May day at HKDL and small world press event

Originally Posted By katsmom

Ok, So the Chinese no longer have a week long holiday for labour day. That just means that all of them that can rush across the border for the few days they have. I'm being synical so no rude comments please. It was an exhausting day. The park was PACKED! In some areas it was impossible to move.

For all you nay-sayers, at one point the Small World ride wait time was 105 minutes!

I spoke to a cast member and she said they expected the park to be a bit busy, but nothing at all like it was. Everything had hour long wait times. We had to wait until almost 3 to have lunch because there was just no where to sit down.

The janitors were going to paint the sidewalk with the small world logo again, but they couldn't because of the traffic flow. They settled for one doll, an outline of chip n' dale, and one other.

An impromptu/unscheduled Kidzzone was set up in Adventure land. I didn't see any "games" being played anywhere.

We went on a sticker hunt (a new design/set of 18 is being given out by the custodial staff) but all were gone by 3:00.

7 hours in the park, and all we did was hunt stickers, ride small world 2x and JRC once. I was just not going to stand in those ridiculous lines.

A bit of a rumor for all. Adventure land has a zone fenced off between The lion king and the smoking area near the Tarzan rafts. The sign says "bringing new magic to you" We asked, but they wouldn't tell us what it was. Just that it would be ready in 2 months time. Not an E ticket then. Anyone willing to speculate on what can be done in two months? Is there a movie coming out this summer that could have an Adventureland overlay? Or is it another game zone, or a small ride? I did get it confirmed that it wasn't more toilets! With a very hearty laugh from the man I asked.

Amd for a report from the 27 April Press event, you need to go to that amazing site: <a href="http://news.hkdlsource.com/story/292" target="_blank">http://news.hkdlsource.com/story/292</a>

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

Thanks for the update! Will the designs on the pavement be permanent, or were they just something done for the opening? I kind of like it, so I think it would be neat to see it stay around for a while.

As for the construction in AL, I would guess if it's something temporary, it would probably be based on the new Indiana Jones movie. I don't know if they would do anything with that in the international parks, but I know that DL is getting a small stunt show based off of it. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they were getting something similar in HK.

 

Originally Posted By katsmom

They did the painting with water color and coffee. As I said, it was there for hte opening and Sunday they tried again but couldn't get it done. All through the park, you can see "coffee" paintings. That is pretty regular, but one of the cast members told me that it is pressure hosed off every night. So definitly not permanent.

 

Originally Posted By Malin

Good to see the park so crowded,maybe with the opening of Its A Small World, the Chinese guest will finally accept Hong Kong Disneyland as its own. And in order for it to be a suscess and grow it needs there support.

A big problem you seem to have that day was the waiting in lines, which concerns me that this park can't handle the crowds very well on peak days. It needs to build its capacity up.

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

***The janitors were going to paint the sidewalk with the small world logo again, but they couldn't because of the traffic flow. They settled for one doll, an outline of chip n' dale, and one other.***

Not following this one. What exactly were they using to paint?

Hour long wait times doesn't seem all that crazy to me, honestly. At least that would make the few available attractions last the whole day!

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

Oh, I see you explained it in a later post Katsmom. Sorry.

 

Originally Posted By katsmom

Mr. X, we usually go on Thursdays, I just failed to take in that I had a day off because of a holiday. The wait times are torture for us when we are used to a walk on, or no more than 10 minutes wait. I've become spoiled by the lack of crowds during the week days. Even mmost weekends up to now have been relatively tame. Christmas and Halloween weren't this bad, and CNY wasn't a problem at all this year.

If small world keeps those rediculous lines they need a fast pass for it.

 

Originally Posted By Witches of Morva

ORWEN: Oh, no! Not Fastpass!! Don't let Hong Kong Disneyland be ruined by anything so horrible!!

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

They already have fastpass, I think.

It's the least of their problems, witches.

 

Originally Posted By katsmom

THey have them for Lion king, Space Mountain (hardly ever used), Buzz(only used on very busy days) and Pooh (always used). On May day, we heard a lot of "western" guests complaining about the lack of fast passes. My biggest complaint(besides the long line) was the lack of trash bins in the queue. I hat seeing lazy people try to balance an empty sod bottle on the rails. It just drives me nuts and I have to point out that they have dropped something. Usually the embarassment of getting caught makes them pick it back up

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

Pretty sad that the only useful fastpass in the place is for that Pooh ride (sorry, Katsmom...I hate to sound negative when obviously you spend alot of time in the place).

 

Originally Posted By SuperDry

<<< CNY wasn't a problem at all this year. >>>

How many babies were thrown over the gates this year?

 

Originally Posted By Witches of Morva

ORDDU: I believe they learned their lessons against doing that, by now, SupderDry. At least a witch can hope.

ORWEN: You're right, Mr. X, duckling--about Fastpass being the least of their problems over there. Did you hear about how the government is acting silly again and won't let Disney add any more attractions until....until...well, I'm not sure until what--

ORGOCH: --neither is any a THEM goomers!! They just likes ta tease ev'rybody ta death!! One day claimin' they's ready ta add more rides; the next day sayin' they's constipated an' cain't move!!!

 

Originally Posted By Malin

<<< Hour long wait times doesn't seem all that crazy to me, honestly. At least that would make the few available attractions last the whole day! >>>

You say that but when some of your main attractions are Pooh, it does seem a bit long. In my opinion you should be expected to wait an hour or two for the E Ticket's, but when your having to wait in line an hour to ride Dumbo, something is seriously wrong. The 105 mins for IASW is acceptable because its a brand new attraction and one that is recieving a very strong advertising promotion at the moment. If your having to wait ages for some of the other attractions, than your capacity needs to be address, like is there enough to keep 30,000 guest busy for the day, without having to wait for ages in lines. This not only goes for the attractions but also for the Restuarants.

 

Originally Posted By Malin

<<< My biggest complaint(besides the long line) was the lack of trash bins in the queue. I hat seeing lazy people try to balance an empty sod bottle on the rails. It just drives me nuts and I have to point out that they have dropped something. Usually the embarassment of getting caught makes them pick it back up >>>

Did you make your comments known to City Hall. I would imagine at the moment, due to the present financial state the park is in, your comments would be taken more seriously, than if it was the MK. I admit this sounds like a big problem, but could easily be fixed, by adding a few more trash cans.

 

Originally Posted By Malin

<<< ORGOCH: --neither is any a THEM goomers!! They just likes ta tease ev'rybody ta death!! One day claimin' they's ready ta add more rides; the next day sayin' they's constipated an' cain't move!!! >>>

I think part of the reason for this is down to every time a new article comes out in the Chinese media, its instantly posted on some other Disney board. After a while you really don't know what to think, because there is so much talk. I never expected Disney or the HK Govement to annouce anything new until after IASW to open anyway. I expect attendance and guest feedback to be looked at over the next year, to decide what to do next. No point in building thrill rides if the demand for them are not there, say for instance. And seeing that Space Mountain never uses FP, this could mean guest perfer dark rides to coasters.

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

"And seeing that Space Mountain never uses FP, this could mean guest perfer dark rides to coasters."

While this may be true, I would also like to point out that Space Mountian has at least double the capacity of Pooh. So, without an overly long line, Space Mountain could still get more people through in a day than Pooh with a constant supply of people. I do still think it's kind of strange how they only had one real dark ride in the park when it opened, and they haven't really seemed to make any advacing toward a second one. What ever happened to the rumors that they had already built the space for Peter Pan next too Pooh? When's that going to open?

 

Originally Posted By Witches of Morva

ORGOCH: Soon as them dang goomers over there gits off the POT, Ferret, ducklin'. 'Til then, there ain't gonna be no flights ta Neverland er Wonderland er even Ping Pong Dizzyland!!!

 

Originally Posted By Malin

ORGOCH are you trying to say Disney Management and the Hong Kong Govement are on pot. Could explain one or two things.

 

Originally Posted By Malin

<<< While this may be true, I would also like to point out that Space Mountian has at least double the capacity of Pooh. So, without an overly long line, Space Mountain could still get more people through in a day than Pooh with a constant supply of people. I do still think it's kind of strange how they only had one real dark ride in the park when it opened, and they haven't really seemed to make any advacing toward a second one. What ever happened to the rumors that they had already built the space for Peter Pan next too Pooh? When's that going to open? >>>

Very interesting point regarding Space Mountain FerretAfros. As for further dark rides, hopely with the opening of IASW and the popularity of Pooh, beefing up the park with more dark rides could be an excelent idea. I'm sure the park is full of open spaces where new attractions could be built straight away if the funds were available. I hope if the park builds any more dark rides it will consider using a new idea. How about a Mulan dark ride.