"IASW" in 2008, Combo ride"POTC" and "Raging Spirits" shelved, "MSEP" postponed

[HongKongDisneyland]

迪士尼小小世界後年落成
16/10/2006


【 本 報 訊 】 香 港 迪 士 尼 樂 園 新 遊 戲 「 小 小 世 界 」 ， 或 押 後 至 ○ 八 年 初 落 成 ； 據 迪 士 尼 估 計 ， 當 樂 園 踏 入 三 周 年 時 ， 每 日 最 高 入 場 人 次 可 由 現 時 二 萬 八 千 人 ， 增 至 四 萬 七 千 人 。 不 過 ， 由 於 財 政 考 慮 等 因 素 ， 香 港 迪 士 尼 原 本 打 算 興 建 的 新 遊 戲 如 「 憤 怒 雙 神 」 、 晚 間 巡 遊 等 項 目 ， 都 一 一 暫 時 擱 置 ， 令 擴 展 規 模 比 預 期 縮 小 。

「 憤 怒 雙 神 」 叫 停
有 消 息 指 ， 香 港 迪 士 尼 本 來 計 劃 今 年 九 月 引 入 晚 間 電 子 花 車 巡 遊 以 慶 祝 一 周 年 ， 又 會 在 明 年 夏 天 推 出 「 憤 怒 雙 神 」 過 山 車 和 另 一 款 兒 童 互 動 遊 戲 。 不 過 ， 由 於 辦 晚 間 巡 遊 成 本 高 昂 ， 另 外 華 特 迪 士 尼 認 為 ， 東 京 迪 士 尼 海 洋 今 年 七 月 推 出 「 憤 怒 雙 神 」 後 反 應 一 般 ， 所 以 計 劃 最 後 叫 停 。

香 港 迪 士 尼 日 後 須 依 靠 營 運 收 入 支 付 興 建 新 機 動 遊 戲 的 經 費 ， 令 到 樂 園 制 訂 發 展 策 略 步 步 為 營 。 本 來 迪 士 尼 的 幻 想 工 程 師 曾 建 議 興 建 一 款 結 合 「 加 勒 比 海 盜 」 及 「 憤 怒 雙 神 」 的 遊 戲 ， 但 也 因 成 本 高 達 六 億 多 港 元 而 告 吹 。 現 時 唯 一 肯 定 會 推 出 的 新 遊 戲 是 「 小 小 世 界 」 ， 亦 有 傳 言 指 樂 園 會 在 廣 場 餐 廳 旁 開 設 新 食 肆 。

香 港 迪 士 尼 樂 園 傳 媒 關 係 總 監 朱 伊 蓮 回 應 指 ， 不 會 就 個 別 傳 言 作 出 評 論 ， 樂 園 暫 時 亦 未 有 新 消 息 公 布 。 她 說 ， 樂 園 的 擴 充 計 劃 會 因 應 賓 客 及 市 場 的 需 求 而 定 。
另 外 ， 香 港 迪 士 尼 樂 園 好 萊 塢 酒 店 幾 名 年 輕 廚 師 ， 最 近 在 香 港 區 的 「 MLA 黑 盒 廚 師 大 賽 」 囊 括 全 場 總 冠 軍 、 最 佳 頭 盤 及 最 佳 主 菜 三 項 大 獎 。 冠 軍 隊 伍 由 副 廚 師 長 楊 日 紅 率 領 ， 他 們 將 於 ○ 八 年 代 表 香 港 遠 赴 杜 拜 ， 參 加 「 MLA 黑 盒 廚 師 大 賽 」 總 決 賽 ， 與 二 十 六 個 國 家 的 代 表 切 磋 。

Source: Oriental Daily News

Partial Translation
The opening of "IASW" will be postponed to early 2008. According to the estimates by Disney, daily capacity will be increased from 28,000 to 47,000 when HKDL steps into its 3rd year of operation.

MSEP was originally planned to be introduced in September for its 1st year celebration and "Raging Spirits" plus another interactive attraction for children were originally planned for 2007.
Due to the high cost of operating MSEP, and "mild" response for "Raging Spirits" at Tokyo Disney Resort, Disney DID NOT give a "green" light to those 2 projects at Hong Kong.

The new ride, a combo of "POTC" and "Raging Spirits" was originally suggested by Disney Imagineers has been shelved because of the project cost of HK$600 million.

"IASW" is the only attraction that is being confirmed so far. There might be another restaurant opened in Main Street next to Plaza Inn.

Because of the financial arrangement the Disney and HK Government have agreed upon, that is, the construction of new attractions have to be funded through operating income, future development strategies for HKDL have been formulated very conservatively.

But the spokeswoman for HKDL refused to comment on any future development reported by various newspapers.

[figment1986]

come on, if they want anything new they have to spend money to make it...

that pirate attaraction also might bring people in, but they need good capacity before they gamble i guess...

[TDLFAN]

Disney cheapens out again... Reason why HKDL does not appear to be a smash hit. It's like baking your own cake and adding vinegar to the mix as a joke to those tasting it later...

[Malin]

Looks like Hong Kong Disneyland needs to start finding new ways of income and fast.This park needs to have new attractions

[DisneyMickey]

I hope it's making a lot of money.

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: They actually deserve to LOSE money--after being so cheap. And--as a matter of fact--they ARE!

ORGOCH: I just give up on those dang goomers over there. 'Til they learn ta admit their own goofs, they don't deserve no sympathy from Morva!

ORWEN: And to think you all thought I was the dumbest of the dumb!!

[Loomis]

I can understand Disney's caution. After spending a fortune in Paris, it took YEARS before they got back in the black.

However, in that example, they built a good product and it just took the audience a while to find it. In this case, they have built a pretty good product, but don't seem to be willing to go that extra mile to draw in the additional crowds.

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: But--in Paris--it was the hotels that they over-spent money on. Not the attractions within the park.

[Loomis]

True, but they also 'plussed' the Castle and other thngs significantly for a very minor initial return.

I think my Paris example is being used to illustrate this much: simply having a shiny park in the first place - with bits that are arguably better than the original - is not enough to win the crowds over. However, it certainly helps.

Hong Kong certainly has room to improve, especially when measured up against the other parks. However, I would argue that increased expenditure ALONE is the solution to all the park's problems.

[Dustysage]

Originally Posted by Loomis

True, but they also 'plussed' the Castle and other thngs significantly for a very minor initial return.

I think my Paris example is being used to illustrate this much: simply having a shiny park in the first place - with bits that are arguably better than the original - is not enough to win the crowds over. However, it certainly helps.

There is a reason that the new parks are not taking off. Critical mass. They may be building pretty parks, but none of them have enough to do. Many here would argue (myself included) that Tokyo Disney Sea is the most beautiful park ever built. But it doesn't contain enough attractions to pull in the crowds needed to make it a smash success. The same is true of HKDL. It is a very nice park. I love it. But it just doesn't offer much to do.

If you want a park to succeed, you have to build it well, pack it with value (more to do than you could ever do in just one day), and then market the heck out of it.

They can still make HKDL a huge success. They just need to throw caution to the wind and do as Walt did in the early days of Disneyland. Take the gamble and add huge new sections to the park all at once to create: CRITICAL MASS.

[tcsnwhite]

Is it Disney themselves being cheap, or is it the system they set up with the HK Govt. that says future developement has to come from operating income? is that the norm for all Disney parks?

regardless, They have to add new entertainment and new attractions to get people into the park. What else is there to do?



now, is MSEP postponed, or it is canceled all together?

[Loomis]

Please don't take this post the wrong way. I love HKDL, and that's why I've helped co-author a site about the place. Most of the argument below is me playing devil's advocate really...

Originally Posted by Dustysage

If you want a park to succeed, you have to build it well, pack it with value (more to do than you could ever do in just one day), and then market the heck out of it.

...and this is the loop I keep finding myself stuck in. Disney has a new park not meeting expectations. Should they throw more money at it? Possibly, because marketing can never hurt. However, if you throw more money at a failing venture, then they are in some kind of negative loop where more and more money disappears down the sinkhole. That is why I said that a whole lot of new attraction DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN more crowds. It helps, but you need to create the desire to go to a Disney park in the first place. People will buy ridiculous shoes, pants that don't fit right and silly hats (see avatar!) if they believe there is a good enough reason or even a need to do so.

The other related question regarding critical mass, is whether or not there is jus TOO MUCH Disney globally. Is there room for 5 resorts worldwide? If HKDL was just as good as Anaheim or Florida or even Paris, why should I travel 14/18/22 hours to get to those parks when I can get to HKDL in 8? Would creating all parks as equals be a way of shooting themselves in the foot re: tourism? Do additional parks take the sheen off the 'magic'?

Anyhoo, those are some thoughts I had while noshing on a vege roll. Play wth them as you will.

[V1213]

Marketing can never hurt?
Perhaps it can - what happens when the marketing is great and everyone expects great things, only to be dissapointed? I big influx of visitors who come away dissapointed is not a good thing. Someone who happens to visit thinking it'll be OK but is pleasantly surprised is far more likely to return than someone who expected a lot and got a little.
You need to have something worth marketing.

I guess it's a balance of the various options that HKDL has at the moment, certainly new things are constantly needed to encourage repeat visitation, and extra "rides" are most probably needed to reach that critical mass where first time visitors want to come in greater numbers. Marketing of these new things will only increase their effectiveness.

In terms of the international aspect, the saturation of the Disney theme park market has effects on HKDL - many people on this forum have said they wouldn't mind visiting but why spend the money and time going there when TDL will offer them more for a similar trip? Why even make the trip to Asia when you have parks in the US? HKDL is seen as the baby of the Disneyland fleet and as such seems to receive relatively few visits from Disney fans at least.


My big question with the original post, before all this "what HKDL needs" stuff came along was: what would a cross of PotC and Raging Spirits be? Pirates with fire and mist, traveling in speed boats?

[nish221]

My take on this is that Disney (and HK SAR) underestimated the "critical mass"
as well as the impact of the negative publicity (due to overcrowding and the
"perceived" not enough to do). The reported contract terms limits what
they can do.

Yes. After what happened at DLP, (and w/ Eisner still at the helm), HKDL
was an attempt to "build quality but small and grow". They thought that
the Disneyland name would bring in large numbers from the mainland and
HK. They didn't count on the really bad press re: overcrowding

Originally Posted by V1213

. . .

My big question with the original post, before all this "what HKDL needs" stuff came along was: what would a cross of PotC and Raging Spirits be? Pirates with fire and mist, traveling in speed boats?

Now back to the topic at hand:

V1213: my understanding on the new ride system was to have something like
the Atlantis in San Diego Seaworld. (partial roller roaster, partial flume ride).
Most likely no elevator in the middle however.

My thinking was that this would be themed to the movie trilogy with
"regular" PoTC portions, followed by the Krakken being at the center for the roller coaster portion (whirlpool). And all it followed by a splashdown, then some
other "regular" PoTC elements" (maybe I heard this somewhere...just don't
remember now... sorry).

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: The solutions to the problems with Hong Kong Disneyland are so obvious that it's truly astounding those in charge act as though they can't see them or correct them.

ORWEN: Uncle Walt's philosophy was to 'give them so much to see' they'll just have to come back for more.'

ORDDU: Whereas current management's philosophy is to 'give them as little as possible and test them to see how much we can get out of them to make things at least seem successful--for us, not the guest'.

ORWEN: With so little to do at Hong Kong Disneyland, I'd never go there even on a FIRST visit, let alone a second or third.

ORDDU: So you see, it's really a waste of time to grasp at straws in any attempt to apologize for the glaring mistakes management has made over there. Until they get over their constipated stubborness and start making the park a worthwhile place for repeat visits, all they're going to have are a bunch of disappointed guests, with a few hopeful dreamers who go for the purpose of imagining where the next new attractions will be located.