Mickey in Hong Kong
Mickey Mouse is everywhere! It’s not just popular t-shirts and dolls. It’s not because there are so many copies of Mickey from nearby Shenzhen – the counterfeit shopping capital. No, today is a very special day in Hong Kong. It’s the Grand Opening of Hong Kong Disneyland!!And as can be expected, everything today is geared around Mickey! Everywhere you go you see the famous mouse and his sidekicks. Michael Isner is here. Robert Iger, the new chairman is here. Famous Chinese actors and actresses are here. The Vice Chairman of China is here.
But there is a lot of controversy too. The environmentalists have targeted Disney sinced the opening was announced six years ago. They are still complaining. Shark fin soup has been taken off the menu (even though you can get it at most restaurants in city). Fishermen are getting refunded for waters they can no longer fish. Now complaints center around the fireworks being too loud and with too much smoke for the polluted area.
Complaints from guests who have already been to the Park, are that it is too small, too artificial, and too expensive. The Chinese want to brag about having the park, but they just can’t be very complimentary about it.
It has already had a pretty significant impact on the area. Over 5000 jobs have been created at Disneyland alone. Not bad for an area that has been suffering from high unemployment. More hotels and infrastructure are already expanding. We even got to do the furniture for some of the hotel rooms, so Decca has benefited too.
The Disneyland Park is by far the smallest of the five in the company. But it is still as big as the original Disneyland when it opened in California. Only one major ride so far though: Space Mountain.
Plans do call for improvements and expansion. It is a joint venture in which the government of Hong Kong owns 57%. They really want to bring in the mainlanders here! By the excitement generated so far, it’s gonna work. Another reason to come see me here – Disneyland in Hong Kong! Ya’ll come on over! 来 的 参 观 香 港
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2005-09-07-hong-kong-disney_x.htm
posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 3:02 PM
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