General Hong Kong Disney News

[Gavin]

I just noticed on Disneyland's website that Sleeping Beauty's castle will be closed for almost 5 months, from January 5th, for a "facade refurbishment".

I know it's not really news to post about a planned closure as it happens regularly, but 5 months seems like a pretty long time, so I'm wondering just how extensive the refurb will be and whether it will bring any other changes. It could also have a huge impact on the fireworks as the castle is used extensively for that. There's no mention of the fireworks being cancelled, so I'm not sure how they're planning on dealing with that.

Part of me is thinking/hoping that a new fireworks show could come out of this. They've had the same one since the park opened (I think), and it seems pretty dated when compared to a lot of the projection mapping stuff that is now being done at the other parks.

This is nothing but 100% speculation on my part, but a 5-month refurb on the castle could be the ideal time to also work on a new fireworks/nighttime show.

 

[marc]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

Almost sounds like to me a projection type show will be done.

 

[Ethan]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

Imagine going all the way to Disney for your holiday, only to see the most iconic part in scaffolding!

 

[ATTACKHAMMER]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

Almost sounds like to me a projection type show will be done.

Maybe it will be the same projection show that happens before the fireworks in Orlando. Or a similar sort of thing.

 

[Gavin]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

^ I honestly don't know if there's any plan to update the fireworks. It wouldn't take 5 months to do, so the castle is clearly in need of some upkeep to justify that kind of time line. I was just suggesting that IF there was a plan to update the fireworks, this downtime would be the perfect time to get it done.

Imagine going all the way to Disney for your holiday, only to see the most iconic part in scaffolding!

Yeah, but if it needs to be done it's better to get it done before the summer. Chinese New Year in February will be their busiest time though.

 

[marc]

Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

I'd rather see scaffolding than what I first saw in a Disney park!

Tbh the old castle I've seen without scaffolding or work being done Is the Paris one.

 

[CanobieFan]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

Almost sounds like to me a projection type show will be done.

Maybe it will be the same projection show that happens before the fireworks in Orlando. Or a similar sort of thing.

Pretty sure Tokyo does a castle show as well. Disneyland (CA) had the same show Orlando started with as well... but because their castle is so small, they did it on the front of "its a small world" and not the castle and it only lasted maybe a year... because locals didn't care about it. And since HK is based off the CA castle... I wouldn't think its getting projections. (but assuming their castle hub is much larger than CA, it could happen)

Disneyland small world video.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3mvOdxXKg0[/youtube]

 

[peep]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

A projection show won't affect the castle as the projectors live elsewhere. This sounds like a repair jobbie or an event overlay. Is a long time but that's how Disney rolls.

 

[marc]

Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

Just to clear up what I meant.

I meant paint the castle clean it etc so the projections are clear I know the projections are from elsewhere.

They are now projecting on the castle in California after it went through work, it's nothing like dreams it minor projections. There are videos of it on YouTube.

 

[Gavin]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

They project onto Hong Kong's castle as well, but it's very outdated and hard to see unless you're right up near the front.

New projection work, a concept I pulled out of my arse with no foundation in any fact whatsoever, will obviously not require anything to be done to the castle. However, the castle is used for more than just projection during the current fireworks show. The whole thing is covered in twinkling lights, and a lot of fireworks are set off from right on the castle, including some catherine wheel things that stick out from the front of it.

Clearly this won't be possible if it's covered in scaffolding, which made me wonder what would happen to the current firework show as it simply won't be able to run if the castle is "down". They could still run it without the castle fireworks I guess, but you'd be left with weird gaps in the show.

 

[Gavin]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

I just got back from Disneyland. The firework show is continuing as normal, for now at least, since the front section of the castle, which is projected onto and has fireworks set off directly from, hasn't been covered.

While I'm here, I'll just mention the other work being done. There's nothing noticeably different about the site for this year's new attraction. These construction boards have been up for a few months now. Rumours are pointing towards a maze with a Disney princess theme, possibly with a meet-and-greet element.

There's also a bit of new scaffolding to look at for 2016's Iron Man attraction.

Also, the Disneyland Railroad, which circles the park and has been closed for around a year due to Iron Man construction, looks set to reopen soon. They were sending trains around the track today, though it wasn't open to the public.

 

[nadroJ]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

The boxes around the castle omg XD

 

[peep]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

Thanks for that update Gavin, looks like they're doing plenty of interesting things around the park. Would have thought the Iron Man attraction would be a bit further down the line if it is to open next year.

 

[Gavin]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

^ The site is actually huge and you really can't see any of it at the moment, so it's hard to say how much has been done already. I'm guessing that the scaffolding in those pictures will only be for some kind of entrance to the area.

Plus, since there are no seasons as such. "Next year" could literally mean any time in the year; they haven't suggested any kind of opening date yet.

 

[AJ]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

A projection show won't affect the castle as the projectors live elsewhere. This sounds like a repair jobbie or an event overlay. Is a long time but that's how Disney rolls.

But the state/colours of the castle will effect the projections.

Every park now has a projection mapping show on the castle, with the exception of Hong Kong (Cali to arrive later this year). So maybe Gavin is correct to assume a new night show? Who knows.


Every park has to have a castle refurb at some point or another, DLP had it just before the 20th, Cali are having another one now (just before the 60th) and I guess this is Hong Kong getting a bit of TLC.

Here are some pictures of the castles going under refurb at different points in the past.

 

[Jordanovichy]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

I would really try and avoid going at times when the castle is being refurbished, I know that isn't always possible but I would be so devastated if my first view of the castle and it was **** scaffolded.

 

[Gavin]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

At least in Hong Kong they've tried to make it look slightly presentable. The boxes are ugly, but better than plain scaffolding I think. However, after watching the fireworks last night, quite a bit that you'd normally see through the turrets are blocked by the boxes. The fireworks coming directly off the front aren't being used either.

 

[Gavin]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

Not worth making a new topic about, but Screamscape are reporting that HKDL's profits last year were up 36% on the previous year at HK$336million, which is the equivalent of about US$43.3million or £28.5million.

Attendance was also up slightly to 7.5 million.

Obviously, this is all excellent news and definitely shows that the park will continue to expand. Personally, I still think we're a good few years out from a second gate even being announced (there was an eighteen year gap between Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea opening), but there's still room to add a few more lands in the original park yet. Currently, there's nothing announced beyond the new hotel in 2017, but I reckon we'll be hearing something soon.

 

[peep]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

Oh, talks have already started on the second gate. Once again the Government body has leaked that they're aiming at 2020 opening. It was in a couple of articles that talked about this awesome news of how well the park is doing. If I have time /remember I'll post one in here.

 

[Martyn B]

Re: Hong Kong Disney Castle Refurb

Sorry for sounding naive, but isn't this the park that keeps/kept reaching capacity? With that in mind, 7.5m guests doesn't seem like that much.