Eight years after ownership of the city of Hong Kong passed from Britain back to China, the island city marked another important chapter in its distinguished history Monday, September 12, 2005, as Hong Kong Disneyland officially opened to the public. The theme park, which is the eleventh in the Disney portfolio, is the first South Asian locale for the company. Set on Lantau Island, the theme park is 30 minutes from downtown and 10 minutes from the airport.

Hong Kong Disneyland was first announced in 1999, but construction didn't begin until January 2003. As the park neared completion, Disney sent the cast members (Disney's term for its employees) to shadow train at Walt Disney World in Florida. I had the pleasure of interacting with and talking to several of these workers and all expressed they were excited at the opportunity to work at the new Disneyland. A joint venture of The Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort employs 5,000 cast members.

Inspired by the original Disneyland in California, the Hong Kong park is divided into four themed lands-- Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland -- which circle around the park's centerpiece, Sleeping Beauty Castle. Within these areas are nine shops and eight restaurants, themed to the particular area and featuring many of Hong Kong's regional cuisines.

At the park's entrance is the Grand Plaza, which features a large whimsical fountain featuring bronze statues of Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck. At the top of the fountain is a bronze statue of Mickey Mouse riding a surfboard on a huge spout of water from a bronze whale statue below.

Many of the park's attractions are borrowed from other Disney theme parks. Rides include favorites such as Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, The Orbitron (called the Astro Orbiter at the US Disney parks, this version uses flying saucers rather than rocket ships for the seating, and has a sound effects button controlled by the rider) and Mad Hatter Tea Cups. Two of the park's rides have been updated especially for Hong Kong. Space Mountain features a spectacular "re-entry" effect for the rocket pods, and Jungle River Cruise has a Hong Kong Disneyland-exclusive finale involving fire, steam and geysers. Additionally, when the car-themed Autopia opens in Tomorrowland (scheduled for 2006), it will be the first all-electric version of the popular attraction.

Younger park guests will enjoy The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the Cinderella Carousel. The park also has several shows, among them are Mickey's PhilharMagic and Festival of the Lion King.

Five of the park's attractions will have the popular FASTPASS option, a computerized system that gives guests an alternative to standard queues.

As is traditional with Disney theme parks, there are ample opportunities to meet the characters, but Hong Kong has the most elaborate setting of all the parks. Fantasy Gardens Presented by Kodak is a quaint, park-like setting within Fantasyland that brings to life the legacy of storytelling made famous by Walt Disney through his films, television shows and theme parks. Favorite Disney characters shake hands, pose for photographs and sign autographs for guests in five themed gazebos.

Outside the park, guests will find Inspiration Lake, a public park that offers boat rentals and an arboretum, and two hotels, Disney's Hollywood Hotel and the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

Guests have six ways to purchase theme park tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland: online at www.hongkongdisneyland.com; booking a room at either of the two Hong Kong Disneyland hotels by calling 852-1830-830; booking through a travel agent; through Ticket Express at the MTR Hong Kong Station; Group Sales; and, at the main gate ticket windows on the day of their visit.

Ticket prices are HK $295 adults/HK$210 children age 3-11/HK$170 seniors age 65 and older during the weekdays and HK $350 adults/HK$250 children age 3-11/HK$200 seniors age 65 and older during weekends and "peak days". In US dollars, that works out to approximately $38 adults/$27 children/$22 seniors during the weekdays and $45 adults/$32 children/$26 seniors during weekends and "peak days". To covert to other national currencies, please visit www.xe.com.

Hong Kong Disneyland is open 9am to 6pm daily. At park closing, specially created lighting fixtures and fiber optics illuminate the park during the nightly fireworks show. Daily parking is HK$120/US$16 per vehicle, but guests can also take Disney-themed MTRC-Disneyland Resort Line trains, which connect the resort with the main Hong Kong transit system. Future plans include a ferry service to the Disneyland Resort Pier.

Next up in this series of articles on Hong Kong Disneyland will be profiles of the park's two hotels.

If you'd like to know more about Hong Kong Disneyland, please visit www.hongkongdisneyland.com

Other articles in this series:

Disney Opens Its Newest Theme Park In Hong Kong
Disney's Hollywood Hotel Brings Vintage Hollywood to Hong Kong
Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Offers Luxury In a Victorian Setting
Feng Shui Used in Design of Hong Kong Disneyland