The brand new and only Asiatic Disneyland opened its doors on the 12th of September in 2005. This new theme park is situated on Lantau, an island in Hong Kong, where visitors to the park can look over the Chinese Sea and Penny’s Bay. The Walt Disney Company collaborated with the Hong Kong SAR administration to bring the excitement and brand name of Disneyland to China.

The partnership also allowed the new theme park to appeal specifically to native Chinese, respecting their cultures and attitudes. Inside the park one will find two luxury hotels, Disney’s Hollywood Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel. The Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is a grand Victorian throwback, offering four hundred lavishly appointed old English rooms. The Hollywood Hotel’s rooms are designed and decorated to bring back Hollywood’s golden age with their art deco appointings. Park attractions will be familiar to those who have visited any of Disney’s other amusement parks. Main Street showcases its American roots and is surrounded by the railroad.

Adventureland has its Jungle River Cruise where the jungle comes alive with sounds and visuals, including Tarzan’s Treehouse, which is reachable only by raft! The park offers a musicals, such as the one based on the Lion King movies.

The great castle of Hong Kong Disneyland is that of Sleeping Beauty. Here, children large and small can explore and play and imagine being in their own fairy tale. Snow White has her own grotto, and Cinderella gets an enchanting carousel ride! Winnie the Pooh is featured in his own ride, The Many Adventures of Winne the Pooh, and visitors can also ride other recognizable rides such as the flying elephant Dumbo ride and the Mad Hatter Tea Cups. The park offers 3D movie entertainment at Mickey’s PhilharMagic and more entertainment at Disney’s Storybook Theater.

Those who cannot help but look excitedly forward to our future will enjoy Tomorrowland, a Disney vision for our future living. Space Mountain is there in all its rocket-powered glory, and Orbitron, the virtual jet-piloting ride, shows what individual space travel might be like. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is a high-speed, high-energy game for everyone in the family. You can also envision our future on Autopia as you drive electric cars of the future around a track which represents our next generation of roads. These rides and attractions are meant to be appreciated by all visitors of all cultural backgrounds, and the same applies to the cuisine found throughout the park. Traditional “western” food is sold right beside everyday Chinese dishes. All in all, the park is a very fun, very eye-opening one-and-only type of place.

Tags: Adventureland, Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong theme park, Space Mountain, Tomorrowland

Ocean Park Hong Kong

Opened in 1977 and located on 870,000 square meters in the Southern District, Hong Kong’s Ocean Park is extremely easy to access by public transportation. Accessibility to the park will become even more convenient with opening of the MTR Ocean Park Station. Ocean Park is a more popular park than Hong Kong Disneyland and that is reflected in its attendance. Although the park has had its struggles, it seems to have emerged with a solid plan that should serve it well into the future.

The second largest outdoor escalator in the world and a cable car system connect the park’s different areas. In 2006, Forbes ranked Ocean Park Hong Kong the 100th most popular theme park in the world. This is quite a statement of the quality of the park and its attractions. Ocean Park’s expansion of the park will see new rides to thrill visitors, incredible new state-of-the-art exhibits, three hotels and improved dining added to wow visitors.

Ocean Park is far more than just a theme park. It also has very developed laboratories, observatories, and a very well used an education department. Success with their bottlenose dolphin artificial insemination program resulted in Ocean Park becoming a world leader. They have also had a great deal of success in producing new goldfish breeds.

As you arrive at the Main Entrance of Ocean Park, there is a free shuttle that will take you to the Tai Shue Wan Entrance. As you enter Ocean Park Hong Kong at the Tai Shue Wan Entrance, the Flamingo Pond will stop you in your tracks as you admire the colorful birds in the well-designed habitat. A stop at the aviary will truly amaze you as you get a glimpse here and there of some of the most rare birds in the world. In fact there are 33 species of endangered birds housed here.

Ocean Park has rides that will thrill you and your children. A longer roller coaster than Disneyland’s Space Mountain, The Dragon, hurtles along its track and hits a maximum speed of 77km/h speeds evoking screams and gasps from the riders. A relatively common style of ride at many theme parks around the world, the Abyss Turbo Drop allows visitors that choose to venture on it a thrill that never becomes stale, the sensation of plummeting to the earth at incredible speeds. Many other rides like the head-spinning Eagle and the dizzying Crazy Galleon await you when you visit Headland Rides in the Ocean Park Hong Kong.

Marine Land is an amazing place. There are seals and California sea lions playing on the replicated California coast at the Pacific Pier. Seals and sea lions are always a hit with the public. A huge four-story aquarium that simulates the atoll reef with approximately 250 species fish are represented among the more than 2000 fish that dart, flash and laze in the tank. Goldfish, sturgeon, and jellyfish are among the marine exhibits that fascinate and enchant visitors. Once your visit with the aquatic life is done, you can unwind in the serene Japanese Garden.

There is so much to do and see at Ocean Park Hong Kong it will boggle your mind. The park is open from 10AM to 7PM and you will need every minute if you hope to take in the entire park. The Lowland Gardens give visitors the carnival setting of SkyFair, bungee trampoline jumping (not just for kids) and Giant Panda Habitat. Your children will spend hours in Whiskers Harbor. This excellent children’s area with rides, activities, games and a stimulating and fun educational component will keep the children entertained, and give you a little reprieve. Goldfish, Red Pandas, alligators and Panda Village that, despite the name, offers visitors the chance to watch amazing birds and the smallest otter in Asia all serve to lure visitors to the Amazing Asian Animals.

One of the most amazing of the offerings in the park is the ability to meet the dolphins. This truly interactive program will leave you with memories that fill your heart and heart. There is an application process for this program so apply no less than 5 days before you arrive at Ocean Park. The application and criteria are available on the Ocean Park website.

Tags: Amazing Asian Animals, bottlenose dolphin artificial insemination program, Flamingo Pond, Giant Panda Habitat, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong theme park, Lowland Gardens, Marine Land, meet the dolphins, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Pacific Pier, Tai Shue Wan Entrance, The Dragon rollercoaster

Not surprisingly, Disney has made a foray into Hong Kong with their theme park, Hong Kong Disneyland, in 2005. Already home to Hong Kong Ocean Park, the introduction of Disneyland gave visitors and locals a choice of entertainment.

Owned jointly by the Government of Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company, Disneyland is located on Lantau Island and is about 30 minutes from the MTR Hong Kong station. The 310-acre resort houses Hong Kong Disneyland and two hotels.

As with the other Disneyland parks, the Hong Kong Disneyland is divided into themed areas. The park currently has four themed areas; Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, and Main Street USA. Each area has restaurants providing quick service and snack carts. Expansion plans to expand the current park are underway which means that there is construction in areas of the park.

If you have children from 5 – 9 years old, you will find that the majority of the park is geared to that age group. Although the park is the smallest of the Disneyland parks and is not completed, you will find that you can keep young children entertained all day long with the rides and sights. The price is a bit expensive but the memories that a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland will create for you child are priceless.

Fantasyland brings the world of Disney fantasy to life. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto are joined by Chip and Dale, Cinderella, Woody, Tigger, Dumbo and many other Disney characters. In the lush Fantasy Garden, you can have your child’s picture taken with the Disney characters. The settings and interaction with the Disney characters will solidify your child’s belief in their favorite character. With Storybook Theatre, Fantasy Gardens, the entertainment and the amazing rides will leave your child hungry for more.

The futuristic Tomorrowland offers up Space Mountain, Autaia, interactive rides will make your child a believer in the future. This area is probably more suitable for children that love Stitch and Buzz Lightyear and will not be frightened by the rides. Younger children will love the interactive Stitch Encounter show.

A riverboat cruise down a jungle river will keep your children enthralled. The jungle cruise includes scenes that will transport your child to the jungle and its inhabitants. At the end of the cruise, there is a war between the fire god and water god that will enthrall young and old alike. The cruise, entertainment at Theater in the Wild, exploring Tarzan’s Treehouse and more will give your child memories of a lifetime.

Main Street USA simulates an American town at the turn of the century. Quaint streets, day parades, vintage vehicles, and nightly fireworks will provide older children with an endless source of fun.

Within Hong Kong Disneyland there are three themed shops selling exclusive Disney keepsakes. The keepsakes include: clothing, accessories, plush toys, stationery, and a wide assortment of headwear. Your child’s love of princesses, Pooh and friends, Sorcerer Mickey & PhilHarmonic Donald should be fulfilled by the offerings.

When you decide on the length of your visit to Hong Kong Disneyland, there are two hotels from which to choose. Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, the flagship hotel, is the place to stay if you have young children that believe in the magic of Disney characters. Featuring a spa, indoor and outdoor pool, Mickey Maze, entertainment and a lot of kid friendly activities; this hotel gets rave reviews for the amount of time children get to spend with Disney characters.

If your children are older, you might want to choose the less expensive Hollywood Hotel. The Hollywood Hotel features a piano shaped pool, vintage car displays, gardens, scavenger hunts and lots of green space. There are lots of activities to keep the children entertained but less elaborate than at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

Tags: Adventureland, Disney, Fantasy Garden, Fantasyland, Hollywood Hotel, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Hong Kong Ocean Park, Hong Kong theme park, Lantau Island, Main Street USA, Storybook Theatre, Tomorrowland