Mickey Sunday, September 4, 2005  
  Press Release
 



Dressed in a Cinderella costume, Ariana Ho, age 5, of Hong Kong, poses as her father, Andy, takes a picture in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle Saturday, Sept. 4, 2005 at Hong Kong Disneyland Park. They were among thousands of guests at the new theme park today for the resort's first
Raymond Or, JP, Chairman of the Executive Community of the Community Chest Hong Kong (left of center) and Don Robinson, Hong Kong Disneyland Group Managing Director (right of centre), flank Mickey Mouse (center) during a check presentation Hong Kong Disneyland made Saturday, Sept. 4, 2005, of more than HK$9.7 million to the Hong Kong Community Chest charity. The event was the first dedicated 'Charity Day' at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Hong Kong Disneyland Park opened its gates and enabled the public to preview the park just eight days before grand opening. Tickets to the special preview sold out in three hours. Hong Kong Disneyland opens Sept. 12, 2005. Also pictured: Mr Peter H Pang, Hong Kong Disneyland Charity Day Organising Committee Chairman (Right of Don Robinson) Mr Wilfred Ng, MH Hong Kong Disneyland Charity Day Organising Committee Co-Chairman (Left of Raymond Or) Dato' S J Wong, Hong Kong Disneyland Charity Day Organising Committee Co-Chairman (Left of Wilfred Ng)
Phoebe Leung (left) and Clarus Leung (right) pick up theme park tickets at the new Hong Kong Disneyland 'AutoMagic' ticket machines near the park entrance on Sept. 4, 2005. Today was the first day guests could pick up tickets with the new machines, which allow guests to purchase online at hongkongdisneyland.com and pick them up at the AutoMagic kiosk. The Leungs were among thousands of guests at the new theme park today for the resort's first 'Charity Day.' Hong Kong Disneyland opened its gates and enabled the public to preview the park just eight days before grand opening with ticket proceeds benefiting the Community Chest, a Hong Kong charity. More than HK$9.7 million were raised and tickets sold out in three hours. Hong Kong Disneyland opens Sept. 12, 2005.

Hong Kong Disneyland and Guests Raise HK$9.7 Million on Charity Day - Eight Days Before the Grand Opening

(HONG KONG, September 4, 2005) - Hong Kong Disneyland spread a little extra magic today as it opened its gates in support of its first dedicated Charity Day, enabling the public to preview the park just eight days before the grand opening on September 12.

Welcoming thousands of guests, Hong Kong Disneyland sprung to life in whirl of color and laughter as the young and the young-at-heart experienced the magic for the first time, while supporting one of the city's most worthy charitable organizations - the Community Chest. A grand total of HK$9.7 million was raised from ticket proceeds.

To mark the occasion, senior Hong Kong Disneyland executives and representatives from the Community Chest joined guests at a special Disney character breakfast at the Plaza Inn before participating in a presentation ceremony in the Town Square.

Officiating at the ceremony, Hong Kong Disneyland Group Managing Director, Don Robinson, affirmed the park's commitment to supporting the local community.

"The Hong Kong Disneyland Charity Day provides an ideal opportunity for our company to give back to the community that has so warmly welcomed the park to its new home here in Hong Kong," said Robinson.

"The generosity of the people of Hong Kong is evident here today as the park is at full capacity, and on behalf of everyone who supported this initiative, I am delighted to present this donation of over HK$9.7 million to the city's largest charity organization, the Community Chest. I am sure that the money raised from our ticket proceeds will be put to excellent use."

The Walt Disney Company has a long and acknowledged history of community spirit in each of the Disneyland park cities and this tradition now continues in Hong Kong. Tickets to the Hong Kong Disneyland Charity Day sold out on June 28, 2005 within three hours.

"The Community Chest has been in discussion with Hong Kong Disneyland since the announcement of the project in 1999. Finally, we are able to contribute to the community together," said Raymond Or, JP, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Community Chest Hong Kong.

"The Community Chest would like to express our gratitude for the unparalleled support from Hong Kong Disneyland, CityLine and everyone visiting the Park today."

As the city's largest charitable organization, the Hong Kong Community Chest works with an umbrella of 142 agencies that are the beneficiaries of its generosity and assistance.

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About Hong Kong Disneyland
The Hong Kong Disneyland project was announced in 1999 as a venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government. With the completion of reclamation for Hong Kong Disneyland Phase I by the Hong Kong SAR Government, theme park and resort construction began in January 2003, with the project now scheduled to open on 12th September, 2005. At opening day, Hong Kong Disneyland will comprise a theme park and two Disney-themed hotels.

The Phase I build-out includes a projected 10 million annual visitor Disneyland-style theme park, 2,100 hotel rooms, and an area for retail, dining and entertainment. The project is estimated to create 18,000 new jobs at opening (both Disney and other employment) growing to 36,000 once the first park reaches build-out. The Hong Kong SAR Government estimated that the first phase of the project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong over a 40-year period.

To book a magical vacation at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Hollywood Hotel, please contact:
Hong Kong Disneyland Reservation Center
Telephone: 852-1830-830
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm (Hong Kong time), 7-days a week

Guests can also purchase park tickets online or from Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express at MTR Hong Kong Station, Tung Chung Line Concourse.

About Community Chest
Since its inception in 1968, The Community Chest has devoted all its efforts in improving the standard of social services in Hong Kong. Together with 143 member social welfare agencies and their 2,262 service centres, the Chest provide timely assistance to over 1,000,000 needy including the elderly, the mentally and physically impaired, children, youth and families at risk, the ex-mentally ill, ex-offenders, the terminally ill, and many others.

With its administrative cost subsidized by the annual grant from The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Chest is one of the few fund-raising bodies in the world that boasts 100% allocation of funds without any deductions.

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