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Hong Kong Disneyland expansion to add three new themed lands

Mystic Point haunted mansion at Hong Kong Disneyland

Disney brass and Chinese government officials hope a nearly half-billion-dollar investment over the next half-decade in Hong Kong Disneyland will boost attendance at the struggling theme park.

The ambitious expansion plan calls for three new themed lands featuring a mountain-range coaster, a Haunted Mansion dark ride and a “Toy Story” kiddie area.

A land-by-land look at the expansion:

Toy Story Land
(Expected to open in 2011/12)

A carbon copy of the Toy Story Playland scheduled to open at Disneyland Paris in 2010, the Hong Kong version features three kid-friendly attractions:

* A 115-foot-tall RC Racer-themed shuttle coaster on a halfpipe-shaped track.

* An 80-foot-tall Green Army Men-themed drop-style parachute jump (similar to Jumpin’ Jellyfish at Disney’s California Adventure).

* A carnival-style “caterpillar” flat ride themed to Slinky Dog, who chases his tail in a circle.

Grizzly Trail
(Expected to open in 2012/13)

The Frontierland-like gold mining town features the Big Grizzly Mountain roller coaster.

The runaway mine train ride begins with a twisting and turning backward decline before launching forward and upward around the mountain.

Mystic Point
(Expected to open in 2013/14)

The mysterious and supernatural land, set in a rain forest, will be home to Mystic Manor — the Hong Kong park’s version of the Haunted Mansion.

Trackless “doom buggy” vehicles will move freely throughout the dark ride, set in the home of an eccentric world traveler and exotic artifact collector.

Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland. Follow Funland on Twitter and Facebook.