The HKDL Source

 

 

News Update & Commentary - Update for March 12 to March 18

 

 

Welcome back to the craziest column that ever donned the name ‘This Week in Hong Kong Disneyland’. We’re pretty sure that is just us, but it’s best to mark out your territory. Otherwise, things just start to get ugly. It’s been a big week for us, even if nothing much is happening over in Hong Kong Disneyland. We’ve been working! Well, to be fair, Alex has been working and the rest of us have been like “Dude, that’s some pretty good work right there”. Meanwhile, the small family of squirrels that seem to be involved in almost everything we do have considered taking a holiday to the south of France just to get away from our insanity. That’s how busy we’ve been. We’ve scared squirrels into learning French.

 

Well, our big news is the server move. We went down overnight as a result of the move, and there are a few dead-end alleyways as a result. For those of you who don’t speak fluent Richard, allow me to translate: there are some broken links on the site. If you find any, and they are going to largely be in the news stories, please let us know about them. We’d not only appreciate it, but we’d also hold you dear in our hearts, minds and a cage we have in the basement.

 

A great deal has happened since last week’s column, in which we spoke a bit about how far the park has come in the last 18 months. This prompted an interesting response from An Insider, someone who has provided us with some interesting commentary in the past. Picking up on our comparisons with Disney’s California Adventure, as well as the closures happening about the park last week, the reader said: “I noticed you complaining about attractions being closed and the fact that HKDL is smaller than other parks so it has a greater impact. Just from a SoCal perspective... it really is a good thing that that happens because it means a lot of construction is happening or at least is being planned. Disney doesn't close down attractions unless absolutely needed.” Fair enough, and I can see how we may have sounded a little negative about the park. To clarify, we were merely observing that Hong Kong Disneyland – in its present state – really feels the closure of one or two rides. We can only imagine what would happen if Space Mountain went down for some reason. Still, we share your optimism, which is why we come back and keep writing about this every week. With it’s a small world; the rumoured Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, as well as several other parades and smaller attractions on the cards for the park, we predict that things will only get better.

 

Of course, we did get a few answers from Disney this week about the promise of that future. While we have no confirmation as to whether the Main Street Electrical Parade is coming to Hong Kong Disneyland – although some say the floats are already in Hong Kong – we only got some confirmation on things the media had already reported. The most interesting of these looks to be a series of celebration and promotion options, which will be related to kids and the Annual Pass program, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Details have yet to be confirmed. We also know that Easter will happen this year (so back off Santa, you’ve got to wait a few months yet), with events in the park, in the hotels and of course, the shops. Stay tuned for more information on all of these things. As soon as we know, you’ll know.

 

The other thing I wanted to mention again this week is HKDL Source’s support of the Disney Online Community's charity drive, led by MiceAge columnist Kevin Yee, to Give Kids the World. Give Kids the World is a magical resort where kids who face life-threatening illnesses can be kids.

 

To make a donation to this very worthy cause, you can do a number of things. The most obvious is clicking on the banner below and making a donation that way:

 

 

 

Please donate. Every little bit helps.

 

Remember, as always, if you have any news, photos, trip reports or just a question, feel free to contact us. Another way you can help out the site is by voting for us on The Disney Portal. They rank all of the Disney sites on the web according to popularity and numbers of hits, and we are slowly making our way up the ranks. If you want to help us move up even higher, please use the link below to vote for us.

 

 

 

Current Closures/Refurbishments

 

• UFO Zone (Tomorrowland): will be CLOSED March 6 to March 14.
• Autopia (Tomorrowland): will not be wheelchair accessible March 6 to March 14.
• The Disneyland Story (Main Street): Disney wasted no time in taking down the Christmas trappings, but The Disneyland Story is still not as it was originally. The penguin figures and concept sketches from the forthcoming it’s a small world attraction will be temporarily on display in the Opera House.
• Fantasyland: No closures in Fantasyland, but there is constant construction going on ‘beyond the berm’ for the forthcoming it’s a small world attraction (Coming 2008).
• Land appears to be cleared behind Adventureland and the Promenade for as-yet-undisclosed project. While some contend that this land has always been in this state, we have reports that some construction was seen to be going on in this area. Others still say that this is prep-work for a Downtown Disney style area and the Pirates extension to Adventureland. Time will tell.

 

Events & Important Dates

 

If you know of any events that should be listed here, please let us know. 

 

 

April

• Ching Ming Festival (April 5): This spring festival may not have an official presence in the park, but it has been classified a Peak Ticket Day. Expect it to be busy, coming as it does immediately before the Easter long weekend.
• Easter Long Weekend (April 6 - 9): No official announcement has been made of a park event, and if history is a guide then there may not be anything major, but all four days have been classified Peak Ticket Days. Combined with the Ching Ming Festival (above), this could be a busy week. At the very least, expect hotel events and seasonal merchandise, and perhaps some springtime floral arrangements throughout the park as we saw in 2006.

 

May

• Buddha’s Birthday (May 24): The birthday of this spiritual leader is celebrated as a public holiday in Hong Kong. Another Peak Ticket Day.
• Pirates Overlay (May/June): Disney has announced that they will be celebrating the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End in grand style, with pirates taking over Adventureland and the hotels. See here for more details.

 

June

• Tuen Ng Festival (June 19): Also, known as the Dragon Boat Festival. It is a day for patriotic remembrance, eating cakes and dragon boat races. It is yet another Peak Ticket Day.

 

July

• Summer attractions: While no official date has been announced as yet, we expect the Mickey’s WaterWorks parade and the Animation Academy to open sometime in July.
• Hong Kong SAR Anniversary (Confirmed): Disney confirms that they wish to celebrate with a series of events to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong returning to China as, well as the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region Government on 1st July 2007.
• First Anniversary of HKDL Source: We turn 1 in July, and you know we aren’t going to let it slide. There will be street parades; fireworks…well, ok, maybe not. The budget won’t cover that. However, stayed tuned for competitions; more member interactivity and a whole makeover for the site!

September

• Hong Kong Disneyland’s Birthday: Hong Kong Disneyland turns two. No official word on any celebrations, but given that the First Anniversary was relatively low-key, we can’t imagine any huge events on the horizon. Don’t quote us though.

Current Discounts/Promotions

• Spring Getaway Package: From 31 January to 30 April 2007, Standard Chartered Visa Cardholders/ MANHATTAN Visa Cardholders can enjoy 1 night stay at our hotels and a breakfast or dinner buffet, starting from just HK$1,380 for 2 persons. The official site has all the details. See also the St. Valentine’s listing in events (above) or press release here.
• Interest Free Installment when Purchasing Annual Passes: Purchase Annual Pass now with a Standard Chartered VISA Card or MANHATTAN VISA Card to enjoy a 12-month interest free installment. Offer Period: 1 December, 2006 – 31 May, 2007. See here for details. 
• Stay and Play for 2 Days: Book a hotel stay and enjoy an extra day at Hong Kong Disneyland when you purchase a one-day ticket! The offer has been extended until 29 September 2007!
• Dining Deal: Book breakfast in advance and receive 30% off. Conditions apply.

 

Park Hours/Schedule/Annual Pass Block-out Days

 

This week and next, park hours will be from 10:00AM to 7:30PM.  However, these hours extend to 8:00 PM from March 26.

 

 

Also note that fireworks will be at 7:15 PM as a result of the earlier closure.

Value Annual Passholders will have all weekends blocked to them during March. Deluxe and Premium Passholders have no blockout dates in the near future

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