Hong Kong Disneyland is currently being built by The Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong Government in the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. It is located in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China.
On the November 22, 2004, Disney and the Hong Kong Government announced that Hong Kong Disneyland will welcome its first guests on 12th September, 2005 (Monday).
Construction
On the 18th of November 2004, a special ceremony was held in the park to commemorate a major building milestone - the placing of the tallest turret of Sleeping Beauty Castle (a major symbol of the park) in place. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Tung Chee Hwa and the president of Disney Parks and Resorts, Jay Rasulo , as well as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Michael Eisner were all there as were Mickey and the gang.
Attractions on Opening Day
This subject has caused a lot of criticism among Disney fans. There is not one attraction that will be open on opening day that is unique to Hong Kong Disneyland, and the number of attractions is quite limited. Also, many "classic" attractions (such as "it's a small world," the Haunted Mansion, or Pirates of the Caribbean) considered essential to Magic Kingdom-style Disney theme parks have not been included. The following released line-up is as follows;
Trivia
- The plans for the park, when released in early 2001, made it clear that Hong Kong Disneyland would be based on the original 1950 plans for Disneyland in California - including just four lands (Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland). Public outcry both from Disney fans and the Chinese caused the addition of Frontierland to the plans which would come later on, possibly as a second phase expansion.
- This is the first project of The Walt Disney Company's extension into Asia (despite the Tokyo Disney Resort having opened more than twenty years ago). Animation studios have been set up in India, Disney are extensively advertising and publicising the traditional characters on billboards and Asian-only Disney cartoon shows, and plans are being drawn up for a second Chinese resort in the mainland, probably in Shanghai. Scouts are also surveying Australia for a new resort.
See also