HK Disneyland to adjust admissions after ticket row

(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-02 10:29

Hong Kong Disneyland announced Wednesday it has adjusted its admission system to prevent chaos that erupted during the Chinese New Year holiday when hundreds of visitors tried to storm the park after being denied entry.

Hundreds of tourists wait outside the iron gate in front of Hong Kong Disneyland February 2, 2006. Hundreds of tourists holding tickets gathered outside the theme park demanding for entry on Thursday after they were turned away as the theme park was full. [Reuters]

The adjustment involves setting aside 11 extra days -- around Easter and China's Labor Day holidays -- when only visitors holding date-specific tickets can enter the park, Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest said during a telephone conference call.

The newly designated "special days" run from April 14-21 and May 4-6. The decision came following consultations with the tickets' wholesalers and travel industry representatives, Disney said.

Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened in September, now sells three types of tickets: "regular days," "peak days" and "special days." The first two types are valid for six months but do not guarantee entry on any given day, while only the third type is date-specific tickets for holidays when the greatest number of visitors is expected.

During the Chinese New Year in late January, the Hong Kong Disneyland shut its gates after hundreds of mainland Chinese and Taiwanese ticket-holders tried to force their way in after being turned away as the park was already full. Some clambered over the park's iron gate.

The embarrassing incident prompted a public apology from Ernest, who promised to improve the admission system. Hong Kong's leader Donald Tsang also publicly criticized the company.

On Wednesday, the executive said he believes the new measure will help prevent such incidents from occurring in future.

"We do not want to close the gate again," Ernest said. "That is not an experience we want to repeat."

"We do believe that with these new special date, it really adds a sense of order and a lot more predictability when it comes to numbers of our guests on any particular day," he said.

Earlier this week, Disney said it planned to add three new attractions to the theme park as part of its expansion plan.

The additions are the Autopia electric car ride, Stitch Encounter, an interactive theater show, and UFO Zone, made up of water-squirting robot, rocket ship and flying saucer.

The three attractions, located in the Tomorrowland section of the park, will be open to the public this summer.

Ernest said July and August are already designated as peak months -- when ticket prices are 19 percent higher -- and the company has no immediate plan to set aside "special days" during those months.

Hong Kong Disneyland is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the Hong Kong government, which shouldered the bulk of the construction fee.