Elsa's Frozen Ice Palace Shines at Night!

For the first time in forever, Elsa's ice palace is lit up!Thanks to this photo by HKDL Fantasy, we can see it in all its nighttime glory. As part of the new World of Frozen opening in Hong Kong Disneyland, this will be the mountain that sets the smallest but perhaps the most charming park in China apart from Shanghai Disneyland. Bigger is not always better! Yet, compared to the measly attraction in Epcot, this land will also draw guests in with Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs, its own version of Frozen Ever After, and a slew of shops and restaurants set around a sparkling Norwegian lake. Is it enough on its own to make you book a trip there? No. But throw in Mystic Manor, the Disney kingdoms largest Adventureland, and the beautiful city of Hong Kong itself and you might have enough reason to go!

New Attraction Posters for Hong Kong Disneyland's World of Frozen

Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs is just one of the new attraction posters recently released for Hong Kong Disneyland. The ride itself is a fairly simple reworking of the Magic Kingdom's fun little Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but in Hong Kong, this will be part of entire land: The World of Frozen. These three posters have a unique feel to them, but they just don't say "Classic Disney" to me. What do you think?

Unfortunately, the headlining attraction is a revised version of Frozen Ever After from the Norway pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase. We know the Imagineers can come up with better, but the suits tie their hands for the U.S. parks where all too often, "good enough" is what gets built. Of course, recent additions to Disneyland and Walt Disney World prove they can give us the best of the best- when they want to.

If Disney park fans are looking for the ultimate Frozen themed land, they'd be better off waiting for Tokyo DisneySea's gorgeous Fantasy Springs. Like most all things Disney and Japanese, when the new land opens next Spring, it will have a one of a kind E Ticket attraction based on the beloved sisters. But that's not all. Peter Pan gets a brand new land with its own mega ticket as well as a whole new Tangled themed section. It pains me to say, but yes, things do seem to be designed better for the Japanese. 

I'm all for expanding the overseas parks, but we should never forget the idea for these are rooted in a uniquely American locale and mindset. He may be gone, but the homeland parks should always be the ultimate example of Walt Disney's Imagineers.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Thanks to HKDL Fantasy for first sharing the images.)

Attraction Poster for World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland

The World of Frozen is kind of a lame name for the new land coming to Hong Kong Disneyland, but the attraction poster is also not what I would have hoped for. It's "ok", but that's the problem. Hopefully, the execution of the land with its Frozen Ever After boat ride and Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs roller coaster is better!

(Thanks to HKDL Fantasy. Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

 

Who Knew the Jungle Cruise Could Look Like This?

This photo shocked me- but in a good way! Take a look at this gorgeous photograph of the Jungle Cruise at Hong Kong Disneyland by user HKDL Fantasy on Twitter. The bright reds, oranges, and yellows of Spring bring an entirely different look to this reimagined classic Adventureland attraction. This little park may be considered by some as the runt of castle parks, but it's huge on charm and getting better as the years go by! A brand new castle, the upcoming Frozen themed land, Mystic Manor and more. A pretty good line-up!