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Hong Kong Disneyland |
2 November 1999
HONG KONG, Nov 2, 1999 (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) -- In an agreement with the Hong Kong SAR Government, The Walt Disney Company today unveiled plans for a proposed Hong Kong Disneyland, a 126-hectare theme park development to be built as the anchor of a tourism center on Lantau Island.
Chief Secretary for Administration, Anson Chan from the Hong Kong SAR Government led the presentation to the Hong Kong Legislative Council as part of a two-day briefing on the project. Walt Disney Attractions Chairman Judson Green and Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Vice President Wing Chao also provided details on the theme park development and preliminary creative concept.
Overlooking the water at Penny’s Bay, and on a main transit route from the new Hong Kong International Airport, the project will position Lantau Island as a world-class tourist destination and will take advantage of the location’s easy access by rail, highway and ferry to attract guests to the Park.
"Hong Kong is one of the preeminent international tourist destinations in Asia. Its reputation as one of the world’s most attractive and vibrant cities and its plans to expand its tourism presence make it the perfect location for a Disney destination," said Green.
The development proposal includes a Disney theme park, which will be
made up of themed lands evoking their own unique spirit of fantasy,
excitement and adventure. Currently in the conceptual design phase,
Hong Kong Disneyland will bring together the best of rides, shows and
attractions, and cutting-edge technology from Disney parks around the
world to create a mix of new and traditional Disney entertainment
experiences. Each land might include these classic Disney concepts,
either at opening or as additions in future years.
"We are excited at the prospect of bringing the magic of Disney to Hong Kong," said Disney’s Chao. "The Park will create a sense of wonder for guests of all ages, bringing to life popular Disney characters and stories in a whole new form of entertainment for Hong Kong."
The Park’s creative concept expands on Disney’s more than 50
years of
designing theme parks and resorts around the world. Hong Kong
Disneyland will transport guests into a world of imagination, fantasy
and adventure. It is envisioned that guests entering the Park will
immediately take a step back in time to Main Street USA which will
capture the excitement, friendliness and energy of a community
gathering place.
Designed after an old-fashioned small town, Main Street USA will include shops and restaurants and serve as the stage for live entertainment and parades as well as special events celebrating the local culture. The central icon of the Park is a fanciful castle soaring majestically in the air. Sleeping Beauty Castle will be the signature element of the Park, evoking a feeling of fantasy and imagination.
Sleeping Beauty Castle is to be the gateway to Fantasyland. Here guests will find the magical home of their favorite Disney stories. In Fantasyland guests can fly to Neverland with Peter Pan, take a spin in a teacup or go under the sea with their favorite Little Mermaid.
Adjacent to Fantasyland will be Toontown, a wacky upside-down world
where the beloved Disney characters live. Guests will be transported
into a three-dimensional cartoon and meet one-on-one with Mickey Mouse.
They will be able to stroll through Minnie’s house, climb aboard
Donald’s boat or even zip through the wacky Toontown countryside on a
whimsical roller coaster.
In Adventureland guests will begin a journey to exotic regions of exploration, adventure and discovery. Here guests will have the opportunity to venture into a wild untamed world and ride a roller coaster through a dark jungle filled with mysterious surprises. Guests might explore an ancient dinosaur archeological site, voyage to a whole new world on a magic carpet, or experience the wonder and music from such Disney classics as "The Lion King."
From Adventureland guests may want to travel on to the wild American
frontier. In Frontierland, they will have the opportunity to experience
the American Old West of the 1880s. Here guests might climb through a
Wild West fort, take a frightfully fun trip through a haunted mansion
and shoot the rapids on a daring river raft.
After a trip back to the Wild West the next stop will be the future
--
Tomorrowland. Guests will have several exciting opportunities to choose
from sci-fi fantasies and soaring space adventures. They will be able
to journey to infinity and beyond as they join such popular Disney
sci-fi characters as Buzz Lightyear to save the universe, blast off on
a high-speed journey into outer space or even pilot their own
spacecraft.
The initial phase at buildout will include three to four Disney-
themed
resort hotels with up to 2,100 hotel rooms to be constructed adjacent
to the Park. As an integral part of the overall experience, these
themed hotels will allow guests to stay overnight and continue
"living
the magic" through a "seamless" guest experience.
Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of shopping
and dining experiences within a proposed 28,000-square-meter retail,
dining and entertainment complex as part of the overall Hong Kong
Disneyland experience. The project is expected to create an estimated
36,000 jobs. The resort site also has potential for additional
development.
"The Disney brand has always been very popular in Hong Kong. Our decision to build a Disney Park in Hong Kong demonstrates our confidence in the continued growth and development of Hong Kong as a regional and international tourist destination," said Green.
The proposed Disney Park will be the beginning of a larger tourism center envisioned by the Hong Kong government for North Lantau Island. The agreement is still subject to approval by the Hong Kong Executive Council and Legislative Council and by The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors.
HONG KONG DISNEYLAND
PROJECT FACT SHEET
Project Name: Hong Kong Disneyland
Location: Overlooking the water at Penny’s Bay, and on a
main transit route from the new Hong Kong International
Airport, the project will position Lantau Island as a
world-class tourist destination and will take advantage
of the location’s easy access by rail, highway and
ferry to attract guests to the Park.
Size: 126 Hectares
Targeted
Opening Year: 2005
Project Overview (see Note):
Opening Year Buildout
Projected Attendance 5 mil 10 mil
Parks 1 1
Hotels 2-3 3-4
Rooms 1,400 2,100
RD&E 18,000 sq. meters 28,000 sq. meters
Jobs 18,400 35,800
Note: The project overview encompasses the initial phase of the
development. The resort site has potential for future
development.
Park
Overview: Preliminary Concept - Currently in the conceptual
design phase, Hong Kong Disneyland will be designed to
transport guests into a world of imagination, fantasy
and adventure. The park will bring together the best of
the rides, shows and attractions from Disney Parks
around the world to create a mix of new and traditional
Disney entertainment experiences.
Themed
Lands: Like other Disney theme parks, Hong Kong Disneyland
will consist of several "lands," each offering unique
Disney experiences. Each land might include these
classic Disney concepts, either at opening or as
additions in future years:
Main Street USA Concept - Main Street USA serves as the
dramatic entryway to the park. Here guests will
immediately take a step back in time to Main Street USA
which will capture the excitement, friendliness and
energy of a community gathering place. Designed after
an old-fashioned small town, Main Street includes shops
and restaurants and serves as the stage for live
entertainment and parades as well as special events
celebrating the local culture.
Fantasyland Concept - Fantasyland is the magical home
of Disney animated characters and stories. Here guests
can fly to Neverland with Peter Pan, take a spin in a
teacup, play in the undersea world with the Little
Mermaid, and even climb aboard colorfully decorated
horses on an old fashioned carousel.
Toontown Concept - Toontown is a wacky upside-down
world where the beloved Disney characters live and
play. Here guests might be transported into a three
dimensional cartoon and meet one-on-one with Mickey
Mouse. They will stroll through Minnie’s house, bounce
off the walls at Goofy’s house, climb around Donald’s
boat or zip through the Toontown countryside on a
whimsical roller coaster.
Adventureland Concept - Adventureland is a thrilling
journey to exotic regions of exploration, adventure and
discovery. Here guests will leave the safe haven of a
North African Bazaar and venture into a wild untamed
world or take a roller coaster ride through a dark
jungle filled with mysterious surprises. They can
explore an ancient dinosaur archeological site, voyage
to a whole new world aboard a soaring magic carpet or
experience a live show featuring the music and
characters from Disney classics such as the "The Lion
King."
Frontierland Concept - Frontierland is a walk right
into the American Old West of the 1880s. Here park
guests explore a frontier outpost at Fort Comstock.
They might also take a frightfully funny trip through a
haunted mansion, shoot the rapids on a river raft ride,
or experience for themselves just how tough it is to be
a bug in a one-of-a-kind show.
Tomorrowland Concept - Tomorrowland is a world of the
future, filled with sci-fi fantasies and soaring space
adventures. Here guests will journey to infinity and
beyond as they join Buzz Lightyear to save the universe
from the evil Emperor Zurg or blast off on a high-speed
journey into outer space and pilot their own spinning
spacecraft. They might also take a leisurely drive
through the landscape of tomorrow and frolic in a
futuristic water fountain.
1 November 1999
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The Walt Disney Co. and the Hong Kong government have reached agreement to build a multi-billion dollar theme park in the territory, sources in the territory said Monday.
The venture, which will include two themed areas and a resort complex, is scheduled for completion by 2005. The park is the second Disney theme site in Asia, after Tokyo; with EuroDisney in Paris, it's the third outside the United States.
Media analyst David Londoner said the deal was "very important on a long-term basis" because it finally gives Disney a presence in the huge Chinese market.
But Londoner added that it may take a decade for that advantage to show in the company's earnings.
The two sides are expected to announce the plans for the scheme Tuesday morning, the sources told CNNfn. Chinese language newspapers have reported the local government will invest around $2.6 billion, while Disney will put up just $250 million.
Disney's corporate communications office referred queries involving the park to a spokesman in Hong Kong, who did not immediately return calls for comment.
The deal was widely anticipated and has already lifted investor sentiment in the territory. Politicians argue it will help boost the battered economy, which is still struggling to escape a 15-month recession, by providing jobs and then pulling in more tourists.
But critics claim the Disney effect is exaggerated -- pointing out that once the park is built, most of the jobs will require few skills and pay low wages. There is also concern that the government, in its eagerness to get Disney onboard, gave too much away in negotiations.
Hong Kong beat off intense competition from China's largest city, Shanghai, and Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The park will be sited on the outlying island of Lantau, a short drive from the territory's brand new Hong Kong International airport, which opened last year.