China's first Disney theme park is targeted to open on Oct. 14, 2005, Robert Iger, Walt Disney Co. (DIS) president and chief operating officer, told an internal Hong Kong Disneyland staff meeting Tuesday.
The company has previously said only that the park would open in late 2005 or 2006, with some staff speculating that construction delays would push the launch date to the end of that window.
But at a town hall meeting with staff Tuesday, Mr. Iger said he would report Oct. 14 as an opening date to the Hong Kong government, which is the park's majority investor. He said the actual opening could still move earlier or later, according to people present at the meeting.
Disney broke ground on the Hong Kong park -- its first marketed to the developing world -- in January 2003. The $3.5 billion project is only 43% owned by Disney, with the rest financed by the Hong Kong government, which hopes the park will boost the city's tourism and employment.
Hong Kong Disneyland has been hiring steadily and said last month it expects to have 1,100 employees by January, a fifth of the planned work force for opening day.
A company spokeswoman confirmed that Mr. Iger held an internal meeting with Hong Kong Disneyland staff on Tuesday, but declined to comment on what he said.
"We are on target to open in late 2005 or early 2006," said Esther Wong, the park's manager of public affairs.
Mr. Iger also didn't comment on specific launch dates at a speech Tuesday about the progress of the park construction to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
Beyond physical construction of the park's rides and attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland has been launching marketing initiatives targeted toward tourists in southern China, who are expected to make up 30% to 40% of the park's visitors.
In August, the park launched three new Disney-themed TV programs on Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts network, whose transmissions extend across the boarder into China. Marketing officials are also targeting children with events held through the Communist Youth League of China's "youth palaces" to teach children about trademark Disney characters.
On Wednesday, the park will launch a TV commercial in China on Disney's ESPN and on China Central Television during a broadcast of the National Basketball Association preseason games in Shanghai.
By Geoffrey A. Fowler
The company has previously said only that the park would open in late 2005 or 2006, with some staff speculating that construction delays would push the launch date to the end of that window.
But at a town hall meeting with staff Tuesday, Mr. Iger said he would report Oct. 14 as an opening date to the Hong Kong government, which is the park's majority investor. He said the actual opening could still move earlier or later, according to people present at the meeting.
Disney broke ground on the Hong Kong park -- its first marketed to the developing world -- in January 2003. The $3.5 billion project is only 43% owned by Disney, with the rest financed by the Hong Kong government, which hopes the park will boost the city's tourism and employment.
Hong Kong Disneyland has been hiring steadily and said last month it expects to have 1,100 employees by January, a fifth of the planned work force for opening day.
A company spokeswoman confirmed that Mr. Iger held an internal meeting with Hong Kong Disneyland staff on Tuesday, but declined to comment on what he said.
"We are on target to open in late 2005 or early 2006," said Esther Wong, the park's manager of public affairs.
Mr. Iger also didn't comment on specific launch dates at a speech Tuesday about the progress of the park construction to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
Beyond physical construction of the park's rides and attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland has been launching marketing initiatives targeted toward tourists in southern China, who are expected to make up 30% to 40% of the park's visitors.
In August, the park launched three new Disney-themed TV programs on Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts network, whose transmissions extend across the boarder into China. Marketing officials are also targeting children with events held through the Communist Youth League of China's "youth palaces" to teach children about trademark Disney characters.
On Wednesday, the park will launch a TV commercial in China on Disney's ESPN and on China Central Television during a broadcast of the National Basketball Association preseason games in Shanghai.
By Geoffrey A. Fowler
