It's A "Different" Small World + Rumored Major Attractions + Downtown Disney

[Ride Warrior]

HKDL is where Eisner's "budget park" strategy is probably having its worst impact...now a country with 1/5 of the world's population has a low opinion of what Disney parks are about. Disney really missed the chance to make a big first impression with potentially huge financial rewards. Small World is a great ride but by itself won't reverse HKDL's fortunes. With the current popularity of the Pirates films they are really doing themselves a disservice by dillydallying on a ride. While personally I would love to go on a "Pirate Mountain" ride, I don't think that's the best scenario for HKDL...because in that scenario, a Splash Mountain would probably be superfluous, and this park with its small size needs to have as many of the great Disney rides as can be fit in there.

Disney sure enough created a lousy first impression on the people of China with this cut rate version of Disneyland. What it needs to counter this horrendous rep is as many original attractions as possible. Hong Clone Disneyland just isn't ging to cut the mustard. Pirate Mountain, Hauted House, and It's A Small World 2.O are definitely the types of attractions that will improve business among local Chinese and international theme park goers.

Although Pirate Mountain combines two attractions, Disney is certainly capable of creating many other unique E-tickets. I can think of a few possibilities off the top of my head: Soaring Over China, Expedition Everest: Trecherous Assent, American Treasure: Ride of Gold. While international guests are rawn to original attractions, the Chinese are looking for the same - plus they are fascinated by Americana.

[MickeyMoose]

A Expedition Everest ride might fit in better in China than Big Thunder.

[tasman]

^^ I don't think clone attractions are any problem since most people in HK and mainland China have not been to any other Disney park. But they should be quality clones not second rate ones. For example they might have been able to get away with just two attractions in Fantasyland if one of them had been "Pooh's Hunny Hunt"...but they chose to clone the MK version instead.

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: Does anyone remember a time when Mr. Ei$ner was considering closing down the original Disneyland and then rebuilding it somewhere else in California? Well, if you do, you should thank your lucky stars and charms that it never happened. Otherwise we would have all ended up with a scaled down version of the original--much like what we see in Hong Kong today.

[Ride Warrior]

A Expedition Everest ride might fit in better in China than Big Thunder.

Considering how few attractions that their are, I feel that both rides are needed. Everest, of course, is a part is an important part of China's geography. Big Thunder appeals to the Chinese' unquenchable craving for Americana - especially the rootin' tootin' romantic old West.

[Ride Warrior]

^^ I don't think clone attractions are any problem since most people in HK and mainland China have not been to any other Disney park. But they should be quality clones not second rate ones. For example they might have been able to get away with just two attractions in Fantasyland if one of them had been "Pooh's Hunny Hunt"...but they chose to clone the MK version instead.

As long as they do not constitute the majority of attractions, those which are cloned are not a problem. Theme park enthusiasts traveling to Hong Kong from mainland China are economiacally well to do. Don't think for a second that most haven't been to Disney parks elsewhere in the world. Aiming for a primarily cloned park would be foolhearty, noninspiring and lazy.

[Ride Warrior]

ORDDU: Does anyone remember a time when Mr. Ei$ner was considering closing down the original Disneyland and then rebuilding it somewhere else in California? Well, if you do, you should thank your lucky stars and charms that it never happened. Otherwise we would have all ended up with a scaled down version of the original--much like what we see in Hong Kong today.

We would have had a teeny tiny Disneyland that made DCA look like Walt Disney World.

[tasman]

As long as they do not constitute the majority of attractions, those which are cloned are not a problem. Theme park enthusiasts traveling to Hong Kong from mainland China are economiacally well to do. Don't think for a second that most haven't been to Disney parks elsewhere in the world. Aiming for a primarily cloned park would be foolhearty, noninspiring and lazy.

True, I don't have any actual stats...but of the 4 million who visited last year, my guess is that the overwhelming majority are families with children, of whom very few are likely to have visited a Disney park in a foreign country (especially those from the mainland). I would be surprised if enthusiasts like you or me visiting HK number more than a few thousand. But again that's just a guess.

Here is a known fact however: TDL started out largely as a clone of the MK / DL and did just fine....because they cloned only the best. The unique aspects of TDL / TDR only came around after they had achieved financial success on a backbone of tried-and-true clone rides. Of course a thoughtless assortment of clones will not bring success...DCA being a good example...but if intelligently presented, they would work just fine IMO.

Anywho...regardless whether HKDL gets cloned rides or original ones...it needs quality E tickets...and needs them fast.

[HKDLFAN]

I live in HK and go to West Island School where in my class almost noone apart from me and some others have been to other Disney Parks except for HK's park. They all seem to think that other Disney parks are 'lame' like HKDL, I've really tried to promote HKDL in my school by giving out free tickets but still, no appreciation...

[josh_kslow]

Even by giving out free park tickets have no response, then I think HKDL have to go through a 360 degree turnover and rebrand it just like what DLRP done 10 years after their opening. DLRP struggled 10 years so is Disney also giving HKDL 10 years of struggling before they do anything to help the park.

[tasman]

My armchair imagineering suggestions for the space they have left, based on the map below, would be as follows:

Most of the space is in Adventureland. I would split this into two halves, one with an Caribbean theme and the other with an Indian theme.

The Caribbean half would include Pirates and Haunted Mansion. Pirates could be similar to the one in Paris, or alternately the rumoured Splash Mountain hybrid. HM with Caribbean theming would be unique to HKDL.

The Indian half would have an Indy ride (a proper Indy, not just a coaster) and Everest.

There looks to be room for only one more ride in Tomorrowland (unless they found a way to incorporate the land between the Golden Mickeys and Autopia). The former plot (between Buzz and Autopia) isn't very big, so the revamped Star Tours might be a good fit. If two rides can be built, using the plot between Golden Mickeys and Autopia, then maybe something based on either the test track or kuka arm technology could be considered (the latter after expiration of Universal's exclusive rights around 2015).

For Fantasyland, aside from relatively small dark rides like Little Mermaid and Peter Pan, there looks to me to be room for maybe a couple more large attractions. If up to me one of these would be a ride even little ones could enjoy...like the Fantasia boat ride planned for Beastlie Kingdomme. The other would a be thrill ride...perhaps Dragon Tower (also from Beastlie Kingdomme) or Splash Mountain (depending on what they did with Pirates).

[tasman]

Even by giving out free park tickets have no response, then I think HKDL have to go through a 360 degree turnover and rebrand it just like what DLRP done 10 years after their opening. DLRP struggled 10 years so is Disney also giving HKDL 10 years of struggling before they do anything to help the park.

Well Disney didn't just sit around with DLP...they built Space Mountain, Nautilus walkthrough, Fantasyland annex, and the Indy coaster, all within four years of the park's opening. The situation with DLP was also very different from HKDL since the French park had no shortage of rides to begin with...there was instead a shortage of interest from the local population. That wasn't a problem here, to begin with...but may well become one, if Disney doesn't get its act together.

[Ride Warrior]

My armchair imagineering suggestions for the space they have left, based on the map below, would be as follows:

Most of the space is in Adventureland. I would split this into two halves, one with an Caribbean theme and the other with an Indian theme.

The Caribbean half would include Pirates and Haunted Mansion. Pirates could be similar to the one in Paris, or alternately the rumoured Splash Mountain hybrid. HM with Caribbean theming would be unique to HKDL.

The Indian half would have an Indy ride (a proper Indy, not just a coaster) and Everest.

There looks to be room for only one more ride in Tomorrowland (unless they found a way to incorporate the land between the Golden Mickeys and Autopia). The former plot (between Buzz and Autopia) isn't very big, so the revamped Star Tours might be a good fit. If two rides can be built, using the plot between Golden Mickeys and Autopia, then maybe something based on either the test track or kuka arm technology could be considered (the latter after expiration of Universal's exclusive rights around 2015).

For Fantasyland, aside from relatively small dark rides like Little Mermaid and Peter Pan, there looks to me to be room for maybe a couple more large attractions. If up to me one of these would be a ride even little ones could enjoy...like the Fantasia boat ride planned for Beastlie Kingdomme. The other would a be thrill ride...perhaps Dragon Tower (also from Beastlie Kingdomme) or Splash Mountain (depending on what they did with Pirates).

Bingo! Your savvy thinking is validated by a rumor that I haven't divulged until now. Disney is planning to place both Pirate Mountain and Haunted House inside a new land - Pirates Land. HH would indeed take on a Caribbean theme.

You hit a soft spot upon mentioning your desire to see a Fantasia boat ride. How relaxing it would be to cruise thru lush melodic gardens that include fragrant flowers, themed statues, fountains, exotic pants and trees - and topiary galore. If a miniature golf course could be worked into the landscape - all the better.

Thanks for posting the above map, tasman.

[Ride Warrior]

Even by giving out free park tickets have no response, then I think HKDL have to go through a 360 degree turnover and rebrand it just like what DLRP done 10 years after their opening. DLRP struggled 10 years so is Disney also giving HKDL 10 years of struggling before they do anything to help the park.

Disney cannot afford the bad PR of waiting 10 years to get off it's butt. As I stated in the initial post, the company has until 2013 to turn things arod - do or die.

[Ride Warrior]

I live in HK and go to West Island School where in my class almost noone apart from me and some others have been to other Disney Parks except for HK's park. They all seem to think that other Disney parks are 'lame' like HKDL, I've really tried to promote HKDL in my school by giving out free tickets but still, no appreciation...

This is a poor testament, hkdlfan, as to how a poor first impression a theme park with a scant major rides and other attractions can kill off attendance. if you would have offered free Ocean Park tickets to your friends, I'll bet they would have jumped at the opportunity.