Dec 28
2009

Thousands of people lined up to visit Mickey Mouse in Hong Kong this week. But when they could not get in, they got grumpy.

Crowds of angry Chinese, brandishing tickets after they were turned away at the Disneyland entrance, had shouting matches with the police and security guards. Some people clambered over the heavy green steel gates after guards closed them. In one scene played repeatedly on local television, one unhappy child had to be passed by the crowd over the spikes of the gates to his parents inside.

The culprit was a discount-ticket promotion gone awry. Disneyland had failed to anticipate the rush of vacationers from mainland China during the Chinese New Year. As the numbers of people trying to enter the park swelled, officials closed its gates and stopped admitting people who had bought tickets in advance.

Even the Hong Kong government issued a statement late Thursday calling on Disneyland to improve its ticketing and entry procedures. The park has issued an apology to disappointed ticket holders.

By Friday morning, the crowds had subsided, as most Hong Kong residents stayed away from the park and the flow of visitors became more orderly. But the lines in the park were still long, even by Disney standards, and the park announced that it would not sell more tickets at the gate for the day, and even Internet sales were temporarily suspended.

The problems began last month when Disney introduced a discounted one-day ticket plan that allowed the holder to use the ticket any time within the next six months except on designated “special days” when the park anticipated big crowds.

In Hong Kong, a four-day public holiday for Chinese New Year began last Saturday and ended Tuesday. The park designated those dates as special days. But in China, the holiday for Chinese New Year lasts a full week, so the mainlanders were able to use their discounted Disney tickets on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Chinese tour agencies had bought large batches of discounted tickets and brought in busloads of mainlanders to Hong Kong this week. The park said it would review its policies on what days to label as special.

Bill Ernest, the executive vice president of the park, acknowledged that “the numbers were larger than we anticipated.” The park, which has a capacity of about 30,000 people, has begun offering refunds to people turned away, but it is not reimbursing hotel and travel costs.

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Dec 1
2009

Disneyland is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world, and for good reason.

Disneyland is where Disney magic comes alive with the famous characters walking around that you can meet (everyone from Goofy to Cinderella – and not forgetting Mickey!) and have their photos taken and collect autographs.

For the little ones especially this is the best part of the park and the excitement is something they’ll remember long after they’ve outgrown the animated movies and understand the reality behind the characters!
You can have a ride and other enjoyment in Disneyland:

In this Disneyland aside from the characters there are the rides.  Space Mountain and Splash Mountain in particular are rides for which Disneyland is famous – some rides in the Disneyland have height restrictions so make sure your children qualify before standing in line.

The park present in Disneyland is divided up into various themed areas such as “Tomorrow land” and “Critter Country” and each area is full of attractions, rides and side shows.

You could actually spend a day in the Disneyland just wandering around and looking at everything, without ever going on a single ride – unless you’ve got children with you!

There are parades in the park, and a fireworks display can be found at almost any major event in the park, which adds to the fun because you don’t have to stand in line for hours to watch it – check the park’s information area to find out what’s happening on the day you’re visiting and what time it begins.

Disneyland has an assortment of places to eat around the park, plan your day so that you are in the right area at the right time for your meals.  Some restaurants advise making reservations so check this out at the start of your day – or even before you get there if possible – to avoid disappointment.

Accommodation near to, or even within, Disneyland is popular during school vacations, so you need to reserve the hotel you want to stay at as soon as you make the decision to visit the park.  Once the high season gets into full swing, available hotel rooms become further away from the park and limited in choice.

Disneyland is pure magic and whether you’re 5 or 95, you’ll find there’s something to enjoy in this fabulous theme park!  Once you’ve experienced Disneyland fun, you’ll be sure to want to come back another time.



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Nov 6
2009

promised a post about our trip last week to Disneyland Paris. In order to be a man of my word, here it is. Three different rambles follow below.

Money
Any increase in British visitors will be matched by a reported increase in the number of mortgage applications. Make no mistake, it is every bit as expensive as you are warned it will be. More so, actually. It makes motorway service stations look like charity shops. How much should a lunch-time cheeseburger, fries and bottle of water cost you? Did I hear someone suggest ten of our finest British pounds? Why, you would be right, sir.

And the other costs are equally appalling, be it food, drink, ice cream, gifts or small necessities. The place is capitalism red in tooth and claw. With a captive audience (like the motorway service stations), they pick a number out and charge it. This is not a complete rant against capitalism, but marks what unrestrained sin can do. Not that laws can make people good, but if there is no competition present to rein things in, sometimes there need to be other constraints. Of course, there won’t be any restrictions on the Mickey Mouse Empire while it rakes in so many Euros for France. And yes, this is small fry compared with far more pressing needs in the world. It’s just one example of what happens when greed runs rampant. No jokes about bankers, please.

Behaviour
I also found the behaviour of the French interesting. Like any culture, the dominant characteristics were both good and bad. The hôtel staff couldn’t have been more obliging. On the other hand, many of the punters flouted the smoking bans and shoved anyone out of the way, children included, to get on a bus. I know it’s said that queuing is a peculiarly British thing, but to me it enshrines a value about fairness and equality. I know too you could  make similar credit and debit remarks about we Brits, and that none of these statements should be taken as blanket criticisms, as if one could stereotype everyone. However, it remains curious to me that certain positive and negative traits exhibit themselves within a culture. Maybe Pam BG could shed some Girardian light on this?

Story
In one park there is a statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse holding hands. Beneath it is a plaque with some words from Michael D Eisner, who was Chief Executive of Disney when the Paris operation was opened in 1992. Eisner says that the company wanted to set up a park in Europe, because it was European folk tales that had originally inspired Walt. It was therefore a ‘coming home’ of sorts.

That is at least to some extent true – think Pinocchio or Peter Pan, for example. I’m not sure how they justified their expansion to Japan, mind you!

However, one thing you inevitably can’t escape in Disneyland is the notion of story and narrative. In the Frontierland section, you realise how Disney used to tell a story of the Wild West that wasn’t sensitive to Native Americans. But it’s OK, because then they discovered Pocahontas. On the ride called ‘It’s A Small, Small World’, you travel on a boat past models of children from all around the world in their different costumes and cultures, all singing the song after which the ride is named. It becomes a narrative: everywhere, around the world, however different we are, we are really all the same underneath. (To which the Christian wants to answer both ‘yes’ and ‘no’, I think.)

It reminded me of the importance of story. So many live by a big story, be it the ones told by capitalism, communism, Islam or Christianity. Others – fearing the postmodern suspicion that these stories are power-plays to include the privileged and exclude others – choose instead to populate their lives with little segments from here and there. But the privilege of the Christian witness or preacher is to help locate people in the story of God – the story of God’s redeeming, sacrificial love, which because it is sacrificial is not a power-play. God finds each one of us and places us in his dramatic, epic story of love. We then become facilitators, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to do the same. What a privilege.

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Oct 21
2009

The Walt Disney Company is taking a series of steps to address local cultural sensitivities as it prepares to open Hong Kong Disneyland a little more than a year from now, the company’s president said here Tuesday night.

The new theme park, long controversial here because of the local government’s lavish investment in it, will include local food and music and provide services not only in English but in two Chinese languages, said Robert A. Iger, Disney’s president and chief operating officer. He described these steps as part of the company’s broad effort to recognize national differences.

“We know if we’re too U.S.-centric, the products won’t be too relevant to those markets,” Mr. Iger said. “That’s particularly true as it relates to Hong Kong Disneyland.”

Esther Wong, a spokeswoman for Hong Kong Disneyland, said that the company had rotated the orientation of the entire park by several degrees in the early design phase after consulting a master of feng shui, a Chinese practice of seeking harmony with spiritual forces. “This is essentially an American product, but it’s a question of how we tailor it to an audience in this part of the world,” Ms. Wong said. “Disney is an American brand, and our guests, our potential guests, believe in this product.”

As Disney prepares to open the park with the broadcast on Thursday of the first television ads in Shanghai, there are some signs of growing anti-American sentiment here. A survey of nine Asian countries and territories released on Monday found that 47 percent of residents here held a negative opinion of the United States, second only to Indonesia. Gallup and TNS, a market information company, conducted the survey.

The survey found that the poor opinion here had been shaped mainly by American foreign policy, however, with residents still holding a much higher opinion of the American economy. Eden Woon, the chief executive of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, which played host to Mr. Iger’s speech, said that he saw very little chance of any anti-American protests here and doubted that any such sentiments here would hurt Hong Kong Disneyland.

“China always is conflicted between accepting foreign things and trying to maintain its own culture,” he said.

Many prosperous residents here pursued various stratagems to obtain American passports before Britain returned Hong Kong to China in 1997. Jeffrey K. F. Lam, a member of the Legislative Council here who attended Mr. Iger’s speech, said that some were now renouncing their American citizenship. But he said this was mostly to avoid paying American taxes in addition to Hong Kong taxes, and because of renewed confidence in Hong Kong’s future, not because of hostility to the United States.

The park is controversial here because it is being built with $2.88 billion (22.45 billion Hong Kong dollars) in investment from the Hong Kong government. The government provided the land and is building road and rail links, although some of the road and rail costs might have been incurred even if the theme park had not been built.

The government owns 57 percent of the park, with Disney owning the rest. The government also holds subordinated shares that would convert to ordinary shares, raising the government’s ownership as high as 75 percent, if the park does much better than originally envisioned.

Many here were upset by the disclosure – made after the deal was signed – that Disney was in separate talks to open a park in Shanghai. Disney has not concluded any deals in Shanghai, however, and has said that any park there would not open before 2010.

Michael J. T. Rowse, who negotiated the deal for the government as tourism commissioner and is now the director general of the government’s foreign investment attraction arm, InvestHK, said that a series of recent visa policy changes by Beijing would result in far more visitors to Hong Kong Disneyland than originally anticipated.

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Sep 11
2009

We normally associate Disney Land with fun and frolic and kids. Apart from entertainment, Disney land has contributed its bit to education of the young in one way or the other. One such program, Disneyland Magic Music Days program, is an educational program for students of music, vocal arts, or dance.

Your group has the chance to demonstrate its natural endowment and to better it in a background that elevates learning and also have fun doing it. The program is available all year, and is open to schools, studios, and other organizations worldwide after auditioning for the program.

Workshops are held by professional maestros in the fields of acting, choreography, comedy, dancing, composing, singing, arranging, music, and conducting, who focus on ameliorating the specific talent of each member of the group. It is hard to find in one place a combination of such a gifted faculty which has made its name in Hollywood and New York amongst other places in the world.

Different type of groups and individuals can audition on different platforms. For example instrumental and vocal groups and dancers can audition to perform on one of Disneyland stages and marching bands for the famous Disneyland parades.

Disneyland Magic Music Days is an experience by it self wherein along with performing at the happiest and most lovable place on earth you get the benefits of world class workshops to add to your talent.

Soundtrack/instrumental workshop, the soundtrack jazz workshop, the tune in seminar, and the percussion workshop for instrumental groups and marching bands: the industry show choir workshop, academy show choir workshop, the academy vocal workshop, the industry vocal workshop, and the express yourself workshop for vocalists the industry dance workshop, academy dance workshop, and the express yourself workshop for dancers: Disneyland Magic Music Days has it all and for all performers. Special workshops are arranged for vocalists and vocalists groups.

Being at Disneyland Magic Music Days in once in a life time opportunity for your group. The performance alone will be an event to remember whereas the information and breeding that the young performers will acquire is priceless.

Each member of each group receives an 8 x 10 glossy picture of their entire group, in full performance attire, in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Although you will not need any help remembering your time at Disneyland Magic Music Days, this photo is an excellent souvenir to share with your friends and loved ones on return from the most unforgettable performance and talent enhancement that you will ever have.

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Aug 17
2009

Disney selected a manager of a steakhouse at the Bellagio in Las Vegas to head its upscale Napa Rose restaurant.

Philippe Tosques, who worked at the Prime Steakhouse in Las Vegas for about three years, is set to begin his job as general manager at the Disneyland Resort restaurant on March 1, Disney announced Wednesday on Twitter. The award-winning Napa Rose sits inside the Grand Californian Hotel.

Betsy Sanchez, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman, said Tosques was unavailable for an interview Wednesday. Disney did not release further information about Tosques. The Prime Steakhouse could not be reached.

Tosques previously worked as a consultant and manager at other Las Vegas restaurants, as well as the Hotel Sofitel in Los Angeles and Chicago, according to his LinkedIn account. Tosques won restaurant awards in both Las Vegas and Chicago.

The previous Napa Rose general manager, Michael Jordan,  left his job at Disney in September. He now is the president of The Beachcomber restaurants in Crystal Cove and Malibu

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Jun 14
2009

The wonderful Disney Princess characters featured in books and movies are extremely popular with children everywhere.

The stories are enchanting, inspirational and exciting, involving a prince and a princess, who live happily ever after in a beautiful castle, surrounded by the people and things they love.

Disney Princesses have many admirable qualities. They are kind, thoughtful, considerate, and gentle to others. It is no wonder that they are such popular princesses.

Does your child have a favourite Disney princess?

It’s every little girl’s dream to feel like a princess and there are many ways of making her feel extra special.

For instance, there are now plenty of ways to decorate and furnish your child’s bedroom with lots of exciting Disney Princess bedding products. There are also a variety of bedding and bedroom accessories, rugs, wallpaper, borders and lampshades to enhance a child’s bedroom with their favourite Disney Princess characters.

The Disney Princess bedding range comes in a variety of designs and sizes to suit children of all ages, including babies and toddlers.

You can see some wonderful Disney Princess baby bedding products at: Disney-Princess-bedding.blogspot.com. Your little girl will be proud to share her room with any of these delightful products featuring their favourite Disney Princess bedding characters.

As this article suggests, there are some inspirational ways to provide your little girl with her favourite characters through incorporating them with essential household products.



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Apr 21
2009

This past week at Disney World we had rain, rain, and even more rain. Visiting the Disney Theme Parks in the rain is a great way to beat the crowds and Florida heat. Most Cast Members and Orlando locals love visiting the Theme Parks during the rainy seasons because the parks are less crowded and much cooler. To make the most during a rainy day at Disney World, here are our suggestions on what to park in case the forcast looks like rain during your vacation.

1. Poncho – Forget the umbrellas and purchase a poncho from your local Walgreens, Target or Walmart store. Ponchos allow you to be hands free and completely cover you from the rain. From a light drizzle to a full out rain, you can still walk around the parks and hit rides without missing a beat.

2. Small hand towels – You will get wet, so pull out some smaller towels to quickly dry off after a rain. You can dry off quickly and keep having fun at the parks.

3. Water shoes – Most people forget to wear comfortable water shoes during the rainy season at Disney World. Our favorite water shoes are Tevas or Reef Sandels. They can get wet, but do not fall off when walking around wet. These shoes have straps around the heel which makes it easy to walk around, even wet.

4. Baseball hats – Wearing a baseball hat with a large brim helps keep your face dry. You can wear a baseball hat and then your poncho over the hat. This keeps the poncho out of your face and your face dry.

5. Large ziplock bags – After your ponchos get wet, store them away in a ziplock bag until needed again. This keeps your other items dry, while around the Disney Theme Parks.

Always check the weather forcast before you leave for your Disney World vacation, being prepared is one of the best ways to make sure you have a wonderful vacation even in the rain.



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Feb 17
2009

The award winning Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Orlando hotel is the gateway to the best known theme parks and attractions in the world. It is very conveniently located between Epcot, Disney World, MGM Studios and very near to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Their service is impeccable with luxurious facilities and a new feature, the Heavenly Bed. At the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel you will find a spa, white sand beach, five pools, tennis and two health clubs. There are seventeen restaurants to choose from and complimentary transportation to the Disney Parks.

With the Orlando airport so close, about a 20 minute ride, it is convenient for anyone wishing to visit the many properties. Orlando International airport has over 975 flights daily making the airport is highly assessable from anywhere.

There are various means of transportation from the hotel to the Parks. Disney’s Friendship Launch will take you to Epcot and MGM. Meanwhile there is a shuttle that will take you to all the other areas within the Resort. Both means of transportation depart every 15 to 20 minutes, so you can set your own schedule with very little wait time.

A special perk for those that stay at the Swan and Dolphin hotel is that every day one of the four Parks opens an hour early or remains open three hours later than usual so you can enjoy the park without crowds. You can buy your tickets for the parks in the lobby of the hotel. On some days the Disney characters will visit the dining rooms to the delight of the young children that are eating there. The characters will lavish attention on the children, sign autographs and pose for pictures.

There are five championship golf courses and a walking course that is nine holes. If you are a guest of the Swan and Dolphin you are eligible for advanced tee times. These are very challenging and world renowned golf courses.

The staff is dedicated to make your stay as memorable as possible. They are very friendly and professional. The employees are from all over the world. With the combination of their cultures and experiences they help to make this fine resort an international destination.

Some of the other amenities that The Swan and Dolphin provide are a 24 hour convenience store, a launderette, game rooms, concierge service, two business centers, specialty shops and a kiosk where you can get your boarding pass for your flight home. They even have a limousine service.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is your home away from home. It is a marvelous hotel to book if you are thinking of a Disney vacation. There is no way you can go wrong by staying at this excellent resort. So, pack up the kids, make a reservation and discover the Magic of Disney World.

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