The HKDL Source

Update for March 31 to April 6 - News and Commentary

 

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News This Week: A Date with the World | IASW Photos

 

Although there really isn’t a huge amount to report from the last week – with one glaring exception – a renewed determination to keep this puppy afloat on a weekly basis (or at least until I disappear on my honeymoon in May) sees me sitting down to type this column once again. Why? Because we like you. Actually, the truth is that we may never know.

 

A Date with the World

 

So we finally know when the children of Hong Kong will be able to pay a floating visit to the children of the world. The announced of the 28th April launch date of the latest version of the classic it’s a small world attraction came with photographic previews, some of which are represented in this article and the rest can be found in our IASW Construction Gallery.

 

 

The launch date and photos has done more than just give us a schedule for when we should start lining up at Hong Kong Disneyland. With the US versions of the ride also slated for major overhauls, this may give fans a bit of a hint as to what they have in mind for the future of one of the most famous Disney rides in the history of the park. No doubt, there will be purists who find the idea of touching anything that Walt Disney personally oversaw tantamount to sacrilege, but Disneyland is a living thing, and like all living things, it needs constant change and stimulus to keep it moving. From what we have seen of the Hong Kong Disneyland version of IASW so far, we feel fairly confident that there won’t be many Disney fans going home disappointed. Stitch is there representing Hawaii; the Little Mermaid makes an appearance; Woody and Jessie from Toy Story are about, as well as Marie the Cat of The Aristocats fame. What is most impressive is that all of them, including Cinderella and her Prince, have been loving recreated to keep with the look and feel of it’s a small world. That’s not to say that we don’t find something mildly creepy about a mop-headed Cinderella, but we still appreciate the effort!

 

The one thing we hope comes out of this is, to be frank, bodies through the gates. The buzz that has been created around this forthcoming attraction, at least in the fan community, isn’t something that you can buy. Any construction site in a Disney theme park, or even the hint of one, is enough to keep us fans speculating for months on end. Let’s face it – all it takes is one bloke with a hammer to wander down Main Street, and we’d be convinced there is a Haunted Mansion coming. That said, we’ve been talking about IASW since the last half of 2006, and now that it is almost here, we are definitely excited. We just hope that this momentum can be maintained and carried through to whatever the next big ride might be. Let the speculation begin on that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Sign Out Section

We're just getting warmed up! 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.

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If you have regular access to the park as a visitor or Cast Member or if you’d just like to start helping us post news and photos, we’d really like to hear from you. We don’t pretend to know what you want, but we offer love. Really, if you are on the ground, and you'd like to contribute, we want to know you!

 

Current and Forthcoming Closures, Refurbishments and Construction

 

• Taihitian Terrace (CLOSED) - Tuesday 1 April (no joke!) to Thursday 4 April
• Festival of the Lion King (Theatre in the Wild) (SUSPENDED): Will be suspened from April 6 to April 11 in order to perform routine maintenance.
• 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. 

 

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 (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 Residents Save, Dine and Save: Hong Kong Residents get-away for a magical night that includes fabulous dining for two. Stay and Dine package price starts at just HK$1,488 (Save over $400). Offer period: 17 February to 30 June, 2008. Details can be found here.
• Hong Kong Disneyland Victorian Spring Package: Stay amidst the magic in our Victorian hotel and enjoy a relaxing spa vacation with the Victorian Spring Package with your beloved or friends at the starting price of HK$2,380! Offer period: 1 April 2008 to 30 June 2008. Details here.
• 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.

 

Park Hours/Schedule/Annual Pass Block-out Days

 

Hours are 10:00 to 7:30 PM throughout April.

 

Value Annual Passholders will have the remaining weekends in March blocked to them, and all weekends in April. Deluxe Annual Passholders can go crazy for a few months, although it should be noted that April 4 (and all weekends) will be a Peak Ticket Day.

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