Disney Provides a Behind-the-scene Look at the Creative Process for Hong Kong Disneyland
HONG KONG-- The Walt Disney Company launched the first in a series of briefings on Disney theme parks, the creative process and a behind-the-scene look at Hong Kong Disneyland, the Company's 11th theme park targeted to open 2005/06.
Executives from Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), the creative design and development group responsible for the creation - from concept initiation through installation - of all Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions worldwide, provided an inside look at Disney's creative process and the art of storytelling in its theme parks.
Martin A. Sklar, vice-chairman and principal creative executive for WDI, demonstrated why Disney has set the standard for theme parks and resorts around the world. Through a video tour of Imagineering's Glendale, California headquarters, Sklar described the more than 150 disciplines that take part in making Disney Magic such as model-makers, artists, sculptors, writers, engineers, architects, special effects designers, project managers, scientists and filmmakers.
"Imagineering started when Walt Disney began to develop his idea for a new kind of family park called Disneyland in California. Today, Disney theme parks span the globe guided by the same design principles and attention to detail established by Walt Disney 50 years ago," said Sklar. "Hong Kong Disneyland will celebrate and honor our company's founder as the only Disney Park in the world modeled after Walt's original vision for Disneyland."
Tom Fitzgerald, executive vice president and senior creative executive for WDI, illustrated how the Disney theme park experience is grounded in storytelling. Through video clips examples of rides and attractions, Fitzgerald explained how Imagineers combine art and technology to create more realistic and fantastic stories inside its theme parks. Through the art of storytelling, attention to detail, state-of-the-art technology and Disney characters and mythology, Imagineers create a magical world of Disney family entertainment.
"Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do. That is why Disney theme parks bring out the child in everyone," said Fitzgerald. "Like all our parks around the world, Hong Kong Disneyland will bring to life the most popular Disney stories and characters, offering guests the opportunity to literally step into the story and become a part of this magical place."
The briefing concluded with Thomas K. Morris, vice president and executive producer in charge Hong Kong Disneyland for WDI, providing a first look at Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street USA and Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Through storyboards and pictures, Morris explained the design and importance of Main Street USA, as the place in the park where every guest begins and ends their day. Designed after a quintessential American small town circa 1900, Main Street evokes a time gone by where the gas lamp was giving way to electricity and the "horseless carriage" was the latest novelty. Its nostalgic design and scale immediately transport guests from the real world to another place and time leading guests to Sleeping Beauty Castle. Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street USA will also serve as the park's key retail, dining and entertainment venue, open during park hours and after hours for guests to enjoy special entertainment, quality restaurants and shops.
"Hong Kong Disneyland - just like the original Disneyland it is patterned after -- is designed for guests to leave the outside world behind and enter a world of imagination, fantasy and adventure," said Morris. "The theme park will combine classic features from our Magic Kingdoms around the world as well as some brand new features and attractions designed specifically for Hong Kong."
Walt Disney Imagineering is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production, project management and research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company. Its talented corps of Imagineers is responsible for the creation - from concept initiation through installation - of all Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions, real estate developments and regional entertainment venues. It is headquartered in Glendale, California.
The Hong Kong Disneyland project was announced in November 1999 as a venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government. The site is currently under reclamation by the Hong Kong Government, where Disney is targeted to begin construction in early 2003 with the project scheduled to open in 2005/06. The opening day program for Hong Kong Disneyland will include a styled theme park after the original Disneyland in California, two hotels and retail, dining and entertainment experiences. The Phase I build-out includes a 10 million annual visitor Disneyland-style theme park, 2,100 hotel rooms, and 28,000 square meters (300,000 square foot) of retail, dining and entertainment. The project is estimated to create 18,000 new jobs at opening both Disney and other employment, growing to 36,000 once the first park reaches build-out. The Government economist estimated that the first phase of the project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong.
HONG KONG-- The Walt Disney Company launched the first in a series of briefings on Disney theme parks, the creative process and a behind-the-scene look at Hong Kong Disneyland, the Company's 11th theme park targeted to open 2005/06.
Executives from Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), the creative design and development group responsible for the creation - from concept initiation through installation - of all Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions worldwide, provided an inside look at Disney's creative process and the art of storytelling in its theme parks.
Martin A. Sklar, vice-chairman and principal creative executive for WDI, demonstrated why Disney has set the standard for theme parks and resorts around the world. Through a video tour of Imagineering's Glendale, California headquarters, Sklar described the more than 150 disciplines that take part in making Disney Magic such as model-makers, artists, sculptors, writers, engineers, architects, special effects designers, project managers, scientists and filmmakers.
"Imagineering started when Walt Disney began to develop his idea for a new kind of family park called Disneyland in California. Today, Disney theme parks span the globe guided by the same design principles and attention to detail established by Walt Disney 50 years ago," said Sklar. "Hong Kong Disneyland will celebrate and honor our company's founder as the only Disney Park in the world modeled after Walt's original vision for Disneyland."
Tom Fitzgerald, executive vice president and senior creative executive for WDI, illustrated how the Disney theme park experience is grounded in storytelling. Through video clips examples of rides and attractions, Fitzgerald explained how Imagineers combine art and technology to create more realistic and fantastic stories inside its theme parks. Through the art of storytelling, attention to detail, state-of-the-art technology and Disney characters and mythology, Imagineers create a magical world of Disney family entertainment.
"Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do. That is why Disney theme parks bring out the child in everyone," said Fitzgerald. "Like all our parks around the world, Hong Kong Disneyland will bring to life the most popular Disney stories and characters, offering guests the opportunity to literally step into the story and become a part of this magical place."
The briefing concluded with Thomas K. Morris, vice president and executive producer in charge Hong Kong Disneyland for WDI, providing a first look at Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street USA and Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Through storyboards and pictures, Morris explained the design and importance of Main Street USA, as the place in the park where every guest begins and ends their day. Designed after a quintessential American small town circa 1900, Main Street evokes a time gone by where the gas lamp was giving way to electricity and the "horseless carriage" was the latest novelty. Its nostalgic design and scale immediately transport guests from the real world to another place and time leading guests to Sleeping Beauty Castle. Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street USA will also serve as the park's key retail, dining and entertainment venue, open during park hours and after hours for guests to enjoy special entertainment, quality restaurants and shops.
"Hong Kong Disneyland - just like the original Disneyland it is patterned after -- is designed for guests to leave the outside world behind and enter a world of imagination, fantasy and adventure," said Morris. "The theme park will combine classic features from our Magic Kingdoms around the world as well as some brand new features and attractions designed specifically for Hong Kong."
Walt Disney Imagineering is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production, project management and research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company. Its talented corps of Imagineers is responsible for the creation - from concept initiation through installation - of all Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions, real estate developments and regional entertainment venues. It is headquartered in Glendale, California.
The Hong Kong Disneyland project was announced in November 1999 as a venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government. The site is currently under reclamation by the Hong Kong Government, where Disney is targeted to begin construction in early 2003 with the project scheduled to open in 2005/06. The opening day program for Hong Kong Disneyland will include a styled theme park after the original Disneyland in California, two hotels and retail, dining and entertainment experiences. The Phase I build-out includes a 10 million annual visitor Disneyland-style theme park, 2,100 hotel rooms, and 28,000 square meters (300,000 square foot) of retail, dining and entertainment. The project is estimated to create 18,000 new jobs at opening both Disney and other employment, growing to 36,000 once the first park reaches build-out. The Government economist estimated that the first phase of the project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong.
