Mass Transit Rail Corp decided to build the 3.5km train line to the park, with a price tag of HK$2 billion (US$257 million). The line is connected to the existing subway system and will be able to shuttle about 10,000 passengers per hour to the park.
To fully cater to the Disney crowd, the trains' windows and the passenger straps are shaped like Mickey Mouse. Additionally, the ceiling and the sides of the train are painted in bright hues of red, yellow, purple and blue.
Transit-oriented
Dr. Anthony Yeh of Hong Kong University's Center of Urban Planning said the new line will help the park be less dependent on cars.
"The normal pattern [for theme parks] is to have large parking lots to accommodate drivers," Yeh said. "The MTR line ensures that Hong Kong's version of Disneyland will be public-transit oriented."
Yeh also sees a big increase in tour bus services from China to Hong Kong, pointing out that residents of nearby mainland cities such as Shenzhen can easily make the visit a one-day affair.
"A lot of Chinese people want to come to Disney," Yeh said.
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