Frozen a solid crowd pleaser

Eunice Lam

Tourists poured into Hong Kong Disneyland to visit the newly opened World of Frozen theme park yesterday.

Officiating the World of Frozen's opening ceremony, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the new theme park can attract more tourists to Disneyland and the SAR.

He said he was thrilled to witness the park's seven years of construction, saying: "The fantasy is now a reality."

"I am confident that the opening of the World of Frozen is a defining moment to elevate Hong Kong Disneyland to a whole new level, and to attract more tourists to embark on journeys to Hong Kong," he said.

"Indeed, a side trip to Arendelle Harbour is a must for Disney fans.

"It may well join our famous Victoria Harbour on the long and exciting bucket list of must-dos."

Michael Moriarty, the park's managing director, said the new cinematic land would be a huge asset in reviving tourism.

"Here we are enjoying an accelerated recovery here in Hong Kong Disneyland. When you look again at the power of this franchise, and the brain here at the World of Frozen, it's the crown jewel of Hong Kong Disneyland right now," he said.

Inspired by a Norwegian village, the new World of Frozen theme land is a recreation of the Kingdom of Arendelle - the home for Elsa and Anna - from the Walt Disney Animation Studios' Frozen film series.

Hundreds of visitors were waiting outside the Frozen land before it officially opened its doors at 11am yesterday, with some wearing Elsa's and Anna's costumes.

A foreign tourist, Robert who lives in Beijing, brought his family of three to the park.

"We are super excited! We were at the front of the line, right when the park opened up. We were there, just waving our flags," he said.

Another visitor, a girl named Poppy, said she could not wait to try out the rides.

"It was so amazing coming into the park at such an amazing time and seeing everybody," she said.

The new theme park features three new attractions: a roller coaster ride called Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs, the Frozen Ever After boat ride and the interactive theater, Playhouse in the Woods.

The village of Arendelle features landmarks that appeared in the films, such as the North Mountain, Elsa's Ice Palace and the Clock Tower, including a restaurant and souvenir stalls.

Similar to the storyline of World of Frozen, visitors were celebrating Summer Snow Day, which commemorates the day that Anna saved her sister Elsa and the kingdom with an act of true love.