Hong Kong Disneyland and Feng Shui

The story of Hong Kong Disneyland's use of Feng Shui, and why they used it, actually starts many years before the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. Way back in 1992 The Walt Disney Company opened a Magic Kingdom near Paris, France. EuroDisney (now known as Disneyland Paris) wasn't an instant hit as Disney expected it to be. Many French intellectuals were angry that Disney was importing American values and ways to France without any considerations for French customs and traditions. One famous example was the fact that you couldn't buy wine at France's Magic Kingdom. In a country where most people enjoy wine with their meals, park visitors were upset that at EuroDisney they couldn't. (The no wine policy goes back to Walt Disney's desire to keep his Magic Kingdom in Californian a family-friendly place, and as such no alcohol is served at both US Magic Kingdom parks).

After the opening of EuroDisney, park officials back-tracked on a lot of policies in order to appease French visitors and, in turn, get them to visit (EuroDisney lost money for many years after opening at even faced bankruptcy). They now serve wine within the Magic Kingdom and the resort's name is now Disneyland Paris Resort rather than EuroDisney. So when Disney officials began to plan their next Magic Kingdom park, one planned to open in 2005 in Hong Kong, Disney officials knew they had to pay attention to local customs, traditions, and sensitivities. From the early planning stages of the Hong Kong resort, Disney consulted Feng Shui masters on aspects of the park's design. Widely used in Hong Kong (and all of China), Feng Shui is the art of placement of items to remedy problem. Feng Shui uses the ideas of Chi, or the movement of life and circulation and the Five Elements; fire, earth, water, wood, and metal to bring luck, good health, prosperity.

Some of the element of Feng Shui used at Hong Kong Disneyland include

The path leading to Hong Kong Disneyland's main gate was designed with a bend in it. The bend, according to Feng Shui will slow the flow of Chi and stop it from flowing past the main gate

Hong Kong Disneyland's main gate was designed in a north-south facing position to ensure good luck

Within the Magic Kingdom, attraction entrances were positioned in a way to ensure maximum luck

Large rocks, which represent stability, were placed thought the park

In Feng Shui the color red is very important and considered lucky. Red is used extensively throughout the park

The hotels within Hong Kong Disneyland Resort contain no 4th floor. While in America the number 13 is considered unlucky, in Hong Kong and China the number 4 is considered unlucky.

The main ballroom at the Disneyland Hotel is 888 square meters. Feng Shui considers the number 888 as a wealthy number.