Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Lotion-View-917.asp" target="_blank"><b>LP Lotion: Hong Kong Disneyland Expansion Plans</b></a> Details of today's announced expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland with Grizzly Trail, Mystic Point and Toy Story Land.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 The map show a space in the bottom left for more expansion. I also see some space at the top... I am wondering if they can expand there as well. I am shocked that after this proposed plan is completed, almost all of the available expansion space will have been used. Guessing that they can put one more e-ticket into the bottom part, it looks like this park may never have more than a handful of etickets. Shocking. - Anatole
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<Guessing that they can put one more e-ticket into the bottom part, it looks like this park may never have more than a handful of etickets.>> Since Disney is financing this expansion 100% (without any help from the Chinese), why would you be shocked by the lack of E-Tickets? When was the last time Disney added a brand new and original E-Ticket (not refurbished) to MK? How about DL? Seems to be their modus operandi since the Pressler days. C-Tickets and "photo op" areas? Good E-Tickets and $200 mil ride budgets? Bad
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I haven't studied any maps, but I have visited the resort and talked to folks and there's plenty of space available for expansion. And let's not forget empty space that already exists for attractions in locations like Fantasyland either. As to the attraction/expansion plans ... I'm overwhelmed by some, underwhelmed by others and generally happy since I like the park as is and I do think these are all moves in the right direction. Mystic Manor will reinvent the Mansion concept for the 21st century much like Phantom Manor did in DLP. And adding the Adventurer's Club in any form (I see it as more of dinner show type location thus far) is a great thing. Grizzly Trail seems to be smallish, although it too can be expanded. And the coaster sounds like they took DCA's mountain, BTMRR, EE and Geyser Mountain and tossed them together for a unique experience. Better yet, these are two NON-TOON E-Tix that are nowhere else in the world (again, you can thank the SAR for that because Disney would have likely pushed for TSMM and Soarin!) TSL doesn't impress me at all. But originally the park was supposed to have a smaller version of DL's Toontown (sans Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, naturally) so to me this is a simple swap and cost effective when you realize it's already going to DSP anyway. My only concern would be that half-pipe coaster thingee screwing with the sightlines, but I'm gonna hope the Imagineers have dealt with that. All in all, this is a good start. I'm a bit surprised they didn't include a raft ride (although I hate them and never wanted one in a MK style park to begin with) and adding a dark ride in Fantasyland since the buildings exist. I'm not as surprised that the Pirates expansion land/area didn't make it because it wouldn't have cost many times what these things likely would have ... I'd love to believe they'll make it later on down the road because you know Shanghai isn't opening sans Pirates.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Oops, forgot to mention that Manor's ride system took me by surprise in a very pleasant way. That's taking it to another level and while the theme/storyline for Manor has been known for years, that little detail adds a lot to it.
Originally Posted By jmuboy A Splash Mt / Western River Expedition hybrid could always be added south of the new coaster as part of a Grizzly Trail expansion. it would be another one of those hybrid style rides unique to HKDL. This would also expand the frontier theme a bit. As for other expansion, there is room already (empty space inside the fantasyland facades) for at least one or maybe 2 new dark rides. There is also the large plot of land next to IASW. This may be where the DCA Little Mermiad ride ends up.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ That is my point. There is room at the north of the map that is in the link at the top of this post, and there is room in the south. I am assuming that those plots of land are equal in area to the places currently being added. So that means one new e-ticket per land, for a total of 2 more possible e-tickets. I have read Leemac saying there is room for two more dark rides in Fantasyland... so that is 2 more e-tickets, and a few more c tickets, and then all the room for expansion is capped out. Pretty sad. - Anatole
Originally Posted By irishfan I find it a bit strange they haven't included a Railway Station in any of the new lands, seems like a no brainer.
Originally Posted By Britain Maybe they will. It's definitely something they could add easily once they see the need.
Originally Posted By u k fan There is a building in Mystic Point very close to the tracks so that could be a station?!!!
Originally Posted By leemac <<I have read Leemac saying there is room for two more dark rides in Fantasyland... so that is 2 more e-tickets, and a few more c tickets, and then all the room for expansion is capped out.>> Both flank buildings to the castle (Pooh and PhilharMagic) have room for another tenant each. Also the Buzz building has also been designed to be expandable.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I'm not as surprised that the Pirates expansion land/area didn't make it because it wouldn't have cost many times what these things likely would have ... I'd love to believe they'll make it later on down the road because you know Shanghai isn't opening sans Pirates.>> Pirates Land had a number of different guises. However the largest version was massive and would have been significantly more than the plans in place for any of the three themed environments to be inserted. I still feel that it would have added a true "wow" factor to the park but ultimately it is about balancing out the menu and these plans do it even if I'm not happy with the locations - it is exceptionally poor master planning in my view.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ You are not alone in that judgment. I wonder how many voices inside the company think that the Toystory Land, as it is currently planned, also blows. - Anatole
Originally Posted By chrislow If I were an executive for the Hong Kong company who negotiated with Disney on this deal, I'd be worried right now. They tout the "exclusive" deals that are part of this agreement intended help compete better against the future Shanghai park. But, sorry folks, there's not much power in the "exclusiveness" of that Toy Story Land. If I were negotiating the deal, I'd push for Midway Mania or Astro Blasters or both for that land AND ask for exclusivity as well. This leaves open all kinds of neat things that will come to the Shanghai park first and further drive attendance problems in Hong Kong - things like Pirates, Little Mermaid, Tower of Terror, and Toy Story rides that already seem like a perfect fit for the land being built in Hong Kong. Even though the two E-Tickets look awesome, this feels like short term planning intended to calm the current fears of lower than expected attendance. The real long term issue of a tiny park that was poorly planned from the start will continue after these new lands open - especially when Shanghai cuts its ribbon.
Originally Posted By MPierce I don't know why, but it kind of seems like this expansion is kind of disjointed, Maybe I'm not looking at it right. I wonder if this is going to infuse any excitement into the present crowds in Hong Kong. Reguardless of anything else, this should bring a beautiful park one step closer to becoming world class. I'm just curious if Disney had to foot this bill to maintain their right to build in Shanghai?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Pirates Land had a number of different guises. However the largest version was massive and would have been significantly more than the plans in place for any of the three themed environments to be inserted. I still feel that it would have added a true "wow" factor to the park but ultimately it is about balancing out the menu and these plans do it even if I'm not happy with the locations - it is exceptionally poor master planning in my view.>> I would have loved to have seen the massive Pirates 'land' expansion myself. But if it was the only thing, I could see how that might not be smart. Still, it would have been nice and I believe they will add some version down the road. As to the locations, many people have been talking about them. I admit I haven't studied maps and the like, but why were the locations chosen? Weren't the expansion pads put in to begin with when they chopped so much from the plans? Why are these locations bad and what does that mean for future expansion(s)?
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< it is exceptionally poor master planning in my view. >>> I've never been involved with theme park master planning, so I'm sure I don't see all of the issues to be considered, but one thing occurs to me: Each of the new lands seem to be mostly built out into the space available, leaving little room for future expansion within each. Of course, there's the obvious area in the lower left of the concept map for an additional land or expansion of Grizzly Trail. What else is bad about the design from a master planning point of view?
Originally Posted By SuperDry Although the concept map is drawn to scale, I just discovered that the Google Maps satellite view has recently been updated such that most of HKDLR is shown fairly recently (after construction of iasw) instead of the previous bulldozer stage that has been there for years (remnants of which can still be seen in the westernmost portion of the resort). So, you can look at the satellite picture and compare it to the concept map to see that they really are using all of the space between the railroad tracks and the southern berm of the park. You can also now see the size of the reclamation for the eventual 2nd gate: it's at least as big as HDKL and would appear to accommodate additional resort hotels as well (in addition to the 3rd one that can go between the current two).
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Each of the new lands seem to be mostly built out into the space available, leaving little room for future expansion within each. >>> Actually, it looks like Toy Story land has room for an anchor E-ticket to be added at some point.
