Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) Discussion Thread

[larrygatorObsessive Overlord of the TPR Park Index]

Expansion Plans approved

Hong Kong Lawmakers approve expansion

[Nrthwndbitchbikerbearhousewife]

At the heart of the project is the addition of 30 new attractions over the next five years, the government said earlier

Did I read that right? 30 attractions over the next five years?

My my.

Of course I realize that some of these "attractions" could be, and will probably be, shows etc.

But still. This should be really something to visit in.... 2014?

[ryno1986I know quite a lot about Donkeys!]

The 30 new attractions is ridiculously misleading. There will only be five real new attractions- Big Grizzly Mountain, Mystic Manor, the RC Racer Halfpipe, a Slinky Dog attraction, and the Green Army Men Parachute tower.

I'm guessing the other "attractions" will be photo opportunities/playgrounds. HKDL already counts these photo ops and playgrounds such as the leaky tikis and the UFO playground as attractions. They even count City Hall as an attraction on the park map.

[speedracerDonkeys are my way of life!]

Disneyandmore had posted some amazing images from D23 (double click for larger images). LOVE!! the bear theming for Grizzly Mountain, exactly what DCA's GRR should have been like from the very beginning!

[Papas]

Havent been following this project as closely as I should, but from the looks of that model is HK Disneyland getting an Intamin halfpipe? WTF

[MrX8991I'm a know-it-all about donkeys!]

Mystic Point is starting to look really interesting, and that's now the part I'm looking forward to the most.

As for the Grizzly Mountain Coaster, I sure hope Vekoma can finally figure out how to make a ride that doesn't become rough in 3 years. Expedition Everest is already beginning to shake down the course, and I already see it being really bad in 10 years.

[speedracerDonkeys are my way of life!]

^^ Yeah sad, obviously thrown together when the Chinese government rejected this incredible version of POTC that was suppose to go in that spot. Was apparently too expensive for them so they settled for the cheaper Toy Story thing.

^ After seeing this updated ride description and stunning artwork for Mystic Point/Manor have to agree, sounds like another kick arse state of the art Disney dark ride adventure.

[giscoStarbucks Enthusiast]

LA Times Article

Big Grizzly Mountain coaster coming to Hong Kong Disneyland

The Big Grizzly Mountain roller coaster at Hong Kong Disneyland will take riders through an abandoned gold mine packed with dynamite and overrun by grizzly bears.
Set to open as early as 2012, the runaway mine train ride is part of a nearly $500-million expansion at Hong Kong Disneyland that calls for the addition of three themed lands.
Big Grizzly Mountain will serve as the centerpiece of the Grizzly Trail themed land, the Chinese park’s version of Frontierland. The new ride blends the themeing of Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad coaster with the setting of the Grizzly River Run water ride at Disney’s California Adventure.

The new coaster starts with a surprise, careening backward down a hill through twists and turns into an abandoned mine shaft. A dynamite blast launches the train out of the shaft in an explosive cloud of smoke.
Along the way, riders encounter a back-scratching bear who accidentally switches the train onto a side track leading into a collapsing mine shaft. Further down the line, a bear reaching for a fish inadvertently sets off a dynamite blast. The finale features a splashdown complete with spouting geysers.
Throughout the ride, the coaster weaves through Grizzly Gulch, a dilapidated mining town turned water-play area with a jail, saloon and stagecoach.

[giscoStarbucks Enthusiast]

LA Times Aticle

Sneak peek: A scene-by-scene look at Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mystic Manor

Mystic Manor takes visitors on a circa-1908 tour of an ancient artifact collection belonging to a world-renowned adventurer and explorer. Inside the Victorian home on a remote jungle hilltop, Lord Henry Mystic’s museum comes alive when his mischievous monkey opens an enchanted music box.
Set to open as early as 2013, Mystic Manor is part of a nearly $500-million expansion at Hong Kong Disneyland that calls for the addition of three themed lands.
Mystic Manor will serve as the Chinese theme park’s ghost-less Haunted Mansion, with tributes to the classic Disney attractions Indiana Jones Adventure and Enchanted Tiki Room included throughout the ride.

Spoiler Alert: Join us as Disney Imagineer Dustin Schofield, who worked on Mystic Manor, takes us on a scene-by-scene tour of the new attraction:

Queue
Photos of Lord Mystic, posing with his ever-present pet monkey, Albert, line the waiting area.
Pre-show
A slide show narrated by Lord Mystic previews the rooms on the tour and highlights the latest addition to the collection — an enchanted music box with magical powers that must be opened very carefully.
Loading area
Visitors board turn-of-the-century horseless carriages in the artifact loading dock.
The catalog room
Albert the monkey opens the uncrated music box. The escaping magic dust enchants the artifacts in the room, bringing them to life.
The music room
The magic dust animates the musical instruments, which add to the overall score of the ride. Albert, who will pop up in every scene, watches with wonder and amazement.
The Greco Roman room
The paintings and audio-animatronic statues come to life. An amphora with Hercules battling a lion rocks and spins as the riders pass.
The conservatory
In a transition room, Albert tries to reach a bunch of bananas as a giant Venus flytrap nips at his tail.
The Nordic room
A Nordic god in a painting on the wall blows at the riders, filling the freezing cold room with special-effects smoke.
The armory
A cannon blast knocks the ride vehicle backward. Albert ducks to avoid decapitation by a sword-wielding samurai warrior.
The Egyptian room
A mummy and scarab beetles come to life. Suddenly, the lights go out and the bugs fly at the riders through the darkness.
The tribal room
A two-story-tall tiki statue spews lava from its mouth as flames warm the room. Tribal gods blow darts at the riders, nailing Albert to the wall.
The Chinese room
A golden statue of a monkey king twirls a staff to create a turbulent vortex, causing the ride vehicles to spin around the room.
Return to the catalog room
As chaos threatens to destroy the collection, Albert slams shut the enchanted music box and life returns to normal inside the manor.
Unloading area
Lord Mystic welcomes his visitors back, unaware of the bedlam that has just unfolded

[the ghostIt all started with a donkey]

Are the mystic manor cars the smae or similar to Men in Black at USO? The spinning sounds similar, and the cars kind of remind me of MIB. I really think he grizzly idea is awesome as well. GRR is probably the most beautiful(not as good as popeye, but prettier) raft ride I have ever seen, so the setting sounds cool. Also, I absolutely loved Everest when I rode for the first time last summer, and this sounds a little like everest mixed with the launch or rockin roller coaster. What a cool, unique concept.