The first attraction to arrive will be the “Iron Man Experience” opening in January next year.
Hong Kong tourism will get a welcome boost when Hong Kong Disneyland brings Frozen and Marvel attractions to the theme park over a period of six years starting from 2018.
The first attraction to arrive will be the “Iron Man Experience” opening in January next year.
Other highlights of the expansion include a new “Frozen” themed area where characters and stories from the kingdom of Arendelle will come to life; a transformed Castle and Hub area to showcase brand new daytime and nighttime shows and entertainment offerings; and an “Adventureland Show Place,” which invites guests to “Moana’s Village Festival” through a series of entertainment offerings anchored around a lively stage show.
With the HK$11 billion (US$1.4 billion) expansion, Hong Kong Disneyland is hoping to increase revenue.
The mega upgrade will start construction in 2018 taking six years to complete, creating 20 new attractions and 5,000 to 8,000 new jobs, according to SCMP.
In addition, up to 9.5 million visitors are expected to visit the park annually by 2025, significantly more than the 2015 figures of 6.8 million.
Over half of the costs will be paid for by the government who is the Lantau theme park’s largest shareholder, while the rest will be covered by the Walt Disney Company.
“The capital injection by the government for the expansion and development plan will be capped at HK$5.8 billion,” said Commerce Minister Greg So Kam-leung, who played down concerns about securing funding. “[Disney] is confident that the works will be completed within budget.”
During construction the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle will temporarily close, reopening in 2019 with two new shows.
“The all-new developments will further reinforce HKDL’s position as a world-class tourist destination for everyone, including families and young adults, and help build lifelong memories across generations of families,” said Samuel Lau, executive vice president and managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland, in a statement.
HKDL’s two shareholders – The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong Government – have agreed on the development plans, subject to funding approval by the Company’s Board of Directors and Legislative Council for their respective share of investment.