The HKDL Source

Update for December 31  to January 6 - News and Commentary

 

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News This Week: 2008 Awaits - Let's Party | Year of the (Mickey) Mouse | 2007 - The Year That Was | Top Things

 

We hope you all had a magical and safe Christmas, wherever you are in the world. If Santa wasn't good to you, and I'm sure he was, then I hope you were all gracious enough to save your bloody revenge until after the New Year, as we all need to be keeping our eyes glued to the park at the moment. It's been a few lazy days filled with food, films and fun. If you haven't done so already, go and check out Disney's latest offerings, National Treasure: Book of Secrets and Enchanted, two of the most genuinely fun and (dare I say) enchanting Disney films this year. Hey, with any luck, attractions based on these highly successful films will make great attractions in HKDL one day!

 

2008 Awaits - Let's Party

 

With the year that is, was and ever shall be 2007 almost over, and a new one only one digit and one day away from happening, the great Disneyland tradition of counting down the minutes until New Year is happening December 31 (tonight!) in Hong Kong Disneyland. With what is claimed to be Hong Kong's biggest outdoor dancefloor - and at the very least, we can be sure it is Hong Kong Disneyland's biggest outdoor dancefloor this New Year's Eve - Disney has already begun putting up the dancefloor, as you'd expect. Here are the scenes from the park over the weekend, as spotted by our Chief Spy (bless her cotton socks!):

 

 

 

 

 

Disney has promised that you can ring in the rockin' New Year as Hong Kong Disneyland is transformed into the biggest, hippest outdoor dancefloor! (Their words, not mine. I make no claims as to size. Well, I say I make no claims...) Meet Mickey and the gang in their holiday outfits for photos and fun, and get groovy as you boogie to guest DJs and VJs spinning the hits at Tomorrowland and in front of the Sparkling Castle Lights. The countdown to midnight and celebrate 2008 with spectacular lights and stunning pyrotechnics. If you aren't down there by the time you finish reading this column, then you are either wacky or unable. Either way, be there! Spiritually if nothing else!

 

Year of the (Mickey) Mouse

 

Before we look back at the year that was - as is our nostalgic right to do on the last day of the year -  we'll stay in the future for a bit, where apes rule and we blew it up. Damn us, damn us all to hell. If apes don't actually rule the planet in 2008 (and admit it, it would be kinda cool on some level - imagine that! Talking apes!); then we'll be all set to go for Chinese New Year and a Mouse named Mickey will be our new lord and master. As reported the other day, the Chinese New Year will follow a similar pattern to next year, although HKDL seems to be upping the ante this year (or 'plussing' in old-school Disney speak) with the addition of some new shows and the chance to visit Mickey Mouse in his home! You can also do some meet and greets with a couple of Gods, which raises all sorts of theological questions.

 

At any rate, in the spirit of prosperity, we'll gladly pimp Disney's latest promotion for the Chinese New Year of the Mouse (in Cantonese only, but it does offer some great glimpses at the features of the event):

 

 

Although it is technically the year of the Rat next year, a nice liberal translation will serve nice to create some synergy with Disney's own mascot, Mickey Mouse. As luck would have it, Mickey Mouse is also celebrating his big 80th birthday next year. Just as Disney declared 2007 the Year of Piglet around the same time as the Chinese Year of the Pig began, what will no doubt be a massive global Mickey Mouse push will be launching in 2008. Indeed, the South China Morning Post reports that:

 

Walt Disney Company will launch a series of promotional programmes in major Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, before Lunar New Year in an effort to make Mickey Mouse a household name and boost flagging attendances at its Hong Kong theme park. Potential visitors from the mainland will also be told that Hong Kong Disneyland will not impose peak season charges during the Lunar New Year holidays. Featured in the mainland campaign - capitalising on the fact that next lunar year is the Year of the Mouse - will be a Mickey Mouse theme song, gadgets, limited edition silver coins and Vivienne Tam-designed clothes.

 

Either way, this will be a great opportunity for Hong Kong Disneyland to be a flagship during one of the major events on the Disney calendar in the next twelve months.

 

2007 - The Year That Was

 

Some highlights over the last year have included:

• Bringing you Exclusive Photos of the it's a small world construction as it has continued to develop
• Tom's visit to Hong Kong Disneyland in February 2007
• Exclusively revealing the Pirates Takeover Overlay for Adventureland
• Launching the new-look HKDL Source in April
• Being invited by Disney to join them in launching Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End in the park
• Watching Mickey's Summer Blast 2007 kick off this week and all those lovely photos we received!
• Biting our nails as Autopia derailed, and then reopened shortly after
• Seeing the highlight of the year in the magnificent and original Dark World Halloween events, featuring a Haunted Hotel; a brilliant parade and Space Mountain - Ghost Galaxy in October and November;
• Celebrating another Sparkling Christmas with the park;
• Plodding into the 21st Century with the launch of our YouTube Channel
• In grand Disney tradition, attraction news was saved until last. Mixed reactions was a mild way of phrasing the response to the Four New Attractions for 2008

 

Of course, we couldn't have covered all of this without the support and generosity of our regular readers and fans of Hong Kong Disneyland. For their tireless efforts, we have to send big props to our Chief Spy, Spy Bennett Shiu, Mickey20d and SleeplessinSG who have provided us with so many photos over the last year that our gallery section has kept expanding. They also keep us abreast of everything happening in the park on a regular basis, and for that we thank them. We’d also like to thank some of the websites that have supported us in their continual linkage back to us, such as DLRP.fr; Disney Portal; Down Under Disneyana; Gordon over at Mousevine; Laughing Place; the inspirational Mouse Planet and DLP.info;  Mouse Savers and of course, Mice Chat. We’d also like to thank Disney Publicity for their putting up with our perpetual questions – and hopefully for some time to come – and absolutely anybody else we’ve forgotten in the rush to get this column out. I can't forget to mention Alex Sakker and Tom Pacy, my co-conspirators on this site. I may be the loud and visible one, but I just get to do the fun writing bit. They are locked in a small wheel toiling away on the site. They will continue to slave away in 2008.

 

Top Things

 

We couldn't let the last column of 2007 go without engaging in another inspirational countdown. This week, what else could we do but list the top attractions coming in 2008? In order, they are:

 

1. it's a small world

 

Thanks and don't forget to join us next year.

 

In all seriousness, which is incredibly hard for us to do, 2008 does promise to be a big one for Hong Kogn Disneyland. Even though the complementary attractions to IASW are not the most exciting in the world, at least something is happening. In combination with some unique events lined up for next year - and the promise of more money being injected into the park by both Disney and the Hong Kong SAR Government - we feel a little bit more optimistic going into 2008 than we did going into 2007. If nothing else, Hong Kong Disneyland has me to look forward to in May!

 

Standard Sign Out Section

It's the last column for the year! Nice that they timed 2007 to end on a Monday, so I could do this column in time. Amazing to think that it has come around so quickly. No doubt it has taken a year to get from the last one to this one, like it seems to do each year, but it just feels quicker, doesn't it? Take the opportunity to get down to see the Christmas decorations at Hong Kong Disneyland before January 2 - once they are gone, you'll have to wait another year for snow on Main Street.

 

On behalf of everyone here at HKDL Source, HAPPY NEW YEAR to our readers; our contributors and all of our well-wishers. To the rest of you, have a Happy New Year as well. We can only hope to convert you all in 2008!

 

Remember, as always, if you have any news, photos, trip reports or just a question, feel free to contact us.  We like to think of ourselves as the people's site.

Also, don't forget that you can now subscribe to The HKDL Source Newsfeed via the links below:

 

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If you have any trouble using the feed, or have spotted some pesky bugs, please feel free to Contact Us and we'll try and sort it out.

 

Current and Forthcoming Closures, Refurbishments and Construction

 

• Disney on Parade : From January 7 to 11, 2008, Disney on Parade will be temporarily replaced by Mickey's Main Street Express. Disney on Parade will resume on January 12, 2008.
• 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.

 

Events & Important Dates

 

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

 

December/January

• 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. Ring in the rockin' New Year as Hong Kong Disneyland is transformed into the biggest, hippest outdoor dancefloor! Meet Mickey and the gang in their holiday outfits for photos and fun, and get groovy as you boogie to guest DJs and VJs spinning the hits at Tomorrowland and in front of the Sparkling Castle Lights. The countdown to midnight and celebrate 2008 with spectacular lights and stunning pyrotechnics.

 

February 2008

• Chinese New Year (February 7 to 13): Quite possibly the most important traditional Chinese holiday on the calendar, Hong Kong Disneyland has put it's own stamp on the event. Traditional Chinese parades and costumes can be seen mixing it up with the magic of Disney.

 

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 .

 

Spring 2008:

• Four New Attractions start to roll out in HKDL: Muppet Mobile Lab, High School Musical Celebration, Nemo Submarine “Turtle Talk” and The Art of Animation

 

May 2008

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

 

Current Discounts/Promotions

• Annual Passholders: September to December Passholder deals can be found here. Discounts for early renewals are also available.
• 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!
• Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Victorian Escape Package for 2 Persons: Enjoy the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Victorian Escape Package at the starting price of HK$2,280 and indulge in a relaxing spa with your beloved or friends! Offer period: 27 November, 2007 to 31 March, 2008. See here for details.
• Dining Deal: Book breakfast in advance and receive 30% off. Conditions apply.
• Cathay Pacific and Dragonair Deal: From now until 31 January, 2008*, you can take advantage of the "Buy 2 get 1 Free" or "Buy 3 get 1 Free" travel package from Cathay Pacific and its partner airline Dragonair, featuring an array of value-added benefits. See Offer Details.

 

Park Hours/Schedule/Annual Pass Block-out Days

 

Dates	Hours	Ticket Days
31 December 2007 (New Years Eve)	10:00 AM to 12:30 AM	Special Day
1 January to 2 January 2008	10:00 AM to 9:00 PM	Special Day (New Years Day only)
1 February to 6 February 2008	10:00 AM to 8:00 PM	Peak Day
7 February to 17 February 2008	9:00 AM to 9:00 PM	Special Day (except 14-17 as Peak)
18 February to 29 February 2008	10:00 AM to 8:00 PM	Regular Day*
* Except weekends. All weekends in January and February are Peak Days. Ticket prices will be reflected accordingly.

 

Value Annual Passholders will have all weekends blocked to them during January and February. Both Value and Deluxe Annual Passholders also have January 1 and February 7 to 15 blocked to them.

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