The HKDL Source

Update for August 27 to September 1 - News and Commentary

 

Skip To: Current Closures, Refurbishment and Construction |  Events & Important Dates | Current Discounts/Promotions | Park Hours/Schedule/Annual Pass Blockout Days | Comments

 

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News This Week: Spooky Spacey Surprises | IASW Construction Update | Last Week of Summer Fun

 

Spooky Spacey Surprises

 

It's not often we admit that we were surprised about a story, but the Halloween one has genuinely caught us a little off guard. Despite mentioning the possibility of a Haunted House for Halloween several weeks back, we were willing to dismiss the rumour until we heard something more concrete. Indeed, there had be so many 'haunted' rumours for Hong Kong Disneyland, our internal mental filters just play 'wait and see' until we hear something official. Of course, when the official announcement came that there would be not only a Haunted House erected on Main Street for Halloween, but several other unique seasonal attractions, Disney didn't exactly make it easy for us to find on their press site. Perhaps we have inadvertantly discovered the reason nobody hears about the seasonal promotions in the park. If the press can't find them...

 

To recap for those of you that can't be bothered reading the full press release, the all-new "Dark World" Haunted Halloween will run from September 25 to October 31 and feature:

 

• The Main Street Haunted Hotel
• A Glow in the Dark Halloween Parade
• Space Mountain - Ghost Galaxy
• The Haunted Tree in the Sleeping Beauty Courtyard

 

There will, of course, be additional spooky fun in form of Hotel activities and "streetmosphere", but this sounds like one of the most exciting Halloween events in any of the parks. While we've already had people commenting on the story and wondering where the "real" Haunted Mansion is - with Hong Kong Disneyland still being the only Disney Resort to not have one of their own - most of us are secretly hoping that Haunted Hotel serves as a forerunner to a Main Street Haunted Mansion (thus giving each 'Magic Kingdom' a Haunted Mansion in a different land).

 

Our Spy Mickey20d has been out in the park over the weekend, and took a few snaps of the construction going up over on Main Street:

 

 

 

While the walkthrough is still under construction - and not much can be seen from the outside at the moment - MiceChat forum poster jawnjarvis has generously shared some of the construction photos of what appears to be a pre-fabricated Haunted Hotel before it made its way over to Hong Kong Disneyland for assembly in time for the Halloween season. While the full selection may be found here, we've replicated a small selection here with the permission of the photographer. NB: these were taken on a phone camera, and we presently don't have higher resolution shots:

 

 

 

 

While the press release was difficult for us to find, the public site has already been updated with a brand-new Haunted Halloween Event Page. The spooky page lists details of the major events that will be happening over the Halloween 2007 period, and it allows you to purchase both One-Day tickets and Evening Tickets. With park hours extended until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays at the park during the event, as well as Wednesday 31 October 2007 (Halloween Night), you'd be a ghoul to not take advantage of some of these deals.

 

I have to admit - it's taking a fair bit of effort to not jump straight on to the above website right now and book a few nights in the Hollywood Hotel for the Halloween period. However, as I'm keen to save up my money - and my recreation leave - for a tri-Disney trip and Las Vegas wedding in April/May 2008 (where I'll hopefully be covering the new it's a small world attraction), I'm going to have to leave the coverage for someone else. So if anybody wants to put up their hands and volunteer for taking a few photos during the event, please let us know. Don't worry - as our army of spies grows, we are sure to provide you with plenty of photos and videos from what is bound to be the Big Event of the Hong Kong Disneyland year (in what has already been a year full of unique events).

 

 

IASW Construction Update

 

Hong Kong Disneyland is a little hive of activity at the moment, and the it's a small world construction is still ongoing. While at the park over the weekend, Mickey20d also took a few snaps of the ongoing construction of the dark ride set to open in April 2008. As we can see from these photos, which show the latest look of the attraction, a new road leading up to the forthcoming ride has been established. More exciting is the reconnected bridge in front of the construction site, showing us the route the train will take in the expanded Fantasyland. Eventually, guests will be able to walk under this bridge as they make their way to the it's a small world queue.

 

Thanks again to Mickey20d for all these wonderful photos, which can also be found in our it's a small world Construction Gallery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Week of Summer Fun

 

As one exciting new event is announced, another one comes to an end. This week in Hong Kong Disneyland is the last week you'll have a chance to see the fun of Mickey's Summer Blast. The event has been apparent success, with reports of crowds flocking to the fun of Pirate Land; Mickey's WaterWorks Parade and the Animation Academy, showing that Hong Kong Disneyland can turn out a fun summer event with the best of them. If you are yet to see the event, you now only have until the end of this week to catch it before it is gone forever! (Well, it may be back next year - you never know).

 

Indeed, after this week, the seasonal fun just doesn't let up. August 31 may see the end of one major seasonal event, but there are quite a few to go before the end of the year:

• September 12 - Hong Kong Disneyland's Second Anniversary
• September 25 to October 31 - Halloween
• November to December 31 - Christmas
• December 31/January 1 - Magical New Year

 

 

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Current and Forthcoming Closures, Refurbishments and Construction

 

• 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 April 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. The HK Building Department reports this as a 'Dangerous Goods Storage Area'. We now have an indication that a hotel will be going up in the area. Time will tell.
• Construction work is being carried out near the main gates, allegedly for some new toilets and Cast Member break room.
• Some work is being done next to the Plaza Inn on Main Street, for the Haunted House walkthrough to begin assembly here at some stage in the near future. It's due to open September 25.
• Mickey's WaterWorks & Pirate Land (Closes 31 August 2007)
• Space Mountain closes September 18 to 22 for installation of Space Mountain - Ghost Galaxy Halloween features

 

Events & Important Dates

 

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

 

On Now

• Mickey's Summer Blast: Mickey's WaterWorks and Animation Academy (July 14 - August 31): Officially launching for Summer on July 14, Annual Passholders have been told to expect to see these events from July 7. The WaterWorks now appears to be running twice daily, with no Disney on Parade at the moment. Now incorporating...
• ...Pirates Overlay (May 4 to August): 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. Now extended throughout summer.

September

• Hong Kong Disneyland’s Birthday (September 12): 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. Merchandise, including pins, T-shirts and biscuits, is already out in the shops.

 

October

• Halloween: (September 25 to October 31) Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialise all through September and October, as Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates its second official Halloween. Look for the decorations to go up late September, and then segue into the Christmas/New Year celebrations in November. This year will see the debut of a Haunted Hotel on Main Street; Space Mountain - Ghost Galaxy; a glow-in-the-dark parade and a host of other spooky surprises. You can read about the full line-up here.

 

November/December

• Christmas: From mid-November until New Year's Eve (December 31), Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street will become a Winter Wonderland, with a tree lighting ceremony; musical events; special meals and the big man himself, Santa.
• Magical New Year and Countdown: Concluding the Christmas festivities, this big event will be a dance party for some; some old-school shindigging for others and an excuse to have fun for all. Count down to midnight in the park, and then go back and drain the hotels of all alcohol.

 

April 2008

• it’s a small world (April 2008): RTHK News reports that the attraction is set to open in April 2008, which is consistent with Disney’s official line of ‘early 2008’. You can follow the progress in our Construction Photo Gallery .

 

Current Discounts/Promotions

• Annual Passholders: From July 1 to August 31, Passholders will receive an exclusive deals. Full details can be found here. September to December Passholder deals can be found here. Discounts for early renewals are also available.
• Bring a Friend Free: Annual Passholders can bring a friend to the park for free between September 1 and September 23! Details can be found 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 December, 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 September 2008!
• Dining Deal: Book breakfast in advance and receive 30% off. Conditions apply.

 

Park Hours/Schedule/Annual Pass Block-out Days

 

Park hours will stay at the extended time of 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM all week until the end of summer (August 31). Every day from now until the end of August is classed as a “Peak Ticket Day” and the ticket prices will be reflected accordingly. Park hours will return to 10:00 to 8:00pm all throughout September, except for the weekend of Friday 28th/Saturday 29th, where the park will remain open until 11:00 PM for the Halloween festivities. September 26 will be a Peak Ticket day.

 

Value Annual Passholders will have all weekends blocked to them during August and September, as well as September 26. Deluxe and Premium Annual Passholders get to go crazy, as no dates are blocked to them.

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