Originally Posted By Bob Paris Okay so we all get a bit of mileage out of taking the piss out of poor old HKDL. A lot of people may feel rightfully so, too. My question is then, what will it take for you to actually visit the place? What improvements will they have to make for you to travel to Honkers? For me, it is NOT IaSW or Mobile Muppet Labs. I want something BRAND NEW and unique to this park. In a previous company annual report there was this beautiful artwork of a pirates' cove type area that looked immersive and beautiful. Something like that or like a WRE-type attraction that is huge and surrounds you in the same way HM or PotC does. THIS is the reason I go to Disney parks-to be TRANSPORTED to other times and places and really feel I am somewhere I cannot be in my normal life. I'm not asking MUCH, just spend a couple hundred mill! ; )
Originally Posted By Bob Paris Actually, in all seriousness and specifically, I want ST MK II, a whole lot of brand new dark rides for FL, some big new mountain(the geyser one?)for FrL, a 21C Splash and a brand new Indy for AL. Told ya I didn't want much! I was considering going via HK for our trip to TDR this year but I just cannot justify the extra expense to see a half day MK when we are going to TDL! And I would NEVER come back THROUGH HKDL after TDR. That would be like finishing up kobe beef with a McDonald's patty.
Originally Posted By Mr X It really depends on how much visiting the actual CITIES matter to you. I would go to Hong Kong in a heartbeat, regardless of whether or not HKDL is there.
Originally Posted By Roger55 I would and HAVE gone to HKDL. As X says, there is a lot more to see than just HKDL. And just because a park is still in it's infancy stage, doesn't mean that it isn't worth it to vist it. Sure, there are some that just want it all before they will consider going. But IMO, it is a bit shallow to not go just because it has limited offerings. How many people would be interested to go back in time to experience DL in it's early years when there were fewer attractions? I know I would.
Originally Posted By Mr X **How many people would be interested to go back in time to experience DL in it's early years when there were fewer attractions? I know I would. ** Well, that's not quite a fair parallel comparison, I think, since Disneyland AT THAT TIME was quite state of the art and noone was expecting "more". Besides, this "park in it's infancy" thing bugs me, since they sure don't charge infant prices to see the place! People act almost as though these parks are organically grown and "just the way it is"... WRONG. Epcot was full, complete, and incredible on day one. So was DisneySea. I don't see it as "shallow" to not want to visit an expensive place that doesn't have much to do. But anyway, yeah...going to Hong Kong is awesome, same with Tokyo. Heck, I recently visited New York City and there wasn't a Disney park to be found (lots of Disney musicals though lol). Seriously, it kind of blows my mind when people do these "Disney tours" and spend a fortune to visit Europe or Asia and just "do Disney". It really kills me. If Disney is all you're interested in, why go anywhere but Orlando (the official "Disney city")?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "why go anywhere but Orlando (the official "Disney city")?" Cause WDW sucks ;-P (except Epcot and DAK)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I am already interested in HKDL. To get me to totally go, I would want PotC and HM in new styles and 1 very unique e-ticket. But this a moot point as I have yet to go to TDL/TDS yet. BTW Mr X - maybe some of us love to go to foreign DIsney parks to observe the cultural differences between menus, shops, guests and cast members (I know I do)
Originally Posted By Mr X **Cause WDW sucks ;-P (except Epcot and DAK)** Well, that's a subject for debate. As far as "Disney things to do", WDW can't be beat. Plus, I get a real "wasted time" feeling going to Disney anywhere else. Not Tokyo, of course, because I live here, but even in LA and especially in Hong Kong I felt that way...as much as I enjoy Disney...because Los Angeles and Hong Kong are both amazing cities with so much to see and do. Spending a day at Disney? Cool. Spending a week (and totally blowing off the rest of the experience) just seems dumb to me. I'd feel the same way in Paris, I think. Orlando, not so. **BTW Mr X - maybe some of us love to go to foreign DIsney parks to observe the cultural differences between menus, shops, guests and cast members (I know I do)** I understand that, but heck can't you enjoy the "cultural differences" somewhere IN THE ACTUAL CULTURE, rather than in an Americanized Disney park? Funny you should mention that though, back about 10 years ago when Planet Hollywood and Outback and TGIFridays were but a dream in Tokyo, the reason most of us foreigners went to Tokyo Disneyland was to feel like we were somewhat back in America (food especially).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo HAte the cities of LA and Paris - much prefer to be in the parks. And the MK sucks compared to DL and DLP in my opinion. And I really do not like Orlando's climate at all. What I love is the parks are americanised, but they really do differ compared to each other to meet the need of local demography. Just like McDonalds menus are varied. I find this very interesting.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I've been to HKDL, and would love to go back. The trouble is, I live on the other side of the world and don't really ever get a chance to go over there. When I went, it was pretty much a once in a lifetime (or at least once in a really long time) thing, so I don't really plan on going any time soon. Unless I'm in that general area (pretty much anywhere in Asia would be close enough, I think), I don't think I'll be back too soon. If I'm relatively near by, there's no reason that I wouldn't stop in for a couple days. While HKDL could use a little more "oomph" to it, the city of HK itself is great, and I certainly wouldn't mind spending some time there as well, maybe as a side trip from the park this time, instead of the other way around like before. They would have to do some pretty amazing things before I would make a trip out there with the park as the main priority. Even TDR hasn't done enough for me to justify the cost of going just for that. Maybe if I can combine the two, and have another reason to be over there...
Originally Posted By Loomis For me it will take another couple of months to go, for that is when my SECOND trip to the place is booked. Yes, I have been to the original Disneyland. Yes, I will be going back there; WDW and HKDL in the next few months. I love all the parks for all their unique quirks. I look at HKDL and all I see is a pristine park and untapped potential. It's worth a visit, but visit it because it is Hong Kong! It's a great and vibrant city, regardless of whether it has a Disneyland or not. It was great before Disney, and for Disney fans there is an added incentive to go to Hong Kong. Rock on, Hong Kong!
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Mr. X, duckling, I agree with you about Hong Kong Disneyland NOT having enough--now--to attract the average Disney fan. Us Cauldron girls sure haven't had any desire to go there, yet. BUT--and please don't let a certain nasty old biddy interrupt me with some nasty comment about how there's always a big BUTT where I'm concerned--BUT we CAN understand why Disney fans would be interested in seeing all the Disney theme parks of the world--and even make it a priority over seeing other countries that we've never visited. I think it's because a lot of us like to be able to compare the differences and the similarities of all the various Disney parks. At least I know I always have. It may seem a little quirky to some, but I'd MUCH rather see the new and improved Sleeping Beauty Castle in France before seeing the Eifle Tower in Paris. I mean, that's just the way some of us Disney fans are built. I don't think we need to be ashamed of ourselves for preferring the things we like, either. ORDDU: And if you'll allow ME to add my own two cents, dear, I think ANY obsessed fan of ANY particular interest will ALWAYS be attracted to the core interests of their hearts and ALWAYS seek them out regardless of what country they happen to be visiting at the time. Sports fans, for instance, never completely divorce their love of the game--even when they're with their favorite woman. In the back of their minds, they're always going to be obsessed with balls of one kind or another, while in the midst of telling me how much the supposedly 'love me'. (Believe me, I've learned this the hard way.)
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: Okay, now, I cain't understand a single word a clap trap that just got posted up there but that's okay 'cause--did I really WANNA' understand it? Not on my best day in Morva--which reminds me. How come nobody ever comes ta visit THAT place?!?!
Originally Posted By sherrytodd Witches I would love to come visit Morva, but I can't seem to find a flight out of Denver.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Going on that theme of wanting to see all the Disney parks in the world, the only one I haven't been to is Walt Disney Studios Paris (it didn't exist when I visited DLP). I really want to see it, but I don't really want to make a trip just to see it, especially in its current state. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Oh, sherrytodd, duckling!! Did you bring your broomstick with you? That's what you'll need to make it to Morva because you just can't trust those fiendish flying metal contraptions at ALL!!
Originally Posted By RandySavage The key question is not what it would take to get ME to HKDL, but what it would take to get a middle class Chinese family to HKDL. Originally, management thought nice landscapes like Fantasy Gardens, a sprinkling of rides and the Disney name would be enough. Now they seem to think Muppet Mobile Labs and IASW will do it. I hope they're prepared for more disappointment. To build its reputation and desirability among the Chinese, HKDL needs to provide mind-blowing, can-be-found-nowhere-else Disney magic, thrills, and adventures. It needs to provide a heavy dose of these, STAT. Without an emergency billion dollar investment, the park (and the Disney name) will probably continue to languish. If I were in charge and had $1 billion to spend, I would add the following ASAP in order to see returns by 2012: Tomorrowland: - Star Tours 2.0 opposite of Autopia Fantasyland: - Dig out a lagoon on the outside of the RR for Fantasmic - Add 3 dark rides (Mary Poppins, Mr. Toad, Little Mermaid) - Add Alice Maze Adventureland: - Add Pirate Lagoon with Splash Mountain-style PotC and Treasure Isle. Frontierland: - Add this land on the opposite side of the RR from Jungle Cruise (no Rivers of America) - Haunted Mansion - Thunder Mountain - Western River Expedition
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Well, there is already a rumor floating around that a Littler Mermaid attraction for Hong Kong Disneyland is being seriously considered--perhaps after it's been tested at DCA first. So you may have one small dream of yours to come true, Randy, duckling. ORWEN: Plus they're already talking about having a Haunted Mansion, too, so there's ANOTHER one of Randy's dreams about to come true.
Originally Posted By jdub >>I would go to Hong Kong in a heartbeat, regardless of whether or not HKDL is there.>> Same here, & if I had time during my trip to visit their version of Disneyland, I would.
Originally Posted By Mr X Randy, great list! I sure hope your dreams come true, THAT would be a HKDL worth visiting!
