The HKDL Source

 

 

 

News Update & Commentary - Update for March 26 to April 1

 

 

Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men! This week’s column was planned as a video feature, using footage of me – your dashing reporter too far from the field – and photos sent to us by our various spies. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it together in time, although I did shave for the occasion. Surely that is worth celebrating all by itself? Isn’t it? Anyone? Well, it seems that having to turn my clocks back for daylight savings has driven me completely mad.

 

This week we are going to talk about Easter. That’s right folks, it’s less than two weeks before you have to start giving out chocolate treats to your friends and loved ones, so if you haven’t started buying them yet we advise that you do so soon. Otherwise, you’ll just end up with those really tiny ones that taste like chalk. Of course, Disney has just announced their Easter plans for 2007, and compared with last year, it is positively magical. For those of you than can stretch your mind back to a time before HKDL Source (and we know it is difficult), last year’s Easter celebrations amounted to nothing much more than a flower show. However, this year there are a few more highlights. Between April 5 and 15, Disney will host a series of Easter-inspired kids’ activities for the park. April 5 through 9 will see an Easter Kid Zone in Fantasyland; while Adventureland will have a “Wild About Saftey” theme from April 4 to 10. We seem to recall a very similar-sounding campaign launched in November last year. Back then, the campaign was sponsored by Honda and partly used a cross-promotion for the recently opened Autopia. We’ll see closer to the dates if this has been spruced up for Easter, or if it has any relevance to Easter at all, but between the park activities, the hotel and theme park restaurant meals and the hotel activities, Disney seem to be making at least a token effort this year to celebrate Easter. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Disney theme park without merchandise, and that is already available in the theme park shops right now. Now far be it for us to accuse Disney of recycling their ideas already, but for now we can say that it is pleasing to see some effort being made for this most chocolatey of occasions.

 

We spoke a bit last week about the construction going on in the park, and established three distinct areas where things were going on. We all knew about the “it’s a small world” construction in Fantasyland; and the stuff near the gates is evidently for some exciting new toilets. While the Adventureland construction baffles us all, there is a definite structure happening back there and we can’t wait to find out more. Of course, our Chief Spy points out that there is a possible fourth area of construction. “There are cranes and machines outside the fountain on the promenade,” said the Chief Spy. “I'm not crazy! I have photographic proof.” As it turns out, she did have photographic proof, and we’ve reproduced it right here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, if we are printing photos, we can't forget to throw in one of the it's a small world construction, thanks to Spy Bennett, which seems to be progressing quite nicely:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of which, we have stacks of photos ready to go in our gallery - although ongoing problems with our server prevent us from doing so at the moment. Hopefully they will all be resolved this week.

 

 

In other news, last Thursday “Hong Kong Disneyland Welcomed 5,000 Delegates in First Ever Park 'Buy-Out' Event”. The event for a Japanese delegation saw the first ‘buy out’ of the park since the Grand Opening in September 2005, and all of the ride and park announcements read in Japanese. So if you have 4,999 friends and some cash to burn, why don’t you book out the park for the evening? I’m sure it will be all the rage in the Spring.

 

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

 

• 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 and built upon 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.
• Construction work is being carried out near the main gates, allegedly for some new toilets.

 

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 Fun (April 5 - 15): Disney has announced a host of Easter-inspired kids’ activities for the park. April 5 through 9 will see an Easter Kid Zone in Fantasyland; while Adventureland will have a “Wild About Saftey” theme from April 4 to 10. Kids can also take part in an “Easter Photo Hunt” from April 5 to 9. Easter games in the Hotels from April 5 to 15, but their special meals will begin March 31. Special meals will be served over the Easter long-weekend in the hotels. These days have been marked as Special Ticket Days. Full details can be found here.
• First Pin Trading Fun Day (April 13 – 15): 12:00noon ~ 6:00pm, with a 30 minute break before and after the parade, Pin Trading will take place on Main Street, at the rest area between Emporium & Main Street Sweets. During the event period, a unique and special "Pin Trading" Limited Edition Pin Box Set will be launched at a very special price. Bring along your own Pin Collection of 10 or more pins and fill a leaflet to redeem a mystery gift. (Thanks to Bennett Shui for details).

 

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 all of April, park hours will be from 10:00AM to 8:00PM.

 

 

Value Annual Passholders will have all weekends blocked to them during March and April. Additionally, Value Annual Passholders will have April 5 through 9 blocked, due to the Ching Ming Festival and Easter Long Weekend. Deluxe and Premium Passholders have no blockout dates in the near future

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