Overlooking the water at Penny’s Bay, and on a main transit route from the new Hong Kong International Airport, the project will position Lantau Island as a world-class tourist destination and will take advantage of the location’s easy access by rail, highway and ferry to attract guests to the Park.  “Hong Kong is one of the preeminent international tourist destinations in Asia. Its reputation as one of the world’s most attractive and vibrant cities and its plans to expand its tourism presence make it the perfect location for a Disney destination,” said Green.

The development proposal includes a Disney theme park, which will be made up of themed lands evoking their own unique spirit of fantasy, excitement and adventure. Currently in the conceptual design phase, Hong Kong Disneyland will bring together the best of rides, shows and attractions, and cutting-edge technology from Disney parks around the world to create a mix of new and traditional Disney entertainment experiences. Each land might include these classic Disney concepts, either at opening or as additions in future years.  “We are excited at the prospect of bringing the magic of Disney to Hong Kong,” said Disney’s Chao. “The Park will create a sense of wonder for guests of all ages, bringing to life popular Disney characters and stories in a whole new form of entertainment for Hong Kong.”

The Park’s creative concept expands on Disney’s more than 50 years of designing theme parks and resorts around the world. Hong Kong Disneyland will transport guests into a world of imagination, fantasy and adventure. It is envisioned that guests entering the Park will immediately take a step back in time to Main Street USA which will capture the excitement, friendliness and energy of a community gathering place.  Designed after an old-fashioned small town, Main Street USA will include shops and restaurants and serve as the stage for live entertainment and parades as well as special events celebrating the local culture. The central icon of the Park is a fanciful castle soaring majestically in the air. Sleeping Beauty Castle will be the signature element of the Park, evoking a feeling of fantasy and imagination.

Sleeping Beauty Castle is to be the gateway to Fantasyland. Here guests will find the magical home of their favorite Disney stories. In Fantasyland guests can fly to Neverland with Peter Pan, take a spin in a teacup or go under the sea with their favorite Little Mermaid.

Adjacent to Fantasyland will be Toontown, a wacky upside-down world where the beloved Disney characters live. Guests will be transported into a three-dimensional cartoon and meet one-on-one with Mickey Mouse. They will be able to stroll through Minnie’s house, climb aboard Donald’s boat or even zip through the wacky Toontown countryside on a whimsical roller coaster.

In Adventureland guests will begin a journey to exotic regions of exploration, adventure and discovery. Here guests will have the opportunity to venture into a wild untamed world and ride a roller coaster through a dark jungle filled with mysterious surprises. Guests might explore an ancient dinosaur archeological site, voyage to a whole new world on a magic carpet, or experience the wonder and music from such Disney classics as “The Lion King.”

From Adventureland guests may want to travel on to the wild American frontier. In Frontierland, they will have the opportunity to experience the American Old West of the 1880s. Here guests might climb through a Wild West fort, take a frightfully fun trip through a haunted mansion and shoot the rapids on a daring river raft.  After a trip back to the Wild West the next stop will be the future—Tomorrowland. Guests will have several exciting opportunities to choose from sci-fi fantasies and soaring space adventures. They will be able to journey to infinity and beyond as they join such popular Disney sci-fi characters as Buzz Lightyear to save the universe, blast off on a high-speed journey into outer space or even pilot their own spacecraft.  The initial phase at buildout will include three to four Disney- themed resort hotels with up to 2,100 hotel rooms to be constructed adjacent to the Park. As an integral part of the overall experience, these themed hotels will allow guests to stay overnight and continue “living the magic” through a “seamless” guest experience.  Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of shopping and dining experiences within a proposed 28,000-square-meter retail, dining and entertainment complex as part of the overall Hong Kong Disneyland experience. The project is expected to create an estimated 36,000 jobs. The resort site also has potential for additional development.

“The Disney brand has always been very popular in Hong Kong. Our decision to build a Disney Park in Hong Kong demonstrates our confidence in the continued growth and development of Hong Kong as a regional and international tourist destination,” said Green.
The proposed Disney Park will be the beginning of a larger tourism center envisioned by the Hong Kong government for North Lantau Island. The agreement is still subject to approval by the Hong Kong Executive Council and Legislative Council and by The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors.