Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which marked its 20th anniversary this summer, launched its year-long celebrations, “The Most Magical Party of All”, in June with the largest ever “Friendtastic!” parade in the park’s history, the anniversary-only show “Disney Friends Live: Party at the Castle!” and its grandest nighttime spectacular “Momentous: Party in the Night Sky”.
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However, the resort’s spectacular outdoor line-up of entertainment formed only part of year-long festivities, which also include many community initiatives and activities that reinforce its continuing support since its 2005 opening for hospitals, non-governmental organisations and charities.
One such event, held on a Saturday saw the usually quiet rooms and corridors at Tuen Mun Hospital’s Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Specialist Out-patient Clinic in Hong Kong’s New Territories host a children’s party where the iconic Disney characters of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse posed for photos while mingling with the young patients.
The “PlayWell with Disney 20th Anniversary Magical Party”, which was attended by Michael Moriarty, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland, also featured Disney party hosts singing 20th anniversary theme songs as the guests clapped along, a magician performing impressive tricks, and a selection of game booths, while numerous Disney “VoluntEars” – comprising cast members – interacted with the children.
Moriarty said: “In collaboration with the Hospital Authority and dedicated medical staff, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has been supporting child patients for 20 years. We are pleased to say that, over time, we have brought joy to over a thousand child patients in hospitals throughout the city.”
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All of the children invited to the party are living with chronic or long-term illnesses, which means they often need to visit the hospital for time-consuming procedures such as blood tests.
“Most of my patients have congenital anaemia or other blood-related conditions,” Dr Rever Li Chak-ho, deputy hospital chief executive of Tuen Mun Hospital, says.