Hong Kong Disneyland has fallen just short of its target to attract 5.6 million visitors in its first year.

Bill Ernest, managing director of the theme park, said: “We have exceeded five million guests since we opened last year. When September has wrapped up to October, we will have reached our target.”

He said that the park saw a much stronger second half to the year, with more than 60,000 summer passes being sold, and recorded 20,000-30,000 visitors every day between July and August.

Ernest has also told the Financial Times that Hong Kong Disneyland plans to hold induction programmes in order to educate visitors about Disney’s history, citing local unfamiliarity with characters such as Mickey Mouse as a major reason for the shortfall.

He told the FT: “If you haven’t grown up with the brand, the characters, the stories or the theme, you are not quite sure what you are walking into.” Details: www.hongkongdisneyland.com