HONG
KONG (Sept. 12, 2005) – Against the dream-come-true backdrop
of Sleeping Beauty Castle and the natural grandeur of the green
Lantau Island mountains, Hong Kong Disneyland officially brought
the fun and excitement of a Disney theme park to Hong Kong Monday
with a spectacular Grand Opening.

The ceremony began with a colorful display of spinning parasols
which parted to reveal children welcoming the spectators in
English, Cantonese and Putonghua. Classical Chinese tradition
joined with Disney heritage as the ceremony continued with the
100-voice Hong Kong Children’s Choir, dazzling Chinese acrobats
and dancers, and Disney ambassadors representing all of the
Disney theme parks worldwide – Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris
and the United States.

Centerpiece of the ceremony was a traditional Lion Dance ritual
in which the Lions were "brought to life" when their
eyes were dotted with brushes and red ink by Michael D. Eisner,
Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer; Robert A. Iger,
Walt Disney Company President, Chief Operating Officer and CEO-elect;
Zeng Qinghong, Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China;
and Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Government of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government).

"Hong Kong Disneyland stands before us as a living symbol
of the creativity and imagination that are the heart and soul
of Disney," said Eisner. "With a spirit of goodwill
and friendship, we invite the people of Hong Kong, China and
all of Asia to share in the magic, imagination and soaring spirit
of Disney."

"We hope Hong Kong Disneyland will be a beacon,"
said Iger, "reminding us that no matter the language of
borders, humankind can accomplish great things when we work
together, especially when we can show the world that imagination
is alive, that fantasy can be reality and that magic happens."

In welcoming Disney to Hong Kong, Tsang observed, "The
arrival of the world’s most widely recognized and best-loved
theme park in Hong Kong will allow us to provide visitors from
all over the region with a fun-filled and diversified experience
… We warmly and wholeheartedly welcome the Disney family
to Hong Kong."

Two Disney theme park anthems were sung by the Hong Kong Children’s
Choir: "It’s a Small World" in English and "One"
in Cantonese, and the final ribbon-cutting was performed by
Eisner, Iger, Zeng and Tsang, and observed by Mickey Mouse,
Minnie Mouse and singer and Hong Kong Disneyland spokesperson
Jacky Cheung.

The Monday Grand Opening of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort was
preceded by a weekend preview for business and government leaders
and such celebrities as Eason Chan, Emil Chau, Jacky Cheung,
Andy Hui, Brad Kane, Coco Lee, Paige O’Hara, Lea Salonga and
Joey Yung who spent Sunday enjoying the themed lands of Hong
Kong Disneyland Park.

The vacation resort on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island is a joint
venture of The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government.
It includes two intricately detailed hotels – the Hong
Kong Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Hollywood Hotel – with
breathtaking views of the theme park and the South China Sea,
along with a public recreation area with a spark ling lake and
arboretum.

Following the ceremony, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort opened
its gates for thousands of waiting guests. The Opening Day crowd
enjoyed a full day of entertainment including encounters with
such famous Disney characters as Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh
and Cinderella, as well as adventures on such classic Disney
attractions as Jungle River Cruise, Mad Hatter Tea Cups and
Space Mountain. Other highlights in Hong Kong Disneyland include
live Broadway-quality entertainment, distinctive Disneyland
gifts and souvenirs, and flavorful Asian and Western cuisine
in a variety of restaurants and cafes.

Walt Disney’s philosophy that Disneyland would "never
be completed…as long as there is imagination left in the
world," extends to Hong Kong Disneyland, where work is
already underway on Autopia, a new Tomorrowland attraction where
guests of all ages can drive electric cars along the highways
of tomorrow. The new adventure is scheduled to open in 2006.

About Hong Kong Disneyland

Located on lush Lantau Island overlooking Penny’s Bay, Hong
Kong Disneyland Resort is a brand-new, world-class family entertainment
and recreation center consisting of a magical, Disneyland-style
theme park of shows and attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel
(400 guestrooms), Disney’s Hollywood Hotel (600 guestrooms)
and Inspiration Lake, a public area featuring boat rentals and
a 3.5 hectare arboretum. Offering guests of all ages a full
day immersed in imagination and creativity uniquely Disney,
Hong Kong Disneyland is home to Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Mulan
and other Disney characters beloved the world over.

A joint venture of The Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong SAR
Government, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort employs 5,000 cast members.
The HKSAR Government estimated the first phase of the project
will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19
billion) in benefits to Hong Kong over a 40-year period.

The project was announced in 1999 and construction began in
2003.

Visit https://www.hongkongdisneyland.com
for more details

Visit the WCN Disneyana
information pages and Groups.