Word: kong
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From the era of gunboat diplomacy to today's scan-and-go turnstiles, Hong Kong has always offered foreigners the most convenient passage to the Chinese mainland. Since Hong Kong's return to China from Britain in 1997, entry to the mainland has become even easier and faster-visas are processed with great speed and little hassle, making entry points into Shenzhen, the booming megalopolis adjacent to Hong Kong, among the busiest in the world. But all this has been upset in recent weeks: the Chinese government has mysteriously stopped issuing multiple-entry visas-an essential tool for Hong Kong...
...feature of all Disneyland parks except Hong Kong - until now - the "Small World" ride debuted at the 1964 World's Fair in New York. And it exemplified the optimistic post-World War II attitude of inclusivity and global understanding that drove the creation of such institutions as the United Nations, although from the perspective of a victorious and magnanimous industrialized West. Having spent many hours on the ride in my California youth, I couldn't help but wonder how Disney would translate the message of "Small World" in an era so profoundly different - particularly at a theme park whose desired...
...company's answer to the challenge of updating and translating "It's a Small World" appears to lie in improved special effects and cross-promotional branding. As the Hong Kong ride's water propulsion system nudged our craft past scenes familiar from my childhood - the Taj Mahal, the rainforest, the singing mermaids - it became clear that the basic concept and signature, blocky 1960s motifs of Disney artist Mary Blair had been retained. The Hong Kong sets look more vibrant thanks to lighting techniques, while a more sophisticated sound system belts out "it's a world of hopes...
...Remaining competitive in an increasingly crowded global entertainment market challenges Disney to find the right balance between the formulaic familiar and the innovative, and thus far that blend proved elusive in Hong Kong -the gateway to a vast number of Asian visitors whose exposure to Disney storylines is lower. Last year's annual report noted that revenue growth at the resort in Paris was offset by Hong Kong's low attendance. Management hopes that "Small World" will help turn things around, but that may be a tall order, even for over 2,000 pounds of glitter and 241 dolls...
...Still, to anyone familiar with the Disneyland experience elsewhere, the Hong Kong facility has its advantages: In Tomorrowland, the wait-time to get onto the park's single thrill ride, Space Mountain, hovered at around five minutes - a kid's fantasy, even if that's a company's nightmare. Kyle Smith, a casino performer in the nearby gambling mecca of Macau, waits for his friends near the ride's entrance. "I've been away from the States, so having this familiar place is nice," says the 24-year-old, visiting for the third time in less than a year...