Mickey’s Party Express Joins Chinese New Year Parade
to Celebrate the Year of the Monkey
(Hong Kong - 17 January 2004) To celebrate the Year of the Monkey٫ Hong Kong Disneyland will again be part of the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s annual Chinese New Year Parade. This year for the first time the festivities will take place in the evening and “Mickey’s Party Express” has been designed especially for nighttime entertainment.
Mickey’s Party Express is a magical celebration on wheels featuring spectacular lighting and lively music sure to immerse audiences of all ages in the holiday atmosphere. Set in the traditional Chinese festive colours – red and gold - Mickey’s Party Express is a celebration you won’t want to miss.
Hong Kong Disneyland is also pleased to have drawn the support from 20 dance students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts who will be joining in this very special performance. All student performers have gone through an audition process as well as training by a seasoned Disney choreographer. They will be featured during the parade wearing colorful Disney costumes.
Laurie Jordan, Vice President, Entertainment, Hong Kong Disneyland, said, “Hong Kong Disneyland is delighted to be participating for the fourth time in this spectacular Chinese New Year event. This is a special time when families and friends come together to welcome the New Year and as part of Hong Kong’s community we are honored to be a part of these festivities.”
Adding to the excitement, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale will join the celebration to meet and greet the audience extending their best wishes for the New Year.
About Hong Kong Disneyland
The Hong Kong Disneyland project was announced in November 1999 as a venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government. With the completion of reclamation for Hong Kong Disneyland
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Phase I by the Hong Kong SAR Government, Disney began construction in January 2003 with the project scheduled to open in late 2005/ early 2006. The opening day program for Hong Kong Disneyland will include a Disneyland-style 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.
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