LP Lotion: Hong Kong Disneyland - Tomorrowland
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Tomorrowland has always seemed cursed by imagineers. The land has been plagued with failed attractions, design flaws and themes that appear outdated the second they are unveiled. Disneyland continues to suffer from the TL’98 troubles. Magic Kingdom’s vision of the future is often criticised by enthusiasts. Tokyo’s version appears stuck in the 1970’s. Only Paris’ Victorian-retro Discoveryland continues to impress guests. Hence the executive producer for that land Tim Delaney was tapped to create this latest incarnation of Tomorrowland.

Instead of trying to pick a point in time (whether the past, present or future) this Tomorrowland is all about kinetic movement and a playful sense of adventure. It is definitely set on another planet but guests will not know which planet or even where it is situated. This vision could be anywhere.

The entrance to the land is marked by a giant sign complete with a stepped fountain filled with fiber-optic lights. The vista ahead reveals virtually all of the land. On either side are restaurants; Starliner Diner filled with destination posters and rocket ships and the Comet Café an outdoor fast food facility. Both feature extenuated waveforms on the roofs that extend towards Main Street USA on the Diner side.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters becomes the fourth version of this Omnimover attraction to debut (and the Parisian version should be open in April 2006 to complete the set). The store features a giant green alien spaceship (complete with three eyes) and the centrepiece is the Build-Your-Own Mister Potato Head that is themed to Buzz Lightyear (this is an exclusive product for HKDL developed by Hasbro). The show building also provides space for another attraction to open in 2006.

Next door Hong Kong Disneyland’s all-electric Autopia will debut in July 2006. A teaser car has been placed alongside the attraction sign to tempt guests to return for its opening. In addition the overpass for the vehicles enters the land at this point and is already complete. Once opened guests will be able to see the elevated cars throughout the land. Beneath the overpass will be the UFO Zone an interactive water play area that will also open next year. The area will feature crash-landed spaceships and fountains.

The dominant building on the Hong Kong Disneyland skyline is undoubtedly the park’s only coaster Space Mountain. The familiar white spires reach to the skies although rockwork has been placed around the base to give the impression that this structure has arisen from the ground. The ride system is identical to Disneyland’s new version (albeit with new purple vehicles). In addition the load station is at ground level with a series of planets suspended from the ceiling and the first lift sequence is different (fiber optic lights and lenticular prisms give the impression of depth to space). Unfortunately these elements could not be photographed last week. The ride also features many more interior special effects such as black holes, nebular rings (very cool) and meteors. The ride exits through the Space Traders store (which was closed for stocking last week).

Finally the Orbitron sits at the center of the land with its shiny planets and wacky flying saucers that are so reminiscent of those original vehicles that lasted such a short time at the Anaheim park.

In our third update from Penny’s Bay we will visit the most magical land of all Fantasyland.

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