Hong Kong Disneyland Fireworks

This is the fireworks show from Saturday.

Everyone loves to hate Hong Kong Disneyland. The media reviles the park and serves it up as tabloid fodder, reveling in an orgy of cruel delight with every single hiring misstep and every missed attendance goal. Local citizens, with whom my conversations have yielded much anecdotal evidence, also have voiced their displeasure, mostly over the park's size - too small - and its demographics - too many mainlanders. So it was with these pejorative impressions, this cacophony of complaints simmering in my imagination, that I passed warily through the gates of the Magic Kingdom, in cautious expectation of unfulfilled promises and inexorable bores. What I got, however, to my pleasant surprise and veritable enjoyment, was an afternoon and evening spent in the company of great friends amidst all sorts of amusements, an outing that easily summited any acclivity of entertainment previously established in my mind.

There were rides, lots of them, on which my friends and I spent much time frolicking like little children in whose hands are new toys. We actually spent more time on the rides than on the lines to board them, which surprised me, and added to the allure of the place. Every attraction, whether it was Space Mountain or Small World, whether it was the crazy tea cups or Pooh's dyslexic, whole-language reading adventure, was accessible without having to spend an inordinate amount of time waiting, and that's a good thing. We spent about one-minute in line for my favorite ride, Buzz Light Year's space voyage - a real-life first-person shooter. In general, I think can queue for ten minutes in order to go on a two-minute ride, any day, no problem.

Not only were the rides, and their queues impressive; the shows, too, were of such outstanding quality that our merry band contrived meticulously to attend them, twice even. Our friend lady B, whose initial plan we had followed to come to Disney and by whose handiwork we were granted free admittance, performed marvelously at the Golden Mickeys, a captivating drama involving physical feats of daring, risky dancing, plenty of singing and of course many of Walt's freaky, life-sized animals. From the audience, we cheered lustily for our friend and her fellow performers who went through a medley of Disney's greatest soundtracks and scenes. Other seated-performances that we attended, including the Stitch game and the 4D symphony orchestra, moreover delivered hilarity and sensory thrills. The High School Musical outdoor rally, my favorite, was an engrossing confluence of infectious beats, rhythmic dancing and filipino goodwill. Indeed, there was not a single misfire in all of the super live-action and animated spectacles we viewed. Engrossed audiences laughed, clapped and cheered wildly.

Who can forget the evening's main events, the night parade and the fireworks? So desperately did we desire prime seating that we scouted and camped our positions as though settlers rushing through a frontier, assiduously scanning and then demarcating our territory. We would not be denied a gorgeous view of the evening's entertainment. And when it came time for the performances, that the shows did touch the ethereal heights of our lofty expectations only added to ecstasy of being like a child, in awe and wonder, of the world around us. The Disney magic verily cast its spell on us, suspending our maturity for the welcomed digestion of a deep palette of colors set to slick choreography. Neither the Halloween parade (and the accompanying ghoulish, nighttime frights in Adventureland) nor the fireworks extravaganza should be missed.

Finally, as much as firsthand experience has proven its worth in debunking deplorable myths and conjectures about Hong Kong Disneyland (e.g. the park is too small; there are too many mainlanders), much of the myth-shattering and debunkment in my own received opinion came from eloquent discourse with past and present Disney cast members, from whom I learned about the pricing structure of Disney merchandise and foods - and why both seem to be presumptuously expensive - and whose words, combined with my own experience in the park, confirm the notion that Disney works hard to adjust its brand for cultural differences, though in the case of Hong Kong, the company still has much to demonstrate before a critical local audience.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• hk
• hong
• kong
• disneyland
• china
• chinese
• theme
• amusement
• park
• disney
• mickey
• mouse
• magic
• kingdom
• fireworks
• fire
• works
• show
• performance

[winningedge]

yeah went there about 3 days ago. it really opened my eyes into a whole new world. damn it was the best part of my hong kong tour! encore presentation! one of those priceless happiness that will make you scream like a little girl.

[mckln]

Yeah, HK Disneyland's firework show is good!

[iamkim09]

have you ever rode the space mountain? i have, and i'm only 9 1/2 that time! it wasn't scary, i didn't even scream.

[mckln]

I've been on Space Mountain; and though not very scary, it is quite exciting!

[crate44]

The LA Disneyland is full of Asians.. I wonder if the hong kong Disneyland is full of white people...

[mckln]

Nope, just lots, and lots of Chinese people!

[alex1231990]

HK Disneyland's castle was build like this to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. You've insulted the idea of Disney!

[shannonsp2]

I just came back from there afew days ago! I went with my classmates and my girlfriend - Man, just watching this video and haring the song again makes me want to relive that moment again. I hope I'll be able to go there again in afew years with my family and gf.

[butterflyrockr]

I <3 this. I've seen the fireworks, but it's so magical to watch it again. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!

[flora2378]

and this december im not going to stay disneyland im going to stay at hyatt

[flora2378]

i also bought cotton candy!! oh and my hotel is hollywood hotel

[indri010488]

coolll!!!!! I wish I could be there someday!!!:)

[LenCastagnier]

this vid is from 2008.. i just went there 2 days ago.. and the songs are still the same but the fireworks pattern may have altered a bit.. but damn!!

THOSE SONGS have been playing for soo long now.. every nights too :3

[LenCastagnier]

love Hong Kong's disneyland's songs played when the fireworks bursting.. i think its maybe better than other disneylands

[AiraDane08]

me and my family will be there soon... but i wish there would be no excuses for us. not to continue our hongkong tour... this july 2 2011.... i'm very excited so i'm surfing anyof the features that i will see. if i will see it personal....

[AdamEfimoff]

@Miguelz82 its boring really bad and boring

[asteriskTVee]

aww. i really miss disneyland. i want to be there again!