A leading Asia theme park has closed for the third time as safety issues grow due to a rise in COVID 19 cases.
Officials at Hong Kong Disneyland decided to temporality close the park with immediate affect on December 2.
The park was originally closed late January 2020 due to growing COVID 19 concerns, before reopening in June and shutting again just short of a month later in July. The resort has been welcome visitors again since September 2020.
Though no sudden closure is ideal, turning the lights out at Hong Kong Disneyland has come at an ultra-frustrating time. Only a few weeks ago (November 22) the enchanted theme park unveiled its highly-anticipated Castle of Magical Dreams centrepiece to the public, the first Disney castle to pay tribute to all 12 magnificent Disney princesses.
The transformed Castle of Magical Dreams is a a new focal point of Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is also celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2020, with a series of spectacular events having to be minimised or cancelled due to the limitations of the pandemic.
Video showcases celebrations of Hong Kong Disneyland’s 15th year anniversary, which took place just a few weeks ago
A statement from the park read: “As required by the government and in line with preventive efforts taking place across Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland park will temporarily close beginning December 2.
“We are in close contact with health authorities and the government about the situation and will announce a reopening date once they determine it is advisable.”
The Hong Kong resort isn’t the only Disney park currently struggling through the impacts of the pandemic. Disneyland Paris is currently closed until February 2021 – and worse, Disneyland California has yet to be given the greenlight to reopen since closing for the first time in March 2020.
Despite tackling pandemic concerns, the future does look bright for Hong Kong Disneyland. On December 27, Michael Moriarty takes over as the park’s Managing Director. Frozen and Marvel-themed attractions are also in the pipeline as part of a future expansion.
Elsewhere, Avantis Systems has launched the world’s first virtual theme park.
