A Naive Aussie's TR - Completed!

Great update. Love the Donald in his chinese outfit. I must make a point of visiting the characters in that area NEXT time I go. :rotfl:

Looking forward to more.

I missed out last time, so I made a point of going this time. I did want to spend more time getting character photos, but with DH there it didn't quite turn out like that :rotfl: I was really hoping to get a photo with Mulan, but I think she had the week off :lmao:

Fabulous photos!

Why thank you very much :goodvibes

That's a super cute 1 year anniversary photo with Minnie.

Yeah I love it too! We got a big copy of the professional one which is even nicer.
 
Awww, such a cute pic with Minnie! We love having character pics done and getting them in all their different outfits is fun!

I adore the shirt you have on! I am looking forward to Mystic Manor as I do love me a good haunt!!!:)
 
great report, enjoy reading it before going to DLP after you and then finishing on our return... and thanks for photos of Andy toy box, it really nice looking store and lots of stuff I didn't see here...
 
Oh good! I made it back before the very end! Grizzly Gulch looks just like Grizzly Peak!

Toy Story land sounds like fun! I'm not sure why I thought that Mystic Manor was already open. I'll be interested to hear about it when it does!

Great photos and TR so far!
 


Awww, such a cute pic with Minnie! We love having character pics done and getting them in all their different outfits is fun!

I adore the shirt you have on! I am looking forward to Mystic Manor as I do love me a good haunt!!!:)

Yeah I love the different outfits :goodvibes And that t-shirt is one of my new favourites! I think Mystic Manor will be awesome :thumbsup2 You'll have to let us know how it compares.

great report, enjoy reading it before going to DLP after you and then finishing on our return... and thanks for photos of Andy toy box, it really nice looking store and lots of stuff I didn't see here...

You're welcome! There's more shop/merchandise photos coming up :thumbsup2

Oh good! I made it back before the very end! Grizzly Gulch looks just like Grizzly Peak!

Toy Story land sounds like fun! I'm not sure why I thought that Mystic Manor was already open. I'll be interested to hear about it when it does!

Great photos and TR so far!

Yep just made it! Grizzly Gulch is like a cross between Grizzly Peak/Grizzly River Run and Big Thunder Mountain. I can certainly see the resemblance to Grizzly Peak :rotfl: I'll be interested to hear about Mystic Point too!
 
Continued...

At the entrance there was someone taking photos, and we stopped so as not to get in the way before joining the line. We were a bit taken aback when those people then pushed right in front of us to get in the line first! As it was, the theatre was already open so we didnt have to wait in line, and we got some decent seats on the side about halfway up.

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I do enjoy this show, although on this occasion there was a bit of a problem. Just when the Mulan section started, the music stopped and there was an announcement saying that there was a problem with the show, and to stay seated because it would continue again shortly. After a few minutes people started leaving, but a few minutes later the show started again. Unfortunately it had skipped the rest of the hero section, and started again with Lilo & Stitch. Not sure what happened to Mulan, but it was a bit disappointing as that is my favourite part of the show.

After the show, we decided to take a ride on the train. We got ice-creams first, so we had to wait until wed finished them to line up at the station.

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We finished our ice-creams and lined up for a few more minutes before the train arrived. We got seats at the back, but it was an enjoyable ride, especially since we hadnt had a chance to do the train in Paris. We did the whole circuit and got off again at Fantasyland station.

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We stopped at Merlins Treasures on the way past.

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Next up was Grizzly Gulch, for a last visit before we left. We passed this on the way through and I thought it was cute.

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Before long we were arriving at Grizzly Gulch again.

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After checking out the entrance to Mystic Point again, I lined up for cowboy Mickey and Minnie. DH was a bit over character photos, so I just went on my own and he went to find some food. I took off my anniversary button so I wouldnt look like a dill lol!

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DH had gotten some fish and chips from Lucky Nugget Saloon, and I found him sitting around the side watching the mine trains, and listening to the roving banjo player.

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After lunch, we lined up for the mine trains again. There were actually people in the line this time! Not many, but we couldnt be bothered waiting for the front row. We decided to ride in the back row instead, which was fun!

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Next we headed back to Space Mountain, and lined up for the front row. It was actually much better in the front, but still not as good as Paris!

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When we were finished on Space Mountain, we came out to see the Muppet Mobile Lab. Unfortunately not being able to understand the conversation, it wasnt that interesting! After a couple of minutes we headed off to Buzz for our very last Disney ride until the next trip! There was a 10 minute wait.

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Of course we got the vehicle with the laser that wouldnt work! DH had a great time shooting, and I was left to entertain myself by spinning the vehicle around. I was so disappointed since it was my last ride, so as we were getting off I mentioned it to the CM. He said we could go around again and pointed us to a shortcut back to the entry platform. It was much better that time around!

Continued in next post...
 
Nice day at HKDL. Seems like you were rather lucky with low crowds and friendly CMs!
 


Nice day at HKDL. Seems like you were rather lucky with low crowds and friendly CMs!

We were unbelievably lucky with crowds! And there were some really great CMs too :thumbsup2 I found them to be much more friendly in general than the ones in Paris (not that we had any issues with the CMs in Paris, they just weren't generally as smiley and interactive).
 
You had me gasping at the price of the t-shirt until I looked up the exchange rate!

Like a good thriller, I let out an audible "Noooo" when I thought you'd missed out playing Buzz for your last ride, then I read you got to ride it again. Yippee! But the real cliffhanger is who won the game??
 
You had me gasping at the price of the t-shirt until I looked up the exchange rate!

Like a good thriller, I let out an audible "Noooo" when I thought you'd missed out playing Buzz for your last ride, then I read you got to ride it again. Yippee! But the real cliffhanger is who won the game??

With the exchange rates how they were, the merchandise in HK worked out much better value than the merchandise at DLP. Though I will admit the exchange rate in HK does cause some sticker shock :lmao:

DH of course won the game. Although I have fun on Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story Mania, I'll freely admit that I'm really not that good at it :rotfl: I did manage to beat Mum and Dad in Paris though ;)
 
I'm glad you got a redo on your "last ride". Interested to hear about the trip home.
 
I'm glad you got a redo on your "last ride". Interested to hear about the trip home.

Yeah it was a bit of a relief - I didn't really want to go out that way :rotfl:

The trip home wasn't really that interesting, but I will be adding it to the TR nonetheless :rolleyes:
 
All caught up again-HKDL looks like another pretty park...one day! If DD ends up having to spend some time in Singapore in 2014 or 2015 maybe we can swing past en route to visiting her! Looks like you both had a great time together and great pic for an anniversary photo.
 
All caught up again-HKDL looks like another pretty park...one day! If DD ends up having to spend some time in Singapore in 2014 or 2015 maybe we can swing past en route to visiting her! Looks like you both had a great time together and great pic for an anniversary photo.

HK is a great stopover destination :thumbsup2 The park is very pretty with the mountains in the background.
 
Continued...

Upon exiting Buzz, we went through the shop.











We were on our way out then after that, but DH had decided that he needed to buy a souvenir for his friend in Thailand, so we made our way back to shops on Main Street. We managed to get across the road, despite the parade starting.



I went and watched the parade from the door of the shop while DH was making his purchase.





On our way out we stopped for one final picture, then made our way to the luggage storage place. It was actually really nice having that cheery parade song on as we were leaving.





With bags in hand, it was time to head back to the train station.













With all the transfer stations out of the way, we eventually made it to the airport, and went to check in for my flight.

DH had never been able to purchase his flights for the next section of his trip, so he needed to visit the ticket counter at the airport. We eventually found it, and he bought his ticket. Then we found a bar and had a drink while we were waiting for my boarding time.

With not too long to spare, I said goodbye to DH and made my way through security. I found the Disney Store and made a couple of last minute purchases, then found my gate, which luckily was very close. I was only waiting a few minutes before we were called to board.

I had requested an aisle seat, and had been given a seat towards the back of the plane, in the middle section. The plane was filling up, but my whole row stayed empty! Yes, 4 seats all to myself! Unfortunately once the seatbelt sign went off, someone came and sat on the other end of my row. Still I couldn’t be greedy and was happy having 2 seats to myself. I busied myself eating my dinner and watching the Dawn Treader (to make up for missing the last half of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on my previous flight). I suddenly noticed that the other lady was taking up the rest of the 3 seats in the row!

After the movie finished I got up for a bathroom stop, and noticed the other lady doing the same thing. I thought it was a good opportunity to claim my other seat back, and curled up on both of them. It wasn’t particularly comfortable, but much better than just one seat between two strangers! I even managed to get a bit of sleep.

Landing was uneventful, and on the way through to immigration I bought a couple of duty free bottles of alcohol. I got through immigration nice and quickly, but had a couple of things to declare going through customs. The Swiss army knife got through ok, but I had bought another little souvenir knife for another friend, which I was concerned might be confiscated. After checking with her supervisor though, the customs officer advised me that it was ok and I was off.

I found my car (DH had explained pretty well where he parked), paid for the parking, and set off home via SIL’s to pick up the animals. It was a long drive home, the cats both had accidents in their carrier, and the duty free alcohol bottles broke, spilling Baileys all over my car floor. Still, it was nice to be home and I had a nice relaxing day.

And so we come to the end of my TR. Thanks for coming along – I’ve enjoyed the company.

THE END!
 
WOW! You did cram in a bit in the last day before your flight. Seems like it was a great day.

And how nice to have extra seats to yourself...but how cheeky was that other lady....not only taking seats in your row; but also claiming the other 2 spare ones as well!!! Glad you got one of them back. :thumbsup2
 
WOW! You did cram in a bit in the last day before your flight. Seems like it was a great day.

And how nice to have extra seats to yourself...but how cheeky was that other lady....not only taking seats in your row; but also claiming the other 2 spare ones as well!!! Glad you got one of them back. :thumbsup2

Yep, I like to holiday right til the very end :rotfl:

And yeah I was pretty surprised at how cheeky that lady was stealing the whole row like that!
 
Sorry for it to come to an end but i was glad to tag along! You had some great adventures and was glad to be a part of them!
 
Thanks for a fantastic TR and I have really enjoyed reading it! :thumbsup2

Glad to have you on board Travel Mum :thumbsup2

Sorry for it to come to an end but i was glad to tag along! You had some great adventures and was glad to be a part of them!

Yep, it's a shame holidays have to end eventually :sad2: It's nice to be able to re-live them with a TR though! I hope you've managed to pick up some tips for your trip to DLP.
 

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