Hong Kong no Phooey TR (Apr 2012)! The Yee's have it....TR finish #1101, 07/09

[zanzibar138]

We're going to HKDL in March 2012 too (early March though)! So I'll be most interested to follow your PTR. We're from Melbourne too, but will be going to HK via Vietnam and back via Africa (yeah I know, not quite on the way...) as part of our honeymoon We'll be at the HKDL Hotel for 4 nights - I can't wait!

Unfortunately I can't see your fireworks photos right at the moment as the company I work for has decided to block all photo uploading sites But if they're anything like your Christmas decoration photos, they would be beautiful!

 

[skiingfast]

Would it be nice if all you had to do is read a Times Guide, stand on main street and face a Castle?

 

[PrincessInOz]

We're going to HKDL in March 2012 too (early March though)! So I'll be most interested to follow your PTR. We're from Melbourne too, but will be going to HK via Vietnam and back via Africa (yeah I know, not quite on the way...) as part of our honeymoon We'll be at the HKDL Hotel for 4 nights - I can't wait!

Unfortunately I can't see your fireworks photos right at the moment as the company I work for has decided to block all photo uploading sites But if they're anything like your Christmas decoration photos, they would be beautiful!

Hi Zanzibar! Nice to see you around on the Dis. Is it your Wedding and Honeymoon already? I remember reading your TR when he popped the question and gave you the ring.

Congratulations. Which part of Africa are you going to? Are you going to see the game animals? I'm envious!

Would it be nice if all you had to do is read a Times Guide, stand on main street and face a Castle?

*sigh* Yes.



But knowing my luck, I'd probably be pointing the camera in the wrong spot!

 

[PrincessInOz]

"DON’T PANIC!" Just because there seems to be no rooms available on the website….


I have a lot to learn from the sub-title of that HitchHiker's Book!

So, I’ve been trying to finalise the accommodation side of this trip and have only got the first 3 nights to worry about.

When I first started to play on the Hong Kong Disneyland website in October/November, I could have sworn that when I put in my dates, the website provided me with a quote for the 3 nights that I was after. I chose not to book because the promotional offer at that time was not available for my travel dates.

Since the start of December, every time I’ve gone back into the website, I’ve not had any success with getting any rooms available for my 3 nights.

Just like Marvin the Paranoid Android…I might have perhaps hit the panic button a little. Hardly more than a little. Hardly. Perhaps.not.at.all.


Today, I finally decided to call the Reservations desk. Turns out that Hong Kong Disneyland only release accommodation 3 months in advance. So, you can only book for up to the 31 March and can’t book accommodation for the 1st and 2nd April either. Explains why I’ve been coming up with a big fat nothing on the website!


The cast member I got was AWESOME! Definitely not a Ford Prefect...but a Ford PERFECT!

She understood all about Disney Fuzzy Maths and I figure she must have been sitting at her desk with 4 sessions opened; running through the different permutations and combinations for me, even though it was only for 1 night.


To cut a 30-minute conversation short, I’ve got the first night accommodation booked at the HK Disneyland Hotel, sea view room. She advised me to get the Magic Access Member pass for the two seniors traveling with me so that we would get the 20% discount off the accommodation. The accommodation saving alone has paid for the MAM passes. (We want 2 rooms; so that means two separate MAM passes…one for each room). On my current one-night only reservation, I’ve also purchased 2 day passes for all the individuals without MAM.

In addition, she will keep an eye out for when the other 2 nights are released and promised to call me back.

We also want to do the special Disney-style Dim Sum whilst staying at the resort. Bookings are currently up to 31 March. She’ll also keep an eye out for when the bookings are opened. Check out the food porn opportunities here! Did I forget to say that she PROMISED to call me back?

She's also checking out if we can score a birthday promotion cake. One of the senior's in my party will be celebrating a birthday in late March...she needs to find out if we can get the promotion cake in April. Did I forget to say that she PROMISED to call me back?


She also advised that should a promotion be offered in the New Year, I can cancel this one without penalty up to 2 days before my arrival date.



Oh – That awesome Cast Member also told me that catching a taxi from the airport to the DLR would be about 25 minutes and would cost about HK$120. This would be the cheapest option for me instead of catching a shuttle bus, which is HK $100 per person. The train system is significantly cheaper; but given how late we are arriving, I don’t think I’ll be thinking about this option at all.

I think my panic attack is over….Hong Kong Disneyland arrangements are almost nearly sorted!




As long as that Ford PERFECT calls me back.....

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Don't forget where your towel is

 

[usnuzuloose]

Save her number. At least your getting rooms for your 3 days.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Don't forget where your towel is

I'm gonna wrap it around me for warmth as I bound across the cold blue seats of Buzz Lightyear; lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of the HK Disneyland Resort, inhaling the heady sea vapours from the South China Sea; sleep under it beneath the fireworks which will burst forth on the world of Main Street!




(For now, I'm making sure it's firmly wrapped round where the sun don't shine ON).

 

[PrincessInOz]

Save her number. At least your getting rooms for your 3 days.

I got her name!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Also, I was kind of hoping your cab fare would be HK$42!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Also, I was kind of hoping your cab fare would be HK$42!

It might be...per adult!

 

[zanzibar138]

Hi Zanzibar! Nice to see you around on the Dis. Is it your Wedding and Honeymoon already? I remember reading your TR when he popped the question and gave you the ring.

Congratulations. Which part of Africa are you going to? Are you going to see the game animals? I'm envious!

Thanks! Yeah I've been spending majority of my time on wedding forums lately It's a bit scary how quick the time has gone

We're spending two nights at Vic Falls, then 5 at a game reserve in Botswana (Chobe). Our accommodation includes up to 2 road or river safaris per day, so I suspect we'll be seeing lots of animals

Glad to hear you found someone helpful to speak to at the hotel. I wouldn't mind doing the Disney Dim Sum either, and also the high tea, at least one character meal, and some spa time Not sure how far in advance I need to book for those though and how to do it...

Forgot to mention too, we were originally going to book a sea view room, but we came across a stay 3 nights, get the 4th free deal on expedia that only applied to garden view rooms. It saved us over $400! Having said that though, I wish I'd have thought of an annual pass type thing for a discount, since we'll be there for 4 nights it would probably have been worth at least one of us getting one.

 

[stephielela]

Glad you got an uber helpful CM!! Sounds like you are going to be all set! I love any type of Disney math, fuzzy or otherwise

 

[skier_pete]

And I saw just telling my wife: "Say you know that hoopy princessinoz. There's a frood who really knows where her towel is."

No wonder we get along. A Disney and Hitchhikers fan. It is not coincidental I think that I am visiting australia at the age of 42!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks! Yeah I've been spending majority of my time on wedding forums lately It's a bit scary how quick the time has gone

We're spending two nights at Vic Falls, then 5 at a game reserve in Botswana (Chobe). Our accommodation includes up to 2 road or river safaris per day, so I suspect we'll be seeing lots of animals

Glad to hear you found someone helpful to speak to at the hotel. I wouldn't mind doing the Disney Dim Sum either, and also the high tea, at least one character meal, and some spa time Not sure how far in advance I need to book for those though and how to do it...

Forgot to mention too, we were originally going to book a sea view room, but we came across a stay 3 nights, get the 4th free deal on expedia that only applied to garden view rooms. It saved us over $400! Having said that though, I wish I'd have thought of an annual pass type thing for a discount, since we'll be there for 4 nights it would probably have been worth at least one of us getting one.

The CM that I spoke to said something about at least 2 or 3 days before check-in. You could ring them on the 1830 number listed on the website.

That sounds like a great savings on Expedia. Wish I'd seen that deal!

Glad you got an uber helpful CM!! Sounds like you are going to be all set! I love any type of Disney math, fuzzy or otherwise

Yes...I'm hoping she will also follow through on the call-back. Nothing so far. I'll give it till mid January and will be checking the website to make sure I don't miss out on any new promotions.

And I saw just telling my wife: "Say you know that hoopy princessinoz. There's a frood who really knows where her towel is."

No wonder we get along. A Disney and Hitchhikers fan. It is not coincidental I think that I am visiting australia at the age of 42!

I'll carry a towel round on May 25, if you will....

 

[PrincessInOz]

OT - More Fireworks Curse!


Old Chinese Curse: "May You Live in Interesting Times!"

I've mentioned a couple of times that I REALLY am a shy retiring type in real life. So far, I'm not sure if anyone really believes me on this one. In real life, I much rather live a sedate lifestyle and be a homebody than to be living in interesting times! R.E.A.L.L.Y!

It's been a busy New Year's period for me so far. I'm guessing that that old chinese curse has not yet been lifted off me yet.

So it was on New Year's Eve....on my 6th attempt to capture fireworks in Melbourne. Here's how it panned out....


Curse #6. All the previous experience in the world makes no difference at all! December 2011

It’s the final opportunity of 2011 for me to break this fireworks hoodoo I’ve had all year.

We headed into Melbourne City early. I was determined to catch both opportunities to shoot the sparkles. There was two locations for the 9.30 pm fireworks – Docklands, where we were for Christmas Carols (Curse #5) and over by the Melbourne Cricket Ground (Curse #2).

I chose the MCG location…purely because it would be a LOT easier to head back into the city after the early fireworks session and set up for the midnight explosion.

There was entertainment…

Activities for kids….I kept DS away from finding these things; cruel – yes. But I didn’t want him to get tired out and whining about going home.

Food stalls….Would you believe that I gave them a wide berth too? Didn’t want too much distractions tonight..

I asked around. Spoke to 3 of the attendants and they all told me that fireworks were to be shot out from behind the big stage. Aim for the stage…can’t miss! All Three of them! So, we found a spot…

…and I set up with my tripod and lens facing this direction in plenty of time before sunset.

The First Explosion!

Excuse.me.whilst.I.turn.the.camera.90.degrees!

I figure I’m so resilient to ANYTHING that those Fireworks Gods throw at me now that I’m just over it.




Is 2011 over? Stay tuned for 2012!







post script. This session wasn’t a total waste. I still got me some sparkly keepers.

 

[dgbg100106]

PIO - your pictures are beautiful and you captured the fireworks very well...

 

[PrincessInOz]

PIO - your pictures are beautiful and you captured the fireworks very well...

Thanks Brandi.
I think that after the practise I put in last year, I hope to get some shots with a castle in the background that I'd be happy to share on the Dis photography sub-forum.

Midnight set coming up next.

 

[PrincessInOz]

OT – A Brand New Year!


After the Children’s Fireworks, we made our way towards the city center and tried to find a spot to watch the fireworks from. The organizers had promised that there would be Golden Fireworks for this year; set off from some of the buildings in the city. Vantage points would be plentiful…

Despite that, Melbournians still flocked to the Yarra River; me included. With no fireworks planned to be let off from the Yarra, I took aim at the buildings.

And as the clock counted down, we would have the occasional burst of sparks to the theme of Goldfinger.

With the chime of midnight, 1 Jan 2012 rolled round. And with that, the fireworks burst out again over Melbourne.

They promised gold….and gold it was.

Yup.

The fireworks were spread out all over the city.

And we finished with….yet more gold.

Nice as the fireworks were, the star of the night was undoubtedly this spire. I took this shot earlier in the evening. The spire on the Arts Center is normally lit up at night in blues and greens. For this evening, the colour had been change to the golden theme.

I sat with my back to the spire and I was aware that they were firing off sparkles all the way up and down the spire.

So, after the show was over and I had packed up, we turned to head home when we, along with the rest of the revelers, noticed that the spire was on fire. One of the fireworks had set the plastic container the fireworks had been stored in on fire and that top section of the spire was alight. And at one point, I saw 3 separate spots alight on the spire and fire falling down the 156 ft tall spire.

With over 600,000 crammed into the area it was impossible for anyone, let alone emergency services to head into the area. Luckily, the fire burnt itself out and according to the experts, no structural damage to the spire.

Sadly, I'd put away my camera and there was no way I was going to be able to take it out in the throng around me. So, I missed the real fireworks of the night!



Oh….and for the record, I’m happy with my fireworks shooting on this night. DH has categorically told me that he does NOT intend to see another fireworks show in Melbourne for a long, long, long time. I think he’s over the Fireworks Gods too.
Me? I can’t WAIT to take my tripod to HKDL and get some shots with a castle in the background!


The bonus of the night?
For me, I had a spur of the moment impulse to take a shot of the crowd. I only took one picture. For some reason, I actually love this shot more than the midnight fireworks pictures I took on this night. I think it just depicts the “Waiting for Sparkles on New Year’s Eve” accurately.

Happy New Year everyone. May 2012 bring you health and happiness and lots of magic; Disney or otherwise.

 

[dgbg100106]

PIO. Everything is beautiful and the waiting shot is very descriptive

 

[usnuzuloose]

Those are awesome shots! Gold indeed. So glad that the fire didnt spread anywhere.