Return of the Adventurer's Club (Confirmed) and HKDL Expansion News

[ryanmcin]

I just saw this on my RSS feed.

http://alldnews.com/index.php/2009/06/30/hong-kong-disneyland-expansion-details

Guests can dine at the Adventurer’s Club amid a vast collection of unusual artifacts from around the world or purchase exclusive curiosities and collectibles at the Archive Shop.

OK, so technically it isn't returning to Orlando, but it is returning to existence as part of the Hong Kong Disneyland expansion. Looks like they are adding quite a bit (3 new lands, a Haunted Mansion type ride, a few roller coasters, Adventurer's Club).

 

[anthony2k7]

hmm possible bad news for the PI adventurers club - especially if they remove the artifacts from there for this new restaurant in HKDL.

I doubt the PI one will be turned into a disney owned adventurers club restaurant now as disney dont seem to like duplicating their restaurants much do they?

 

[Condorman]

Very bad news for the PI AC. This is, in fact, a concession on Disney's part to the Imagineers that although we took that away, we'll let you re-imagine it at HKDL using some of the leftover artifacts. I think that seals the deal.

As for the other lands shown, it's about what I thought they would do and how they would do it. Notice how they specifically point out, in Grizzly Gulch, the world's largest gold nugget and a wild west stagecoach providing wonderful photo opportunities? That's Disneyspeak for "attraction". They have done that all over HKDL. Anything that Disney thinks a guest will stop for, for a moment or two, is considered an attraction -- I kid you not. It's even labeled that way in their brochures.

Toy Story Land is little more than the Bug's Life area in DCA or Ariel's Secret Grotto in TDS. And if you look at all three new lands in the map, you'll see that technically they are one big land, i.e. there is only one TS restaurant, one e-ticket rollercoaster, one dark-ride, and then an outdoors play area, in keeping with the WDI mindset of the minimum requirements that should go into a new land. While the theming looks interesting, and I'm always excited to see new ideas implimented, it's still HKDL, and, well, they needed it. That said, I'd still like to see a little more love shown towards the pandhandle.

 

[WDSearcher]

As for the other lands shown, it's about what I thought they would do and how they would do it. Notice how they specifically point out, in Grizzly Gulch, the world's largest gold nugget and a wild west stagecoach providing wonderful photo opportunities? That's Disneyspeak for "attraction". They have done that all over HKDL. Anything that Disney thinks a guest will stop for, for a moment or two, is considered an attraction -- I kid you not. It's even labeled that way in their brochures.

It's not really "Disneyspeak" -- it's a very Asian thing. When you travel in China, EVERYTHING is listed as an "Attraction" in the travel brochures and info. Big bell on the side of the road -- attraction. Lotus garden -- attraction. Tea house -- attraction. It's pretty common there, and it's what the local guest understands.

And really, all an "attraction" is is something that attracts you to it. And the largest gold nugget will do that. It's the US and Europe where they equate "attraction" with "ride or show."

 

[tiki23]

The article doesn't say anything about removing artifacts from the AC in DTD for the AC in HDL.... so I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Condorman]

It's not really "Disneyspeak" -- it's a very Asian thing. When you travel in China, EVERYTHING is listed as an "Attraction" in the travel brochures and info. Big bell on the side of the road -- attraction. Lotus garden -- attraction. Tea house -- attraction. It's pretty common there, and it's what the local guest understands.

And really, all an "attraction" is is something that attracts you to it. And the largest gold nugget will do that. It's the US and Europe where they equate "attraction" with "ride or show."

My point is, it's a cop-out. The Asian culture may accept a gold nugget as an attraction, and if that's all it takes to appeal to them, rock 'n roll. Western culture would never tolerate that as anything worthy of their time. It's one thing to decorate with minute details the waiting queue of a ride with a gold nugget, but to throw it down in the middle of a so-called "land" as a photo-op? One thing's for sure: Asian culture definitely likes to take photographs, so in that sense, you are correct. This should be right up their alley.

The article doesn't say anything about removing artifacts from the AC in DTD for the AC in HDL.... so I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The AC in DTD is closed. It's not coming back. They've purposely chosen to name a new TS in HKDL with the same name. Odds are, the theme will be similar. And WDI has already taken defunct aspects of American attractions and implimented them in both HKDL and TDL, so it's a pretty good bet you'll see remnants of props et al. from DTD in HKDL.

 

[WDSearcher]

Western culture would never tolerate that as anything worthy of their time.

But again ... not marketing to western culture here. And if the market you're playing to is promised "30 new attractions" and then those guests walk through the park and see "30 new attractions", how is that a cop-out? As long as the guests get what they're expecting, then it's good market planning. It's when you try to make the market fit what you have ( ::cough:: DCA ::cough:: ) that you get in trouble. It's all about matching expectations.

Now if Disney was promising "30 new rides & attractions" and then filled the park with one roller coaster and 29 big golden nuggets and photo ops, then you've got a cop-out scenario.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I don't see this is bad news whatsoever for the Adventurers Club at Pleasure Island. If anything this could be the prototype of what is rumored to be coming here.

BobK/Orlando

 

[tiki23]

The AC in DTD is closed. It's not coming back.

And you know this as a fact because...?

Then again, this is the rumor (and news) board.

 

[anthony2k7]

well, I suppose there is still that rumour that there will be an announcement about PI sometime in July to hold hope on...... once July has gone if we dont hear anything then I'm gonna be 99% convinced all the clubs are gone for good.

 

[CanadianGuy]

My Orlando peeps have been very quiet on the future of P-I -- not a peep from the peeps as it were..

There are plenty of rumors swirling that sure is true - but nobody I know thinks any of them have any more credence than the others..

It's a crapshoot at this point in time really..

Knox

 

[doconeill]

Don't forget that the AC MUST REMAIN INTACT until the end of September at least due to previously scheduled private functions.

Plus, it would probably be just as easy to get or make new artifacts that may fit in with a Hong Kong version of the theme than ship all the stuff they have over which might not match...

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I understand the first floor of Virgin Megastore will be devoted to Princess Diana's gowns and the second floor will be devoted to Michael Jackson's gloves!

Meanwhile, I'm told that the new edition of the Guidemap for Downtown Disney no longer lists Starbillias. That would seem to indicate that it is closing, as previously speculated.

BobK/Orlando

 

[mitros]

well, I suppose there is still that rumour that there will be an announcement about PI sometime in July to hold hope on...... once July has gone if we dont hear anything then I'm gonna be 99% convinced all the clubs are gone for good.

11 days and counting................