Park Update
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and an exhibition hall where park-goers can see the Iron Man suit and other gadgets from the movies. According to Disney, the Iron Man Experience is now the most popular attraction in the park, and its success has led to the opening of an entire Marvel- themed area. A new experience located in Tomorrowland will feature Ant-Man, The Wasp (a character from the upcoming Ant-Man sequel), and
S.H.I.E.L.D., who will depend on guests to fight against the evil organization Hydra. “Marvel and Frozen are popular with guests across our Asian markets,” said Samuel Lau, executive vice president and managing director of the resort. “It will give guests new reasons to travel to the resort and this amazing city.” Drawing on another major blockbuster franchise, Disney
Hong Kong added a number of Star Wars elements to Tomorrowland in June last year. These included a remake of Space Mountain, now re-christened ‘Hyperspace Mountain’ and featuring characters from the popular franchise. This was in addition to stage show Mickey and the Wondrous Book, which opened in celebration of HKDL’s 10th anniversary in 2015, and exploration-themed hotel, Disney Explorers Lodge.
A symbol of success Hong Kong Disneyland’s upcoming castle transformation is a key part of the expansion plan. The updated castle will feature a blend of styles inspired by different times and cultures, all tied in with Disney Princess stories. It will also enhance the park’s entertainment offering, with both a new daytime show and nighttime spectacular. From the new castle moat and hub area, guests will be able to spot themed decorations on the tops of some of the spires, such as Snow White’s apple, Cinderella’s coach and Belle’s rose. “We’re confident the majestic design, which will serve as an amazing backdrop for new entertainment, will resonate with our local and international guests,” says Lau. “The castle transformation also signifies the continuous growth of the park,
FEBRUARY 2018
especially with the multi-year expansion happening over the next six years.” Kelly Willis, executive creative director of Walt Disney Imagineering Asia, adds: “The design of the transformed castle will feature a variety of The castle will be based in the present yet looking toward the future, with different colours, textures, designs and patterns both high and low. Our team of designers is hard at work so that the transformed castle will be a constant source of inspiration for our guests.”
Boosting the numbers This impressive line-up of new attractions is a great kickstart to the 2018 season for the smallest of Disney’s dozen parks. Hong Kong Disney attracted criticism in its early years for its lack of ‘big ticket’ rides and mismanagement of capacity numbers, and whilst visitor numbers from mainland China accounted for 41% of overall attendance in 2015 and 48% in 2014, this figure went down to 36% in 2016. It has been suggested that the opening of Shanghai Disney is responsible for the decrease in attendance figures since 2014, but Disney attributed the loss to a slower Hong Kong tourism market and an unfavourable comparison against fiscal 2015, which benefited from an additional week of operations. Attendance from international guests, meanwhile, increased to the second- highest annual level ever in 2016. Whatever the reason, the park’s high profile additions over
the next six years look set to enhance Hong Kong Disneyland’s appeal to guests of all ages, so Park World will be staying tuned for further details as they are announced.
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