HKDL gets new castle, frozen land and marvel land.

[BrianLo]

Paris may only have 21 rides, but it has an usually high number of walk through attractions and diversions, much like HKDL , which helps to fill out the day. HKDL has a strong entertainment and seasonal overlay line up too.

But Parc Disneyland only has 4 flat rides total, compared to HKDL's 7 (high for a castle park).

I think Martin's list of major additions is correct, but I do feel like Toy Story Land brings down the rest of the park because it doesn't have anything substantial as far as experiences or capacity is concerned.

I feel like this is the classic lost in translation on ride counting metric. One WDW is unfairly held to a standard of.

In extremes you have World Showcase. Which certainly warrants more than an hour of time that formerly two, now three rides would suggest. The same is true of DAK and DHS to lesser extent.

I still think there is more to Shanghai Disney overall than HKDL. Size in general can be a time sink. I still don’t know why they at least haven’t slapped a world of Disney and Starbucks at bear minimum outside HKDL.

 

[Supersnow84]

Size as a time consumer is definitely valid, you can do an entire HK land in the time it takes you to walk through one of Shanghai’s lands but purely from an in park experience I’d say HK has more. Shanghai is very very light on things that aren’t pure rides to do

Shanghai’s downtown Disney moves the needle alot but does anyone really consider Shanghai a destination resort, hell it’s debatable that even Paris is given how bad way Disney studios is

 

[BrianLo]

does anyone really consider Shanghai a destination resort, hell it’s debatable that even Paris is given how bad way Disney studios is

Nope, but it will eventually be. We’ll see that second park within 10-15 years.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

Nope, but it will eventually be. We’ll see that second park within 10-15 years.

Absolutely. The rate of expansion at Shanghai is mind-blowing, if not surprising. Meanwhile, the expansion at HKDL was much more slow-paced, but has produced much more of a consistently higher-quality of product.

I will say, I'm planning a trip next year and it's coming down to Tokyo vs Hong Kong, and I'm planning towards the latter just to visit HKDL. Its uniqueness is an asset that I think is vastly under marketed.

 

[Aramar]

The rate of expansion at Shanghai is mind-blowing, if not surprising.

I don't think Shanghai is expanding so fast. It opened in 2016 and the only expansions in 8 years were Toy Story Land (which was already planned since the beginning) and now Zootopia with only 1 ride. Hong Kong has had more expansions and has changed a lot more (they een changed the castle!).

 

[marni1971]

I’d argue Paris has been a destination resort for quite a while now. It’s marketed that way to bring multi day stays to the onsite resorts which have high year round occupancy's. Where Paris scores well (and would also fail without) is the included park tickets with an onsite stay. Does it inflate the hotel price? Slightly. But the perceived value does it no harm. Would the same help Hong Kong? Perhaps.

I’ll be honest, Shanghai doesn’t appeal that much. It’s not a destination resort. The park line up for park fans is relatively poor; the geek in me is only looking forward to PotC. The park has been described to me by someone I trust as new and shiny and state of the art but ultimately hollow and lacklustre and definitely of the era of the current WDC. I’ll hope to give an honest opinion of everything once we’ve been later this year, but for now it’s really a visit to tick the box on our way back to HKDL.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I’ll be honest, Shanghai doesn’t appeal that much. It’s not a destination resort. The park line up for park fans is relatively poor; the geek in me is only looking forward to PotC.

Having been on TRON at MK, it's one less reason to go for me, but there's still the Pirate area as a whole, the raft ride (one of the last non-IP ride they've built), their version of Peter Pan and more oddities like Voyage to the Crystal Grotto and the castle walk through that would hold my interest for a day.

 

[ParkPeeker]

Oh right (I knew it wasn’t game boy advanced…)

Ya I think structurally the Greater Bay Area never has reacted how they expected it would. Theres been more geopolitical, structural boundaries and physical boundaries that people don’t treat HK as their neighboring suburb. They’ve been trying to overtake that with things like the rail connection and mega bridge… but I don’t think it worked fully and the protests didn’t help.

Japanese 20yo hop on the metro from whenever in Tokyo. Shenzen young adults don’t really have the same experience with Lantau.

Extremely off topic but I want to make clear I’m laughing at the gba thing. That’s exactly where my mind went first lol.

 

[Supersnow84]

I’d argue Paris has been a destination resort for quite a while now. It’s marketed that way to bring multi day stays to the onsite resorts which have high year round occupancy's. Where Paris scores well (and would also fail without) is the included park tickets with an onsite stay. Does it inflate the hotel price? Slightly. But the perceived value does it no harm. Would the same help Hong Kong? Perhaps.

I’ll be honest, Shanghai doesn’t appeal that much. It’s not a destination resort. The park line up for park fans is relatively poor; the geek in me is only looking forward to PotC. The park has been described to me by someone I trust as new and shiny and state of the art but ultimately hollow and lacklustre and definitely of the era of the current WDC. I’ll hope to give an honest opinion of everything once we’ve been later this year, but for now it’s really a visit to tick the box on our way back to HKDL.

Shanghai when I went there felt like a Vegas mogul was given the money to build a Disney “esque” park

There are sections where it feels like Disney- namely treasure cove and adventure island but ALOT of it feels strangely hollow and broad but empty.

For my stateside friends imagine if the entire park was basically that weird corner of new fantasyland around Gaston’s tavern and be our guest; there is………something there but it basically amounts to broad and empty

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I can ~sorta second the Shanghai Disneyland remarks. In general, I had a better time there than I did Disneyland Paris but the left side of the park is super super weak. I do think that the future developments will really flesh out the park, which is already strong for its young age.

The right side and Zootopia are so strong that it makes up for it, but it’s hard to ignore how mid Tomorrowland and TSL are. I also really enjoy Mickey Avenue.

Fantasyland is in-between for me. I’d call it better than TDL Fantasyland (at least the non-BatB section) but I agree, it has that vague theming that New Fantasyland and Fantasy Springs both use. Technically good, but getting a bit boring.

(Also, in general, I did not enjoy Shanghai. Much better places to visit in China, including Beijing, although Universal there has a lot of the same issues SDL has.)

 

[BrianLo]

Vegas comp is apt. One (HK) is Disneyland scaled, the other goes well beyond magic kingdom.

Certainly visually I prefer the needle thread that is Disneyland Paris… but on the whole I like Shanghai second. Above Paris, below HK.

 

[LameBoi]

Since Shanghai and Paris are mentioned, just wanted to remind that Pirate Cove in Shanghai looks suspiciously similar to the Pirates of the Caribbean concept planned for HK before they went with GG, MP, and TSL. The E-ticket would have been a Splash mountain log flume themed to Pirates where you would drop from the mouth of a skull mountain, crashing through a sunken ship.

At D23 last year, a Lion King log flume was announced for Paris WDS, soon to be Disney Adventure World. Pride Rock was actually in initial concept images of HK Adventureland. It is directly left of Tarzan’s Treehouse in the image below. Between Festival of the Lion King and Big Thunder Mountain. Goes to show once again good ideas never truly die at imagineering. Two could’ve been attractions ironically going to the 2 parks that hampered HKDL the most.

 

[LameBoi]

Shanghai had massive hype because it had 2 brand new advanced unique attractions on opening day, Pirates and Tron. Just those 2 rides basically gained it its current following.

Hong Kong opened with no original rides and it didn’t even open with the rides that guests expected. For example, Disney promised Peter Pan would have an attraction. Guests expected Peter Pan’s flight, but what they got instead was Philharmagic with a Peter Pan scene.The most original attraction the park had in its early years was the electric Autopia, and even that didn’t open with the park. These, along with other choices, coupled with local media also hammering the park mercilessly way before it even opened destroyed HKDL’s reputation. It’s easy to lose face, but very hard to regain it.

 

[Supersnow84]

Did we get confirmation when that report was actually coming out

Edit the translation of the post linked also said “sharp decline in local guests reflecting the current economic situation like ‘consumption in the north’”

Can anyone who knows more ago it wider HK than I explain what that’s trying to translate

 

[no.swatz]

Did we get confirmation when that report was actually coming out

Edit the translation of the post linked also said “sharp decline in local guests reflecting the current economic situation like ‘consumption in the north’”

Can anyone who knows more ago it wider HK than I explain what that’s trying to translate

What?

 

[Supersnow84]

What?

Basically what I said, the translation of the article linked in the last page said that “the sharp decline in local guests can be attributed to current economic conditions like ‘consumption in the north”

 

[ThemeParkTraveller]

Did we get confirmation when that report was actually coming out

Edit the translation of the post linked also said “sharp decline in local guests reflecting the current economic situation like ‘consumption in the north’”

Can anyone who knows more ago it wider HK than I explain what that’s trying to translate

I believe that line is referring to the trend of Hong Kong residents spending more time and money in mainland China now. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom being dominant in the area (~13 million guests in 2023) probably has some effect on HKDL now as well.

Hong Kong experienced a recovery from the pandemic-era downturn compared to other advanced economies. The border reopening in late 2022 promised a return to retail and service trade not seen since 2019. In reality, the recovery in tourist arrivals proved to be short‑lived and their spending was more cautious. By contrast, Hong Kong residents have opted to spend their holidays across the border in mainland China and foreign countries on the back of “revenge tourism”. Retail sales have remained below 2018 levels as at November 2023.

Hong Kong residents’ increased spending in mainland China—particularly Shenzhen—will probably be a long-term trend. Immigration figures show that more than 80% of Hong Kong residents’ departures were destined for mainland China.

 

[Supersnow84]

I believe that line is referring to the trend of Hong Kong residents spending more time and money in mainland China now. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom being dominant in the area (~13 million guests in 2023) probably has some effect on HKDL now as well.

Ah that makes sense. Thank you

 

[no.swatz]

I believe that line is referring to the trend of Hong Kong residents spending more time and money in mainland China now. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom being dominant in the area (~13 million guests in 2023) probably has some effect on HKDL now as well.

HK people mainly going to ShenZhen instead of spending time in HK..

 

[McMickeyWorld]

They've probably already seen it on other social media, but I'm posting it anyway in case someone hasn't

It gives me vibes of the old spring events at DisneySea