The HKDL Source

Update for September 17  to September 23 - 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: Birthdays and Billions | Autopia Accident | Countdown to Seasonal Mickey

 

It's tough getting out of bed most mornings, let alone working up the effort to type a weekly column. However, neither lack of sleep nor enthusiasm can stop us this week, as there is plenty to talk about. It's been a big week in Hong Kong Disneyland, with traffic accidents; protests and birthdays all keeping the park in the headlines. We guess the old adage about no publicity being bad publicity applies in liberal doses to our favourite little park this week.

 

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Birthdays and Billions

 

Hong Kong Disneyland celebrated a rather low-key second anniversary on Wednesday, with guests being given a special button (pictured left) within a white gift box. Many well-wishers across the Disney 'Net community tipped their collective hats to the park, although it wasn't all smiles and white frosting.

 

A group consisting of labour activists and students protested outside the gates of Hong Kong Disneyland on 12 September, bringing attention to the poor working conditions of Chinese factory workers who produce many of the Disney toys and merchandise that are available not only in the Hong Kong park, but in the Disney parks across the world and indeed, many non-park sources of Disney merchandise. AFP reports that the protestors claims included workers being "overworked, underpaid, exposed to dangerous toxins and forced to live in filthy conditions...forced to work 28 days a month and up to 15 hours a day...[and] are paid 2.5 yuan (32 US cents) per hour, 62.5 percent of the legal minimum wage of 4.02 yuan, while overtime premiums are also below the minimum required by law". Disney, rather than denying the allegations, responded by saying that they took the matter quite seriously and that "own investigation had revealed violations at the Haowei factory, adding that action would be taken to rectify the problem". This makes from a pleasant change to corporate denial, and we once again feel that it is not only Disney's job but their responsibility to ensure that these problems are rectified. As a major multinational corporation trying to open up markets into China, they have the power and responsibility to bring about change in any labour laws that fail to meet.

 

Meanwhile, CNN Money reports that the birthday failed to see the estimated number of people walk through the gates. As reported last month ("HKDL Falls Short Again", 16 August 2007); Hong Kong Disneyland did not look like it was going to reach its estimated target of 5.4 million for the second year, with a mere 4 million bodies through the gates by that stage in August. According to the CNN article, local media estimated that something close to 4.8 million people had walked through the gates between the first and second anniversaries. It also added "Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members' Union of 470 Hong Kong Disneyland workers said 63% were unhappy with management".

 

Which brings us back to the Hong Kong SAR Government. As a 57% shareholder, they can't be happy about the meagre returns that their significant investment has yielded. While the ball doesn't fall entirely in their court, the persistent reports of their failure to support additional funding can't be making it easy for Disney to pull their Hong Kong Disneyland investment out of the rut. Where it has taken Disney's California Adventure almost 6 years to get a guarantee of a $1 billion (US) 'extreme makeover', it has had the benefit of sitting next to one of the most famous theme parks in the world. Hong Kong, on the other hand, has had nothing but the skin of its own teeth to fly by on for the last two years, and there is barely enough skin to cover its own nudity. However, recent reports from Huaxia News (as reported on various forums) have indicated "Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong Government have been negotiating for a multi-billion (HK) 5-year expansion plan for Hong Kong Disneyland". If this holds up, then Hong Kong Disneyland may be getting much more than DCA and much sooner too. Let's just hope this stands up and some brand new E-Tickets are fast-tracked into the park over the next few years.

 

 

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Autopia Accident

 

Of course, the other big news from Hong Kong Disneyland this week was the temporary closure of Autopia following one of the cars derailing. While this is a common occurance at pretty much any Autopia/Speedway style ride around the world, it still managed to garner a fair bit of media attention this week.

 

Thankfully, the ride has now been given the all-clear. The Standard reports "The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department inspected and tested Autopia, and rides were allowed to resume at about 10am yesterday. A department spokesman said no damage was found except for the kerb which has since been repaired. He said the passenger involved in the incident was not holding the steering wheel when the car hit the kerb when negotiating a bend in one of the three tracks. The car ran off the track and slammed into the kerb, but the passenger was not hurt. A spokeswoman for the theme park said their staff and EMSD technicians checked the cars and the tracks and found them working normally. She added that Autopia has three tracks with one reserved for an emergency".

 

So, all's well that ends well we guess. 

 

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'Tis the Season to Be Mickey

 

Christmas is often referred to as the "silly season", and we are just over a week away from entering Disney's annual silly season: the October to January stretch that encompasses Halloween; Christmas and New Year. This event promises to be a big one this year, as it is the first big calendar event of Hong Kong Disneyland's third year. While Annual passholders will be able to see a preview of the decorations this time next week, the official celebration kicks off on 25 September. For those of you travelling to Hong Kong Disneyland this week, bear in mind that there will be a minor disruption as Space Mountain is out of order to be refitted for the Ghost Galaxy Halloween decorations. If the hype is to be believed, this may be worth the wait!

 

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Current and Forthcoming Closures, Refurbishments and Construction

 

• Space Mountain closes September 18 to 22 (THIS WEEK) for installation of Space Mountain - Ghost Galaxy Halloween features
• Taihitian Terrace (Adventureland) restaurant CLOSED September 18 to 20 (THIS WEEK). Resumes business on September 21
• 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. Reports state that this is pretty much finished. It's due to open September 25.

 

Events & Important Dates

 

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

September

• 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. Annual Passholders get to experience the joy a day earlier as part of a 24 September preview!
• Character Auditions (September 30): Want to be a part of the Hong Kong Disneyland magic? You can audition for one of the character roles this month on Sunday 30 September 2007. Full details can be found of Disney's Careers Website.

 

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 .

 

May 2008

• Richard visits Hong Kong Disneyland late in the month. Prepare the fortifications!

 

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 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, and the ticket prices will be reflected accordingly.

 

Value Annual Passholders will have all weekends blocked to them during 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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