Hong Kong Disneyland said Wednesday it would unveil four new
entertainment offerings to visitors over next year, apart from the
already announced "it's a small world," which was slated for debut
in the spring.
The new additions would be Muppet Mobile Lab, High School
Musical Celebration, Nemo Submarine "Turtle Talk" and The Art of
Animation, said Bill Ernest, the theme park's executive vice
president and managing director.
"We are excited to add new attractions and entertainment
offerings in 2008 that truly showcase the magic of Disney's
cutting-edge technology," he said, adding that the theme park's
continuing strategy was to enhance guest experience.
"Hong Kong Disneyland will continue to find new, immersive ways
to delight families from Hong Kong and all over Asia for many years
to come," he said.
While much smaller than "it's a small world," Muppet Mobile Lab
features two Audio-Animatronics characters, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and
his assistant Beaker, who would travel around the park onboard a
mobile vehicle, interacting with visitors.
High School Musical Celebration is based on the blockbuster
Disney Channel movie High School Musical Celebration and would
feature a mobile stage with a troupe of singers and dancers working
and interacting with visitors to wild rhythm of music.
Nemo Submarine "Turtle Talk" would feature Crush, the laid-back
sea turtle from the Disney/Pixar animated film Finding Nemo. Crush
would talk with the audience in a unique, personalized way from his
digital world under the sea.
The Art of Animation, as can be seen from its name, was "both a
celebration and a tribute" to the legacy of Disney and Pixar, the
theme park said.
A joint venture between the Hong Kong Special Administrative
government and the United States-based Walt Disney Company, Hong
Kong Disneyland was unveiled to visitors in the fall of 2005 but
its performance has been less than satisfactory in the first two
years, which critics attributed to the theme park's modest size and
ill management.
The smallest among all Disneyland theme parks, Hong Kong
Disneyland attracted around 5 million visitors in its first year,
followed by 4 million in its second year.
The government, which has a majority stake in the project, on
Wednesday urged the park to better its performance, adding that the
government might in the future inject capitals in the joint venture
so that the theme park might be expanded.
Frederick Ma, secretary for commerce and economic development,
said the park's performance in its first two years of operation was
unsatisfactory.
"It is essential that the park management should critically
review the operation of the park with a view to enhancing its
operational efficiency and revamping its marketing and promotion
strategies," he said.
Hong Kong Disneyland has recently been offering prolonged period
of special offers at and around festivals like Halloween and
Christmas in hope of attracting visitors.
"It's a small world," a Disney classic attraction, would also be
unveiled to visitors in the spring, with unique features in a
localizing effort.
(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2007)
