Theme park news update: Disney in China

October 18, 2013, 3:58 PM · A few weeks ago, we brought you a construction update with photos from Shanghai Disneyland. This week, Disney announced that it's begun vertical construction on the site, with the placement of the first steel beams for park buildings. Disney's still expecting to complete the new theme park by late 2015.

Here's a video:

Over in Hong Kong, Disney's promoting Hong Kong Disneyland's annual Haunted Halloween. This isn't a not-so-scary Halloween trick-or-treating party, as US fans have seen at the Magic Kingdom and California's Disneyland. Take a look at Chernabog from Fantasia, who's taken over the hub in front of Hong Kong's castle.

Haunted Halloween at Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland is promoting a "Scream No More Challenge", with checkpoints throughout the park where visitors are challenged not to scream. Many of the checkpoints are regular park attractions: Mystic Manor, Big Grizzly Mountain, Toy Story Land's RC Racer and Parachute Drop, and the Ghost Galaxy overlay of Space Mountain that originated at California's Disneyland. But four of the checkpoints might legitimately be considered Disney Halloween "scarezones": Graves Academy, Sideshow Carnival Extraordinaire, Revenge of the Headless Horseman, and Babyhead (Andy's Mutant Toy).

Sideshow Carnival Extraordinaire

Wow. Wouldn't "Haunted Halloween" make a great companion event at California Adventure for Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland? Or a Hollywood Studios companion to the Magic Kingdom's Not-So-Scary event? What do you think?

Replies (6)

October 18, 2013 at 4:10 PM · I could see it working at DHS. It does have the thrill rides to do it.
October 18, 2013 at 5:23 PM · So Disneyland Shanghai (a whole new theme park) is going to open in 2015, but Avatar (just a land) will open in 2017! Crazy.
October 19, 2013 at 3:06 PM · Correction: The Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy overlay started first at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2007. Two years later it was brought to Disneyland Park in Anaheim.
October 20, 2013 at 11:26 AM · with so many parks they could have a less scary one like they do at one and a bit more scary at another. But not the typical gore you see now at your average park or halloween haunted house.
October 21, 2013 at 12:34 PM · I wouldn't add anything to DHS until they fix the entrance and parking. Wasn't the Villain's Night disaster proof enough that they need to fix some things before they even consider adding anything new.
October 21, 2013 at 1:07 PM · I don't mean to be blunt, but "Scream no More" has to be one of the dumbest ideas ever. Patrons are "challenged not to scream"? Huh??
However the decorations look great. Love that Chernabog in the hub.

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