The HKDL Source

Update for January 14  to January 20 - News and Commentary

 

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News This Week: Blue Rumours | News Round Up

 

So there I was, sitting down after a nice meal and I thinks to myself  "There's something I'm supposed to do on Monday...". Then it hit me: you have to catch the results from the Golden Globes. Surprised, but not entirely displeased with Atonement taking the top gong, I settled back into domestic bliss and my sea of Disneyana. Of course, I had forgotten that I needed to write a column. So what you see below are the hastily typed ramblings of a madman. So, not much of a difference from the regular weekly offerings then...

 

Blue Rumours

 

As much as we like to try and avoid them, rumours are a big part of our trade here at HKDL Source. One major rumour that we've seen across the Interweb this week is from the well-written blog (not a contradiction in terms in this case!) Blue Sky Disney. Our comrades in arms have reported some major rumours in the past, and a column entitled Blue Sky Alert-Asia (Hong Kong): The Great Walls... purports to know what we will see over the next few years. After discussing what we know for sure - that it’s a small world and four New Attractions (Muppet Mobile Lab, High School Musical Celebration, Nemo Submarine “Turtle Talk” and The Art of Animation) will all debut in 2008 - scribe Honor Hunter predicts that the current intense negotiations between the Hong Kong SAR Government and Disney officials will yield an announcement in October 2009. We've grown used to seeing third-quarter announcements from the House of Mouse, so we tend to agree that the end of the year will see some major announcements for the coming years.

 

Hunter goes on to predict Pirates of the Caribbean being much like the film, rather than the traditional ride, as well as having Splash Mountain components to it; as well as having a Haunted Mansion possibly opening before or after it. The idea of the Pirates Land sounds very similar to the idea the ever-reliable Al Lutz predicted about this time last year. The Adventureland extension is said to possibly split into a Westernland/Frontierland area as well, with the Adventure part also containing a Raging Spirits-style rollercoaster. There are also those photos that our Chief Spy sent in last week of the work that seems to be going on behind Adventureland:

 

 

 

While some of these rumours, if not all of them, have been in existence since well before the park opened, especially the idea of a Pirates Mountain, the persistence of these rumours keep that little Jiminy Cricket of optimism chirping in our collective cortexes, and telling us not to turn into donkeys just yet. Indeed, people will recall that many of these things are on the original plans for the park (see our Lost Lands Section), most notably Raging Spirits and the entire lost Frontierland featuring the famous Haunted Mansion. Forgive me for being a cynic, but I'll keep a pretense of caution while my internal Disney fan does loops of joy at the sheer possibility. Throw in the possibility of a Downtown Disney area also being complete by 2011/2012, and you suddenly have a much ridiculed "small" park being one of the greatest theme parks in China. Though we can think of what could have been ad nauseum, we prefer to think of what could be. If one recurrent theme can be found in these columns - aside from the need to talk about ourselves and Hong Kong Disneyland a fair bit - it is the idea that Hong Kong Disneyland represents a unique feature in Disney Parks at the moment, a park with limitless possibilities.

 

So thanks, BlueSkyDisney. Whether it is fizzle or not, a little bit of hope goes a long way at the moment.

 

News Round Up

MouseInfo Closes Its Virtual Doors: One of our favourite websites, MouseInfo, posted a message last week that they were closing their doors due to a number of reasons. An update on the site thanked all of the fans for their devotion, and an InBetweenBoards has been posted to keep everyone going. They assure us that "It's Not Over Yet!" We wish Michael and Jennifer and all the team our very best, and hope that they are back up and running in some form soon. It's a very small world in the Disney Web, after all.

 

Joyce Carlson Farewell: Another story we missed out on due to the timing of these columns was the passing of Joyce Carlson. Those not familiar with the name will know her work - as a Disney Imagineer of many years, she has touched every version of "it's a small world", including the one forthcoming in Hong Kong Disneyland. She was made a Disney Legend in 2000, and justifiably so. Carlson died on 2 January 2007. She was 84. 

 

Public Oppose Government Paying for HKDL: According to RTHK news, "More than 70 percent of people interviewed in a survey have backed the development of Hong Kong Disneyland. But a similar percentage said the government should not pay for it. The study was the last of seven conducted by an associate professor in the Polytechnic University's School of Hotel and Tourism Management".

 

 

Standard Sign Out Section

It's the first column for the year! We're just getting warmed up too! With our membership sign-up section fixed, there is no stopping the onslaught of the Member Zone; the fabled competition and anything else we've written down on the back of a coaster over the last few years. 2008 is going to be huge.

 

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

 

• Taihitian Terrace (CLOSED): On Tuesday January 15 though Thursday 17 January (THIS WEEK)
• 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.

 

Events & Important Dates

 

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

 

February 2008

• Chinese New Year (January 22 to February 24): 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. The week of February 7 to 13 will be the Peak time, so get your tickets now!

 

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 (May 24 to May 27). Prepare the fortifications!

 

Current Discounts/Promotions

• Annual Passholders: Benefits 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, 2008. 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 30 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
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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