Update on Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

[Radmg198]

Disney Magical Kingdom Blog just gave us an update on the current situation in Disneyland Resort. There are few construction sites and workers are cleaning the park frequently. I was wondering about the Castle's current status, but time would tell.
https://www.disney-magical-kingdom-b...hong-kong.html

[mclubber]

If the park is closed does that mean they can speed up the construction of the expansion now that there are no guests in the park? Like the castle construction and Frozen land.

[hakjie11]

If the park is closed does that mean they can speed up the construction of the expansion now that there are no guests in the park? Like the castle construction and Frozen land.

On the contrary, I personally think it will mean more delay then speeding up.
Global Tourism industry/Economy in general has tanked completely, launching anything new + advertising for it in a period of recession/depression = losing money.
The castle's assembly were more or less finished before Corona kicked in, so it is normal that they decide to finish it completely this year since delaying it won't save much money and an unfinished castle would just make the park look bad due to the castle center location in the park.

Frozen on the other hand, will certainly be delayed for "at least" a half year (castle has so far been delayed 6 months from March to September for now). Frozen is basically still on the rough work foundation/concrete/track layout phase according to the newest Google pics so I would imagine many of fine ride scenery/technology details are still (planned) being made somewhere else. But at least Frozen would certainly be finished at some point.
But for the other unannounced rides (part of the expansion, such as 2023 Marvel) most likely very serious budget cuts and an unknown finishing date.

[Asa]

From what I understand, Hyperspace Mountain's Star Wars licensing contract is up and it will need to be re-themed in 2021. It will either go back to Space Mountain or gets a new theme.

On the WDW magic forum, the rumour is that it will get a Marvel theme, though the exact character is not mentioned.

Also I believe one of the Tomorrowland restaurants will turn into a Marvel themed restaurant, which is only logical.

[hakjie11]

From what I understand, Hyperspace Mountain's Star Wars licensing contract is up and it will need to be re-themed in 2021. It will either go back to Space Mountain or gets a new theme.

On the WDW magic forum, the rumour is that it will get a Marvel theme, though the exact character is not mentioned.

Tomorrowland restaurant will turn into a Marvel themed restaurant, which is only logical.

Space Mountain re-themed could be the unannounced 2021 re-imagined ride or a further renewal of the Star Wars licensing is also a possibility, I mean I still don't see WDC giving up their only themed Star Wars ride in HKDL and miss the opportunity to sell some star wars merchandises along with it.

Yeah, totally agree on Tomorrowland burger restaurant, it will be Marvel for sure. Maybe Guardians of the Galaxy themed?

[mclubber]

On the contrary, I personally think it will mean more delay then speeding up.
Global Tourism industry/Economy in general has tanked completely, launching anything new + advertising for it in a period of recession/depression = losing money.
The castle's assembly were more or less finished before Corona kicked in, so it is normal that they decide to finish it completely this year since delaying it won't save much money and an unfinished castle would just make the park look bad due to the castle center location in the park.

If Disney want to make money in the park it has to offer more than just a castle remake. If the castle is done, they can either start laying on prep work for Frozen land or the new Marvel attraction that will replace Autopia. Once the Covid-19 runs its course there will be a boom in tourism. It happend after Sars, I do not see why it won't repeat itself.

[hakjie11]

If Disney want to make money in the park it has to offer more than just a castle remake. If the castle is done, they can either start laying on prep work for Frozen land or the new Marvel attraction that will replace Autopia. Once the Covid-19 runs its course there will be a boom in tourism. It happend after Sars, I do not see why it won't repeat itself.

There is a huge difference though, with Sars it was more of a HK - China issue with "just" 8000 infected and less then 800 deaths... (vs today's 900 000 corona cases and 46 000 deaths and still counting, spread over the entire planet )
We could depend on inbound tourism to pump up HK economy after Sars. But what is going on now is from Epic proportions, we still need to see the global consequences of the aftermath. Many businesses will go bankrupt and people will lose jobs, it will be years before we get back to the same figure of inbound HK tourism.

[mclubber]

There is a huge difference though, with Sars it was more of a HK - China issue with "just" 8000 infected and less then 800 deaths... (vs today's 900 000 corona cases and 46 000 deaths and still counting, spread over the entire planet )
We could depend on inbound tourism to pump up HK economy after Sars. But what is going on now is from Epic proportions, we still need to see the global consequences of the aftermath. Many businesses will go bankrupt and people will lose jobs, it will be years before we get back to the same figure of inbound HK tourism.

True this virus is a bigger scale than SARS and it still has not run its course. So you would expect the economic boom will come out later because this virus his much more virulent.

[hakjie11]

True this virus is a bigger scale than SARS and it still has not run its course. So you would expect the economic boom will come out later because this virus his much more virulent.

Let's hope everything returns normal soon and let's hope for not too many budget cuts for HKDL's expansions.

[Asa]

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/compone...6-20200404.htm

MTR Disneyland Resort Line will stop operations from 10 April (Friday).

[Asa]

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...ies-introduces

Hong Kong Disneyland cuts salaries, introduces unpaid leave as tourist numbers plummet amid global Covid-19 pandemic

Hong Kong Disneyland has temporarily cut the salaries of some senior managers by up to 30 per cent and asked its full-time employees to take several days of unpaid leave in April in cost-cutting measures necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Several days a month is not so bad. Also HK govt just announced another round of employee support measures, where the govt will bear the salary costs of employers up to 50% or HK$9,000 per month per employee for half a year, so the employees/cast members should be safe.

[mclubber]

Several days a month is not so bad. Also HK govt just announced another round of employee support measures, where the govt will bear the salary costs of employers up to 50% or HK$9,000 per month per employee for half a year, so the employees/cast members should be safe.

9k a month? Looks like the govt is paying 100% Cast Member salaries. Disney HK pays zip.

[Asa]

9k a month? Looks like the govt is paying 100% Cast Member salaries. Disney HK pays zip.

HKDL needs to submit the MPF records when applying for the subsidies. The MPF records show what the cast members real salaries are.

If the cast member's normal salary is $9k, then he can only receive $4.5k support from the HK govt... if he earns $18k, then he gets the maximum $9k.

So even if the cast member earns $20k, he can still only get $9k.

[mclubber]

.

Several days a month is not so bad. Also HK govt just announced another round of employee support measures, where the govt will bear the salary costs of employers up to 50% or HK$9,000 per month per employee for half a year, so the employees/cast members should be safe.

Asa your message is slightly misleading. It should be the govt covers 50% employee salaries up to 9k at max.whichever is lower.amount

[Tomorrowland_1967]

I don’t see a big boom of tourists flocking when the virus has past. It’s going to take money to go in. Not something a lot of people will have, as countries crawl out of this .... and spend months trying to recover financially.

[Asa]

HKDL will have to offer some good promotions to bring the crowds in after the pandemic. The regular $6XX per person per entry is not going to work for a long time.

I expect HKDL to give the locals great deals on day passes and annual passes to keep the park busy.

[Asa]

By the way, Chimelong Marine Science Park, the all new entirely indoor second gate to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, is scheduled to open on 1 May 2020.





Also Macau Daily reports that the railway that connects Gongbei with Chimelong has finished construction work. It is currently under testing and should open within this year. That will greatly shorten travel time from Zhuhai town area to the resort. Currently it takes about an hour by bus, the rail will likely take half that time.



So this is the most powerful competition for Guangdong tourists that HKDL is facing. If HKDL do not offer any significant promotions, they will have some trouble with the volatile Chinese customers who are always looking for something new to see and do.

[hakjie11]

On the other side this could be a great addition to the Greater Bay Area theme parks.
Imagine a 5 days trip with 3 great theme parks at 1 hour distance from each other, targeted to families.

Something like this :
Day 1 : Chimelong - Zhuhai
Day 2 : Macau Shows/Shopping/Gambling
Day 3 : Ocean Park
Day 4 : Hong Kong Shopping/the Peak/Victoria Bay
Day 5 : HKDL
(all 3 theme parks are in the top 20 global ranking)

This could be a huge draw for mainland tourists living further away of the Greater Bay area, who don't want to come for just 1 park or just HK alone (which they might have visited already)
Personally I am becoming more and more interested in the Chimelong park which I have yet to visit at least once.

[Asa]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1255790777948532736

Enchanted Garden restaurant re-opened for "All you can eat" (Food will be served to your table on request, rather than fetch it yourself) lunch and dinner. Mickey and friends do appear to meet you.

[Asa]

https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/202...00822_001.html

Disney CFO Christine McCarthy said HKDL's near future is not looking good. She expects the resort will perform poorly financially.