The 126-hectare (310-acre) park is situated on the waterfront of Penny's Bay on Lantau Island and is located on a major transportation route from Hong Kong International Airport. Visitors can reach the park by rail, highway or ferry, which takes 10 minutes from the airport or Lantau Island and about 30 minutes from the city.
Hong Kong Disneyland is the fifth Disneyland model in the world, the eleventh Disney theme park in the world, and the first to be based on Disney's California Disneyland (including Sleeping Princess Castle).
The park features four themed areas: Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Adventureland. There are also two hotels, the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and the Disney's Hollywood Hotel, which offer a variety of recreational and dining facilities.
Another feature of Hong Kong Disneyland is that Chinese colors are incorporated into the park's architecture, furnishings, and shows. For example, the Garden of Dreams in Fantasyland is a unique attraction created for Hong Kong Disneyland.
In addition to the classic Disney stories and rides that have been passed down through the generations, Hong Kong Disneyland will feature rides, entertainment and parades that are specifically designed for Hong Kong, taking into account the cultural characteristics of the city.
In terms of economic benefits and employment opportunities, the overall park plan is expected to create 18,000 direct and indirect jobs in Hong Kong by the time the park opens. Upon completion of the first phase of expansion, the number of jobs is expected to increase to 36,000. According to the Hong Kong government's economist, Phase 1 of Disneyland is expected to generate HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in economic benefits for Hong Kong.
Attachment 1, Hong Kong Disneyland Milestones:
November 1999: The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government officially opened the Hong Kong Disneyland. The Walt Disney Company and the Government of the Hong Kong SAR officially announced a collaborative development plan for Hong Kong Disneyland
January 12, 2003: Disney and the Government of the Hong Kong SAR joined forces to host a groundbreaking ceremony for Hong Kong Disneyland
September 23, 2004: Topping out of the Sleeping Princess Castle, the main building of Hong Kong Disneyland
November 22, 2004: Hong Kong Disneyland and the Hong Kong SAR Government announce the park's opening date
February 15, 2005: Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Reservation Center Hotline (852) 1830830 officially opens
March 31, 2005: Hong Kong Disneyland launches a citywide talent recruitment campaign
July 20, 2005: Hong Kong Disneyland Hong Kong Disneyland was the first to host media from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to visit the park and try out the amusement rides
August 1, 2005: MTR Disneyland Resort Extension opened to the public
August 9, 2005: Hong Kong Disneyland opened two hotels to the media for the first time, Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Hollywood Hotel
The Disney's Hollywood Hotel was opened to the media for the first time in Hong Kong. Disney's Hollywood Hotel
August 16, 2005: Hong Kong Disneyland kicked off a series of 18 master casting sessions, inviting family members of employees and people from all walks of life to be the first to try them out
September 4, 2005: Hong Kong Disneyland held a Charity Day, with 29,000 people attending, the highest number of people ever to enter the park at any one time, and raising nearly $10 million for the Community Chest.
September 10-12, 2005: Hong Kong Disneyland officially opens, with nearly 1,000 guests and more than 900 Chinese and international media attending the three-day opening celebration from September 10-12
Attachment 2, Hong Kong Disneyland's best:
Shortest construction period: In 1999, the Disney and Hong Kong SAR governments finalized a plan for Hong Kong Disneyland. The Hong Kong Disneyland project was finalized in 1999, and construction began in early 2001, and opened on September 12, 2005, taking only four years, making it the world's fastest park in terms of construction speed.
First Chinese-style building: The first purely Chinese-style pavilion for the cartoon character Fa Mulan to dance in will be featured in Hong Kong Disneyland.
First time with musical fireworks: Hong Kong Disneyland's daily closing fireworks incorporate the latest high technology and can bloom to the rhythm of symphonic music, a Disney first.
First-ever Disney character photo area: In preliminary research, Disney found that among the 10 things that Asians, especially Chinese, like to do most when visiting attractions, the number one thing is to take photos. That's why there is a "Fantasyland" garden on the "Fantasyland" side of the park. There is a "Fantasyland" garden, where children can take pictures with their favorite Disney characters, which is unique among Disneyland parks around the world.