Recently, the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort officially launched a new phase of the expansion plan project, the new phase of the expansion plan is expected to last for six years, during which new projects will be launched every year. This may help Hong Kong Disneyland get out of the predicament of continuous losses.
Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005 and did not turn a profit until 2012, with the arrival of a large number of mainland tourists playing a major role. But the good times didn't last long, and with the overall downturn in Hong Kong's tourism industry, HKDL fell back into the red in 2015. 2015 annual results turned from a profit to a loss, from a net profit of 332 million yuan (HK dollars, the same below) the year before to a full-year loss of 148 million yuan.
Long criticized for its small size and few facilities, Hong Kong Disneyland hopes to attract more visitors through expansion. On May 2 this year, the Finance Committee of Hong Kong's Legislative Council voted 30 to 24 to approve the government's plan to allocate $5.45 billion to Disneyland for the expansion, which is expected to cost as much as $10.9 billion in total.
According to the expansion plan, HKDL will continue to add entertainment facilities and entertainment programs between 2018 and 2023, with new facilities being completed almost every year. Upon completion of the expansion plan, HKDL will increase from the current seven themed areas to nine themed areas, while the number of tourist facilities and entertainment shows will increase from the current 110 to more than 130.
The first of these facilities to be completed is a large tented stage in Adventureland, themed on the movie "Ocean's Magical Adventure" (Moana), opening next year. The east side of Tomorrowland will also see the gradual completion of the Marvel-themed area, a highlight of the expansion plan, centered around themes such as S.H.I.E.L.D., Ant-Man and Avengers.
In addition, the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Hong Kong Disneyland Center will be expanded along with the Central Plaza to approach the size of the castle at Shanghai Disneyland.