Disney castle to reopen gates

Hong Kong Disneyland's iconic castle will reopen on November 21 to kick-start its 15th anniversary celebration.

The castle - originally the home of Sleeping Beauty - was shut down in early 2018 and has been transformed into the Castle of Magical Dreams after two years of renovation.

Instead of the dramatic fireworks, the castle's design is inspired by 13 stories of beloved Disney princesses and queens - Tiana, Aurora, Ariel, Mulan, Jasmine, Snow White, Moana, Cinderella, Merida, Pocahontas, Belle, Rapunzel, Anna and Elsa - and pays tribute to them for pursuing their dreams.

Visitors will be able to recognize the individual elements inspired by their favorite Disney princess through the interpretation of colors, icons, patterns and cultural features, with "uniquely designed towers, turrets and spires dedicated to their stories."

The castle also shows a sense of diversity, inclusion and unity.

It is the first time in Disney history that an existing castle in the theme park has undergone such a grand transformation.

The old 23-meter-tall Sleeping Beauty Castle was one of the shortest Disney castles, along with the Sleeping Beauty Castle at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.

The height of the new castle has not been revealed but a spokeswoman of the theme park told The Standard: "It will be much higher than the old one."

The theme park said the reimagined castle will not only be "a living centerpiece of Hong Kong Disneyland, but it will also act as a shining beacon of courage, hope and possibility to all guests."

Visitors will learn about the castle's transformation story at the "Building a Dream: The Magic Behind a Disney Castle" exhibition, from concept and design development to the innovative building techniques.

The exhibition will also present Disney princesses' stories in partnership with Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.

A special "Glimpse into the Magic" tour of the castle will also be launched on November 21 where visitors will be able to explore the castle, guided by an audio narration from local actress Karena Lam Ka-yan.

Earlier, the park had asked visitors, cast members, community partners and Disney friends like Mickey Mouse to write their dreams and wishes on "magical dream cards." Those cards were put into a treasure chest and placed at the top of the tallest tower in the castle, symbolizing the rebirth of the castle through the power of everyone's aspirations and ensuring that the heart of the resort will always be filled with hopes and dreams.

From today to November 30, citizens with overdue Magic Access annual passes can rejoin the membership with a 15 percent discount, in addition to one complimentary food and beverage item and one merchandise product.

The theme park will also give out limited edition 15th anniversary-themed buttons to guests from November 21.

Disney fans had mixed reactions.

"I like the new castle, and prefer the new one to the old one," said So after viewing the pictures. "The new castle looks more lively and dreamy compared to the old one, and it looks more colorful and eye-catching.

"I'd love to go and see the new castle. It'll look really pretty to take photos in front of, but I'm afraid that it will be crowded and I want to avoid crowded places due to the pandemic," she said.

Angie said she was not a fan of the new castle. "The original Sleeping Beauty Castle is one of the classics of Disneyland, alongside Cinderella Castle.

"I feel like they could have changed the structural designs without changing the color scheme, to keep it somewhat relevant to the classic.

"Instead, now we have this eyesore of a centerpiece that looks all over the place.

"I'm excited to visit the park again, but not for the sake of seeing the castle. Perhaps I'll learn to appreciate the new castle, but I'll always love the old one."