Disneyland Hong Kong Preview Center at Epcot

Anyone who has visited Walt Disney World in 2005 will have noticed that there are many CM's with red ribbons hanging from their nametags. These CM's are from Hong Kong and are at the Florida theme parks training for at least 4 months in anticipation of the Hong Kong park opening. These CM's are VERY friendly and love to share their knowledge of this new resort. They all carry mini-maps of the Hong Kong park and happily give one to each visitor who asks about Disneyland Hong Kong. Boy, are these folks proud!

Scheduled to officially open on May 5 as part of the Disneyland 50th celebration, the Disneyland Hong Kong Preview Center is NOW open (SURPRISE!!) in the China Pavilion in Epcot! Housed in the area next to the CircleVision movie, the Preview Center has many displays and rendering that show just what Disney's newest theme park will look like when it opens to the public later this year.

Of great interest is how this theme park takes its identity directly from that of Walt Disney's original idea for Disneyland in California. It's almost a "back to the basics" in theme park planning, with lots of attention to original costumes and art of the 1950's era.

You'll especially enjoy doing a "compare and contrast" with the lands (no Frontierland in Hong Kong!) and in the accommodations (a hotel that looks eerily like the Grand Floridian). Transportation issues are very "interesting" as are details that we here in the USA take for granted. It's exciting and inspiring. I, for one would love to be there for the opening day- or any other day for that matter!

The Disneyland Hong Kong Preview Center is well worth a visit! Take time on a hot, busy day to enjoy the sights of the newest Disney theme park while you enjoy the quiet calm and air conditioning!

Jane in FL
MFL Event Reporter