I think it’s unfortunate (or fortunate for HK’s version) that the town of Arendelle in Fantasy Springs is just some toilets. HK’s Arendelle feels much more alive with shops, restaurants, and lived in citizens. Tokyo may have the best Frozen ride, but HK has the best land.
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HKDL gets new castle, frozen land and marvel land.
- Thread starter Kiwiduck
- Start date
Supersnow84
Well-Known Member
I honestly think it’s because fantasy springs is just a “bad” land so to speak
HK arendelle is fantastic for what it is but it pretty much gave exactly what it was designed to be
Fantasy springs meanwhile feels like an oversized new fantasyland
It’s still incredible but it seems like it took all the worst lessons from the last 20 years of imagineering
HK arendelle is fantastic for what it is but it pretty much gave exactly what it was designed to be
Fantasy springs meanwhile feels like an oversized new fantasyland
It’s still incredible but it seems like it took all the worst lessons from the last 20 years of imagineering
DarkMetroid567
Well-Known Member
Fantasy Springs makes me wonder how much creative input or mandate OLC actually gives, because the entire expansion is so bizarrely unlike anything Imagineering has recently done.
Supersnow84
Well-Known Member
Like I said to me it basically feels like where imagineering was around the era of new fantasyland
Wide sprawling paths and vistas and big facades hiding show buildings but hardly anything beyond that
Like when I went to Tokyo I was so intent on getting into fantasy springs I never expected to not actually want to stay once I rode the ride I booked
From a Japanese perspective, Fantasy Springs may make sense in that DisneySea is all about water and hot springs are sort of mythical in their culture. It is very jarring from a western perspective though. FS is very IP heavy for a park that is famous for integrating them subtly and well along with original stories i.e S.E.A. Of course the local audience wanted more “Disney” so OLC gave it to them.
Supersnow84
Well-Known Member
I’m assuming they are probably waiting for the full year data after WOF opened to give to LegCo to show the positive direction of the park before they go any further
Gusey
Well-Known Member
All we know at the moment is Spiderman ToT and a reimagining of an exisiting attraction (just not which), as well as the 20th anniversary parade that still needs to be officially announced. The good thing with HKDL is that when they do announce any investments, they usually show a full map of the park and where the attractions will be
European1992
Active Member
Visited this park on Sunday and it was a great experience. It was spotless, not crowded, great attractions. Tomorrowland is the only weak spot with its look, but the Iron Man ride is better than the usual Star Wars one, I did not get motion sickness.
Supersnow84
Well-Known Member
Still wondering if that’s the “reimagining” in the budget or just a “routine maintenance” sorta thing
BrianLo
Well-Known Member
Glorified Maintenance. It’s just a segment inserted into a digital film.
Supersnow84
Well-Known Member
It’s an interesting point that I’ve noticed opinions on HK swinging around in Disney fan listening posts
A lot of blogs that rank the 12 parks now put HK strongly in the middle of the parks (I’ve seen it as high as 5 or 6 with strong justification) and a lot of the Disney subreddits now seem to be more strongly entertaining the idea of doing a HK/Tokyo trip rather than just Tokyo
It’ll be interesting to see guest numbers this year
A lot of blogs that rank the 12 parks now put HK strongly in the middle of the parks (I’ve seen it as high as 5 or 6 with strong justification) and a lot of the Disney subreddits now seem to be more strongly entertaining the idea of doing a HK/Tokyo trip rather than just Tokyo
It’ll be interesting to see guest numbers this year
I see this opinion going around in the community too. The ease of access to HK from Tokyo and vice-versa makes bundling the 2 resorts a no brainer. Another opinion I see is that HKDL, in its current form, feels just like Disneyland was back in the day when that park only had Pirates and Mansion.
I love Tokyo, but people going to TDR for the first time expecting it to be the best parks in the world will be quite disappointed if they don’t do their homework. Tokyo is very hardcore with people lining up hours before park opening because DPA and Standby Passes can ONLY be bought once entering the park and having your ticket scanned. Anna and Elsa’s frozen journey usually sells out at around 9:30am. The vast majority of the crowd lined up haven’t even passed security yet. It is a “pay to win” park while still requiring you to play in order to get the opportunity to pay. Stage shows are under a lottery system that is one and done. It is very important to plan or cough up the dough to buy a vacation package when going to Tokyo.
Supersnow84
Well-Known Member
Tokyo can be an exhausting resort but it does have a depth of attractions that means you can miss a lot and still feel fulfilled
My biggest problem with Tokyo still remains how hostile everything is to book if you don’t have a Japanese credit card
Still if HK can sell itself as a stopover destination to Tokyo (which is super easy) to international guests it only works in its favour as currently HK isn’t a destination resort
It still brings into question what HK “needs” next as most people these days are happy with magic kingdom. I’m sure international guests would prefer it become a destination style resort like Tokyo but it’s arguable if HK residents want that. If HK built a second gate (or even a downtown Disney) would it just basically halve magic kingdoms attendance and give it to the second gate or would it attract more guests overall. It remains to be seen what the attendance numbers they announce next. Was arendelle a blip or a long term trend creator
My biggest problem with Tokyo still remains how hostile everything is to book if you don’t have a Japanese credit card
Still if HK can sell itself as a stopover destination to Tokyo (which is super easy) to international guests it only works in its favour as currently HK isn’t a destination resort
It still brings into question what HK “needs” next as most people these days are happy with magic kingdom. I’m sure international guests would prefer it become a destination style resort like Tokyo but it’s arguable if HK residents want that. If HK built a second gate (or even a downtown Disney) would it just basically halve magic kingdoms attendance and give it to the second gate or would it attract more guests overall. It remains to be seen what the attendance numbers they announce next. Was arendelle a blip or a long term trend creator
DarkMetroid567
Well-Known Member
Hong Kong Disneyland at this stage is more enjoyable than TDL.
HK Disneyland’s issue, as incredible as expansion would be, is the uncertain future of Hong Kong in general. Hong Kong is a dramatically different place than it was when HKDL was first proposed. (For one, locals actually like Disneyland now!) But with SDL becoming the de facto hub for Mainlanders and overall HK tourism unsteady, it’ll be interesting to see what happens.
HK Disneyland’s issue, as incredible as expansion would be, is the uncertain future of Hong Kong in general. Hong Kong is a dramatically different place than it was when HKDL was first proposed. (For one, locals actually like Disneyland now!) But with SDL becoming the de facto hub for Mainlanders and overall HK tourism unsteady, it’ll be interesting to see what happens.
Supersnow84
Well-Known Member
The thought I always had on that front is taking the worst case scenario that HK gets fully re-integrated into China would that really change the park’s dynamic (note I’m not ignoring the plight of HK citizens I’m just thinking hypothetically here)
Shanghai already shows that a park in a “normal” tier 1 city for China can function extremely well. HK even without its “west uses it to enter China” is still a strong tier 1 city, and the majority of its guests are from the GBA
If anything there is an argument to be made that it would actually improve the park’s finances because it could start organising with Beijing rather than LegCo
It might dampen international tourism but do current international tourists really differentiate HK and mainland China as it is
Shanghai already shows that a park in a “normal” tier 1 city for China can function extremely well. HK even without its “west uses it to enter China” is still a strong tier 1 city, and the majority of its guests are from the GBA
If anything there is an argument to be made that it would actually improve the park’s finances because it could start organising with Beijing rather than LegCo
It might dampen international tourism but do current international tourists really differentiate HK and mainland China as it is
We’re doing Shanghai and Hong Kong later this year. First time in Shanghai and to be honest we’re expecting to enjoy HKDL more. I’m sure we’ll enjoy SDL but as Brits it doesn’t appeal as much as HKDL did and does. We’re doing HKDL again because we loved it so much. SDL more to see it and tick it off the list (and because we’re travelling so far it would be daft not to do both if we can). After the trip we’ll have to see which one we’d want to return to more.
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I've never been to any of the Asian parks yet. Although I would love to visit Tokyo, it seems a bit overwhelming and it scares me. Therefore, the park that attracts me more is Hong Kong. It seems easy to access, with very nice hotels which are not extremely expensive. In addition, it has great attractions and shows like Mystic Manor, Grizzly, Frrozen, Iron Man, Momentous, the Castle itself, It's a small world and Mickey and Lion King shows. The Spiderman Tower of Terror is going to be an excellent addition. Bring back the parade and build a "Disney Village / Disney Downtown" and Hong Kong becomes an excellent park.
IMDREW
Well-Known Member
Ooh do tell when you get back! My family was pleasantly surprised with SHD last summer. We did all Asian parks together and ended the trip in Shanghai, thinking it would be more of a cooling down type of experience. But boy, it was the cherry on top! We really loved it. Also helped that we stayed at the Disneyland hotel, garden view room. When checking in I asked for at least a room without view of the construction next door. At night after a great day at the park, we came back to find our room waiting with a beautiful castle/park view. Now we wish we stayed longer!
Its a VERY different resort/park. It feels very modern and high energy. Beautiful at night and lots of great things to see and do.