The HKDL Source

 

 

News Update & Commentary - Update for January 22 to January 28

 

 

Despite our constant throwing down of the Slow-News-Week Gauntlet, an object which may or may not actually exist, big news and rumours just keep cropping up. You know what they say – be careful what you wish for. Of course, “they” say a lot of things. In fact, we don’t even know who “they” are most of the time. For all we know, “they” could be a family of squirrels living inside someone’s leg. That’s just silly though.

 

The big bits of “news” this week came in the form of some tiny little photos on the cover of Disney’s 2006 Annual Report. As we reported earlier last week, this concept art shows something mysteriously referred to as “Pirates Themed Area”. While normally we could say that this could apply to anything, coupled with the Al Lutz column last week on MiceAge regarding the proposed Pirates Themed Area in Hong Kong Disneyland, we fans of Disney’s Chinese park have become a little excited by the prospects of this thing. Aside from drawing in tons of tourists, including American ones keen for something a bit different, it would finally put Hong Kong Disneyland on the map with something distinctive that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. Timed to coincide with the global phenomenon that is the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, it could also be one of the biggest money-makers the park has ever seen. If varying reports are to be believed, Hong Kong Disneyland has struggled to keep attendance figures within estimated targets since its 2005 opening. Indeed, one email from an undisclosed Cast Member this week suggested that the park had not been on-budget for some 10 months.

 

 

So this picture has got us thinking: what if some of these other photos are plans for Hong Kong Disneyland or even additional Asian parks? The first of these is innocuously labeled “Concept for new Disney theme park”.

 

 

While commentators such as Jim Hill have already thrown their hats in the ring and declared this to be the new concept for a Shanghai park, there are several other possibilities as well. In fact, there always are other possibilities when you play the speculation game. With the heavy water theme and the King Triton (from The Little Mermaid) features, this looks to be a water-themed park similar to Tokyo’s DisneySea. We humbly speculate that it is entirely possible that Hong Kong’s Lantau Island location, coupled with rumours of a second gate, could make this park equally applicable to the Hong Kong location. However, it is doubtful that both the Pirates and the water concept would both make it to Hong Kong. Speaking of water, there is also this bit of art:

 

 

Depicting a nighttime water show, it was already suggested – in the same Al Lutz report – that Hong Kong is set for a Fantasmic-style show at some stage near the opening of the Pirates Themed Area. Of course, it is just as likely that the rumour of these being bound for one of the American parks, especially a park that has struggled almost as much as Hong Kong Disneyland (namely Disney’s California Adventure). After all, Hong Kong can’t have it all to itself, can it? Which brings us to the last photo:

 

 

The Urban Entertainment Centre has been suggested as a new development for Singapore, and we once again submit that this could just as easily belong in the urban sprawl of Hong Kong. It is probably not a place where Nicole Kidman's husband goes when he is bored. However, one thing has become clear: regardless of whether these attractions are bound for Hong Kong, Singapore or China’s mainland, Disney appears to be keen on really pushing the concept of Disney in Asia, and that can only mean good things for Hong Kong Disneyland in the future.

 

Something else that has been the topic of hot debate this last week is the appointment of Florida veteran Jill Estorino to the position of Senior Vice President of Marketing at Hong Kong Disneyland. This is a story that took us by surprise, as it garnered far more attention than we would have normally anticipated. While some feel that Estorino provides a much needed dose of fresh energy to the park, and others think that the job ahead of her is a big one, we’ve also head a number of comments to the effect of ‘another Florida import’. A Cast Member, who we will not name as per site policy, wrote to us and suggested that it was interesting that a Floridian candidate had been chosen after such a long selection process. They went on to comment that despite Director Bill Ernest’s declaration about finding strong local talent, an American with no specific Asian experience has been hired. Given the challenges Disney is already facing in selling themselves to the Chinese market, our insider observes that this may not be the wisest course of action to take. “One of our colleagues said very correctly that this is like the old colonial days of Hong Kong,” said the Cast Member, “when all the senior people were from the UK because it's better with the old boys club!” While we’d like to say that The HKDL Source neither supports nor condones this opinion, it is interest to always hear what the workers make of the latest developments.

 

Finally, if you are in the park this week, remember that Festival of the Lion King is going to be closed all week due to maintenance. Also, Friday is Australia Day and while Hong Kong Disneyland won’t be officially celebrating, if there are any Aussies visiting the park during this week, be sure to make your presence felt. Who are we kidding – Aussies seem to make their presence felt wherever we go! If you are traveling, wherever you are from, and you have some photos and trip reports you’d like to send in to us – even a scrap of news – we always love to hear from you.

 

Another way you can help out the site is by voting for us on The Disney Portal. They rank all of the Disney sites on the web according to popularity and numbers of hits, and we are slowly making our way up the ranks. If you want to help us move up even higher, please use the link below to vote for us.

 

 

Until next week, take a deep breath as the chaos of the Chinese New Year celebrations begins on February 2. Our ‘Man on the Scene’, Tom Pacy, will also be heading off to Hong Kong next week so we’ll be sure to have a big report right here at the same bat-time on the same bat-channel. Don’t you go changing!

 

Current Closures/Refurbishments

 

• The Disneyland Story (Main Street): Disney wasted no time in taking down the Christmas trappings, but The Disneyland Story is still closed for ‘an exciting new event’. It is unknown whether the original historical content will return of if this will take on a new function in the near future. Some say that this may even be the start of work on the forthcoming Animation Academy.
• Festival of the Lion King ( Adventureland): Theatre in the Wild will be closed from 21 to 26 January, 2007 for routine maintenance, and the Festival of the Lion King show will be suspended during this period.
• 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 2008).
• Recent photos of Space Mountain in Tomorrowland has shown several roof panels completely devoid of paint, hopefully as the result of a repainting and not neglect! Some construction work is evident, although no disruptions to the ride have been reported. Photos of the lack of paint can be seen here.
• Land appears to be cleared 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.

 

Events

 

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

 

January

• Character Auditions (January 28): Ever want to be a Disney character? Your chance to become part of the magic is on this month as Disney holds auditions for characters. Visit the official site to schedule an audition.

 

February

• Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year Festival (February 2 to March 4): One of the most important celebrations on the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Pig begins on February 18 and the park will be celebrating with a visit from the God of Wealth, but the park will run the Festival from the start of February to the beginning of March. From Saturday 17 February to Saturday 24 February, the park will be under Special Ticket Day conditions. Expect large crowds if last year’s infamous guest chaos is anything to go by.
• The HKDL Source’s Tom Pacy will visit Hong Kong Disneyland. Expect to see lots of photos and a trip report upon his return

 

Current Discounts/Promotions

• New Year Annual Pass Deal: Two big deals – either Buy 4 Annual Passes and Get 1 Night’s Stay Free at a Garden View Room in either hotel. Buy 2 or 3 annual passes, and get 50% off a buffet meal at either hotel. For full details, see our report 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 May, 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 29 September 2007!
• Dining Deal: Book breakfast in advance and receive 30% off. Conditions apply.

 

Park Hours/Schedule/Annual Pass Block-out Days

 

Park hours this month will be 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM for all of January. Only weekends are presently classified as ‘Special Ticket Days’

Deluxe Annual Passholders will not have any blockout dates this month, while Value Annual Passholders will simply have weekends between now and the end of the month blocked.

As of this time, only the weekends (that is, Saturdays and Sundays) have been classified as Peak Ticket Days.

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