Although today's big news have already been covered in the news section, I think the expansion deserves its own topic.
More concept arts, maps and pictures of the expansion. Source: Hong Kong Disneyland will rebuild its castle in a $1.4 billion expansion project The new castle: Map of the expansion: Marvel Land: Frozen Land: Adventureland Show: Castle Stage Show:
The Spirit over on WDWMagic is claiming that the funding for these expansions came from the proposed 2nd gate. Given that they spent a lot of time in recent years preparing the reclaimed land for development over there, this does seem like a sudden change of plans I just have so many questions about these announcements. Very few of the things they've talked about make sense to me from a business perspective (other than the general concept of an expansion), so I would really like to know what they were thinking. I have to assume that some of this is a metaphorical muffin basket from Disney to apologize for neglecting HKDL in the buildup to Shanghai
Since the government is financing most of the expansion, I assume that they are the friving force behind the expansion and not Disney. So I'm not sure of that counts as an apology. But besides the castle, this is a pretty solid expansion. Nonetheless I still hold the opinion that Marvelshould have been saved for a second gate, like a studios park. Somehow I think Disney got forced by the government to redesign the castle.
I didn't realize that the government was paying for most of it. I guess that's what I get for not reading everything! I agree that the Marvel stuff would have been better in a second park, or at least in a land of its own. Although HKDL's Tomorrowland isn't perfect, it's one of the better ones at the moment (far more cohesive and attractive than DL's); it's a shame that they're ripping half of it out for this. I'm also still not entirely sure what a successful Marvel theme park area will look like, since the movies take place in our world; I'm not sure that's a great theme park environment And I agree that Disney probably wasn't behind the castle change. That's definitely the strangest part of this whole announcement to me
Since Frozen is now coming to HKDL and the design of the land looks very similar to TDS' Frozen Land, I wonder if the OLC didn't get an exclusivity contract by Disney for that expansion, like HKDL did get with MM.
As you said the Marvel movies take place in our world and that's why I think a studios park is the best place to put the movies. WDI is clearly using the movies and not the comics and that's another reason why DHS or WDSP would be the perfect places. I'm still hoping for a Marvel land at WDSP in Paris.
I guess not. The rumored/proposed Frozen area at DL would also be pretty similar to the TDS concept, so there was always going to be a copy of it somewhere. Perhaps OLC has wisened up to Disney making them pay for research & development for new concepts that eventually find their way into the other parks. I imagine they're still willing to share development costs, but it's probably a much smaller piece of the pie now (or none at all, depending on the timing at HKDL and the various contracts) I'm not a particular fan of the Marvel movies and generally oppose them in the parks, but I think that WDSP would be a great place for some Marvel additions. The backlot side of the park needs some serious help, and Marvel really seems to have the right tone for the park. I know DLP's finances are always a problem, but hopefully they'll be able to figure something out
Here's a video of the announcement, which has a few more details in it: It sounds like the Frozen ride will be a clone of the Epcot boat ride, not the trackless one that was proposed for TDS and DL. I guess it makes sense to avoid overlap if the land's minor attraction is the trackless flatride, but that ride has a variety of issues, from capacity, to scale, to storyline "While waiting to meet the sisters, this is a perfect place to enjoy Arendelle's wonderful culture, which inspired the movie." That's funny, because over in Epcot you're trying to convince us that Norway's wonderful culture inspired the movie. Also, Arendelle isn't a real place, so it has no culture to inspire anything. I'm concerned by the idea of the castle being "pearlescent". Obviously this will all come down to the details, but it sounds like it could look really tacky or like an oversized toy very easily There will be a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique as part of the castle changes. It's not clear if it will be inside the castle (like in WDW) or somewhere nearby (perhaps the building that was intended for Peter Pan). It sounds like there will also be a permanent princess meet & greet, though I can't tell if it's for BBB guests only or a separate-but-nearby area like in DL The Marvel stuff "will complete the first Marvel themed area in any Disney park," which sounds like it will be more than just a subsection of Tomorrowland. Whether it ends up annexing all of TL or keeps it separate, it sounds like it will be a land of its own It's also interesting that they had Black Widow appear at the end, since she's only been used at runDisney events in the US. I wonder if they plan to make her a more prominent part of the stuff in HKDL
I wouldn't be surprised if they don't address the capacity issues. It's an easy way to save money by cloning the attraction. I would much rather see a Black Widow movie instead of making her appear in a themepark.
Sorry, I couldn't resist! After playing the "based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire" during the Oscars a few years ago, that's all I can think of when I hear that word
Sounds like some elected officials are starting to question the wisdom of a government-financed expansion of a private enterprise. This seems to go directly against the notion that this expansion was per the HK SAR government's request, but I suppose there are bound to be opposing opinions in any political situation Strike better deal with Disney, NPP deputy chair urges Hong Kong government A non-binding motion submitted by Tien to delay the expansion plan was passed by members of the Legislative Council economic development panel – a bipartisan feat which Tien said he was “surprised” to see happen. Speaking in a Commercial Radio interview, the fashion chain owner said the theme park had on the whole been beneficial to Hong Kong, but an “unequal treaty” between the park and the government – its biggest shareholder –had to be renegotiated. ... “Royalties are not linked to profit but linked to turnover. If there are more visitors, this will go up. But who will gain most from this $11 billion investment? It has to be Disney,” he said. More at the link (including the humorous claim that this will increase the park's roster from 110 attractions to 130...what?!)
