Shanghai and Hong Kong Disneyland March 17 – Day 7 Complete in Hong Kong Proper; 12/04

How lovely that you were able to get so many pics in an empty DTD!
 
Your pics are gorgeous! Shanghai looks amazing. It's moving up my short term travel list!

Jill in CO
 
Disney Town looks absolutely amazing. What a treat that you essentially had it all to yourself. I think I may need to squeeze in some time to at least have a quick look around.

Corinna
 
Hello stranger!

Hope you and your family are doing well. Dare I hope that you're heading to Shanghai soon?

Hello to you too. Yes we are heading to China for 3 weeks in April and will be spending 2 full days and 3 nights at Shanghai Disneyland. Very excited to check another castle out and thoroughly enjoyed reading your TR.

Re:- Tron....I've ridden Space Mountain at WDW twice. I absolutely didn't like it but Liv wanted to ride and I didn't die so there's that. How much scarier or similar is Tron?
 


What great pictures you got of the area while it was so empty. I have no idea if or when we will ever get to Shanghai, so I'll just have to live vicariously through other's Trip Reports!
 
I haven't read your TR since July which seems like forever. But I was able to read all of your latest.

You had a nice night and Ignite the Dream looks like a very nice nighttime show that I would enjoy a lot. I would enjoy taking pictures with you at night at that park but I don't know if I can last that long.

Nice morning even though it was cold. The Disneytown pictures look very nice.

:wave:

Shanghai DL security will kick you out of the park bang on closing, but I think you can do some shopping down Mickey Avenue like in the other parks. There is definitely no late nights there.

Disneytown is pretty nice. I wish I had spent more time there.





Is there anything worth buying in Shanghai Disney? Or they have the same thing you can find in US parks? We have been to WDW so many times I rarely buy anything any more, unless its very unique. Anything caught your eyes?

A lot of things are similar to the US parks. I was after things that were different and there are a few items that have an Asian feel to it. I really wished I had bought the Chinese town coffee cups at Starbucks.
I also bought some Pandora charms, park specific ones.

And I came home with a Mickey ears that had a Chinese feel to it, as did everyone else!



How lovely that you were able to get so many pics in an empty DTD!


Yes. I was really glad I got up early to get those shots.
 
Your pics are gorgeous! Shanghai looks amazing. It's moving up my short term travel list!

Jill in CO

YAY! Any firm plans for Shanghai yet?





Disney Town looks absolutely amazing. What a treat that you essentially had it all to yourself. I think I may need to squeeze in some time to at least have a quick look around.

Corinna

It's worth a visit, Corinna. Hope you get some time in.




Hello to you too. Yes we are heading to China for 3 weeks in April and will be spending 2 full days and 3 nights at Shanghai Disneyland. Very excited to check another castle out and thoroughly enjoyed reading your TR.

Re:- Tron....I've ridden Space Mountain at WDW twice. I absolutely didn't like it but Liv wanted to ride and I didn't die so there's that. How much scarier or similar is Tron?

Awesome news! I hope you enjoy being in China.

Tron is actually very different to Space Mountain. Think riding a motorbike. It also takes you from inside to outside and back inside again. It's probably faster than Space Mountain. Hope you get on it and I'll be curious to find out if you liked it or not.




What great pictures you got of the area while it was so empty. I have no idea if or when we will ever get to Shanghai, so I'll just have to live vicariously through other's Trip Reports!

Thanks. I sure hope you get to Shanghai sometime!
 


Hello Ms Shuttergirl. I don't like Space Mountain either but Tron was different. Tron was smoother, not quite the same "wild mouse" style and you are not thrown about from side to side, but it is heaps faster and yes, like sitting on a motorbike. First time round I got a bit dizzy (was near the back), another time right near the front was actually much better, I think because I could focus straight ahead but also maybe because I knew what to expect. I loved it. Have an amazing time in China. I can't wait to go back (to the whole country as well as SDL).
 
Hello Ms Shuttergirl. I don't like Space Mountain either but Tron was different. Tron was smoother, not quite the same "wild mouse" style and you are not thrown about from side to side, but it is heaps faster and yes, like sitting on a motorbike. First time round I got a bit dizzy (was near the back), another time right near the front was actually much better, I think because I could focus straight ahead but also maybe because I knew what to expect. I loved it. Have an amazing time in China. I can't wait to go back (to the whole country as well as SDL).

Thanks Wendy for giving me your opinion on the two rides. The "wild mouse style" you mention was probably the bit I didn't like so perhaps I will find Tron a more enjoyable ride. I think I'll just have to bite the bullet and do it. My son would probably hesitate about going on it without me so I'll just have to suck it up I guess hahaha.

I'm very much look forward to China as well. We have nearly 3 weeks there and other than a few nerves about drop toilets I think the rest will be incredible.
 
Awesome news! I hope you enjoy being in China.

Tron is actually very different to Space Mountain. Think riding a motorbike. It also takes you from inside to outside and back inside again. It's probably faster than Space Mountain. Hope you get on it and I'll be curious to find out if you liked it or not.

Thanks PIO - It seems like it may be a Space Mountain/Test Track kinda combo. I'll have to close my eyes and grit my teeeth and give it a go lol.
 
Once More Across Wishing Star Lake



Now it’s time to say goodbye.





I decided to catch the ferry back across to the hotel. I was surprised to find that I needed to show my room key before I was allowed to board. But then again, I guess this is China, right?


Aside from that, it was a very uneventful ride back across Wishing Star Lake.





I took the opportunity to shoot some of the path I’d walked on this morning.






That’s one heck of a pedestrian bridge.




Some of you may wonder about buying traveller groceries at Shanghai Disneyland. You’ll find a Family Mart at the train station near the Disneyland entrance and also this one at the dock of the hotel side.






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More on Shanghai Disneyland Hotel


I had packed up the night before, so there wasn’t much for me to do when I got back to the room. I had a few minutes to spare whilst DM was finishing her last minute packing.





So, I took time to capture the Mickey Head touches.





It didn’t take long for DM to finish up and we decided to head down to the lobby and wait for our taxi to arrive.





It’s been a while, but I think we did arrange for a taxi at a particular time the night before. In any event, there was time to spare so I took a walk around the hotel.

I definitely went into the shop.





Love the tiffany shades!





A number of items caught my eye.





I have to admit that I totally loved the merchandise with the Asian touches here.





But I didn’t buy anything.


Looks like I made it to the swimming pool as well. By Western standards, this is a very small pool.





Barely enough room for any water mermaids to stretch out.





I never did spend time in the pool here so it didn’t make too much difference to me.



I also made it out to the garden.





There was one section of the garden I hadn’t yet seen.






The Cinderella section of the garden was rather charming.





It even had a glass slipper on the top of the stairs.





I expect this is where you’d have your Disney weddings in Shanghai.





As our carriage was expected…..





….it was time to head back to the lobby.




Final pictures with that Mickey and Friends musical statue.











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An Hour Early is 30 Minutes Late



I have to hang my head in shame.

It turns out I was completely disorganised on this leg of our travels. For some reason, my DM and I were on a flight an hour earlier than the others!

So what was supposed to be a leisurely embarkation period turned out to be a rush for DM and myself.

I was completely clueless to the flight time when we checked in.

I remained completely clueless even when my bag was pulled out of the line by security because I had inadvertently packed a battery pack in my check-in luggage.
I was still clueless when we got to the security check line.




Thankfully, that was when I checked our boarding time. YIKES!!! That’s when I realised I had 5 minutes left to get to the gate.



I have to say that Shanghai Airport staff were exceedingly helpful at this point. There was a person standing near us and when we pointed out the boarding time to them, they waived DM and I out of the long queue and into the VIP queue.

We were also waived to the VIP area for bag check; and we were cleared through the formal checks very quickly.


When we got to our gate, it was obvious that we were late. There was no other passengers in the lounge and the staff quickly scanned our passes.

Still, I paused long enough to grab a shot of our plane using the mobile phone.





We were the last people to board the plane and my DM and I breathed a sigh of relief when we got in our seats!







Yeah.








All that rush……for us to sit on the tarmac! Turns out our plane was delayed by 30 minutes.





*sigh*


I had plenty of time to contemplate what could have been. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t glanced down to check our boarding pass?



Definitely an experience I do not want to repeat!



We did eventually get in the air.





I think that’s the Qiantang River below. This was the southern terminus of the ancient Grand Canal and opens into the East China Sea.





Aside from the misstep at the airport around the flight we were on, it was a very uneventful journey into Hong Kong!




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The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort



Welcome to Hong Kong Disneyland!





We caught a blue taxi from the airport to the Disneyland Resort and checked in without any issue. They speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin in Hong Kong. For me, given that I have half a chance of conversing in Cantonese, it was a relief to come back to an Asian country where I had a chance of conversing with the locals in 1.5 languages.


The CM at the lobby was super nice to DM and me. I have a feeling that some of the others didn’t quite have the same experience when they arrived.


In any event, we finished the formalities and headed to our room.





I had previously stayed at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel in 2012.





Then, I had been charmed by the room and super impressed with everything. Now, some 4 years on, the hotel was looking a little tired and in need of a makeover.





Don’t get me wrong. It was a perfectly fine room. But nothing had changed in 4 years.





Still, the toiletries were a bonus and still delightful to see.







And there were some touches that were quintessentially Disney.










Whilst clean, the bathroom did look like it needed a refurb.





Maybe it just didn’t quite compare with the newness and freshness of the Shanghai resort.




For those interested, this is what you will find in your room. We got 2 bottles of water every day that we were there.





At least the pool was getting some maintenance.





Yes. We did get a water view from our room.




You can even make out islands out there!





DM and I had just enough time to freshen up before heading out. It would be our only opportunity to head out of the Disney bubble in our time in Hong Kong.



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Real Life Hong Kong



It’s a short walk from the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel to the train station.





I’ve always liked the Disneyland train station in Hong Kong.















It didn’t take long for our train to arrive.




There’s only one station on the Disneyland line. We would need to get off at Sunny Bay and transit to a different line to get to Hong Kong proper.





All around me, people were speaking in Cantonese.
That's definitely a language I can handle!





We were meeting up with friends for dinner. They told us to get to Nam Cheong station. It’s on the same line as Sunny Bay so it didn’t take us long to get here.





Everytime I’m in Hong Kong, I’m constantly amazed by their method of construction.





Yup. Bamboo scaffolds.






As we waited, I couldn’t help myself. I just had to click.





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Dinner Somewhere in Hong Kong



Our friends picked us up at the designated time and we headed somewhere in the Kwun Tong area for dinner. All I remember is the restaurant was near the APM shopping mall; and it was on Level 10 somewhere!






Our friend’s theory about picking places to eat when in Hong Kong is the higher the floor, the better the food. I think Level 10 is about the highest I’ve been to when in Hong Kong.

We were eating Japanese tonight. And not just any kind of Japanese. It was a cook-our-own Hibachi style dinner.









Dinner cost AU$50 per head. It was effectively an All-You-Can-Eat, with the only caveat being that we ordered what we could eat. Unlike Western buffets where the food is all laid out and you go help yourself, we needed to fill in forms for the food we wanted and the waiters would bring it to our table.

So….here are the examples of what we did order.

Sushi and Sashimi



















Hot Appetizer things




























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All types of seafood for cooking
























Each table had a bottle of sake.





Our first cooking round.




The crab was simply amazing!




As were the oysters.




I was rather taken with the Jackknives or Razor clams. Simple delish.





Shrimp




Our friends also ordered the deep fried Durian. Durian is called the King of Fruit; but it is definitely an acquired taste. I love it….but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. You really do have to get past the strong smell first before you get to enjoy the most unctuous, creamy flesh.





With our friends doing the ordering, the food just kept coming!












We even got to make our own seafood congee on the hibachi. The best congee I’ve ever had!





I’m pretty sure they set out to order everything on the menu….at least once. Even the desserts.









Dinner had been a sumptuous affair tonight. I just wished I remembered where we were exactly!!



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APM Shopping Mall




We were in the area, so why not stop at the largest mall in the Kwun Tong area?





7 stories worth of retail therapy, with H&M and Uniqlo in the house. For comparison purposes, HKD79 was roughly equivalent to about AU$16. About the same price for these items in Melbourne.





I saw much to admire but nothing convinced me to open up my wallet.





My DM, on the other hand……was all about indulgence. We found one of the Dessert House places and she insisted on buying us all something to enjoy.





I was definitely rolling out the building!





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Late Night Photography in the Hotel Foyer





Our friends dropped us back at the Disneyland Hotel and I decided to take my time in heading back to the room. Afterall, I have seemed to have made the late night photography a habit for all my Disney trips.

When I was last here in 2012, I was completely charmed by this hotel.





Like my impressions of our room, I felt the same about the foyer.





This time round, it seemed to miss that something for me.





Comparisons are unfair. But after Shanghai, this hotel was really looking tired. It really could do with a refurb.





Nevertheless, despite looking tired to me, this hotel foyer has all the hallmarks of classic Disney.





A rather grand entryway.





A Mickey Statue stands to greet you.





Right before the accessible Check-in counter.







Beautiful floral displays in the foyer.





Little cosy spots for you to sit and chat.





A decent table service establishment on premises.









And not-so-Hidden Mickeys to be found.









Long internal corridors leading to your room.





Yup. More Hidden Mickey’s in the carpet.





This one has the entire fab 5.










I finally hit that wall and headed up to the room to grab some sleep. Tomorrow, we’re heading back into the Disney bubble.



princess::upsidedow









 

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