 11:22 AM

HKDLR (http://www.hkdlr.com) is organizing a Fans Meetup sometime in November or December 2006.

Place: Hong Kong Disneyland
Date/Time : Sometime in November/December

if anyone is interested pls "pm" me.
thanks.

Rachmaninov

November 20th, 2006, 03:16 PM

I thought DLR meant Dockland Light Railway haha
Unfortunately I won't be in HK until mid Dec.

HongKongDisneyland

November 22nd, 2006, 08:38 PM

I thought DLR meant Dockland Light Railway haha
Unfortunately I won't be in HK until mid Dec.

The tentative date for the 1st Fans meetup is scheduled to be on
1st December 2006.

but the date is changeable upon request and it depends on the response.

HongKongDisneyland

November 25th, 2006, 09:35 AM

I thought DLR meant Dockland Light Railway haha
Unfortunately I won't be in HK until mid Dec.

where exactly are u?

HongKongDisneyland

December 14th, 2006, 10:51 AM

HKDLR is first to bring you good news from HKDL.

HKDL announced expansion plan today.

3 New attractions for 2007 and 2008.

"Its a Small World" in first half of 2008. (so it's official)

A brand new parade for Summer 2007 (Water Fountain Floats/Water Spraying Floats will be the highlights for the New Parade)

And a New Animation Academy at Mainstreet USA.

Source : RTHK News and also reported by HKDLR.COM (http://www.hkdlr.com/CS21/forums/thread/808.aspx)

vvill

December 14th, 2006, 01:52 PM

great news! :) HURRRRRAY!

sfgadv02

December 15th, 2006, 02:12 AM

Awwww, I was expecting a bit more than It's a Small World...like Peter Pan's Flight.

HongKongDisneyland

December 21st, 2006, 03:44 PM

According to the most up-to-date information

HKDL (Hong Kong Disneyland) released details during a special meeting at Legislative Council today.

details at HKDLR.COM (http://www.hkdlr.com/CS21/forums/thread/874.aspx)

EricIsHim

December 21st, 2006, 07:25 PM

40% from local residents. How does this number compare with other Disneyland around the globe?

I don't see that 40% will come back next year or so, since a lot of HKesr have visited the park.

hkskyline

December 22nd, 2006, 03:43 AM

40% is quite high, probably higher than Disney's expectations. However, there have been complaints about Disney's marketing strategies in China. Once they fix those problems, perhaps the percentages and numbers will change. The most surprising thing is Ocean Park is enjoying record patronage as well. So in the end, both parks are benefiting from the tourist boom.

kiku99

December 22nd, 2006, 01:07 PM

5.2 mill. so did they meet their target?

EricIsHim

December 22nd, 2006, 03:01 PM

5.2 mill. so did they meet their target?

Yes.
The goal was 5 million for the first year.

City's Architect

December 26th, 2006, 10:35 AM

Although this is not phase 2, you can see there are alot of area for expansion in the current HKDL.

HongKongDisneyland

January 1st, 2007, 12:14 AM

Slideshow and Photo Gallery available on Mickey's 2007 Countdown at Hong Kong Disneyland

Click here (http://www.hkdlr.com/CS21/photos/nye2007/slideshowpro.aspx)

Provided by HKDLR.COM

HongKongDisneyland

January 2nd, 2007, 04:11 PM

http://www.hkdlr.com/CS21/photos/2007medallion/images/945/425x319.aspx

2007 Commemorative Silver Medallion available now at Hong Kong Disneyland.

I just bought a couple there.

get it while stock lasts.

Not more than 1,000 pieces will be issued worldwide.

The Silver Medallion (silver 99.9% Purity) is available at Chow Sang Sang Midtown Jewellery at Hong Kong Disneyland.

it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and an unique serial Number.

You can pick your own "Lucky" Serial Number if available.

Number without digit "4" goes very quickly.

Don't forget to ask for 5% discount if are holder of Annual pass.

Source : HKDLR.COM

sfgadv02

January 3rd, 2007, 03:12 AM

May I ask how much? Heh..

HongKongDisneyland

January 5th, 2007, 09:35 AM

May I ask how much? Heh..

HK$780 per piece.

5% off if u have AP (Annual Pass)

City's Architect

January 26th, 2007, 07:03 AM

Confirmed Future Attractions (from Wikipedia)

On 14 December 2006, the Hongkong International Theme Parks announced [1] three forthcoming attractions for 2007 and 2008.

It's a small world - This update of the classic Disneyland ride will be located in Fantasyland and boast 30 additional characters from Disney films; previously unseen Chinese, Middle Eastern, North American and Hong Kong's scenes and a new optical effect not seen in other versions of the ride.

Mickey's WaterWorks - A summer water-themed parade, due to open in Hong Kong's Summer 2007.

Animation Academy - Where guests will learn how to draw Disney style. Will be located on Main Street, USA.

Pirates of the Carribean - A very classic and popular ride to the Disne parks. This ride will include riding a boat into the deathly tunnels and venturing into the seas. Will be located in Frontierland or possibly Adventureland in 2008.

Star Tours - A star wars simulator ride in where you board a spaceship and travel into the heart of the Empire. Located in Tommorowland in fall 2007.

Storybook canal - based on the ride in California Disneyland, the storybook canal will have you on a boat, on a canal and you will venture into tunnels and see the Disney stories. Located in Fantasyland in Dec 2007.

Frontierland - The fifth place to the park will make it a six-location park like the rest. Frontierland will be like Adventureland except it will be more western and possibly be more bigger.

Mickey's Toontown Fair - Another location to the park themed as Micey's home-town.

Are the info. above reliable???? Is from wikipedia though..?!

sfgadv02

January 26th, 2007, 09:42 PM

Well, if Star Tours and Storybook Canal were to appear in HKDL in 2007, why didn't they announce it at the same time?

EricIsHim

January 26th, 2007, 11:55 PM

Well, if Star Tours and Storybook Canal were to appear in HKDL in 2007, why didn't they announce it at the same time?

There are still are long way to go from now til Fall and Dec 2007. In Hong Kong, construction schedules are always delayed by unforeseen weather (usually just heavy rain and possibly some typhoons.) These delays can hold up the project for months, which will be talking about Summer 2008 (hey, why not?? it's Olympic.)

It's smart on the Disney side not to announce the opening time frame so early because they don't know what is ahead of them although the projects are scheduled to complete by the end of this year. So the company can keep its reputation, not to disappoint anyone looking forward to go to Disneyland for those rides.

samsonyuen

February 26th, 2007, 05:55 AM

From: http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/02/18/18chinadisney.html
______________
Disney's magic in China is mixed
Disneyland's entry into Hong Kong has hit cultural bumps.
By Craig Simons
INTERNATIONAL STAFF
Sunday, February 18, 2007

HONG KONG — Before Walt Disney Co. opened its theme park here two years ago, planners carefully considered local customs.

Disney officials brought in a master in the traditional Chinese art of feng shui to "maximize energy and guest flow," convinced actor Jackie Chan to paint eyes on a lion costume — a Chinese symbol for luck — and tested local specialties for restaurants at the park.

Candy containers at Hong Kong Disneyland have traditional Disney characters and Chinese writing, but many of the park's attractions are geared toward English speakers.

Yet despite efforts to adapt to Chinese culture, the meeting of the Magic and Middle Kingdoms quickly turned rocky.

An array of critics accused Disney of endangering the environment, disregarding local customs and unfairly profiting from the joint venture in the Hong Kong theme park.

Disney has repair work ahead as it seeks to expand its media and merchandising businesses in China and looks at the possibility of building an even larger theme park near Shanghai.

For Western companies, Disney's challenges highlight the difficulties international brands face as they try to tap China's lucrative and growing market.

Although there is strong support in Hong Kong for the Disneyland park overall, "management has had some settling-in problems," said John Ap, a theme park expert at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

"From Disney's perspective, they'll want to sort out the mainland market before they go into Shanghai," he said.

Disney has been considering building a theme park in Shanghai since the 1990s, when Hong Kong beat that city in a competitive bidding war. Although no decision has been made on a Shanghai park, the company "continues to explore possibilities in China," Disney spokeswoman Lisa Haines said.

A report last year by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP estimated that theme parks in China, excluding Hong Kong, will generate $1.8 billion in 2010, up from $1.3 billion in 2005.

A theme park in Shanghai also would boost sales of Disney branded products and movies, Haines said.

"Our research has found that Disney parks help to increase the overall awareness of the Disney brand," she said. "There is good synergy between other Disney products and our parks."

Although Disney does not release specific financial information, it has invested heavily to expand its presence in China.

Disney is working to popularize its characters in China by promoting its movies and television shows. China Central Television will begin showing Disney cartoon "Lilo and Stitch" this summer, and Disney will release its first film adaptation of a Chinese novel, a co-production with two Chinese companies, this summer.

The number of stores in China carrying Disney merchandise has more than doubled since 2005, and management plans to sell branded goods at 6,000 stores by 2009.

Last year, Disney signed an agreement with Chinese company Shanda Interactive Entertainment to develop an online game featuring Disney characters, part of a corporate strategy to expand market presence, said Stanley Cheung, managing director of Disney's China office.

"China is a priority for the entire company," Cheung said in a company news release.

The emphasis on building the mainland market has magnified the significance of problems at Hong Kong Disneyland. The problems raise concerns about whether Disney management will meet even greater resistance on the mainland, where cultural differences are more pronounced.

Last year, roughly 29 percent of Disney's revenue came from its 11 theme parks, which together generated $9.9 billion in revenue. Attendance at Hong Kong Disneyland during its first year was 5.2 million, slightly less than the company's target of 5.6 million.

A Hong Kong group picketed the park's opening and one-year anniversary, arguing among other things that Disney had done too little to incorporate China's cultural legacy.

Environmental groups condemned a decision by Disney to offer shark's fin soup in its restaurants.

More important, average citizens were angered by what they perceived as an unfair deal between the Hong Kong government, which paid for most of the project, and Disney, which received an oversized portion of its shares, Ap said.

The Hong Kong government, which hopes the park will attract tourists to the city for many years, has spent more than $2.9 billion on the project and infrastructure improvements, about 82 percent of total costs, while Disney received 43 percent of the joint venture shares.

A survey conducted by Ap last year found that 56 percent of Hong Kong residents thought the financial deal with Disney was unfair while 70 percent said their "opinions toward Hong Kong Disneyland have become more negative" because of problems since its opening, including several overbooked days during last year's Chinese New Year.

Since the survey was taken Disney has expanded the park and addressed ticketing problems, and local support might now be greater than it was a year ago, Haines said.

For mainland Chinese who visit the park, many of whom don't speak English, a lack of cultural relevance may be more damaging. Some of the shows and rides at Hong Kong Disneyland are presented only in English, and many older Chinese do not recognize Disney characters.

"Younger Chinese like Mickey Mouse, but they should include traditional Chinese culture for adults," said Zhu Yuan, a 64-year-old retired professor visiting Hong Kong Disneyland from China's northeastern Tianjin City.

While she enjoyed "Main Street USA" — a line of shops and restaurants built to look like the Missouri town where Walt Disney grew up — "I'd rather go to a park that has a Chinese town," she said.

But Wang Tingmei, 54, a businessman from China's northwestern Heilongjiang province, said that a park would do well even if it simply copied American versions.

"The rides are good and they manage the park better than Chinese theme parks," he said, "so people will go."

But Disney must also balance keeping Chinese customers happy with maintaining its international reputation, a problem highlighted by management indecision over whether to serve shark's fin soup.

When environmental groups first protested Disney's plan to serve shark's fin at wedding banquets, saying that shark species are threatened because of China's appetite for their fins, Disney said it would offer the food to be respectful of Chinese culture and would ensure that all fins came from legal harvests.

But after increasing pressure, Disney replaced the dish with lobster bisque.

Because many Chinese consider shark's fin soup a delicacy, Disney may have lost business by pulling it from menus, Ap said.

"If shark's fin is not served at a banquet, many Chinese believe their hosts are cheap," he said.

The culture clash was reminiscent of protests in France when Disney opened Euro Disney, later renamed Disneyland Resort Paris, in 1992. Among other things, some French were upset by Disney's decision not to serve wine, a staple of French culture, and in 1993 Disney added alcohol to its menus. Today the park is Europe's top tourist destination, last year attracting 12.8 million visitors.

Some Hong Kong residents have been angered that Disney has not included more local culture in the park.

"Disney did nothing to incorporate Chinese and Hong Kong culture and values," said Lee Wing-yin, the 24-year-old organizer of Disney Hunter, a small group of Hong Kong residents who opposed the theme park's construction.

"It was really a very big investment and the Hong Kong government could have attracted more tourists if they built a park that highlighted traditional Chinese values and the heritage of Hong Kong," she said.

If Disney does stumble over cultural hurdles in mainland China, it will not be the first foreign company to do so.

In 2004, Beijing banned a Nike television advertisement showing NBA star LeBron James defeating a dragon, a traditional symbol of the Chinese state, for failing to "respect the motherland's culture."

In 2003, Toyota pulled a print ad showing two stone lions, emblems of Chinese culture, saluting a Prado sport-utility vehicle. Chinese erupted in anger at what they perceived as cultural arrogance.

"If Western companies don't understand Chinese culture, they risk losing customers," said Fan Yezhong, a tourism development expert at Beijing's China Tourism Development Institute.

At Hong Kong Disneyland, mainland visitors were upbeat that a Disney park would succeed in Shanghai.

Ling Wu, 35, agreed that a Disney park would attract Chinese visitors but said management should make Chinese the primary language and include more elements of Chinese culture.

"Otherwise, how are we supposed to understand?" he asked.

gladisimo

February 26th, 2007, 12:56 PM

Bad reputation when it was opened turned down some localers, and the fact the park couldn't accommodate the number of people on busy holidays probably screwed it up...

ALKUN

March 1st, 2007, 11:17 AM

I LOVE DISNEY.
I HAVE NOT VISITED THE ONE IN HONG KONG YET BUT ONE DAY I WILL.
:banana: :banana:
http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552070.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48552073.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592345.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592346.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592348.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592350.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592351.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592352.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592355.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592356.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592359.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592360.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88/image/48592979.jpg

vvill

March 1st, 2007, 11:41 AM

hehe - it still looks quite attractive on pictures but the castle is honestly too small! ><

EricIsHim

March 1st, 2007, 05:40 PM

^^ agree. not impressive at all. it's probably smaller than the hotel.

sfgadv02

March 2nd, 2007, 05:24 AM

I actually had fun in the one @ HK. It is small, but if you know where to go first, it could be a fun day.

hkskyline

March 2nd, 2007, 11:31 AM

Magic back as Disney sells 50,000 passes
HongKong Standard
Friday, March 02, 2007

Hong Kong Disneyland has sold 50,000 annual passes since they were launched last October, according to the theme park's managing director, Bill Ernest.

Annual pass sales were "better than expected," he said, adding the premium passes were almost sold out.

Premium annual passes are the most expensive ones offered by Hong Kong Disneyland and are priced at HK$1,800 for adults, HK$1,250 for children and HK$1,000 for senior citizens.

Premium pass holders have access to the Magic Kingdom 365 days a year, while holders of the value and deluxe passes are bound by block-out dates. Only 5,000 of the premium passes were made available.

Ernest said attendance during the Lunar New Year holidays was good, with the busiest days from February 20 to 22. He declined to say whether the park had reached its daily capacity of 34,000. Ernest said that during the Lunar New Year break, 70 percent of the visitors were from the mainland. About 80 percent of the tickets during the period were presold by travel agents, a significant increase from last year.

Disneyland had been under pressure to perform since the Walt Disney Co announced last month that low attendance at the park from October to December 2006 had fallen to levels that will see the Disney company break performance promises with its lenders.

Disney, in a filing with the US securities regulator, said: "If these trends do not significantly improve," Hong Kong Disneyland will not meet performance promises it made to bank lenders.

Disney will then be forced to refinance its US$294 million (HK$2.29 billion) debt.

Hong Kong Disneyland is also planning a special promotion to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the handover this year.

Ernest said it would be a special monthlong promotion for children in Hong Kong and the mainland.

He said the park was also considering having special themed decorations and merchandise. Details of the celebration have been submitted to the government and more plans will be announced later this month.

Meanwhile, rival attraction Ocean Park has announced free admission throughout July and August for children born in 1997.

hkth

March 19th, 2007, 06:29 AM

From news.gov.hk:
Penny's Bay Development wins top award (http://news.gov.hk/en/category/infrastructureandlogistics/070316/features/html/070316en06002.htm)

hkth

May 23rd, 2007, 11:44 AM

Gov't Press Release:
LCQ4: Development of HK Disneyland

Following is a question by the Hon Tam Heung-man and a reply by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, in the Legislative Council today (May 23):

Question:

About the financial position of the Hong Kong Disneyland ("the park"), a joint venture between the Government and The Walt Disney Company ("Walt Disney") of the United States, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the projected and actual financial figures of the park, including attendance, revenue generated from patronage and shops as well as the profit and loss situation, since its opening in September 2005;

(b) as a revolving credit facility of a sum of about USD300 million for the park has to be reviewed in September this year in accordance with the park's financial performance, of the progress of the discussions between the Government and Walt Disney about the future financing arrangement for the park, the financing options being considered as well as whether it has been confirmed that there is no need for injection of public funds; and

(c) whether the Government has discussed expediting the expansion plan of the park or taking other measures to improve the financial position of the park with Walt Disney; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

Hong Kong Disneyland (Disneyland) is a long-term investment and an important component of our tourism infrastructure. It helps develop Hong Kong into the premier destination for family tourists in the region. Between 2004 and 2006, the number of family tourists has increased by 10%, whereas the number of tourists aged below 16 has increased by 35% over the same period.

Regarding the financial position of the park, while the Government and The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) invest jointly in the park, the Government, being TWDC's investment partner, has to respect its mode of operation under commercial principles so that its interests will not be compromised as a result of the disclosure of commercially sensitive information, including attendance, revenue generated from patronage and shops as well as the profit and loss situation, etc. As an international commercial centre, we must respect the right of a business organisation to protect its commercially sensitive information.

Since its opening in September 2005, the park's management has been improving its marketing strategy, enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening cooperation with the travel trade, having regard to demand in Hong Kong and the Mainland as well as its operational experience. In fact, Disneyland exchanges from time to time market data with the travel trade and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. It has launched with them joint promotions focusing on the Mainland market, including placing more television, on-line and local advertisements, in order to reach more source markets, especially to potential visitors in Southern China. Disneyland also launches promotion offers to attract visitors, e.g., through the special hotel and Annual Pass packages launched during the New Year and the travel package offered jointly with Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, etc.

On expansion, both the Government and TWDC agree that there is a need to continue to add new attractions and facilities to the park in order to attract more visitors. The scope and pace of expansion will take into account market demand and feedback. The three new attractions launched last summer, including Autopia, UFO Zone and Stitch Encounter, are well received by the visitors. In 2007 and 2008, Disneyland will open three more new attractions, including the Disney's classic "it's a small world". All these new facilities do not require additional investment from the Government. We understand that the public and tourists expect more new attractions and facilities in Disneyland which will help attract more local and overseas visitors, particularly family tourists. Disneyland will spare no effort to achieve this goal.

Ends/Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:50

hkskyline

August 16th, 2007, 06:17 PM

Attendance woes for Hong Kong Disney: report

HONG KONG, Aug 16, 2007 (AFP) - Hong Kong Disneyland is struggling to attract visitors and has been missing its attendance target as its second anniversary draws near, a report said Thursday.

The theme park, which opened on September 12, 2005, is still shy of reaching four million in its second year, far lower than the 5.2 million who visited in its first, the South China Morning Post reported, citing unnamed sources.

Even four million would equal a daily average of less than 11,000 visitors -- around one-third the park's capacity of 34,000.

The sources blamed Disney's failure to know how to attract business from mainland China, its primary source of guests.

They also attributed the problem to the small size of the park and lack of sufficient attractions and rides to occupy visitors for a whole day, the newspaper reported.

Disney's headquarters in California has set a target for 5.7 million in its second year, while the Hong Kong government, which owns 57 percent of the park, had projected 5.47 million visitors.

The park's spokeswoman would not comment on "business-sensitive information" and said the park will remain focused on improving business through marketing initiatives and new offers.

The newspaper also cited a government source as saying that the authorities were aware of the falling attendance and were working to address the issue although no details were disclosed.

Brummyboy92

August 17th, 2007, 10:03 PM

Heres the plans of what Disneyland Hong Kong are planning until 2015.
2008-The opening of "Its a small world" with China included in it.
2009-Rumours of "Raging Spirits coaster" from Disneyland tokyo's sea park will be put into adventure land. Also rumours for peter pans flight for
fantasyland.
2010/11-Pirates of the carribian ride with splash mountain type drop.
2012/13-Haunted mansion attraction in adventureland with an ancient voo doo house theme to it.
2013 onwards-New park, I have seen plans for a little mermaid themed park. However I cannot see a whole park themed into the little mermaid, there will not be a disney MGM studios type park im certain.

Also while this is all being done two hotels and a huge shopping district will be built somewhere in the soon to be resort.

tanzirian

August 17th, 2007, 10:09 PM

^^ Only Small World confirmed so far to my knowledge. Although there will almost certainly be a Pirates attraction, again as far to my knowlege a Splash Mountain-style flume Pirate ride does not seem to be in the offing.

Brummyboy92

August 17th, 2007, 10:14 PM

Follow this link then, it will tell you all about it.
http://www.screamscape.com/html/hong_kong_disneyland.htm

EricIsHim

August 17th, 2007, 10:20 PM

I wish it can build a little quicker than the schedule. Even with the rumors, it is less than one new ride per year on average and it will still be a small park with limited attraction by its 10th anniversary. I have also heard there is going to be a third hotel and some kind of shopping district like Downtown Disney in Orlando.

Maybe a Downtown Disney is what the park need actually. It will have shopping mall/stores, entertainment complex, restaurants, bars, cinemas etc, but still in a theme of Disney. I think Downtown Disney will attract a lot more local people to go there and spend money there on top of the tourists than just in the theme parks themselves.

Ocean Park is making a complete make-over in just five years and the future can been seen. It's really a pain to see Disneyland is just dragging along after spending so much HKer's money in it, but still have a questionable future.

Brummyboy92

August 17th, 2007, 10:28 PM

Yeah it is taking a while for them to build new attractions and I am suprisied, with all the other four diseny resorts constructing new things like "The tower of terror and toon studios for paris". Renovation of Disneys calafornia adventure. Pixar themed land for walt disney worlds new named disney hollywood studios. And the new monster inc attraction for tokyo disney. I would have expected this park to be the one they pay most attention to being the smallest one. Oh and yes a downtown disney area is planned for the resort and I look foward to it.

EricIsHim

August 17th, 2007, 10:42 PM

Attendance woes for Hong Kong Disney: report

I am not surprised with the drop of admission. Local people did pumped up the admission number by quite a bit on its first year when everyone was curious to go. Then over summer 2006, HKer could go to the park two times for just one ticket price. On my second visit, I only stayed for a few hours, went back to MK for shopping. I guess many HKer did the same thing, too. There were just nothing to do in the park.

hkskyline

August 26th, 2007, 05:49 AM

Source : http://www.fotop.net/knchou/knalbum

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5676.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5685.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5686.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5690.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5691.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5692.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5700.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5743.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5747.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5766.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5768.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5769.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5808.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5815.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5817.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5819.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_5859.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_6003.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_6021.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_6050.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_6056.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_6057.jpg

http://images1.fotop.net/albums/knchou/disney/IMG_6361.jpg

chisinchai

August 26th, 2007, 07:06 AM

wow i like these photos

aab7772003

August 26th, 2007, 03:25 PM

Regardless all the controversies surrounding Hong Kong Disneyland, I believe that it is still the best decision to build the first Disneyland for the greater China in Hong Kong. China indeed is catching up real fast by all counts, but Hong Kong is still much more sophisticated. Disneyland is still too expensive and "sophisticated" for most of the mainland Chinese. Do you happen to see how cheap-looking the Disney copycat near Shanghai is?

Concerning the snail-pace development of Hong Kong Disneyland, please keep in mind that Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland Resort Paris are still "in development." Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland Resort Paris are also only getting 2 or 3 new atttractions every year. Meanwhile, the annual attendance figures at Disneyland Resort Paris have never been stellar.

Before you start complaining how small Hong Kong Disneyland is, please put things in perspective and remember that Hong Kong itself is not exactly huge. After all, only 1/3 of the land set aside for Hong Kong Disneyland has been developed. Sure, Hong Kong Disneyland is not exactly a bargain for Hong Kong as a stand-alone undertaking. However, would Ocean Park bother to revitalize itself without Hong Kong Disneyland?

Projects such as Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong Disneyland serve as the catalyst of developments in Hong Kong. I am quite amazed by some critics in Hong Kong stating that Hong Kong does not get a terrific return on investments from HKIA because the airport cannot handle the rapid growth of the Hong Kong aviation industry in the long haul. Well, would Hong Kong get the new Kaitak redevelopment, West Kowloon Cultural District, Ngong Ping 360, ICC/Union Square, Western Harbor Tunnel, etc. without HKIA?

hkskyline

August 26th, 2007, 03:59 PM

It's not reasonable to expect Disneyland to provide stellar returns in the first few years even though it is already an established brand name. This park is more or less an experiment for Disney, which is why the government had to come in with a huge stake and financial support. If the China market bites, then it will mean huge rewards for both Disney (ie. movies, merchandise, theme park) and Hong Kong. It's one additional reason why people come to Hong Kong. It'll be beneficial to the tourism industry as a whole.

Brummyboy92

August 26th, 2007, 10:35 PM

I really dont see Hong Kong disneyland being an experiment. They have not took any risks with the resort and there is no attraction there that are not in any other parks. If it was an experiment they would be building rides that no other disney resorts have got. But have they done this, No.

EricIsHim

August 26th, 2007, 10:38 PM

^^ I think hkskyline means Disney takes HK as an experiment for the Chinese market, not an experiment of the theme park.

Brummyboy92

August 26th, 2007, 10:52 PM

Oh sorry my mistake

tanzirian

August 26th, 2007, 10:55 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland wasn't an experiment...it is part of the sad legacy of the second decade of the Eisner era when Disney parks were built on the cheap with emphasis on hotels and shops and restaurants over actual rides (with exception of Disney parks not owned by Disney - like Tokyo Disney Sea, where Oriental Land Company footed the bill). But with Eisner gone there is hope for improvement...this has been the case at Anaheim and may be at other resorts as well. At least HKDL fared better than Disney's California Adventure or Disney Studios Paris...whos very layout was messed up and has hindered attempts to improve their offerings. In case of HKDL Disney's "Imagineers" tried to get the best quality out of a limited budget but in doing so had to sacrifice quantity.

hkskyline

August 27th, 2007, 06:41 AM

The Chinese market is quite a huge mystery for Disney, and rampant piracy has prevented a long march into this market. Hong Kong Disneyland was designed to introduced the Disney concept to Chinese people, hence it's an experiment to give people familiarity before doing an aggressive marketing push.

chisinchai

August 27th, 2007, 06:47 AM

do mainland people watch Disney cartoons or movies a lots?

EricIsHim

August 27th, 2007, 07:00 PM

Greenpeace Protests Hong Kong Disneyland's Energy Management
Dow Jones
August 27, 2007: 06:24 AM EST

HONG KONG (AP)--Environmental activists sneaked into a hotel at Hong Kong Disneyland and swapped light bulbs used in two lobby chandeliers with more energy efficient fluorescent ones, Greenpeace said Monday.

The Greenpeace activists also unfurled a banner saying "Mickey harms the global climate" during Sunday's stunt to protest Hong Kong Disneyland's poor energy management, the environmental action group said in a statement.

Greenpeace estimates that the two lobby chandeliers hold 200 incandescent light bulbs, which generate more heat than light. Greenpeace activist Frances Yeung said they swapped two of those bulbs for fluorescent globes.

"Disneyland actually dims its own fairy tale by using energy inefficient bulbs and is costing our environment," Yeung said in the statement.

Hong Kong Disneyland wouldn't confirm the protest, but said in a separate statement that it has installed energy-saving light bulbs in guest rooms since 2006, shortened the hours lights are turned on and raised the temperature at which air conditioners in its hotels are set.

Greenpeace also urged Hong Kong's government to phase out incandescent bulbs.

Hong Kong Disneyland has come under intense scrutiny since it opened in September 2005. The park is a joint venture between the Hong Kong government and The Walt Disney Co. (DIS), with Hong Kong taxpayers having shouldered most of the US$3.5 billion construction cost.

aab7772003

August 27th, 2007, 08:02 PM

Why do the tree huggers in Hong Kong always target Hong Kong Disneyland? It is not like the rest of the Hong Kong is really that environmentally conscious.

hkskyline

August 28th, 2007, 07:57 AM

Greenpeace: Activists sneak into Hong Kong Disneyland hotel, install new light bulbs
27 August 2007

HONG KONG (AP) - Greenpeace said Monday its activists sneaked into Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel over the weekend and swapped several light bulbs used in two lobby chandeliers with more energy efficient fluorescent ones.

Greenpeace activists also unfurled a banner that said "Mickey harms the global climate" Sunday to protest Hong Kong Disneyland's energy management, the environmental group said in a statement.

Greenpeace estimates that the two lobby chandeliers comprise 200 incandescent light bulbs, which use more heat than light.

"Disneyland actually dims its own fairy tale by using energy inefficient bulbs and is costing our environment," activist Frances Yeung said in the Greenpeace statement.

Hong Kong Disneyland wouldn't confirm the protest, but said in a statement it has started installing energy-saving light bulbs in guest rooms in 2006, shortened the hours lights are on and raised air conditioning temperatures in its hotels.

Greenpeace also urged the government to phase out incandescent bulbs.

Hong Kong Disneyland has come under intense scrutiny since it opened in September 2005. The park is a joint venture between the Hong Kong government and The Walt Disney Co., with Hong Kong taxpayers having shouldered most of the $3.5 billion construction cost.

ddes

August 29th, 2007, 01:59 PM

aab7772003

August 29th, 2007, 02:56 PM

You have some good points there. However, please keep in mind that many theme parks in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore are "sinoified." What makes Disney stand out is that it is "western" theme park. Disney should maintain its "western" personality and in the meantime to reach out and accommodate local guests with local sensitivity.

hkskyline

August 29th, 2007, 05:39 PM

I don't know about you guys BUT...

I think Hong Kong Disneyland should switch its focus on certain things....

Firstly, I think HK Disneyland needs more thrill rides than themed- American streets; the Chinese can fly across the Pacific to Anaheim to see those. Scenery may be important but there needs to be more thrill rides.

Secondly, I think Disney should Chinese-fy Disneyland. I think with Disney's foray into introducing a new line of characters from China's fairy tales and stories, it should focus on Sinofying itself. If Disneyland Paris could alter its character to suit European architecture, tastes and culture, I don't see why HK Disneyland cannot do the same. Fengshui alone cannot do alone.

Thirdly, Disney should involve itself more than just the park. Disney in USA is a cruise operator, you get the drift. It could work with an exclusive local TV channel to offer Disney Channel China to further market its characters.

All these ideas are just my thoughts and since I am in Singapore, I'm not able to find out what exactly Disney is doing to penetrate the tough Chinese market. So do forgive me if some of these have been done or have been proven useless.
The whole purpose of building a Disney theme park is to advertise the well-established American brand. There hasn't been much material out from them specifically for the Chinese audience, so that alone will not sustain a whole theme park. That's a very big gamble to take, and one that is destined to fail. Disney's objective is to use its brand to enter the Chinese market, and once that is established, add in a few culturally-adapted films to stir up interest.

Why not use what's worked well worldwide instead of venturing into the deep unknown for such a huge investment?

Why fly all the way across the Pacific when they can get the American experience right in Hong Kong? It's the same logic as with Macau's European-style Fisherman's Wharf. If people want a purely Chinese-theme park, they'd stay in China to find plenty of choice.

yellow15

August 30th, 2007, 03:59 AM

Firstly, I think HK Disneyland needs more thrill rides than themed- American streets; the Chinese can fly across the Pacific to Anaheim to see those. Scenery may be important but there needs to be more thrill rides.

Hm.. while more thrill rides is always a good idea, i don't think it should be the main focus. Afterall Ocean park already has heaps of thrill rides and if Disney HK is going to focus on the same area, it would just be in direct competition with Ocean Park. In my opinion, Disney is more a fantasy/fun for whole family theme park than a thrill rides paradise.

yrboarder

August 30th, 2007, 11:44 AM

Projects such as Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong Disneyland serve as the catalyst of developments in Hong Kong. I am quite amazed by some critics in Hong Kong stating that Hong Kong does not get a terrific return on investments from HKIA because the airport cannot handle the rapid growth of the Hong Kong aviation industry in the long haul. Well, would Hong Kong get the new Kaitak redevelopment, West Kowloon Cultural District, Ngong Ping 360, ICC/Union Square, Western Harbor Tunnel, etc. without HKIA?

Haha, don't you realise that we now have got 2 national sport.... bargain hunting and complaining... kind of sad really :nuts:

ddes

August 31st, 2007, 01:06 PM

hkskyline

August 31st, 2007, 06:05 PM

I understand that the whole point of Disney is to showcase the "American" brand but it comes to me as odd because I read somewhere on an article that Disney is planning to launch a whole new lineup of characters for the Chinese market starting with the new Disney Chinese movie, Magic Gourd or something (can't remember).

This somehow contradicts showcasing Disney as an American brand.

I think Hong Kong Disneyland is not an experiment, but more of a trial to try to find out what Chinese and in general, East Asians like or prefer to plan for future expansion in HKDL or that rumoured Disneyland Shanghai.

For example, if they prefer being 'involved' in the rides/attractions or prefer to watch/follow the action as it goes along. Do they like to get wet? Do they like restaurants or buffet style food? Do they like the classic Disney characters or do they prefer the new generation of characters like Nemo, Dory or Jack Sparrow? Do they visit for the sake of just being here?

These things seem trivial but determine how a park is designed and in turn, determines the visitorship. For example, Japanese do not like to get wet so Universal Studios Osaka stopped spewing water into the visitors on their water attractions while Europeans prefer to be involved rather than just watch so Disneyland Paris has alot of "buskers" and characters walking around to play and tease the visitors.

But Disney is not giving up Mickey Mouse for some new characters.

While Disney is looking to drive into the local market by offering a more culturally-sensitive character set, the key focus will always be on the established American characters. Remeber how much American stuff went into China before this seemingly Chinese production arrived.

Isn't a trial the same thing as an experiment? Disney is testing out the market. They would've known what the market is asking for considering they poured so much money into it. I'd be hard-pressed to find someone not knowing where they're getting into before putting their brand and dollars to building it. Disney knows exactly what the market is like ... ignorant of Disney for the most part.

Disney has made it very clear that it intends to build the Hong Kong facility and watch closely at how the market responds. Ultimately, China can support a few large-scale theme parks, but until this Hong Kong experiment succeeds, they're not likely going to break ground in China. Hong Kong is a very good hedging strategy since so many foreigners visit and the locals are Westernized. If the Chinese market doesn't work out, they can shift their focus and draw the international and local crowds.

Also keep in mind Disney is a foreign concept in China. People aren't familiar with their characters. Would Nemo replace Cinderella and Mickey Mouse on Main Street USA? With some business common sense, the answer is a definite no.

Once again, if Chinese tourists want to see a purely Chinese theme park, they don't need to go to Hong Kong Disneyland. It's the culture shock that draws their interest.

ntly1

August 31st, 2007, 06:17 PM

May I ask what are the thrill rides available in HK Disneyland now ? :) thanks

EricIsHim

August 31st, 2007, 06:53 PM

May I ask what are the thrill rides available in HK Disneyland now ? :) thanks

Space Mountain/ All the other rides aren't "thrill" to me at all.

EricIsHim

September 14th, 2007, 01:55 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland Celebrates Two Years
9/13/2007 1:46 PM EST

Hong Kong Disneyland celebrated their second anniversary yesterday (September 12) despite poor attendance numbers and labor disputes. The park is a big travel destination on mainland China, drawing families into Hong Kong to vacation.

While disappointing attendance and guest purchases seem to be the norm there, people are willing to make the park better and draw the numbers that it is expected to. Spokeswoman Cynthia Tong calls the park an "important piece of travel infrastructure" and is open to any suggestions to help boost the park's popularity.

Hong Kong Disneyland is 57% owned by the government, which has raised a few concerns about the deal, since tax payers foot most of the $3.5 billion bill (US Dollars). The Hong Kong based newspaper, Wen Wei Po, said "As the major shareholder, the government can't ignore Hong Kong Disneyland's predicament. It should try to help the park solve its problems and get through its difficulties. At the same time, park management should reflect on its deficiencies, learn its lessons and launch comprehensive, pro-active reforms," the editorial said.
no one deals like we do!

While attendance figures are low, ratings from guests are very high. Although many employees complain about work standards, the Hong Kong Disneyland Cast members Union backs their case up with a survey that was done stating that 92% of employees felt that they were treated with respect.

The first year for the park was the bumpiest, with a ticket miscalculation then resulted in thousands of people being turned away from the park, and some even storming and climbing the gates to get in. On top of that, protests from environmental groups pressured the park to stop serving shark's fin, and prevailed.

While some controversy swirls around the theme park, Disney continues to expand their empire there in China. Not only are they adding to the park three new rides that will be open in 2008 ("It's a Small World," Animation Academy, where Disney artists will teach cartoon drawing, and "Mickey's WaterWorks" water-based parade), but they also distribute products throughout the country in their more than 4,200 Disney Outlet stores.

sfgadv02

September 14th, 2007, 05:53 PM

I can't believe it's already 2 years. Can't wait until It's a Small World opens, wonder what version of the song it will be, Cantonese or English.

Sexas

September 15th, 2007, 11:09 PM

^^ Can it call "It's a small Disney" instead...LOL

its a small Disney after all
its a small Disney after all
its a small Disney after all
its a very small, small Disney!!

Okay somebody need to turn it to Chinese song!

EricIsHim

September 17th, 2007, 02:12 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland Shuts Autopia Ride After Car Derails
Dow Jones
September 15, 2007: 06:54 AM EST

HONG KONG (AP)--Hong Kong Disneyland on Saturday shut its Autopia driving ride after one of its vehicles derailed from a fixed track, a spokeswoman said Saturday.

Park spokeswoman Glendy Chu said the accident occurred when the driver, a young woman, hit one of the barricades surrounding the track. She said the woman was not injured.

Chu said the Hong Kong government's Electrical and Mechanical Services Department ordered the electric car ride shut for inspections. Government spokesman Raymond Wong said government investigators have not reported back their findings.

Hong Kong Disneyland, which is a joint venture between the Hong Kong government and the Walt Disney Co. (DIS), opened in September 2005 and the Autopia ride opened in the summer of 2006.

superchan7

September 18th, 2007, 11:07 AM

I didn't think that could be possible. Don't tell anybody, but I used to try to steer the car off course. It doesn't work!!

Sexas

September 20th, 2007, 06:37 AM

^^ I think everybody try it before in some point, and I think the woman finally got it right...LOL! I need to call her to know how she did it. And I don't see what is a big deal about, it just off the track anyway, it is a go-car it don't hurt anybody by off course, we (USA) have so many places, the go-car don't even have a track!!!

hkskyline

September 24th, 2007, 02:26 PM

Source : http://www2.fotoc.com/skk/v/Photos_014/Photos_001/

http://www2.fotoc.com/skk/d/1237-2/DSC_06480041.jpg

http://www2.fotoc.com/skk/d/1240-2/DSC_06500043.jpg

http://www2.fotoc.com/skk/d/1243-2/DSC_06560049.jpg

http://www2.fotoc.com/skk/d/1246-2/DSC_06600053.jpg

EricIsHim

October 3rd, 2007, 02:00 PM

Report: Hong Kong government not keen to fund Disneyland expansion

The Associated Press
Published: October 3, 2007

HONG KONG: Hong Kong Disneyland is unlikely to receive more money from the local government to fund new attractions because of disappointing attendance at the theme park since it opened two years ago, a local newspaper reported Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for the park, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the Hong Kong government, said it is still discussing financing options with the government.

Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper reported Wednesday the local government, instead of providing fresh cash, is inclined to give the park more land, or sell down its stake in Hong Kong Disneyland for cash to reinvest in the park. All land in Hong Kong is technically owned by the government and leased to commercial developers on long-term contracts.

The government believes the Hong Kong public will not support fresh spending on the park because of its unsatisfactory results, the paper said.

Hong Kong's Commerce and Economic Development Bureau had no immediate comment on the report.

Hong Kong Disneyland spokeswoman Glendy Chu said Disney and the government are "engaged in discussions regarding financing options aimed at advancing the long-term financial and development of Hong Kong Disneyland."

She declined further comment.

Hong Kong Disneyland has been under scrutiny because it is a major government investment. The Hong Kong government owns a 57 percent stake in the park, shouldering most of the US$3.5 billion (€2.5 billion) construction cost.

The park drew 5.2 million guests in its first year — 400,000 short of its target of 5.6 million. Park officials have been secretive about second-year numbers, but local media reports estimated up to 4.8 million visited the park its second year.

Disney's earnings results showed Hong Kong Disneyland's operating income dropped in both the first and second quarters this year, curtailing overall growth for its park and resorts division.

City's Architect

October 5th, 2007, 05:47 AM

Here is a master reclaimed plan around Hong Kong Disneyland

http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/operation/tc_chi/images/chp5/ch5_13.jpg

benchjade

October 5th, 2007, 12:50 PM

they said this is the most boring disneyland ever!

EricIsHim

October 5th, 2007, 02:42 PM

they said this is the most boring disneyland ever!

There is only Magic Kingdom in HK right now; which is pretty much the same as the other Magic Kingdoms around the world.

If you have had been in other Magic Kingdom in Tokyo, Orlando, or Pairs, you probably find no susprise at in HK with a even smaller park.

My friends and I went to Disneyland for the first time in HK, then we've gone to Tokyo and Orlando as well. We found that Magic Kingdom in Toyko and Orlando, are yes bigger, but the features inside the park aren't much different from the one in HK and found them a little boring, too~~~

No wonder why people who have gone to other parks before HK would think the same way vice versa.

raymond_tung88

October 7th, 2007, 04:58 AM

You can blame Disneyland Hong Kong being so small because of unflattering results at Disneyland Paris.

The Paris park was such a disappointment that Disney executives decided that the next Disney park would be on a smaller scale and if it grew in popularity, they would continue to expand the park and add more attractions to bring it on par with I guess the other Disney parks.

_00_deathscar

October 7th, 2007, 06:42 AM

No wonder why people who have gone to other parks before HK would think the same way vice versa.

I find it extremely perpexling that people who have already visited one Disneyland would then visit another, and even stranger still that they would expect to find something vastly DIFFERENT!

WANCH

October 9th, 2007, 12:07 PM

Until now, I haven't visited HK Disneyland :D

_00_deathscar

October 9th, 2007, 01:36 PM

It's not worth it.

WANCH

October 11th, 2007, 05:16 AM

It's not worth it.

That's the reason why especially if you have seen the other Disneyland and its rides.

_00_deathscar

October 11th, 2007, 09:19 AM

That's the reason why especially if you have seen the other Disneyland and its rides.

Now, if you can get in for free on the other hand...:D

Wouldn't pay for it though - would rather go to Ocean Park for half the money.

hkskyline

October 22nd, 2007, 06:14 AM

Disneyland to open Haunted Hotel
24 August 2007
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong Disneyland is to introduce a Haunted Hotel for Halloween in the hope of broadening the park's appeal, especially to the important market of early teen visitors.

It is expected to become a permanent attraction as Disney maps out longer-term plans to develop.

Main Street Haunted Hotel, which will be next to the Plaza Inn restaurant on Main Street, USA, is a relatively dark attraction.

Last year's pumpkin-themed Disney Halloween bash, the park's first, was more family-oriented.

The park is also offering tickets for HK$198 for admission after 6.30pm until it closes at 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays and on October 31. Regular adult admission is HK$350.

"In response to guest feedback, we designed this year's Halloween celebration so young adults will have a frightfully good time," said Jill Estorino, the theme park's senior vice-president of marketing.

A spokesman declined to disclose how much was being invested.

The haunted house is a permanent and popular fixture at all of Disney's Magic Kingdoms, except in Hong Kong, where such signature rides are lacking.

So far, the only major attraction here is the Space Mountain indoor roller coaster.

The Haunted Hotel is scheduled to open from September 25 to October 31.

But it is also set to be a trial for a permanent offering, according to sources familiar with construction.

The prefabricated attraction was built in the US state of Utah and was airfreighted to Hong Kong. It would be housed in a tent, the sources said.

In keeping with the theme of Main Street, USA, the haunted hotel evokes a "small town America" feel, with a front desk, bridal suite, kitchen and secret passageways, the sources said.

Apparitions of a tragic bride and other ghostly characters will make appearances.

The walk through the attraction will take about 15 minutes, the sources said. The spokesman said it could accommodate "several hundred people at any one time".

John Ap, Polytechnic University's associate professor of tourism, said young teens were not that interested in Disneyland, which has to strike a balance between family fun and a Halloween experience.

Its competitor, Ocean Park, boasts that its Halloween event is the best in the world. It is planning to host seven haunted houses and three "scary zones" this year.

_00_deathscar

October 22nd, 2007, 06:27 AM

Disneyland in "Lets attract more customers by scaring them away" shocker :D

hkskyline

October 26th, 2007, 06:23 PM

Source : http://justinlaw.fotop.net/

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0129.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0127.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0128.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0138.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0139.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0142.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0166.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0158.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0177.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0204.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0213.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0217.jpg

http://imagesl.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Dark_Disney_2007/IMG_0241.jpg

Kaitak747

November 5th, 2007, 04:09 AM

政府擬再注資擴建迪士尼
爭取立會撥款樂園料須披露神秘帳目

2007年11月5日

【明報專訊】華特迪士尼為改善香港迪士尼樂園入場人流不足的問題，正與港府商討增加樂園注資以擴建，但磋商近期卻出現變化。曾表明不會再向樂園注資的港府一改口風，考慮再向樂園「水」，不排除以現金注資。不過，為爭取立法會撥款，政府認為迪士尼將無可避免要公布其神秘帳目。

傳入場人次不達標

迪士尼樂園自05年開幕以來，有傳入場人次一直未達每年550萬的目標，故迪士尼早前已開始與政府討論向樂園再注資擴建的問題。

政府消息人士指出，當局曾與部分立法會議員討論政府再注資一事，議員均認同擴建樂園是好事，可以考慮支持。當局亦對注資持開放態度，且不排除以現金作注資，但政府認為迪士尼在披露財務資料上有問題。

以基建土地注資機會不大

據悉，由於迪士尼樂園硬件設施已建成，而樂園有不少平整好的土地未發展，故政府以基建或土地作注資的機會不大。然而，政府要撥款注資，必須到立法會財委會申請，迪士尼無可避免要公開其神秘帳目，否則難獲立法會支持。但政府到底計劃修改當年與迪士尼的保密條款，抑或是迪士尼只因應這次政府額外注資而披露財務狀，消息人士則未有回應。

政府當年與迪士尼簽訂協議時，曾答應對方財務資料可保密，毋須向公眾披露，惟其母公司華特迪士尼每季均會公布各個樂園的財務狀，與香港做法並不對等，難游說公眾支持再注資。

政府若不注資或失控制權

據了解，迪士尼近期亦有約見立法會議員摸底及游說，但在會面時，迪士尼無表明特區政府須注資，但有分析指政府若不注資，在迪士尼相應增加注資的情下，此消彼長，政府將失去對樂園的控制權。

民主黨單仲偕贊同迪士尼加建設施，一方面可增強樂園的聲勢，亦顯示他們對香港發展的信心，至於政府應否注資，他個人不認為政府一定要取得公司的控制權。民建聯陳鑑林則表示，要看到時迪士尼公開什麼數據再作決定。

香港迪士尼樂園自05年開幕以來，首年入場人次520萬，較預期低，有傳次年更跌穿500萬人次。根據美國華特迪士尼集團截至今年6月底的第三季業績，香港迪士尼今年4至6月的入場人次和顧客消費額均遜於去年同期。由於樂園營運表現未達貸款協議條款，貸款銀行有權要求樂園提早償還借貸，故迪士尼已不止一次向貸款銀行尋求寬限期。

曾表明不注資現改口風

前經濟發展及勞工局長葉澍曾表示，政府無意再向樂園注資，以免因要向立法會申請撥款而令問題變得政治化。當時有消息，迪士尼會單方面注資，而為免持有57％股權的港府失去大股東地位，政府會考慮將部分股東貸款轉為股本，增持股權，減低香港迪士尼的負債比率。

Kaitak747

November 5th, 2007, 04:10 AM

建新景點增吸引力

2007年11月5日

【明報專訊】香港迪士尼樂園05年開幕時只有22個景點，項目遠較其他迪士尼樂園少，故一直被批評吸引力不足。樂園及政府均承諾會不斷擴建，每年均會增加新景點，但目前公布的新景點，除了明年初落成的「小小世界」外，暫時未有進一步公布。

傳建魔盜王主題景點

不過，外間卻流傳樂園有意增建多個大型設施，其中傳得最熱的，是以近年大賣的電影《加勒比海盜》(Pirates of the Carribean)為主題的新景點。

由於目前香港迪士尼樂園比較欠缺刺激機動遊戲，其他流傳會興建的項目，還包括刺激的過山車「憤怒雙神」(Raging Spirits)、幽靈公館(Haunted Mansion)、小飛俠彼得潘的天空之旅(Peter Pan's Flight)、邊域世界(Frontierland)及新增主題區卡通城(Toontown)等。這些新設施大部分在其他迪士尼樂園已存在，每個造價至少數億港元。

EricIsHim

November 5th, 2007, 02:47 PM

Hong Kong government considers fund injection for Disneyland expansion

By Jeffrey Ng
Last Update: 5:28 AM ET Nov 5, 2007

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- The Hong Kong government said Monday it is considering an injection of funds to expand Hong Kong Disneyland, a turnaround from earlier statements that it wouldn't spend any more on the unprofitable park.

"We are now in a very preliminary stage of discussion with Walt Disney on financing options to meet future operational and development needs, and the injection of funds by the government is one possible option," a spokeswoman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said.

Hong Kong Disneyland, in which the city's government owns 57% to Walt Disney Co.'s has suffered widening losses this year on a fall in attendance and spending by visitors. The Hong Kong government been under intense pressure from lawmakers who say it has invested too much on a commercial project that hasn't performed to expectations.

In 2006, the park missed its first-year target of 5.6 million visitors by a margin of 400,000. The park has declined to provide data for its second year of operation, though local media reports say the attendance figures were lower than in the previous year.

The government invested US$417 million to build the park, on top of US$1.74 billion it spent on infrastructure, which included land reclamation. Disney paid US$314 million for its smaller stake in the venture.

The apparent softening in the government's position comes as the park faces the threat that banks will withhold future funding, as it has twice missed performance targets set by its lenders. The targets are linked to a US$293 million commercial loan.

In August, Disney said the park wouldn't likely meet the lenders' targets by Sept. 30, the end of its fiscal year. It said the company is looking to increase its investment in the park to increase funding.

Disneyland spokeswoman Glendy Chu said Monday Disney and the government are in discussions about plans to expand the park. However, she said Disney "doesn't consider it appropriate to discuss the details prematurely. We believe that the shareholders would come up with a plan which is in the interest of the long-term development of the resort."

EricIsHim

November 5th, 2007, 04:29 PM

Disneyland may get Hong Kong bailout
8 hours ago

HONG KONG (AFP) — Hong Kong Disneyland could be given a government bailout as it struggles to attract new visitors, a senior minister was reported Tuesday as saying.

Frederick Ma, secretary for commerce and economic development, said the government is considering investing more cash into the theme park to help it expand, according to the Standard newspaper.

"I don't want to hear visitors saying they are seeing the same things they saw last year and lose interest in Disneyland," Ma said, according to the English-language daily.

In the past, the government has ruled out adding to the 25 billion Hong Kong dollars (3.2 billion US) it has already invested, the report said.

Ma did not say how much cash the attraction, which is 57 percent-owned by the government, could receive.

He said he recognised that visitors had complained that "Disneyland is small," one of the reasons why it has failed to draw in visitors, the report said.

The theme park attracted around 5.2 million visitors in its first year, but reports have suggested it struggled to reach 4.0 million visitors in its second, well below capacity of 34,000 a day.

Disney said earlier this year it may require alternative financing to complete its second-phase expansion.

hkskyline

November 5th, 2007, 04:33 PM

Don't think they can say no. The park needs to be expanded in order to attract more patronage. Once a reasonable size has been reached, then the government can fold its hands and stop funding. They only built half the park now.

hkskyline

November 11th, 2007, 06:03 AM

SAR results drag down Disney figures
Hong Kong Standard
Saturday, November 10, 2007

The Walt Disney Company admitted for the first time yesterday that the poor performance of Hong Kong Disneyland is dragging down its results - prompting calls from the SAR government that the park's management improve its operations.

Despite very strong growth in its theme parks division, profit margins in Disney's parks division were down year-on-year for the first time in a number of quarters.

The margin decline in the fourth quarter was driven by the poor results at Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney chief financial officer Tom Staggs said.

"Hong Kong Disneyland has been less successful initially than we'd hoped," Disney chief executive Robert Iger told analysts. "However, we continue to believe in the potential of this property and we anticipate additional investment in the park to help drive its success."

The Hong Kong park's attendance numbers - which have fallen short of targets since it opened in September 2005 - are declining, and losses are increasing, Disney said.

A spokesperson for the Tourism Commission said: "The government has urged the management to enhance operational efficiency and revamp marketing strategies.

"As the major shareholder of Hong Kong Disneyland, the government is always concerned about the park's operational performance."

Because Hong Kong Disneyland's worsening performance has left the park unable to meet performance promises with its lenders, the American entertainment giant has asked creditors to temporarily remove the covenants on its US$294 million (HK$2.29 billion) revolving-credit facility.

The lenders have agreed to remove the performance covenants for one year, Staggs said.

"It makes room to focus on driving greater attendance to the park and operate the park without worrying about the debt covenants."

Following conversations with the Hong Kong government, Disney has also agreed to give up its royalties for "a couple of years," he said.

Disney's contract with the Hong Kong government stipulates it be paid management and franchise fees for running the park.

"Overall, we expect to invest further in Hong Kong Disneyland and help drive its success," Staggs said.

The company said the increase in interest expense for the year was primarily due to higher effective interest rates at Hong Kong Disneyland.

"Lower performance at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort for both the year and the quarter was driven by lower theme park attendance," the company said.

The SAR government owns 57 percent of Hongkong International Theme Parks Ltd, which operates Hong Kong Disneyland. Disney owns the remaining 43 percent interest.

The government sees a need for Hong Kong Disneyland to increase its in-park attractions in order to attract more new and repeat visitors, particularly family visitors, the Tourism Commission spokesperson said.

The government is discussing the expansion plan of the park with Disney, and the Tourism Commission and Hong Kong Tourism Board have been advising Disney on marketing to mainland tourists, she said.

"We will continue to be responsive to feedback as we introduce new sales and marketing strategies," a spokesperson for Hong Kong Disneyland said, declining to provide further details.

sfgadv02

November 11th, 2007, 08:15 PM

They really need to expand the park, especially since Ocean Park is renovating the whole park. If they don't add anything new, then once the renovation is completed in Ocean Park, people will flock there instead of Disneyland.

Sexas

November 13th, 2007, 10:01 AM

I feel ppl in Hong Kong just need everything instead...THE PARK ONLY TWO YEARS OLD!! can ppl give it some time :(

EricIsHim

November 13th, 2007, 03:15 PM

I feel ppl in Hong Kong just need everything instead...THE PARK ONLY TWO YEARS OLD!! can ppl give it some time :(

We wouldn't have care if it's making money; but no, it's losing. Any it's not Dsiney's money, it's HK's ppl money. We know where the problem is, and we want to get it fixed quick. More rides, more attractions, more people, more money.

hkskyline

November 13th, 2007, 03:46 PM

Once they expand the park, don't think the loss problem will continue. Perhaps this shakeup will wake up the owners who scrooged on the initial investment thinking they can scrape by.

Meanwhile, I don't think the government has any problem coughing up the money to gobble Disney's share of the park as well. This is a long-term investment, and with the right amount going into developing the park, it'll reap huge returns.

hala

November 13th, 2007, 04:01 PM

上海重提迪士尼 5年可建成
(明報) 11月 13日星期二 05:05AM

【明報專訊】美國華特‧迪士尼樂園日前公布最新業績，顯示本港迪士尼樂園表現欠佳之際，上海建迪士尼樂園消息在沉寂了一段時間後，突然傳出「復蘇」的報道。由新華通訊社主管的《瞭望東方周刊》引述官員說，中央對建迪士尼樂園態度明朗化，預留建樂園的土地已完成拆遷，只要確定具體操作方案，便可馬上動工，但最少要花5年時間，換言之最快2012年建成。

「中央的態度已經明朗了」

《瞭望東方周刊》最新一期刊出題為「上海迪士尼樂園項目復蘇」的報道，引述上海南匯區經濟委員會主任錢偉忠說：「特奧會（特殊奧運會）前後，上海就迪士尼項目請示中央，中央的態度已經明朗了，上海迪士尼項目重新啟動已經沒有什麼懸念了，現在就是看到底以什麼樣的形式啟動，南匯這邊包括迪士尼樂園在內的整體旅遊、商業開發規劃也在加速進行。」他表示，預留建迪士尼樂園的土地已完成拆遷，只要中央正式批准下來，確定具體操作方案，馬上就能動工。

上海迪士尼佔地6平方公里以上，是香港迪士尼樂園的4.7倍。文章引述錢偉忠說，上海迪士尼項目實際上是浦東下一步開發的部分，從浦東川沙和接鄰的南匯區的迪士尼樂園，一直到洋山深水港，數十平方公里內會形成旅遊、娛樂、物流、工業園區的「國家級重大項目」，內有南匯大學城、浦東機場、惠南城區、上海洋山國際深水港、臨港新城、臨港產業保稅區，規劃人口100萬，是上海發展的新方向，日後所有與水有關的旅遊產業，包括航海博物館、遊艇俱樂部等都落戶於此。

面積相當香港迪士尼4.7倍

上海規劃中的浦東鐵路和軌道交通11號均預留了迪士尼站，規劃中的華東六省客運總站會是迪士尼附近最大的交通樞紐，為樂園帶來寧波、杭州、蘇州等50多個城市的高端遊客。

香港迪士尼樂園發言人表示，暫未有新公布，目前公司的焦點會集中營運香港的樂園，而內地亦是公司重點市場，已一直在中國推廣迪士尼各類業務及持續討論。

hala

November 13th, 2007, 04:04 PM

《望东方周刊》记者姜智鹏 / 上海报道

上海迪士尼乐园项目复苏

　　上海迪士尼乐园整个项目占地6平方公里以上，是香港迪士尼乐园的4.7倍

　　没有人比上海狐狸城实业有限公司CEO陆强更关心上海迪士尼乐园的进展，2005年上海迪士尼项目第一次启动时，在迪士尼乐园预留地附近规划了一座大型商业步行街，陆强的公司经过数轮竞标，获得了在这个步行街兴建国际品牌折扣直销卖场（outlet）的资格。
　　就在10亿元投资到位，工程全面开始后不久，却传来了一个令陆强坐立不安的消息：上海迪士尼项目被“暂时搁置”。
　　“迪士尼乐园是这个身处上海远郊的商业项目最大的亮点，迪士尼项目搁浅，项目招商肯定受挫。”几天前，他终于等到了好消息。“一直到上个礼拜，南汇（区政府）这边才刚刚跟我通报了最新的进展。”
　　“特奥会前后，上海方面专门就迪士尼项目请示中央，中央的态度已经明朗了。上海迪士尼项目重新启动已经没有什么悬念了，现在就是看到底以什么样的形式启动，南汇这边包括迪士尼乐园在内的整体旅游、商业开发规划也在加速进行。”上海南汇区经济委员会主任钱伟忠告诉《望东方周刊》。
配套工程早已就位
　　“川沙境内的拆迁已基本完成，而南汇境内的土地原本都是农业用地，不存在拆迁问题，只要中央正式批准下来，确定具体操作方案，上海迪士尼乐园项目马上就能开工。”钱伟忠说。
　　为了迪士尼乐园，上海市和南汇区已经建成了多项配套工程。“上海A20公路的川沙出口，就是为以后迪士尼乐园的东门特意预留的。”
　　围绕迪士尼乐园建造的最大配套项目，就是陆强公司参与的上海富客斯豪布斯卡名品村（FOXTOWN HOPSCA Brand Village）项目。它是国内第一家超大型outlet购物村，因为有未来的上海迪士尼乐园的这块金字招牌，2007年10月1日刚刚开业的outlet购物村挤满了ARMANI、BURBERRY、ESCADE等国际一线品牌。
　　为了迪士尼，上海方面还规划了市郊专线浦东铁路和轨道交通11号线。浦东铁路全长117公里，线路途经金山、奉贤、南汇、浦东等四个区，工程总投资76亿元左右；轨道交通11号线，由嘉定安亭至洋山港临港新城，全长120公里，将在迪士尼乐园设有站点。
　　规划中的上海华东六省客运总站将是上海迪士尼乐园附近最大的交通枢纽。钱伟忠告诉《望东方周刊》，这个客运总站将采用乘客与行李分离的“航空标准”，为上海迪士尼乐园带来宁波、杭州、苏州等50多个城市的高端游客，以及江浙乃至更远范围的旅客群体，其主要功能就是配合上海迪士尼乐园。
“迪士尼新城”
　　上海要建迪士尼乐园的消息，传闻已久。2002年7月迪士尼公司就传出消息，称已和上海市政府签订了在中国内地建迪士尼乐园的意向书。

superchan7

November 13th, 2007, 08:49 PM

One look at Disneyland and it's massive land reclamation from the air and the stagnant popularity is explained.

EricIsHim

November 13th, 2007, 11:32 PM

One look at Disneyland and it's massive land reclamation from the air and the stagnant popularity is explained.

Google! Map is the place to be.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=hong+kong&ie=UTF8&ll=22.320701,114.064522&spn=0.114971,0.22934&t=k&z=13&om=1
You can see the landmass have been reclaimed if you zoom in and out between level 7 and 8. Level 8 shows no reclamation and 7 shows afterward.

hkskyline

November 14th, 2007, 11:28 AM

Swift action needed to revive HK Disneyland
10 November 2007
South China Morning Post

When a chief financial officer says an investment has fallen short of expectations, it can safely be assumed this is an understatement. Yet, these were the words Disney finance chief Tom Staggs used to describe the performance of Hong Kong Disneyland since it opened two years ago.

The trouble-plagued theme park, 57 per cent of which is owned by the government - and therefore the taxpayer - has consistently refused to disclose its finances. This has led to suspicion about its true financial health. Worryingly, Mr Staggs disclosed yesterday the park would repay in one year a 15-year, HK$2.32 billion loan. The park has put the best possible face on this, saying the early repayment frees it from meeting future interest payments and from conditions set in the debt covenants.

Since the terms of the debt have not been disclosed, it is unclear whether they included benchmarks on sales and visitor attendance, among other profitability indicators. In the absence of financial data to show otherwise, the park's latest disclosure creates suspicion that lenders are getting cold feet because of questions about its profitability. The news about the debt repayment, therefore, is not only disappointing - it raises serious questions about the park's future. There is an urgent need for Disney and the government to come clean about the park's finances. Otherwise many people will assume the worst. Whatever confidentiality agreement there is between the government and Disney, taxpayers - as investors - have a right to be given a clearer picture of its financial health. And whatever trouble there is, the two park owners need to work out quickly a comprehensive plan to revive the attraction.

Mr Staggs said Disney would defer collecting royalties for several years from the park. Visitors have noticed that some services, such as hotel restaurant operating hours and menus have been cut back. New charges have been quietly introduced at its hotels and within the theme park. But royalty deferral and cost-cutting are short-term measures and do not address the underlying problems.

The park urgently needs new attractions to boost attendance. It would not disclose its visitor numbers for the second year of business, but they are expected to be well below its first year's 5.2 million, which in turn was less than originally projected. The park did open Mickey's WaterWorks Parade and Animation Academy this summer, but these are minor attractions. Perhaps the legendary It's a Small World, scheduled to open in April, will help lure more visitors, but this remains to be seen.

The next phase of the park's development should be expedited. But building major attractions will require new investment. Both Mr Staggs and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma Si-hang have been dropping hints recently that this may be necessary to revive the park's fortunes. If this is so, both sides have a responsibility to disclose the level of additional investment they intend to make. The time to negotiate behind close doors has passed after so many mishaps and concerns that have shaken public confidence and raised questions about the park's management.

It is not too late to turn the park around. Not long ago, Ocean Park suffered five years of huge losses. Today, it is back in the black, undergoing a HK$5.5 billion redevelopment and attracting overseas interest as a franchise. Disneyland remains a great global franchise, its characters adored by children everywhere. With rising visitors numbers here, there is no reason it cannot fulfil its potential.

hkskyline

November 22nd, 2007, 11:13 AM

Disney filing shows Hong Kong park loan details

LOS ANGELES, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The Walt Disney Co revealed some details on amended loan terms for its ailing Hong Kong park on Wednesday, including its waiver of management fees, as well as a previously announced deferral of royalties for fiscal 2008 and 2009.

The company also said in its 10-K annual filing that it expects to distribute about 13 feature films in fiscal 2008 under the Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar and Touchstone Pictures banners and nine films under the Miramax banner.

It listed $22.8 billion in total contractual commitments for broadcast rights for sports, feature films and other programming as of the Sept. 29 end of its fiscal year.

That total includes $1.1 billion for available programming and about $19.2 billion related to sports programming rights, primarily NFL, NBA, NASCAR, MLB and College Football.

Disney said earlier this month that two-year-old Hong Kong Disneyland, in which it holds a minority stake, had to change the terms of loans whose performance-based covenants it had not been able to meet.

Disney and the park reached an agreement with its creditors, effective Nov. 14, to remove the performance measures tied to a term loan and revolving credit facility.

The new agreement shortened the $284 million term loan maturity to Sept. 30, 2008 and decreased the available credit in the revolving facility to $103 million from $129 million.

The loan previously matured in 2015 and the revolving credit facility had been frozen after the park failed to meet attendance targets since its September 2005 opening.

In the filing, Disney said it would be paid deferred royalties "dependent upon the future operating performance of Hong Kong Disneyland."

The company reiterated it expects to invest more money in the park, which analysts have described as too small to attract enough visitors to meet its attendance targets.

Disney shares closed down 16 cents, or less than 1 percent, at $31.50 on Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Gina Keating; editing by Andre Grenon)

hkskyline

December 6th, 2007, 06:28 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland's first years "unsatisfactory"

HONG KONG, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong Disneyland's first two years of operation were "not satisfactory" and the city government -- a co-owner of the park which opened in 2005 -- would keep pushing for improvements, a senior official said on Wednesday. Walt Disney Co's second outpost in Asia has missed its attendance goals for two years running in the face of stiff competition from incumbent local competitor Ocean Park.

Frederick Ma, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, told legislators the park helped enhance Hong Kong's brand image and was a one of the city's largest employers of full-time entertainment staff.

More families were visiting Hong Kong with children, and Disneyland helped "anchor" that segment, he added.

"Notwithstanding these benefits, the first two years of Hong Kong Disneyland's operation were not satisfactory and the park is still taking time to adapt to the local operational environment," he noted.

"The government will continue to urge the park management to formulate cost-effective business strategies, improve the park's operational efficiency and work more closely with the local travel trade, with a view to harnessing the full economic potentials of this international theme park."

Poor attendance at the 310-acre (125 hectare) resort -- Disney's smallest -- has weighed on Disney's results and the firm is under pressure to find funds to revamp the "magic kingdom".

Shanghai is planning to build a major theme park, possibly a Disneyland, which would further complicate matters for the Hong Kong park. Tokyo is home to Disney's first theme park in Asia.

The Hong Kong government holds a 57 percent stake in the park, and Disney holds the remaining 43 percent.

hkskyline

December 6th, 2007, 06:29 PM

By yunkuen123 from a Hong Kong photography forum :

http://61.93.99.61/kuen_blog/attachment/1191326193_0.jpg

http://61.93.99.61/kuen_blog/attachment/1191327546_1.jpg

http://61.93.99.61/kuen_blog/attachment/1191327546_2.jpg

http://61.93.99.61/kuen_blog/attachment/1191329263_0.jpg

http://61.93.99.61/kuen_blog/attachment/1191329263_1.jpg

http://61.93.99.61/kuen_blog/attachment/1191329263_3.jpg

http://61.93.99.61/kuen_blog/attachment/1191329348_0.jpg

hkskyline

December 7th, 2007, 05:08 AM

LCQ4: Economic benefits of Hong Kong Disneyland
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Government Press Release

Following is a reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, to a question by Dr Hon David Li Kwok-po in the Legislative Council today (December 5):

Question:

When the Government announced the Hong Kong Disneyland project in 1999, it estimated that the "net economic benefit in present value over 40 years" would be $148 billion. The Government also stated that "in addition to the substantial quantifiable economic benefits as assessed above, the theme park and its associated facilities are also expected to bring about significant non-quantifiable benefits". In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it has conducted separate assessments of the quantifiable economic benefits that Hong Kong Disneyland has brought to the local economy since its opening, and of the non-quantifiable benefits (e.g. knowledge transfer to the local technology and creative industries); if it has, of the respective assessment results?

Reply:

Madam President,

The Government had briefed the Legislative Council on the economic assessment of the Hong Kong Disneyland project in November 1999. The Government's assessment made in 1999 was a long-term projection of the economic benefits of the Hong Kong Disneyland project over a span of 40 years based on Phase I of the project, which involved the identification and estimation of the various components of economic benefits against the economic costs to be incurred for the project.

The economic assessment done in 1999 had examined six scenarios using different assumptions about tourist growth rate, market penetration rate, etc. to test the robustness of results. Under these six scenarios, it was estimated that Hong Kong Disneyland would attract an attendance ranging from 4.1 million in the most conservative case scenario to 5.2 million in the base case scenario in its first year of operation. It was further estimated that such attendance would rise steadily thereafter to 5.47 million in 2006 and 10.57 million in 2044 under the base case scenario. This would bring about a net economic benefit of $80 billion in the most conservative case scenario to $148 billion in the base case scenario, at 1999 prices, over a 40-year period. All these scenarios indicated that the project would be economically viable. The Government, with the assistance and input of its financial advisers, considered at that time that the base case scenario should be a reasonable basis for conducting the economic assessment.

In the light of the comments made by members of the Legislative Council and academics in 1999 on the levels of some of the assumptions to project economic benefit for the Hong Kong Disneyland project, Government Economist conducted two further test scenarios whereby the key assumptions were scaled down by 20% and 50% respectively from that of the most conservative case scenario. The results of these further tests were that the Hong Kong Disneyland project would remain viable economically with the net economic benefit, at 1999 prices, reduced to $48 billion (if scaled down by 20%) and $30 billion (if scaled down by 50%) over a span of 40 years.

As the economic viability of the project is assessed from a long term perspective, and since the park has opened for just over two years, the Government has not conducted another assessment of the quantifiable economic benefits that Hong Kong Disneyland has brought to the local economy since its opening.

Hong Kong Disneyland is one of Government's strategic initiatives for reinvigorating tourism, and for positioning Hong Kong as a premier destination for family travel. It provides a world-class theme park with quality family recreational facilities for public enjoyment. In 2006, the number of overnight family visitors, and children visitors under the age of sixteen, increased by 15.8% and 23.5% respectively as compared to 2005. 36% of our overnight family visitors brought along children to Hong Kong, up from 26% in 2005. The presence of Hong Kong Disneyland in Hong Kong helps to anchor this important market segment. Recent guest satisfaction surveys conducted by park management show that 90% visitors rated their experience in Hong Kong Disneyland as positive, and 92% expressed intent to visit the park again.

Apart from quantifiable economic benefits, the Hong Kong Disneyland project has also brought non-quantifiable benefits to Hong Kong. First, it is a globally renowned theme park. Its establishment in Hong Kong helps enhance Hong Kong's brand value as a cosmopolitan city featuring cultural diversity and creative vigour, and strengthens Hong Kong's position as a major tourist centre in the region.

Secondly, Hong Kong Disneyland is one of the largest employers of full time entertainment staff in Hong Kong, providing employment opportunities for about 4,300 performers, technicians, costumers, designers, pyrotechnicians, stage managers and other supporting staff. It also helps to develop talents in these fields by offering 12 scholarships for students of the Academy for Performing Arts and 160 placements in the internship programme for students of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education in this academic year.

Thirdly, Hong Kong Disneyland has recently introduced an innovative technology at the main entrance turnstile of the park to speed up admission of visitors. A number of local and regional enterprises have shown interest in this new technology. Such knowledge transfer will be beneficial to our technological development.

Notwithstanding these benefits, the first two years of Hong Kong Disneyland's operation was not satisfactory and the park is still taking time to adapt to the local operational environment. We note that the attendance of the Park did not meet the projected attendance under the base case scenario in its second year of operation. The Government will continue to urge the park management to formulate cost-effective business strategies, improve the park's operational efficiency and work more closely with the local travel trade, with a view to harnessing the full economic potentials of this international theme park.

hkskyline

December 19th, 2007, 03:53 AM

Numbers slump as Mickey loses appeal for locals
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Mickey Mouse and his friends appear to have lost their charm as the number of visitors to the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park dropped 23 percent in its second year of operation.

According to a paper to be discussed by the Legislative Council's economic development panel on Friday, the park recorded just over four million visitors from October 2006 to September 2007, compared to 5.2 million in the first year after its launch on September 12, 2005.

Hong Kong Disneyland is one of Hong Kong's key attractions and was designed to revive the tourist industry which went into a slump following the 2003 SARS outbreak.

On a brighter note, while overall attendance was down, the paper said the number of overnight family visitors was up 15.8 percent from 2005 and the number of visitors under the age of 16 had increased by 23.5 percent.

According to the paper, issued by the Tourism Commission and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the drop in attendance was mainly due to a lack of interest by Hongkongers. Locals accounted for just 31 percent of the total number of visitors in 2006/07, compared with 42 percent in 2005/06.

Conversely the percentage of mainland visitors rose from 34 percent in 2005/06 to 39 percent in 2006/07. Overall, the paper said that up to December this year the park had received more than 10 million visitors since opening in 2005, placing it among the top 20 theme parks in the world.

A survey carried out by theme park operator Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited, of which the government and the Walt Disney Company are joint shareholders, showed 90 percent of visitors rated their experience at Hong Kong Disneyland as positive and 92 percent said they would like to revisit the park again, compared with an 85 percent rating in the opening year.

On November 10, the Walt Disney Company admitted for the first time that the poor performance of Hong Kong Disneyland was dragging down its results, prompting calls from the SAR government for the park's management to improve its operations.

Hong Kong Disneyland's worsening performance has left the park unable to meet performance promises to its lenders and the American entertainment giant has asked creditors to temporarily remove the covenants on its US$294 million (HK$2.29 billion) revolving- credit facility.

Following conversations with the government, Disney has also agreed to give up its royalties for "a couple of years," according to reports.

hkskyline

December 19th, 2007, 06:05 PM

Hong Kong Disneyland adds 4 new shows, tries discount ticket amid disappointing attendance
19 December 2007

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong Disneyland said Wednesday it plans to add four new shows and launch a discount ticket for tourists on a trial basis in 2008 amid news its attendance plunged this year.

The park also said in a statement it will open a previously announced attraction, the classic Disney ride "It's a Small World," this coming spring.

Hong Kong Disneyland said the four new shows are "Muppet Mobile Lab," which features the Muppets characters, a show based on the hit Disney TV movie "High School Musical," an interactive show featuring the character Crush from the animated movie "Finding Nemo," and a presentation showcasing drawings and art work from Disney and Pixar animated movies.

Hong Kong Disneyland spokeswoman Glendy Chu said the four shows will be launched between spring and fall 2008, but the exact timing hasn't been decided.

The park will also try out a new class of discount tickets for air passengers traveling through Hong Kong, Chu said. The tickets, priced at 198 Hong Kong dollars ($25) for guests of all ages, will launch in January, with the trial period to last several months, she said.

The new ticketing plan, which includes ground transportation to and from the airport, is only open to tourists with a same-day onward plane ticket. Hong Kong Disneyland and Hong Kong's airport are both located on outlying Lantau island.

A non-peak day adult ticket to the park currently costs 295 Hong Kong dollars ($38) and admission for a child aged 3-11 costs 210 Hong Kong dollars ($27).

The shows and the new ticket were announced amid questions about Hong Kong Disneyland's performance.

The Hong Kong government -- which holds a majority stake in the $3.5 billion park -- said Monday that visitor numbers tumbled to 4 million in its second year of operations from 5.2 million a year earlier.

The park has been heavily criticized for being too small and lacking the high-profile rides of its sister parks in Tokyo, Paris and the United States.

It faces increased competition from Ocean Park, a local marine-based adventure park. There are also reports of a possible Disney theme park in Shanghai.

The government has balked at putting any more money into the theme park until it turns around its losses. The park is 57 percent owned by the Hong Kong government and 43 percent owned by The Walt Disney Co.

hkskyline

December 20th, 2007, 06:11 PM

Source : http://www.fotop.net/ahtong

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_4928.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5019.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5083.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5110.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5258.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5265.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5295.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5399.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5431.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5441.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5454.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5555.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5567.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5756.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/ahtong/disneyland/DSC_5757.jpg

hkskyline

December 22nd, 2007, 04:52 AM

Disneyland looks to local partners for visitor magic
Hong Kong Standard
Saturday, December 22, 2007

One pass for three tourist attractions is one of Hong Kong Disneyland's strategies to boost attendance.

Disneyland may pick Ngong Ping 360 on Lantau and the Peak as possible pass partners.

This is one tactic being considered by the international entertainment giant to boost its attendance figures after seeing a sharp fall in visitors in the second year of Hong Kong Disneyland's operation - from 5.2 million in the first year to 4 million last year.

Bill Ernest, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland told the Legislative Council economic development panel on Friday the company is setting its sights on the cable car company and the Peak after talks with major rival Ocean Peak failed.

Commissioner for Tourism Au King-chi said the problem had been over splitting profit between the two theme parks.

Ernest also said Disneyland is modifying its marketing strategy from being family-oriented to catering for young adults because family visitors were more seasonal in Hong Kong.

But he added: "We will continue to enhance special year-round events such as Halloween and Christmas, which are extremely popular among adults."

Some tourism professionals said Hong Kong Disneyland should learn from Ocean Park if it hopes to revive gate numbers.

Hong Kong Disneyland is the smallest of the five Disney theme parks around the world.

The professionals said before phase two of Hong Kong Disneyland's expansion is completed, its first mission is to increase the number of small rides.

"Rides, like the merry-go-around, can be found in every theme park," said Inbound Travel Association chairman Paul Leung Yiu-lam. "Many Hong Kongers have already seen pandas and jellyfish many times, but they still attract visitors at Ocean Park."

Leung said visitors could only spend up to four or five hours at Disneyland. There is a long wait if they wish to watch the parade at 8pm.

He said Ocean Park is almost always included in inbound tour itineraries, but only 30 percent of them go to Disneyland because they need to pay extra to visit the park.

Tony Tse Sze-ming, program director (industry partnerships) at the Polytechnic University's school of hotel and tourism management, said the revival of Ocean Park and the disappointing performance of Disneyland were not what he expected.

Despite its small size, the quality of rides and employees at Hong Kong Disneyland are on par with those overseas, said Tse. But Ocean Park, he said, succeeded in touching Hong Kongers' hearts whereas Disneyland is seen as an American product.

Tse also said Ocean Park, established over 30 years ago, has established better relations with travel agencies.

Long before the formal opening of Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005, the theme park was criticized by the industry for offering too little commission to local agencies.

"I think Hong Kong Disneyland relies more on local travel agencies to promote the park," said Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao- chung. "But the amount of commission local agencies receive is exactly the same as mainland agencies."

While the Walt Disney Company is reportedly planning another Disneyland in Shanghai, neither Leung nor Tse considered it a big concern for the Hong Kong park.

"The Chinese market is too big for one theme park to dominate," said Tse. " When tourists come to Hong Kong, they don't only come here for Disneyland. It's just one of the attractions."

Leung said it is too early to worry about Shanghai. "By the time the one in Shanghai is completed ours might have improved and expanded a lot."

hkskyline

December 23rd, 2007, 06:45 PM

Hong Kong legislators criticize Disneyland results
21 December 2007

HONG KONG (AP) - Local legislators criticized the poor performance of Hong Kong Disneyland, with one suggesting Friday the government should consider abandoning its joint venture with The Walt Disney Co.

A Hong Kong official said at a hearing the park was a long-term investment, while the park's managing director said attendance figures were beginning to improve and that Disney will likely expand the park to draw more visitors.

The Hong Kong government, which holds a majority stake in the park, said Monday that visitor numbers tumbled to 4 million in its second year from 5.2 million a year earlier.

The park, which opened in September 2005, has been heavily criticized for being too small and lacking the high-profile rides of its sister parks in Tokyo, Paris and the United States.

It faces increased competition from Ocean Park, a local marine-based adventure park. There have also been reports of a possible Disney theme park in Shanghai. Ocean Park opened in 1977 but has recently added a jellyfish house, five annual events such as a Halloween celebration and upgraded its food outlets.

Legislators expressed frustration about Hong Kong Disneyland's poor progress.

Opposition legislator Fred Li noted the Hong Kong government footed most of the park's $3.5 billion construction cost and demanded Disney invest more in the project. The government owns 57 percent of Hong Kong Disneyland, with Disney owning the rest.

"In the future, you should pay for the lobster and we should only pay for the soup or the sauce," Li told Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest, who attended Friday's hearing.

Another opposition lawmaker, Mandy Tam, asked if the government would consider pulling out of the project altogether.

"Under what circumstances will you decide to terminate your agreement with the company ( Disney)?" she said.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma said the park should be given time to reach its potential.

"It's true the return for the first two years was not satisfactory. As shareholders, we have reflected our discontent to the management. But we do understand very well this is a long-term investment," he said.

Ernest said Disney expects to invest in the park's expansion and that the company was discussing expansion plans with the government.

The park also announced Wednesday it will add the classic Disney ride "It's a Small World" and four new shows next year.

Ernest said attendance has shown signs of recovery, with visitor numbers for the last quarter this year already up from the fourth quarter of 2006.

Ma said the government hasn't decided whether to invest more in the park.

"It's about public money, so we have to be very careful," he said.

hkskyline

January 15th, 2008, 05:54 PM

Opposition rises to Disney bailout
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, January 15, 2008

A majority of the people do not want to see public funds spent on expanding Disneyland while less than half believe the park's benefits outweigh the amount of money the government has put into the venture so far, a survey has shown.

The survey, conducted by Polytechnic University, showed that of the 520 people interviewed between November 26 to 30, nearly two-thirds, or 63 percent, opposed further government funding although most people believe new attractions should be added.

General support for the park plunged from 86 percent in 2006 to 71 percent last year, its lowest in seven years since the university started polling the public to gauge support for the theme park. The government owns 57 percent of Hong Kong International Theme Parks, which operates the theme park.

Those who believe the park's benefits outweigh the government's HK$13.6 billion funding has dwindled to 48 percent from 63 percent.

The international entertainment giant is seeking ways to boost attendance, which plummeted to just over four million from 5.2 million in its first year.

The government said last month it is considering injecting fresh funds after attendance fell below expectations.

Hotel and tourism management professor John Ap warned of a huge public backlash if it did so.

"More money needs to be poured into Disneyland, but it should not be coming from the government," he said.

"Disney has already had a very good deal. To improve relations with the community, it should put its money where its mouth is."

Although the park is recovering from the negative press it received after its opening, Ap said its strategies are still Western-based.

"It has to understand the Hong Kong people and the mainlanders to run a viable park. The mother company should give its Lantau park senior management more leeway," Ap said.

Another main issue is pricing, with 67 percent of the respondents saying paying out HK$295 to HK$350 to enter the park is not value for money.

In addition, 75 percent said the opening of Disneyland did not reduce their desire to visit Ocean Park.

Ap said the company faces an uphill battle to overcome the cultural barrier and attract more mainland tourists, especially with a Shanghai Disneyland on the cards.

The government said yesterday it is holding initial talks with the Walt Disney Company on the possibility of expanding the park and financial arrangements.

dragonball

January 18th, 2008, 12:21 AM

i hear Hongkong Disneyland was'nt very success.
anyone can tell me why this HK Disneyland is not so success ?

hkskyline

January 18th, 2008, 04:26 AM

i hear Hongkong Disneyland was'nt very success.
anyone can tell me why this HK Disneyland is not so success ?

It's too small. They were too conservative to build something big and wanted to test the waters, not realizing having a small conservative park isn't so attractive to begin with.

However, patronage is not bad although short of projections. There were 4 million visitors in 2007, which is still quite a substantial number come to think of it.

hkskyline

January 23rd, 2008, 06:26 PM

Disney caters for adults in expansion plan
22 January 2008
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong Disneyland will add two new themed "lands" with more adult appeal as part of its expansion plans, managing director Bill Ernest said.

He declined to identify the themes but said they would appeal more to adults and young professionals. This would help the theme park strike a balance with its generally tamer fare for families and children.

"The names of the lands are still working titles, but I haven't seen them anywhere else before," Mr Ernest said.

The government and Disney, the theme park's joint venture partners, are currently evaluating Hong Kong Disneyland's business model amid plans for expansion. The push for more attractions that appeal to a more mature audience follows the relative success of the theme park's first foray into more adult-oriented entertainment during Halloween last year. There was double-digit growth year on year in Halloween attendance, Mr Ernest said.

The theme park is also directing its mainland marketing efforts at families and young professionals in seven cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou , Tianjin and Nanjing . The mainland is an important source market, as it accounts for more than 50 per cent of the park's summer attendance.

Hong Kong Disneyland attractions are currently themed after Adventureland's jungle environment, the futuristic Tomorrowland, Fantasyland's magical theme and Main Street USA, which is designed to evoke small-town America. The theme park has taken up about 80 hectares of the 126-hectare site, with the rest left for future development.

There are similar "lands" at Disney's other parks around the world. In Paris, there are eight, including Toon Studio, Frontierland as well as special effects-themed Production Courtyard and Backlot, which is also at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

The Tokyo park has seven, such as Western Land, Toontown, World Bazaar and Critter Country, the last of which is also part of the park in Anaheim, California.