LP Lotion: Hong Kong Disneyland - Hollywood Hotel, Part 1
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Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will officially open on 12 September 2005 with two hotels; the opulent flagship 600-room Hong Kong Disneyland hotel and the moderate 400 room Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. Both have tremendous views of the South China Sea and the Hong Kong Disneyland park. This update shows LP readers the interiors of Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. The gardens are so expansive that they require their own update.

Lindsay and I were taken on extensive tours of both hotels earlier in August. Unfortunately the majority of the landscaping at the front of the hotel was not in place and therefore it was not possible to provide any extensive shots from the front of the hotel. A future update in September will expand on our current coverage.

Disney’s Hollywood Hotel is based on the Disney Ambassador Hotel at Tokyo Disney Resort. However the alterations are substantial. The Art Deco inspiration remains but the elegance of the Roarin’ Twenties and Hollywood as it began to shine are portrayed throughout the hotel. The lobby has been reduced in size from the Ambassador and merely consists of the check-in desks and a series of sofas. The mural behind the desks depicts modern-day Hollywood. Disney enthusiasts will notice landmarks such as Michael Graves’ Team Disney Burbank building, the Robert A.M. Stern-designed Animation building and the restored El Capitan on Hollywood Boulevard (two of these three are also depicted in the gardens to the hotel).

Studio Lounge is the only bar facility at the hotel and features panoramic views of the gardens on the lobby level. Directly opposite is Chef Mickey’s a playful buffet service restaurant. The restaurant has taken the best elements from each of the three existing Mickey-inspired facilities (Chef Mickey’s at Disney Ambassador in Tokyo, Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World and Café Mickey at Disney Village in Paris). The tilework, furniture and tableware are direct lifts from Paris but the costumes and wall artwork is unique to Hong Kong. The food also derives significant inspiration from the Mouse himself.

Under one of the hotel wings the Hollywood and Dine fast-food location has been added to Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. Features include a traditional movie theatre marquee and numerous posters of classic Disney movies. Interestingly the seating area also displays posters from California (much like posters that were for sale at Disney’s California Adventure park). Next door Malibu Toys will debut although it was still under wraps earlier this month.

The main store Celebrity Gifts is immediately adjacent to the lobby. The centrepiece features a distinctive angry Donald. Again Art Deco flourishes can be found throughout many of which are reminiscent of the Empire State Building in New York City.

The hotel consists of the same size rooms throughout with different configurations dependent on the view and number of beds required. The aquamarine color scheme is used throughout and there are numerous Mickey motifs in the furnishings. The toiletries are unique to Hong Kong Disneyland. The giant Mickey & Minnie black and white portraits are in every room.

Beginning shortly LaughingPlace Store will begin pre-selling merchandise from Hong Kong Disneyland and the hotels as part of the store’s Park Shopping Service. Product will continue to be added including Grand Opening merchandise as depicted in this photo-essay.

In our next update we will take LP readers to the gigantic gardens that are extensive and playfully themed to Hollywood icons. Later this week we will present an extensive photo-essay of the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel a new take on the Grand Floridian model.

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