Hong Kong Disneyland will temporarily suspend the theme park's nightly fireworks display starting Jan. 2, 2018.

Undergoing expansion

The park will undergo a HK$10.9 billion (S$1.88 billion) expansion.

The expansion is expected to take six years from 2018 to 2023.

The Hong Kong Government is Disneyland's largest shareholder.

It will foot half of the expansion costs. Disney will take on the other half. This will be spilt HK$5.45 billion each.

New attractions

Under the expansion plan, new themed areas, attractions and entertainment will launch almost every year from 2018 through 2023.

Highlights include:

• A brand new experience featuring Ant-Man, The Wasp and S.H.I.E.L.D. to be launched in Tomorrowland. Hong Kong Disneyland will be opening an entire Marvel-themed area.

• An all-new, immersive Frozen-themed area where guests will experience the characters and stories from the film, including meeting the royal sisters Elsa and Anna.

• The castle, which is the theme park's masterpiece, will be transformed to pay tribute to all of the Disney Princesses. The transformed castle will also feature a new daytime show and nighttime spectacular.

• A new, exciting entertainment venue will feature a lively atmosphere stage show in Adventureland featuring Moana, the newest heroine from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Guests can also meet with Moana.

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Controversial expansion

However, the expansion of Disneyland was not a straight-forward matter for lawmakers.

Legislature passed to approve the expansion were met with controversy in Hong Kong.

This is so as Walt Disney continues to receive management fees despite Disneyland's poor performance.

In a tough take-it-or-leave-it deal, the American company offered to waive variable management fees for two financial years. In return, the Hong Kong government’s ownership stake will fall from 53 to 52 percent, while Disney’s will increase from 47 to 48 percent.

Motions rejected by pro-establishment lawmakers included requests to disclose more of the theme park’s financial figures, give more discounts to Hongkongers, as well as review further economic benefits to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Disneyland reported losses for the second year in a row in 2016, totalling HK$171 million (S$29.5 million).

Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005 and has been trying to remain relevant and unique.

This is due to increased regional competition.

Shanghai Disneyland, which opened in June 2016, is three times bigger.

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