"Golden week" tests HK Disneyland's popularityHaving over 10 million visitors to Hong Kong

"Golden week" tests HK Disneyland's popularity

Having over 10 million visitors to Hong Kong yearly, the mainland has been deemed as a natural market for the city's Disneyland.

However, the idea is once again put into test when low attendance was reported in the park during the ongoing Labor Day "golden week" holidays.

"Golden Week" Sees Flat Reaction

While Hong Kong expecting to receive about 420,000 visitors from the mainland, Disneyland also announced the seven-day holidays as its "golden week" for guests.

Related publicity activities included custom-made shining golden dresses for Mickey and Minnie Mouses, set meal of Chinese dishes and uplifted ticket price for special dates.

Compared to the aggressive promotion, the theme park's "golden week" kicked off in a quiet and orderly way due to low attendance of visitors.

On Monday, officially the first day of the holidays, neither long lines nor big crowds were formed in the park.

A handful of working reporters and local cable TV's satellite transition disks became so remarkable against an almost empty Main Street USA in the park.

At the entrance of several popular games, it took only five to ten minutes waiting for visitors to have a ride, which on some weekends would have people stand in line for at least half an hour.

Until Wednesday, tickets to the park for the rest of the "golden week" are still available for on-line purchase.

It's a sharp contrast to what occurred in the Chinese New Year holidays only three months ago, when Disneyland closed its gate to hundreds of visitors after the park reaching its maximum reception capabilities soon after opening.

The waiting crowd, mostly tourists from mainland with advance-purchased tickets, turned into rally ramming against the gate, climbing over the rail or passing their kids over the fence.

While local press hinted that memory of the incident caused the low turnout of the "golden week", Disneyland firmly denied the connection.

The park's executive vice-president Bill Ernest said it's just the beginning of the seven-day vacation and the park was expecting" steady buildup of visitors" over the week.

At least, Mr. Zhao and his families from Shanghai were not intimidated by what occurred in Disneyland in the Chinese New Year.

"We know that, but guess many people won't come here for the sake. That's why here we are," he said while taking photos for his daughter in front of a spring with Mickey's stature.

High Price a Concern

However, Mickey Mouse's magic isn't strong enough to get every mainland tourist forget the ticket incident or overcome the high price of Disneyland ticket for holidays.

Out of the gate of Disneyland's rivalry, Hong Kong Ocean Park, a woman named Lai said that her family had no plan to visit Disneyland. "We heard it's over packed and expensive," she said with her child around.

When asked whether her daughter wanted to visit Disneyland and have a close look at the Mickey Mouse, Lai answered for the seven-year-old, "No, we are fine here. Disneyland is no fun." While answering so, the mother clutched the kid's hand and used her body hiding the girl.

Disneyland charged 350 HK do]lam(45 U.S. dollars) for one adult on special dates such as the "golden week" holidays, while one adult ticket of Ocean Park costs only 185 HK dollars(24 U.S. dollars) all the time.

While Disneyland defending its entrance fee with promise of wonderful experience and quality service, the price factor still weighs heavy in mainland visitor's head, or at least those going to the Ocean Park only.

A tourist guide named Qian said that most of her guests chose Ocean Park rather than Disneyland, for the latter's price ticket was "so high

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