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'Golden week' tests HK Disneyland's popularity

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-05-04 09:30

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.

A girl poses for a photo in Disneyland in Hong Kong, September 12, 2005. [newsphoto]

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.