Disney Reaches Deal To Expand Hong Kong Park

[MM32830]

According to wftv.com, Disney has reached a deal with the Hong Kong government to expand Disneyland.

Interesting fact: The deal will add 3 new themed areas and 30 attractions at a cost of 465 million dollars. The interesting part of this fact is that Expedition Everest alone cost Disney 100 million dollars.

You can read the story at:

http://www.wftv.com/news/19901655/d...l=orlc_9am&tmi=orlc_9am_1_08000106302009&ts=H

 

[klam_chowder]

Very cool - thx a mint for the post!

Looks like 5 years to phase it all in*, not bad considering the amt of new stuff being added. Wonder if the podcast will be heading to HK Disney by then I offer to do a scouting trip for them!

(*source: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200906300410DOWJONESDJONLINE000100_FORTUNE5.htm)

cheers,

 

[mikelan6]

It's about time this park was expanded. Maybe I'll put off my Asia trip for a few years ... nah.

 

[teskak]

Well since most of HK Disney is on reclaimed land, that expansion could be interesting.

On the walk way between the train station and the entrance there is a large area that seems to be for cast, and another large area that I thought was reserved for future expansion.

The Disney railroad does not run the whole way around the park, so there might be space for that expansion.

It would be interesting, because at the moment the park is severely limited, but needs much more shelter as it is just bare concrete and gets really hot.

 

[mikelan6]

I saw some of the photos and details of the expansion on another site.

There's going to be a BTMRR/Everest ride, a trackless Haunted Mansion and a Toy Story Land. Nothing all that impressive, but at least it's something.

 

[steve76]

I think this looks awesome. HKDL is a cute little park but it is in desperate need of expansion. This should fit the bill, at least for a few years!

There are details at http://micechat.com/forums/disney-more-blog-discussions/118910-hong-kong-disneyland-new-lands-announced-officially-artwork.html.

The mine train goes forward and backwards - it sounds like a cross between Big Thunder and Expedition Everest, with animatronic bears, and it looks like it wraps around the paths of the new land.

The Haunted Mansion is traveller-themed, and uses a trackless system which sounds like the same as that used at Pooh's Hunny Hunt at Tokyo.

I really like the fact that they are adding new twists on the classics rather than just carbon copies - and the fact that they are willing to build rides which are not based on specific characters or movies.

There's also lots of space next to the new Grizzly Trail (what they are calling Frontierland) for future expansion.

Having said that, it sounds like the Toy Story Land will be a copy of the one going in at the Studios in Paris, with mostly kiddie rides. But I can get over that.

There's a link to my recent HKDL trip report below. I'm really excited to go back in a few years to see this.

 

[steve76]

I don't know where the '30 new attractions' comes from... I count four. I guess they are including the shops, water play areas, photo opportunities, water fountains and lamp posts.

 

[teskak]

Well, remember they do class the Leaki Tikis as an attraction when I just see a waterspray

 

[steve76]

Well, remember they do class the Leaki Tikis as an attraction when I just see a waterspray

Not to mention that favourite attraction 'City Hall'!

I hope that they also reconfigure the railroad trains so that you can see out to the left of the train - currently you can only see 'inwards' towards the centre of the park, which means you would miss the views of the new lands.