Christmas time is the best season to travel with family and friends. As Hong Kong remains as one of the top holiday destinations for Filipinos, Ocean Park Hong Kong brings its Christmas Sensation with a kick-off on December 11, 2017 with its first ever virtual reality (VR) rollercoaster, the Mine Train presented by Samsung Gear VR, and several exciting VR game zones.
A local Christmas market, Ocean Park x Pinkoi Festive Marketplace, will also be available to offer all kinds of accessories and homeware produced by local designers. Together with Santa’s Cottage, Garden of Romanceand parkwide festive decorations, guests can experience a complete, exciting and romantic Christmas in Ocean Park. During Christmas Sensation, the Park will offer a free night-time admission to Waterfront Plaza and Lakeside Chill from 7p.m. to 11p.m. for 10 days from December 23, 2017 to January 1, 2018.
Leo Kung, Chairman of Ocean Park, said, “In the past four decades, Ocean Park has always tried to stay ahead in the market by embracing inventiveness to enhance our guests’ experience. We never cease to amuse our guests with innovation and creativity, which has been the cornerstone of our success. This time, we are partnering with Samsung Electronics to introduce the hottest virtual reality technology to our popular Mine Train, transforming the ride into Hong Kong’s first ever virtual reality rollercoaster ride and boosting its excitement level to new heights. At the same time, we are launching a free night-time admission to Waterfront Plaza and Lakeside Chill during Christmas Sensation and New Year for the first time, as a token of appreciation for our guests’ support, and to mark the perfect ending of the year-long celebration of our 40th anniversary.”
An enhanced VR Mine Train
Mine Train presented by Samsung Gear VR, is an amusement ride upgraded by way of adapting VR technology to a rollercoaster, offering guests a brand new stunning VR experience that synchronises virtual movement to real motion. After putting on special VR headsets with attached Samsung GALAXY smartphones on the Mine Train, guests will begin their ultra-realistic journey in the Amazon rainforest through the vivid screen of GALAXY smartphones. Equipped with a 101-degree field of view, Gear VR allows guests to enjoy the 360-degree video in first person view. Guests can come face to face with amazing animals living in the rich biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest, while experiencing the sensations of the highest speed at 71 kilometers per hour and gravitation forces as the train rockets up and down along the tracks. Guests can also get to know more about the habitats of many unique species and learn about the importance of conservation.
Yiyin Zhao, Vice President and Head of IT and Mobile Communication Business of Samsung Electronics H.K. Co. Ltd., said, “As a global leader in technology, Samsung hopes to make use of advanced technology to work with different industries and partners to provide customers a more high-tech experience. We are proud to partner with Ocean Park to present the first-ever virtual reality rollercoaster in Hong Kong, providing guests a more thrilling ride experience.”
In addition to the VR rollercoaster, more adrenaline-pumping VR experiences will be on offer during Christmas Sensation in two VR game zones. Guests can enter a life-like shootout with friends at the VR Arcade, or challenge their speed and dexterity riding hyper-speed bikes, completing missions in mid-air, and even go boxing at the VR Challenges Zone. Thrill Mountain also houses a seasonal VR cinema where guests can immerse themselves beneath the rainforest canopy in a 360-degree view in the VR Forest Adventure.
Visit romantic Christmas attractions with free night-time admission
During Christmas Sensation, the Park will partner with Pinkoi.com, Asia’s leading online marketplace for designers, to present Ocean Park x Pinkoi Festive Marketplace for the first time from 16 December 2017 onwards. All kinds of original accessories and homeware by local designers will be available, such as illustrated goods by popular illustrator “PeiChung Illustration”, products that showcase Hong Kong culture designed by “Dogswork”, 3D puzzles of nostalgic Hong Kong-style diners designed by “Sweet Hong Kong”, unique tie dye collections by local brand “Giants Tie Dye”, leather accessories made by “JK Collection” and “Flame”, and more original designs.
Together with artificial snow, the lighting ceremony of the Park’s signature 40-foot Christmas Tree every evening, Santa’s Cottage and Garden of Romance, Waterfront Plaza will be transformed into a romantic Christmas village for families and couples to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. The Penguin Dress-up Delights parade will also be presented at the Polar Adventure, starring a large adorable penguin inflatable accompanied by bouncing penguin performers in fantastic costumes and performing amazing stunts, while Whiskers & friends will also turn up in Christmas attire for photos with guests.
