Hong Kong's Disneyland to reopen on June 18 after coronavirus break

HONG KONG — Hong Kong's Disneyland theme park said on Monday it would reopen on June 18 to a reduced number of visitors and with enhanced health measures after the coronavirus outbreak forced it to close in late January.

The Chinese-ruled city has reported only a handful of new cases recently, with its total so far standing at 1,110 infections and 4 deaths.

The majority of the park's shopping and dining locations will restart operations with "controlled capacity," while social distancing measures will be implemented in queues, restaurants and other facilities. Hotel services will also resume gradually.

Disinfection will be carried out more frequently and hand sanitizers will be made available for visitors, who will be required to go through temperature screening, wear a face mask and sign a health declaration.

Hong Kong's Disneyland resort is owned by a joint venture, Hongkong International Theme Parks Ltd, of which the local government owns 53 percent and Walt Disney Co holds the rest.

Ocean Park, the city's other theme park, reopened on Saturday after lawmakers approved a HK$5.4 billion bailout plan last month to keep it running for another year.

Shanghai's Disneyland re-opened in May.

While many restrictions related to the coronavirus have been gradually lifted, Hong Kong's borders remain almost fully closed and group gatherings are limited to 8 people. 

-reuters-

HK Disneyland opens new attraction

MANILA, Philippines – Hong Kong Disneyland has opened a brand new attraction as it hopes to bring even more entertainment and exciting experiences to guests.

Mystic Point is the third and “final chapter” in the theme park's HK$3.6-billion expansion program after Toy Story Land and mining town Grizzly Gulch. Analysts have credited the expansion for the boost in theme park attendance, with visitor arrivals up 13% to 6.7 million for the fiscal year ending September 2012.

After seven years, Hong Kong Disneyland has made a profit for the first time with revenues of HK$4.3 billion, a rise of 18% from the previous fiscal year, and profit of HK$109 million.

Mystic Point is comprised of the Mystic Manor, which combines “immersive storytelling” with technology with new characters and special effects; a themed photo area called Garden of Wonders; a new restaurant; and a merchandise shop.

“Mystic Manor is a brand new concept with new characters, special effects and architecture that no guest has ever seen before in any of the Disney parks worldwide. From illustrators, model-makers and painters, to special effects, ride design and landscaping, the whole team came together to bring the mysterious story to life for guests,” said Mark Schirmer, creative director of Walt Disney Imagineering (Hong Kong).

The new characters are led by Lord Henry and his companion monkey Albert, who invites guests for a tour of his private museum.

The highlight of the new area is the Mystic Magneto-Electric Carriage, which the theme park boasts is “the first trackless ride that applies radio-frequency identification technology ever built by Disney.”

“Guests in every vehicle will get a front-row seat experience of the 40 visual effects created by different technologies and 36 projectors, including four ultra-high-definition projectors. The trackless Mystic Magneto-Electric Carriage ride can be positioned in any direction at any moment, which guests never know their next way to go. And with the different perspectives of the four vehicles, guests would want to ride it over and over again to get on a highly immersive adventure full of surprises, special effects and theatrical wonders,” the theme park said in a statement.

An opening operation team began testing and training since last year to ensure smooth operation for the opening of Mystic Point two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the Garden of Wonders features several sculptures and mosaics with 3D illusions.

After visiting Mystic Manor, guests can dine in the Explorer’s Club Restaurant, a 500-seat restaurant with five themed dining areas that reflect cultures and styles of locations, including Egypt, Russia, Morocco, India and China.

Popular dishes from Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia are served, including dishes which are making their first appearances in Hong Kong Disneyland, such as Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup, Sautéed Rice Cake with Cabbage and Korean Chili Sauce and Shabu Shabu with Mixed Vegetables.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com