BURBANK (November 23, 2005) – Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, the first-of-its-kind family resort destination in China, today marked 100 days of bringing Disney magic to the world’s largest audience by acknowledging the many milestones that have led to the successful opening of the park. Welcoming visitors from all over the world, the new resort has already had a profound positive impact on its guests, “cast members” and the Hong Kong economy. Since the beginning of our soft opening while we were not open every day to the public, Hong Kong Disneyland has welcomed and entertained well over 1 million guests eager to experience our immersive world of fun, fantasy and adventure and two Disney-themed hotels. According to resort surveys, guests who have experienced our special brand of signature entertainment, attractions and hospitality have rated the experience highly:
- Cleanliness – 96 percent
- Overall hotel experience – 94 percent
- Entertainment experience 92 percent
- Friendly, courteous cast members – 92 percent
Hong Kong Disneyland a Long Term Commitment
“When we build a resort, we do so with the expectation that it’s a long-term asset lasting well beyond 50 years,” says Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo. “The bottom-line is this: attendance is ramping up well, which continues to give us confidence that we are on track to achieve our long-term attendance goals. Average daily attendance calculations by the media, especially over a short period of time, have resulted in misleading and faulty conclusions, and paint an oversimplified picture that doesn’t reflect either performance or guest enjoyment of the Disney entertainment experience. One must always remember in the tourism industry to take seasonality and fluctuation during peak and non peak times into account, which makes simple daily averages meaningless,” Rasulo concluded.
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has hired and trained approximately 5,000 cast members resort-wide with a retention rate of 94 percent, which Rasulo calls “remarkable,” relative to the hospitality industry’s average turnover. “Our retention numbers in Hong Kong exceed those of our other parks worldwide. We are delighted to provide our cast with the opportunity to learn the hospitality industry from one of the world’s leader in family vacation destinations.”
Rasulo points to a varied mix of visitors as more proof of our park’s broad appeal in the region. Hong Kong residents comprise 49 percent of the park’s visitors. Mainland China guests make up 26 percent of the total, while visitors from other international areas comprise 25 percent. Yet no matter where guests come from, the appeal of Disney merchandise is universal: guests have bought more than 3.3 million pieces of merchandise, with the top seller a sparkling rhinestone Mickey t-shirt.
Win-win partnerships with premium brands for local community
During the initial 100 days, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has been proud to partner with some of the most reputable companies in Hong Kong to bring goods and services to its guests. Local companies such as Chow Sang Sang, Maxim’s, Standard Chartered Bank and Lee Kum Kee, along with many others that support the resort, have positively impacted the local economy by providing jobs and new business opportunities for residents of the region.
“Disney creates the Magic! Kodak captures it! The opening of Hong Kong Disneyland has had a profoundly positive impact on our business. We’ve created new jobs and sales are good. Asian guests love to take photographs and the park offers a unique backdrop for this. Kodak and Disney have extended our alliance to Asia and we are both committed to bring more excitement to our guests,” said Mr. Terence Chiu, General Manager of Marketing, DFIS, NAR, Eastman Kodak Company.
Expansion Underway
Relying on positive guest feedback, Hong Kong Disneyland is already expanding and enhancing the park experience beyond today’s top attractions, which include Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Space Mountain and the Jungle River Cruise. The first major new attraction to be added to the park since its opening will be the long-time guest favorite Autopia, debuting in summer 2006 and featuring battery-powered vehicles traveling a whimsical highway.
“Clearly, Hong Kong Disneyland is committed to the city of Hong Kong for the long-term, and to the bright future of Hong Kong tourism,” Rasulo concludes. “Hong Kong Disneyland will continue to grow, as all our parks have grown, becoming an employer of choice, a good neighbor and citizen to the people of Hong Kong, and the premiere family resort destination in China.”