Hospitality
Following the success of its first 2 hotels, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort breaks ground on its 3rd – and largest – resort hotel to date. It features an adventurous theme reflecting 4 diverse cultures around the world.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has broken ground on its 3rd resort hotel, which will increase the number of hotel rooms at the Lantau Island theme park to 1,750.
The new project is a dramatic departure from previous Disney hotels in Hong Kong.
Whereas Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel features a Victorian theme and Disney’s Hollywood Hotel has a distinctly Art Deco design, Disney Explorers Lodge will surround guests in an adventurous and culturally diverse natural environment.
To be known as Disney Explorers Lodge, the 750-room hotel is scheduled to open in early 2017.
Photo Opps
A signature feature of the hotel will be 4 gardens reflecting the distinct cultures of 4 distinctly different regions of the world: Africa, Asia, Polynesia, and South America.
Talk about photo opps!
The hotel will also have themed restaurants, a shop, and a large outdoor swimming pool set amid sumptuously landscaped gardens.
The hotel is targeted at both leisure and corporate guests from Hong Kong and around the world. It will provide more business opportunities for collaboration with travel trade and positively impact the tourism industry in Hong Kong, officials believe.
My Take
To be totally frank, I was a bit surprised at just how small Hong Kong Disneyland was the first time I visited it.
After exiting the MTR, there is a rather grand pedestrian boulevard lined with stately palm trees with an impressive fountain at the end – and Mickey Mouse is surfing atop it.
Now, how cute is that?
When you turn the corner, however, it’s like, “Say WHAT??? Is that IT???”
Everything at Hong Kong Disneyland just seems smaller than at the other Disney theme parks around the world.
Which is NOT to say that the park isn’t fun. But you really CAN do it all in one day – whereas it could EASILY take a week to do justice to Disneyland in Anaheim, California- or 2 weeks to do justice Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Dripping with Space!
When it comes to the existing 2 hotels at Hong Kong Disneyland, however, I must say, I was TOTALLY impressed when taken on a tour of the hotels a couple of years back.
Both of the hotels were grand in scale, with very impressive indoor and outdoor facilities for conferences, exhibitions, meetings, and weddings.
And talk about SPACE! In a town where space is at a premium, these hotels were DRIPPING with space …
So I have BIG hopes for Disney Explorers Lodge. I am sure it will be a welcome addition to Hong Kong’s conference and exhibition landscape!