Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Explore Hong Kong

The world’s most lovable Disney friends were spotted taking in the sights of Hong Kong just 33 days before the grand opening of their new home at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, accompanied by “cultural tour guides” - 14 children and their parents from the Hong Kong Disneyland First Family competition – started their big day out at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, where Mickey Mouse, resplendent in traditional Chinese attire, surprised onlookers with his participation in the morning tai chi session conducted by Master William Ng.

click any image for larger version which opens in new window

Heading next door to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse were treated to a demonstration in the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy and were delighted when Master Li Wai Wang produced a special work featuring a “Welcome to Hong Kong” message for the Disney friends.

Next on the itinerary for Hong Kong’s newest residents was a trip aboard a true Hong Kong icon, the Star Ferry, where the First Family contestants joined Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on the upper deck to cruise around Victoria Harbour while pointing out some of the city’s most impressive buildings on the world-famous skyline.

Disembarking at the Star Ferry Terminal at Central, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse bade farewell to their young tour guides and clambered on board one of the city’s famous “old rattlers”, the open-top tram, for a scenic tour through downtown Hong Kong. And as Mickey and Minnie waved excitedly to passersbys, delighted pedestrians extended an enthusiastic welcome to the pair.

Hong Kong Disneyland announced last month the launch of its “Coming Home” campaign, which kicked off on July 17 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California. In recent weeks the Coming Home Campaign, has sprung to life across Hong Kong in a series of TV spots, billboards and commemorative posters - and signaled the arrival of Disney’s most beloved friends who brought with them 50 years of fun and magic.

The Coming Home Campaign will culminate on September 12, 2005, when Hong Kong Disneyland – the very first Disney theme park in China - opens, an event which will officially mark the next chapter for Walt Disney Theme Parks.

The Hong Kong Disneyland project was announced in 1999 as a venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government. With the completion of reclamation for Hong Kong Disneyland Phase I by the Hong Kong SAR Government, theme park and resort construction began in January 2003, with the project now scheduled to open on 12th September, 2005. At opening day, Hong Kong Disneyland will comprise a theme park and two hotels.

The Phase I build-out includes a projected 10 million annual visitor Disneyland-style theme park, 2,100 hotel rooms, and an area for retail, dining and entertainment. The project is estimated to create 18,000 new jobs at opening (both Disney and other employment) growing to 36,000 once the first park reaches build-out. The Hong Kong SAR Government estimated that 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.

See other recent news regarding: Hong Kong, Disneyland