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HK Disneyland Expansion Attracts Some, Not All

Many tourists from the Chinese mainland are excited by the news that Hong Kong Disneyland is expanding. It is one of the most popular spots in the city among mainlanders. But what do the locals think about the park, and what impact will it have on Hong Kong's tourism industry? Our reporter XX has this report.

Reporter:
As the fifth park of its kind in the world, Hong Kong Disneyland is a landmark tourist attraction in the region.

Hong Kong resident Philip Brain has two daughters. He says his family is thrilled to have an opportunity to visit Disneyland even before its expansion.

"When you get there, it is completely different with the castle and the avenue that was built where you can go to the Hong Kong Disneyland hotel. That is unbelievable. There is nothing like that in Florida or even Paris."

But with an area of only 126 hectare, it offers fewer entertainment programs compared to its counterparts in the United States and Europe. This means the number of visitors is often below the park's expectation.

That's partly why the Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR government reached a deal at the end of June to expand the Hong Kong Disneyland. Local lawmakers have just endorsed the plan.

Disney will spend 3.5 billon Hong Kong dollars to expand the park by about 25 percent in the next five years. By that time, three new theme areas will be set up, namely "Grizzly Trail," "Mystic Point" and "Toy Story Land."

According to the plan, two of the theme areas will be exclusive in the world and the other will be the only one of its kind in Asia. When the project is finished, there will be 30 new entertainment facilities in the park, bringing the total number to 100. Disney believes that that the expansion will help it attract more families.

Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's Chief Executive, says Disneyland's expansion will spur the city's development, especially amid the global economic downturn.

"Hong Kong Disneyland is a major tourism infrastructure of Hong Kong. Its expansion will bring significant benefits to our tourism industry and to the overall economy. During construction, the project will create more than 3,000 jobs, and in full operation it will provide 600 additional permanent employment opportunities."

Ian Hassett works at a construction supervision company in Hong Kong. He says it is necessary for Hong Kong Disneyland to add more attractions.

"People coming from overseas usually compare Hong Kong Disneyland with those in California or Paris. If it is not up to those standards, then they will say, 'Disneyland is a joke in Hong Kong."
While Disneyland is regarded as a magnet for kids, many local children say they are not very interested in its expansion and new programs. They prefer Ocean Park, another tourist attraction in Hong Kong. Taylor Bredenburg is one of them.

Tam Wai Ho is one of them.

"It is because Ocean Park is cheaper than Disneyland. Also Ocean Park has many merry things to enjoy. I like the rollercoaster there, but in Disneyland the rollercoaster is not so exciting. Ocean Park is better. "

The student says some of his classmates have not been to Disneyland because they believe it is not a cool place for teenagers.