HKDL Castle to be replaced?

[Rocketeer]

Rumor has it that Hong Kong Disneyland is unhappy with the carbon copy of Sleeping Beauty Castle that they received from Disneyland back in 2005 when the park opened. While the small castle looks rather beautiful with the real mountains behind it, the castle itself is rather unimpressive.

..

It seems that Hong Kong is a little jealous of little brother Shanghai Disneyland’s giant Storybook Castle and wants a bigger and more impressive park icon of their own.

If the plan comes to pass, a larger castle (smaller than Shanghai, but completely unique in design) will be built on the site of the current Sleeping Beauty Castle in Hong Kong. This would mark the very first time that a castle was torn down in a Disney theme park.

This project is part of a rumored second expansion phase of the park that would include new attractions as well.

-WDWNT
http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/11/rumor-hong-kong-disneyland-tear-sleeping-beauty-castle/

[msRavenswood]

Sounds kind of crazy, but who knows...

[Rocketeer]

Exactly, given the rumour of the Guardians and the Tower... (plus the other crazyness this year) I wouldn't be surprised.

Here's an interesting comment fro Alan Littaye of Disney&More...

It didn't took me long to check this rumor of a change of the HKDL Castle and, guess what, the rumor is TRUE! It doesn't mean that they are GOING to do it, but it means that they are seriously THINKING about doing it.

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/is-hong-kong-disneyland-thinking-to.html

[Puffin]

it's official now:

http://tdrexplorer.com/hong-kong-disneyland-transforming-sleeping-beauty-castle-in-multi-year-development/

[msRavenswood]

Looks like they're keeping the original one as base and will be expanding it upwards.

[Rocketeer]

Well it's different, I'll give 'em that. It'll look great in person that's for sure.

Well spotted on the current castle being reused MsRavenswood. Guess that's the only logical way for them to expand it.
And do we know a name at all? Surely it won't be Sleeping Beauty Castle anymore.



And about those other additions?

Two more Marvel attractions - one in '18 and the other in '23. These replace Buzz Lightyear and Autopia.

And a Frozen Land in '20 with two attractions (I'm, guessing this is reusing the abandond plans from TDS).

B-roll of the additions..
https://youtu.be/--1HhUIfHwE

[msRavenswood]

By the way, I can't help being envious, or should I say jealous, that they are getting so many new elements while our main Park hasn't had any new additions for years! 

[Rocketeer]

Indeed. That's what lead me to start the expansion question thread in the Paris subforum.

I can understand why they're doing all this in HK - they have to readdress the balance after Shanghai opened. Once again though DLP languishes behind.

[Puffin]

My biggest surprise is that Buzz Lightyear will be rethemed to a Marvel ride. Never been to the Hong Kong Park, but the Buzz rides in Paris, Tokyo and Orlando are always amongst the busiest and most popular when I visit.

[Rocketeer]

^Apparently its no coincidence on the timing with Buzz either. Its projected opening happens to be the same time as 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' is out in cinemas.