Disney Park reports $300 million in losses

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The Walt Disney Company reported more than $7 billion in theme park revenue for the fourth quarter of 2021, but one Disney Park isn’t making money at all.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort reported a loss of HK $2.4 billion, or almost $307 million USD, for its last financial year, bringing the Disney Park‘s number of years in a row with no profit to seven.

Per the South China Morning Post, “the results for the financial year ending on September 30, 2021, revealed by the company on Monday, were 12% lower than the HK $2.66 billion shortfall recorded for the preceding 12 months.”

On January 6 of this year, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort closed for the fourth time since the coronavirus pandemic began in early 2020. Since that time, the Disney Park has extended its closure several times as park management continually reevaluates the risks associated with the COVID-19 virus. Unlike Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has failed to remain open to Guests since its initial reopening.

According to reports from Hong Kong Disneyland Resort management, the park, which is located in Penny’s Bay on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, was not in operation for approximately 40% of the calendar days over the last financial year because of the government requirements regarding COVID-19 procedures and protocol.

hong kong disneyland

Though the park saw a significant loss in revenue because of a low number of operating days, its total attendance did see a rebound of 64% to 2.8 million Guests year on year, according to the South China Morning Post. The majority of those visitors were Hong Kong residents.

Revenue loss at Hong Kong Disneyland was not only due to the low number of park operating days during which Guests could visit the park, but also because the country saw a “near-absence” of tourism, which usually accounts for at least a part of the Disney Park‘s revenue.

Hong Kong Disney

Hong Kong Disneyland remains closed and is poised to keep its gates locked until at least April 20. However, that date could be extended if it is determined that the risk of spreading COVID-19 is too great with the park open.

Another Disney Park Is Closing Due to COVID

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Two years ago, the world was forced to shut down as we battled the COVID-19 pandemic. Disney theme parks across the globe were forced to shut down for months. In the time since, we have seen surges and drops, and now have a vaccine that is widely available. Many countries are now seeing steady declines in COVID positivity rates and hospitalizations as vaccination rates also go up. Unfortunately, one country is seeing a massive spike in cases — China. The government is reporting case numbers not seen since the virus was first reported in Wuhan.

It is due to this sharp spike, Shanghai Disney has announced that it will be closing its gates beginning March 21. Shanghai Disney released a public statement, saying:

Due to the current pandemic situation, Shanghai Disney Resort, including Shaghai Disneyland, Disneytown and Wishing Star Park will be temporarily closed from Monday, March 21, 2022. We will continue to monitor the pandemic situation and consult local authorities, and will notify Guests as soon as we have a confirmed date to resume operations. 

We apologize for the inconvenience and will provide refund or exchange for all Guests impacted during this period.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Shanghai Disney closing

This is only the second time during the pandemic that Shanghai Disneyland has been forced to shut down. Back when the pandemic first broke out, the Resort was closed from January 2020 until May 2020. It has been open since then, as China worked diligently to get the virus under control. Shanghai Disney’s closure follows the closure of Disney’s other Park in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Disneyland has been closed since January and keeps pushing back its reopening date.

According to reports, Shanghai has closed all of its schools and put mandatory testing in place for its residents. The outbreak has seen the city seal off residential compounds for at least 48 hours. On Saturday, March 19, mainland China reported nearly 2,000 cases. It also reported the country’s first death from COVID in more than a year.

Disney Park Completely Closing For at Least Two Weeks

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has announced today that it will be closing its doors to all Guests beginning 7 January 2022. The move comes amid a rise in COVID-19 infections across the area with the Disney Park temporarily closing for at least two weeks.

Located near Penney’s Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort — home to Hong Kong Disneyland Park and hotels like Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Hollywood Hotel, and Disney Explorers Lodge — the Disney Park was the second expansion into Asia after Tokyo Disney Resort opened many years earlier. Hong Kong Disneyland Park was built after Walt Disney’s first theme park location, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and features Disney characters, popular rides, and fireworks celebrations. Now, the popular theme park destination will shut down operations for an extended period.

Per Yahoo!:HONG KONG, Jan 5 (Reuters) – Walt Disney Co will shut down its Hong Kong Disneyland park from Jan. 7 to Jan. 20 as coronavirus cases rise in the city, the company said on Wednesday.

Hong Kong’s government announced tightened restrictions on Wednesday including a ban on some incoming flights as authorities feared a fifth wave of infections.

The closure announcement was also shared by DLP Report (@DLPReport) on Twitter. They said:Due to a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, Hong Kong Disneyland will be closing temporarily on January 7, 2022 for 14 days.

While the news currently states the Disney Resort will be closed for 14 days, the current Hong Kong Disneyland Park calendar has blacked out all forthcoming dates, suggesting that the Disney vacation spot will only reopen as and when it is deemed safe to do so.

This extended closure comes just weeks after the Disney Park saw an abrupt shutdown when government officials ordered those visiting, or working at the Park as Cast Members, to take an antigen test upon exit leaving Guests backed up in lines for hours. This one-day closure stretched into multiple days but Hong Kong Disneyland Resort was able to reopen shortly after.

Disney Water Park Shuts Down 1 Day After Reopening

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

When the temperatures in Orlando drop below a certain temperature, the desire to go to a water park is no longer as strong as it once was.

singapore sal's at typhoon lagoon

Just yesterday, Disney and Guests welcomed back Typhoon Lagoon with open arms as the water park finally reopened after almost two years of closure. For so long, Blizzard Beach has been the only option for Guests who wanted to jet down a water slide, but now, the waves of Typhoon Lagoon are back in action!

For a long while, the water park looked untouched, drained, desolate, and abandoned. There was no work being done, all water was gone, and it was clear that a refurbishment was needed. Luckily, we soon saw scaffolding in place with active work being done. This reassured Guests that Typhoon Lagoon would eventually return! Now, with Blizzard Beach closed for its annual refurbishment, Typhoon Lagoon is the only option available for Guests at the moment.

typhoon lagoon

That being said, with temperatures dipping to 52 degrees today with a high of 64, Typhoon Lagoon will remain closed. Since the water park just reopened yesterday, it is a little unfortunate to see it shut down once again.

When the water park reopened, Disney noted:

The 50th anniversary magic continues at Walt Disney World Resort as Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park prepares to reopen Jan. 2, 2022. Offering tropical family fun for all ages, the park’s reopening will mark the return of favorite attractions and the debut of new menu items and other commemorative culinary features.

Known for its immersive storytelling, thrilling water attractions and family fun, the Typhoon Lagoon tells the fabled tale of a rogue storm and its ensuing tidal wave that wreaked havoc on a formerly pristine waterside paradise. From topsy-turvy architecture and storm-strewn nautical gear to the stranded shrimping ship, Miss Tilly, impaled upon the summit of Mount Mayday, each detail brings the legend to life for guests in different ways.

Typhoon Lagoon

Disney Park closes today after authorities discover Guest tested positive for COVID-19

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has closed its gates today following the discovery by authorities that a Guest who visited the park over the weekend was infected with COVID-19.

The Disney Resort, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company and the local government spoke about the decision to close the park, saying the choice was “an abundance of caution.”

A visitor who recently arrived in Hong Kong from Indonesia had completed her mandatory 21-day quarantine, and following the completion of the quarantine, she tested positive for the virus. However, authorities say she has a “low viral load,” which is clinical-speak for “a low amount of the virus in her body.” This lead authorities to believe the young Indonesian woman is a repositive case, meaning she likely had the virus and recovered, but still tested positive.

She visited the park on Sunday.

Hong Kong Disneyland to Reopen on Friday – The Hollywood Reporter

According to the Hong Kong Disneyland website, anyone who was present in the park between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 14 is required by the government to be tested for the virus:“Hong Kong Disneyland Park Temporary Closure on Nov 17 (Wed)

In an abundance of caution, Hong Kong Disneyland Park will be closed on Nov 17 (Wed) to ensure relevant Cast Members can complete the test sooner. Guests who planned to visit the park on Nov 17 are advised to visit on another day.

The government issued a compulsory testing notice requiring any persons who were present at the park at any time during the period from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Nov 14 (Sun) to undergo compulsory testing for COVID-19 on or before Nov 18 (Thu).”

The order for compulsory testing applies to both Guests and Cast Members who were in the park on Sunday, and testing must be completed by Thursday, November 18.