Originally Posted By Roger55 Just finished two days at HKDL. It was my first visit there. I have to say that my expectations were low based on everything I have read about the park. Having said that, I was pleasantly suprised as to how much I enjoyed it. It is NOT a big park, and you can do the whole park in one day easily. But there is some uniqueness to the park that I enjoyed...with an emphasis on the word "some". Being new, the park is CLEAN. Almost too clean. The bamboo fences in Adventureland look like they just were built. The brick Main St was also nice and clean. Attractions were OK. Jungle Cruise is the most unique. Other attractions are just clones or just about clones. The shows were good. Have to say they are second best to TDR IMO. Golden Mickeys and Festival of the Lion King were fun. And the Lion King show is significantly different from AK's. The parade was a disappointment. Recycled TDR floats for the most part. No feeling or excitement at all. Disney in the Stars fireworks were also just OK. Pretty setting with the HKDL castle lighting effects. However, the show lacked story, feelings or emotions. Nice low level fireworks with traditional Disney music. I guess I am spoiled with DLR's 50th fireworks. One thing I was really impressed with was the Cast Members. Every one I met were giving it there all. Even though they are new to Disney, they did there best to make the Guest experience magical. And about the bad manners of the Guests at HKDL. All TRUE. Worst I have ever seen at a Disney park. You have to just accept and ignore as much as possible. Well, that's my abbreviated report. Will try to write more when I'm not paying for internet by the minute.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^^Dude, you pretty much said exactly everything I said in my reports, just abbrievated ;D. Too small of a park, cloned, dull rides, parade sucked, but good shows. I actually think Disney in the Stars Parade is quite good and don't have a problem with the park being TOO clean (maybe because few people ever walk through it? ;D). Yeah, CMs WERE better on my last visit and never had such a big 'guest' problem like many people do here, but certainly not doubting it. Guess I just been 'lucky' with most of that aspect. Anyway, liked your report and despite all your grievences, glad you made the best out of your day and you enjoyed it .
Originally Posted By Mr X Cool (if short ;p) report... I would comment about the parade a bit though...I don't think it was the floats that made it suck, after all, they were all part of the 100 years parade in TDL that was far-from-suckin (to put it in the German venacular). I think it was MUCH more the music (HORRIBLE, who WROTE that crap!?), and the performances (weak, to say the least...but still better than Paris!), and the choreography... But to blame the old floats as the "problem" of the parade is the same as blaming some other old but pretty cool thing in a support position to be the reason for some brand new but totally crappy thing sitting on top of it to be bad. Or, the new additions suck, don't blame the floats. Or, even better, the parade just totally sucks. Good luck with that last paragraph...but I meant every word.
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite Not all the floats were in TDL's 100 years of magic parade- a few of them are new. Overall, the parade has no spirit to me. It feels as if it was just thrown together, as if it wasn't on the radar of the team making HKDL that a bold and big parade was essential to the first years. Also, the whole art direction and design of the parade is a mess with it being a mish mash of old and new stuff.
Originally Posted By Roger55 The parade did not suck only because of the recycled floats. Sorry if it read that way. It sucked for a lot of other reasons mentioned here too! Bad music, no feeling, slapped together, and one comment that maybe is not fair... but some of the performers were flat out OLD! I swear one of the dancing dudes looked like he was in his 40s!!! I'm all for equal opportunity, but jeeze, couldn't they at least TRY to do a better job casting the parade? Fireworks for me just didn't measure up to the emotions of DLR's Remember. And it did not have the warm feeling that Believe fireworks had. And because it was all low level fireworks, it was not the specatcle Wishes is. The opening light sequence with the castle was good for the first minute or so, but lasted too long IMO. When I said the park was almost too clean, I was mostly referring to the themeing effects, not how clean they keep the park. For example, I enjoy seeing that the Imagineers pay attention to the details to "age" things that are meant to be aged. I would have expected the fences in Adventureland to be a least a little weathered looking. The bamboo was nice and shiny. And the Main St bricks looked just like you would expect if no vehicles ever drive on it. Does not give me the feeling of it being Main St USA. Rusty pipes effects were not believable. Just brown paint speckles with a smooth to the touch finish (yes I touch things too!). With the HK humidity, I think just letting nature take it's course would have created a better effect by now! Yeah, you can call me weird to be looking at all these details. It wouldn't be the first time. LoL Just a quick comment on the language "non" issue. I found not knowing Cantones or Mandarin no problem what so ever. Sure there were things I could not understand, especially in Golden Mickeys, but there were pleanty of parts in English. Hearing the characters speak Chinese was a riot! Reminded me of the first time I heard Mickey speak Japanese. Every CM I spoke with could speak English. I think I would have more trouble at TDR than at HKDL if I didn't speak Japanese already. Oh, one last thought for now. Sticky rice balls from ODV carts, Dim Sum in Tomorrowland and great Chinese theming and food at the Plaza Inn on Main St. USA!!! Is this part of the "as long as there is imagination left in the world" remark made by Walt? LoL
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>And about the bad manners of the Guests at HKDL. All TRUE. Worst I have ever seen at a Disney park. You have to just accept and ignore as much as possible.<< Worst that Paris' guests?!?!?
