12 Night China May 15, 2011

[DisFan10]

Except for dog! The menu of a restaurant in Yangshou listed several dog dishes! I would NEVER, EVER try dog meat!!! That is just sick and disgusting!!!

 

[disneyphx]

Hi abdmom,

My daughter was 5 when we did this trip last summer. She did great - but she has done long distance travel quite a bit, so we knew how she dealt with long trips and jet lag - which is better than we do!
The guides paid attention to her having food she liked etc.
I did not expect her to take everything in and kind of let her go at her own pace. But it is amazing what she took in - last night she 'narrated' our trip DVD for some friends and it was just hilarious.
Also, we took a stroller which was a lifesaver, especially in Tiananmen Square/Forbidden City and in Shangai. But 6 is a bit trickier....

hope that helps

 

[iloveokw]

A nice box came yesterday from ABD with goodies and info!

 

[sayhello]

A nice box came yesterday from ABD with goodies and info!

Cool! What's in this year's goodie box?

Sayhello

 

[iloveokw]

Two really nice ABD Backpacks, 2 heavy duty bags for carryon liquids, checklists, info and phone numbers for me who isn't going

 

[sayhello]

Two really nice ABD Backpacks, 2 heavy duty bags for carryon liquids, checklists, info and phone numbers for me who isn't going

Cool!

But wait! Was there no countdown calendar???? I *LOVE* the countdown calendar!

Sayhello

 

[stitchmb]

we are also going to China this year with our 8 and 12 year old girls. I heard it is really really hot, is this true we are a little worried about this.

 

[SteveInCA]

we are also going to China this year with our 8 and 12 year old girls. I heard it is really really hot, is this true we are a little worried about this.

We went on the ABD tour to Chna last June, and yes, it was quite hot. However, I wouldn't say that it was unbearable. The guides kept us supplied with lots of water, and that kept us hydrated.

Also, most of the time, we weren't spending hours and hours out in the heat - you'd have a chance to cool off again in the bus or some air conditioned building. The only really long exposures were day 1 at the Forbidden City and the day we spent at the Expo in Shanghai.

Don't worry too much about it. Just drink lots of water and all will be fine.

 

[jm-mom]

We were in Beijing then farther south in Nanchang, Jiangxi and finally Guangzhou in the far south in August and it was hot. The farther south we went, the hotter it got. Not to be gross but with the heat and humidity came strong smells. The normally polluted air seemed thicker and smellier as did many of the people. I'm not sure their bathing habits are the same as ours. As the previous poster said, the Forbidden City was the hottest. Remember that a lot of their "tourist" sights are very old and not air conditioned. Even in the heat, once we got out of the city, like at the Great Wall, it was a lot better. Despite the heat, it was an absolutely awesome experience. Oh and one more thing -- the beds are very hard. We were in 4 star hotels, very nice places, but every bed felt like we were sleeping on plywood. The linens and pillows were fine though. One other tip we found helpful was that most of the hotels had very good, inexpensive room service. But don't buy your bottled water at the hotel. Ask your guide for a reputable shop in the neighborhood. You'll pay a lot less.

 

[2GirlsMama]

We have been to China four times (two adoption trips, and two vacations) Each trip was in July and each trip was exceptionally HOT. The most recent trip a heat record was set in Beijing the day we toured the Forbidden City. It was 106 degrees with very high humidity. It is HOT! The ABD guides do a great job of making sure you have lots of water and that you remember to drink it! They stopped our tour just for water breaks. You do not need to ask the guides for places to buy water. They make sure you have lots of water all day long.

Oh, did I mention that it was HOT!!!!!

 

[2GirlsMama]

Oh, and I wanted to mention that the beds during our adoption trips were very hard. The beds on the ABD trip are not the same. The ABD hotels are the highest luxury possible. They are extremely comfortable. It was very different than the adoption trips. Luxury is key during the ABD trip.

The tip to take toilet paper with you is one of the best! Keep an open mind and enjoy every minute of this excellent adventure.

 

[disneypins4fun]

My husband and I am part of the May 15 China trip. This will be my very first ABD experience. We are used to traveling on our own until now. So, I'm very glad to find this thread! I would love to get an information regarding traffic in Beijing and Hong Kong. Do you suggest using Metro to get around to avoid traffic? or did everyone use taxi? Also, in Hong Kong Disneyland at Crystal Lotus restaurant were you able to see and experience their famous Disney Character Dim Sum? Our tour ends on Friday... they usually serve Disney Character Dim Sum only on weekends Thank you so much for the tip regarding TP and antibiotic wipes I just put them on my packing list! Only one week before we leave! I'd appreciate any suggestions!

 

[WeLoveABD]

My husband and I am part of the May 15 China trip. This will be my very first ABD experience. We are used to traveling on our own until now. So, I'm very glad to find this thread! I would love to get an information regarding traffic in Beijing and Hong Kong. Do you suggest using Metro to get around to avoid traffic? or did everyone use taxi? Also, in Hong Kong Disneyland at Crystal Lotus restaurant were you able to see and experience their famous Disney Character Dim Sum? Our tour ends on Friday... they usually serve Disney Character Dim Sum only on weekends Thank you so much for the tip regarding TP and antibiotic wipes I just put them on my packing list! Only one week before we leave! I'd appreciate any suggestions!

We arrived in Bejing a couple of days before the triip started--and used that time and some free afternoon time during the ABD portion to see sites around town. We took a taxi to the summer palace (very worth while and you could spend a day there--park, lake, various buildings, the stone ship etc)--crazy traffic, but dirt cheap taxi rates; be sure to have your hotel give you a card and write the desintation on the back! (And use the front to return) We also did the subway in Bejing--this was right before the Olympics so there was english on the subway signs, very handy--otherwise we would not have used it. Efficient, crowded--but cool to have done it (we used it to get to the main Budda Temple in Bejing). We stayed at the Bejing Penninsula--next to where the night market is held (live scorpions on a stick)--and there is a very upscale enclosed mall walkable from the hotel (we also walked to the Forbidden City area and walked some of the grounds--but a tour of this is part of your ABD experience so no need to get tickets and wait in line to go inside).

In Hong Kong...I cannot remember if we had character Dim Sum at the hotel restaurant (we might have--but the trip had so much, hard to remember some of the details--you do have a Dim Sum dinner--or was it lunch?--in Shanghi, as I recall. I loved the grounds of Hong Kong Disneyland--especially the walk from the hotel to the park. We could have taken a boat across the bay to Hong Kong one evening, but opted not to do that--there is a nice pool at the hotel, and it is very much like the Grand Floridian at WDW, or the hotel at Disneyland Paris (closest to the park). Nice small maze on the bay side of the hotel, too. I can't really speak to the mass transit in Hong Kong--eventually there will be boats going to and from HK to the hotel/park (the piers are built). I believe you can subway from the park to HK as well.

When we went, China was still recovering from the earthquake, so we did not go to the panda reserve (instead, we saw them up close and personal at the Bejing zoo, where many of the rescued pandas were brought). They also did not have a visit to the terricotta warriors built into the trip--which we would have loved! the stay at the Hotel of Modern Art was fantastic--be sure to hop on bikes they provide and see the grounds with all of the cool art, streams, large ponds, statues etc etc. It was absolutely breathtaking.

Great trip--enjoy!!

 

[disneypins4fun]

Thank you for your great info. We will be arriving around 10:00 am in the morning before the welcome reception, and I was planning to take the Taxi to "Summer Palace"! You read my mind! Depending on our schedule, if ABD does not include "Temple of Heaven" I was hoping to use the Metro during our Free Time while we are in Beijing to see Temple of Heaven, but if that is included, I will definitely take the Metro to see the Lama Temple. Your information has really made my mind at ease. I've been little nervous not knowing what to expect... (By the way, my husband can't wait to try the scorpion on the stick, he saw it on Travel Channel...) Hope to keep everyone here posted once we begin our exciting ABD experience! PS Oh, I asked the ABD person regarding the Dim Sum, and she replied "Please allow Disney to create Magic for you." More Pixie Dust perhaps??

 

[WeLoveABD]

Thank you for your great info. We will be arriving around 10:00 am in the morning before the welcome reception, and I was planning to take the Taxi to "Summer Palace"! You read my mind! Depending on our schedule, if ABD does not include "Temple of Heaven" I was hoping to use the Metro during our Free Time while we are in Beijing to see Temple of Heaven, but if that is included, I will definitely take the Metro to see the Lama Temple. Your information has really made my mind at ease. I've been little nervous not knowing what to expect... (By the way, my husband can't wait to try the scorpion on the stick, he saw it on Travel Channel...) Hope to keep everyone here posted once we begin our exciting ABD experience! PS Oh, I asked the ABD person regarding the Dim Sum, and she replied "Please allow Disney to create Magic for you." More Pixie Dust perhaps??

We went to the Temple of Heaven with ABD (part of a fun morning in a large park, with large groups dancing, doing ti chi (probably misspelled!), etc--at every turn, something fascinating--riding the pedicabs, visiting in a few homes and on and on. And of course--the guides are great (you'll see that theme in all of our threads on this board!) Lots of pixie dust--!

 

[dismom58]

I haven't been on the ABD trip but I work for a middle school and we take our finance academy students every 3 years. One thing I brought last trip (In June 08)was my Disney fan.(the type that holds water and is battery operated) We had alot of times this came in handy. The heat is like the weather in Orlando in the summer so if you go to disney in June you will know how to pack for China. Hope your trip is everything you want. We aren't going for another year and I can't wait its a fascinating country.

 

[iloveokw]

They are almost packed up and are very excited about their departure this Friday! They were wondering if anyone had any ideas on something they could bring from home as gifts for special people they meet?

 

[lizavance]

We have started to pack and are soooo excited!

Some of the gift ideas I hope to use - enameled chopsticks with case for the Asian food fans, silk bathrobes (with big embroidered designs on the back) for my grown daughter, stuffed disney characters and souvenirs from HKDL for my disney freak co-workers.

I have no idea what to get for my 11 year old grandson. Any other ideas?

 

[dismom58]

When we were there as we walked thru the summer palace we came across children playing wiht a flying toy on a string. They sold them for around 1.00
so I picked a few up for my nieces. It was locally made colorful and diffferent.
Great for something to show their friends. Sure you will see local items appropriate for your 11 year old. Take it as it comes while touring. Also CLoisoine is a Chineese hand crafted porceline which comes in many shapes and uses. I picked up some wonderful panda and turtle christmas ornaments.

 

[disneypins4fun]

First, thank you everyone for all the information. Our bedroom floor is covered with clothes and things we might take or not! I was wondering what did everyone do about laundry in China? Used Hotel Laundry service? My husband is worried if we wash socks etc in humid country, it won't dry in time when we are on the move. Any suggestions? I'm hoping maybe the hotel laundry service won't be too expensive? 2nd, what would people in China would like to get from US? I would love to pack something to give our concierge in China or to people we might meet during tour. (Ofcourse, its getting harder to find somethings in US that is not Made in China...LOL)