Originally Posted By BrigmanMT 2 So they have the Jungle Cruise as their one and only ride. Tarzan's Island (including rafts and a treehouse) And a Lion King show featuring scenery based on parade floats from Disneyland circa 1995. Man this whole place really is a tribute to the one that started it all. 3 attractions, (although to be fair I just checked my Disneyland map and Tom Sawyer Island and the Rafts too are considered two different Frontierland attractions). "BTW, some interesting observations there in post #10 BrigmanMT2 . I'll be sure to respond to a few when I have a little more time." Thank you. I really think that a Haunted Mansion in Adventureland should be the immediate answer: Something Orignal, but based on a classic Disney theme park attraction. If the park is really crowded, it has a high capacity. If the park is really empty, this attraction would certianly be a draw. It would expand the theme of Adventureland. It would allow one area to be defined to a specific region (I would hope Africa). The park needs another symbol, a short and stubby Space Mountain, a tiny castle, and Tarzan's Treehouse aren't teh most impressive. Now a dilapidate stately manor right off the rivers edge, with an eroding cemetary in the front yard, is something that could get people interested. More story based attractions are needed. Jungle Cruise already handles the issue of the 3 main languages of the region. Take care of it on this attraction and make it a solid 15 minute experience. 7.5 minute ride, 7.5 minutes of elaborate queue and a story prolouge. It would add a lot to the overall park ride time. The Mansion would allow guests to get indoors and out of bad weather for a good length of time. An addition under construction right off the bat would show folks that they need to come back again in a year's time. It would also show that the company is seriously interested in improving this investment and cares about the guest experience. It seems like a logical choice, I wish they would go for it.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Where's all the Jungle Cruise pictures?? We didn't get so much as one robotic animal. I assume there's a reson for that right?>> Sorry we were taken around the park prior to the rehearsal days. There wasn't a soul in the park and certain attractions were not cycling. Jungle Cruise was one as the skippers were practising (with the new Canyon of the Gods they have more to do than usual). Sorry for that but we will have images when the park opens next month. Lee
Originally Posted By leemac In fact we weren't even allowed to photograph the characters in rehearsal so no idea how Turk managed to get in there!
Originally Posted By CMM1 While the lack of attractions does stand out, it does seem like a new and interesting take on Adventureland. While a Haunted Mansion or a POTC seems like good future attractions which will provide high-capacity, what about a ride like Expedition Everest which might have a greater level of familiarity for an Asian guest?
Originally Posted By jmuboy I think EE would fit in great, especially rising over the shores of the Jungle River. But I think we'll sadly have to accept Raging Spirits instead.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "EVIL EISNER!!!!!!" Currently I'm not a big fan of Eisner, and I'm sure you're joking, but calling him evil seems so extreme and bugs me for some reason. What I think the company (Eisner) is really trying to do is to make inroads into China with their characters and associated products. Thus, this skimpy outpost appears to me to be little more than an elaborate Disney Store when those places were in their prime. Nice decorations but not much substance. The fact the park has a weekly TV show suggests that Disney is really trying to get the message across to the locals exactly what the "magic" of Disney is really all about. I am going to assume that as Disney's presence in China grows (and its operating revenue from those businesses grow accordingly), and the demand for Disney products increases in that part of the world the park will add more and more attractions.
Originally Posted By Offenbach As a fan of Disneyland's Tiki Room, I was a little bummed to hear there would be no T.R. in Hong Kong's park. Now I see that many Tiki Room pieces and parts have been shipped to Hong Kong basically just to serve as flowerbed decor. There's Rongo, god of agriculture, standing over there. Tangaroa Ru, the East Wind, is propped up over here. The chanting totem poles, eyeless and mouths cemented shut, can be seen here and there among the greenery. "Prof.Porter's" t-shirt shop appears to be a virtual warehouse of Rolly Crump's original 1963 tiki drummers, sun gods and shields. It's exciting to see these familiar characters and props being used, but I wonder why not just build an Enchanted Tiki Room attraction?? Looks like there's plenty of wide-open Adventureland real estate over there. Just add the birds and a thatched building to house it in, and presto!
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ You know beyond the original DL attraction I really wonder whether anyone really gets it. The MK version has never been popular, TDL's never has a queue and Paris' version always left people with scratching heads (although it was the Explorer's Club restaurant).
Originally Posted By TP2000 Why do I get the feeling that the two animatronic elephants seen on the Jungle Cruise pictures are about the only animatronics on the ride? I assume somewhere there is a Gorilla Camp scene with all the nifty upgrades and gun effect they did to Anaheim's version? (I say that because it's obvious they are sharing technology between Anaheim and Hong Kong recently with Space, Jungle effects, etc.) But what else is there? How many animatronics do you see on the Hong Kong Jungle Cruise?
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ There are no guns on the HKDL JC. In addition WDI intend to add new effects on a regular basis. As far as I am aware all of the DL upgrades are not in the HKDL version as of yet.
Originally Posted By TP2000 So.... it's just the two elephants as far as major animatronics go on the Hong Kong Jungle Cruise?
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ Sorry I can't comment as the attraction wasn't open when we visited 2 weeks ago. We concentrated our discussions on the new finale for the fourth issue of Tales.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>There are no guns on the HKDL JC<< True. Those are reserved for the stray dogs outside the perimeter of the park. ;P
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney A few random thoughts ... sure it looks great, but again style over substance. Definitely has a mini-DAK ambience going for it. Even the water effects remind of similar ones at DAK (poachers chase on KS) and the geysers you used to encounter on Discovery Riverboats. At some point you need more than great landscaping. DAK has that in spades along with great ATTRACTIONS. And whoever compared it to a Disney Store whetting the appetite of the locals for more, well, that seems to me the direction they did chose to go.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt ^^That was me, and I'm even more convinced after seeing the preview for the Hollywood Hotel. More Mickey motifs that you can shake a stick at. You know, I'm really happy that Disney is opening a new park in Hong Kong. However, I have to say that my impression is that this is going to be the most corporate cookie-cutter looking Disney park ever. Even more so that TDL.
Originally Posted By leemac <<most corporate cookie-cutter looking Disney park ever. Even more so that TDL.>> Hans I'm not sure I understand your comment here. What do you mean?
Originally Posted By WorldDisney "EVIL EISNER!!!!!!" <<Currently I'm not a big fan of Eisner, and I'm sure you're joking, but calling him evil seems so extreme and bugs me for some reason.>> LOL, don't worry I'm just being sarcastic. In fact, I ALWAYS do that everytime I see an Eisner posts and make a "special" comment. I'm like you actually, I think the guy has certainly made some HORRIBLE decisions, but no, I don't think he goes out of his way to beat puppies with bats on his days off like some people would have you believe .
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Hans I'm not sure I understand your comment here. What do you mean?<< Ditto here, especially since TDR is the one operation to emulate...
Originally Posted By whtrabbit67 This adventureland is so open, I love it for that. Sometimes at DL it feels like you can't breathe for the crowd in there. God help you after Fantasmic! Referencing the post by 'Brigman MT 2' where they (he/she) ask about representation of each country. I think they did the simplistic, homogenized approach to decor is because if they tried to fit in everything it would be a hodgepodge of a land. "You can't save em all, Hasselhoff" I also wish we could have seen more of JC. That has always been a favorite ride of mine at DL complete with dumb jokes. "- ) I read how it was not up yet in later posts. The park was probably empty because it was during their preview days. Something is always not running on preview days. Same thing happened at DCA. Looks like they are having Tarzan's island instead of Tom Sawyer's. The detail on the tree looks true to the movie. I get so jealous of those who get the opportunity to see the new parks. It makes me more grateful for those like "Lee" who take such incredible photos that we still get a feeling of being there even if we can't be physically.
