ABD China 2017

[CaliforniaGirl09]

The "unique" things I'm packing for this trip are: prepackaged tissues, DEET repellant, glasses prescription, light rain gear, electric adaptor, sunglasses and sunscreen, hydrocortisone cream for insect bites, smog mask, walking shoes with grip, small backpack, hat, moisturizer, Frogg Togg chilly pads (I think). I am expecting hot, wet weather for early June, bugs and questionable air quality.

I got a concierge to take care of the Visas for Michael and myself. I am crossing my fingers it will all proceed smoothly. I ordered my currency today, getting a mixture of USD (for the tips mostly), HKD and Yuan.

What is everyone doing about phone plans? Michael has AT & T, but I am challenged calling him from Canada at the best of times the service is so wonky! I was hoping not even to turn my phone on and just go rogue!!

Great list! I don't think I'm going to bring a converter--the only electrical things we will have are iPhones and those are 110/220--but will be need plug adapters? Any previous adventurers remember whether the hotels that don't have American style plugs have adapters?

I've been going back and forth, but I don't think I'll bring my laptop. I've heard there are special checks required for laptops, and it's probably not worth dealing with. The only problem with this is going to be not having an easy way to backup my pictures.

As far as phone plans, I think we'll do the AT&T passport for all of us. It's $40 a person for 30 days with very limited data, but we can text between us for free. I hope the AT&T coverage is good. I do passport for Europe and overall it's been pretty decent. It's more a backup thing for us--emergency directions, uber, that kind of thing. I'm with you on turning off the phone. I'm looking forward to two weeks free of what I call "white noise" (social media, phones, email, etc).

I wish I had the energy to think of restaurants. I suspect we'll just be making last minute choices on local dumpling places--the family LOVES dumplings and we'll probably do that for most of our non-ABD meals where we can. We are usually too exhausted to think about motivating for fancy restaurants. Part of that probably has to do with where we live (SF bay area). So much good to choose from around here it makes us lazy when we travel, LOL.

 

[Karen Stevan]

The AT&T passport sounds like a great idea.

I agree about the restaurants and I don't want to set Michael and I up to always be running somewhere, which is why I am keeping Beijing flexible and reservation free. If my local choices prove too difficult, I am sure the guides will have suggestions. Lazy travel is super important given the frantic pace of getting ready for this splurge!

 

[CaliKris]

The reviews indicate it is a junk-like boat; it looks like a great way to see the skyline at night and celebrate the start of a magical trip!

Because we're doing the Tongli Water Town tour, we aren't going to Shanghai Disney the next day. I was looking at Shanghai Min because I thought they might have a tasting dinner, but was disappointed with the reservation system and my difficulty communicating. I also thought the Royal Banquet Hall looked appealing as a novelty, but thought it would be like the Beauty and the Beast dining experience in WDW, which was a little underwhelming. I think I am happiest staying with the ABD tour of Shanghai DL and spending our extra day off-site.

Our farewell dinner is at Shanghai Disneyland before the fireworks. I am wondering if that dinner will be at the Royal Banquet Hall as that is the only table service restaurant in Shanghai Disneyland. The other two table service restaurants (Lumiere's Kitchen and Aurora) are in the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel.

I have heard that both Barbossa's Bounty and Wandering Moon are both must do's in Shanghai Disneyland but they are both counter service.

We have booked Capital M in Beijing and then were looking at Country Kitchen, Red Bowl (both in the Rosewood) or Baoyuan Dumpling Restaurant for the second night. It is just hard to know how tired or full from lunch we might be.

 

[sayhello]

Our farewell dinner is at Shanghai Disneyland before the fireworks. I am wondering if that dinner will be at the Royal Banquet Hall as that is the only table service restaurant in Shanghai Disneyland. The other two table service restaurants (Lumiere's Kitchen and Aurora) are in the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel.

I was told the dinner will be at Club 33.

Sayhello

 

[Cousin Orville]

I was told the dinner will be at Club 33.

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Nice!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I was told the dinner will be at Club 33.

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As you know, I am so beyond excited about this!!!

 

[sayhello]

Nice!

Thanks!

As you know, I am so beyond excited about this!!!

Finally! Growing up in Southern California, I've wanted to go to Club 33 ever since I learned it existed! So it's not the California one; it's still going to be oh-so-cool!

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[AlixaLock]

I was told the dinner will be at Club 33.

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Thanks for sharing this ... I was assuming the Royal Banquet Hall, but this would be amazing! Now I'm left deciding between the Royal Banquet Hall and one of the other "Disney Town" restaurants for our second day at Shanghai Disney. I have not found many resources for trip reports and review of Shanghai Disney yet...

 

[AlixaLock]

The AT&T passport sounds like a great idea.

I agree about the restaurants and I don't want to set Michael and I up to always be running somewhere, which is why I am keeping Beijing flexible and reservation free. If my local choices prove too difficult, I am sure the guides will have suggestions. Lazy travel is super important given the frantic pace of getting ready for this splurge!

So totally agree! We always make lots reservations at this stage of the planning and pare down as we go...

 

[sayhello]

Great list! I don't think I'm going to bring a converter--the only electrical things we will have are iPhones and those are 110/220--but will be need plug adapters? Any previous adventurers remember whether the hotels that don't have American style plugs have adapters?

I've been going back and forth, but I don't think I'll bring my laptop. I've heard there are special checks required for laptops, and it's probably not worth dealing with. The only problem with this is going to be not having an easy way to backup my pictures.

As far as phone plans, I think we'll do the AT&T passport for all of us. It's $40 a person for 30 days with very limited data, but we can text between us for free. I hope the AT&T coverage is good. I do passport for Europe and overall it's been pretty decent. It's more a backup thing for us--emergency directions, uber, that kind of thing. I'm with you on turning off the phone. I'm looking forward to two weeks free of what I call "white noise" (social media, phones, email, etc).

I wish I had the energy to think of restaurants. I suspect we'll just be making last minute choices on local dumpling places--the family LOVES dumplings and we'll probably do that for most of our non-ABD meals where we can. We are usually too exhausted to think about motivating for fancy restaurants. Part of that probably has to do with where we live (SF bay area). So much good to choose from around here it makes us lazy when we travel, LOL.

Personally, I rely on the Guides quite a bit. They've never steered me wrong when it came to things to do or places to eat.

Verizon has a plan that sounds pretty similar to the AT&T passport. I'm planning on getting that. For me, it's the same - I want to have it for emergencies. I have to admit, I generally still use my tablet in the evenings to check facebook and post a few pictures while on a trip. Assuming we have WiFi. And the tablet is great for backing up my photos. Main reason I carry it.

I usually try to have at least one or two adapters with me. I don't want to take a chance that the hotel doesn't have one. But I have a small travel surge protector that has 3 plugs, so I only need one adapter for that. Works wonderfully.

The AT&T passport sounds like a great idea.

I agree about the restaurants and I don't want to set Michael and I up to always be running somewhere, which is why I am keeping Beijing flexible and reservation free. If my local choices prove too difficult, I am sure the guides will have suggestions. Lazy travel is super important given the frantic pace of getting ready for this splurge!

The Guides will definitely have suggestions, and as I said above, I tend to rely on that a lot. Sometimes, we'll have huge lunches, and I just won't want a big sit-down meal. Or I'll be pooped & order room service or eat in the hotel. I probably miss out on some great restaurants by not researching that much ahead of time, but I prefer the flexibility!

Sayhello

 

[Karen Stevan]

Wow! Club 33 for dinner. Given the cost of this adventure, I've paid my membership fees and annual dues, so very fitting!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Finally! Growing up in Southern California, I've wanted to go to Club 33 ever since I learned it existed! So it's not the California one; it's still going to be oh-so-cool!
Sayhello

I know exactly what you mean. It's been a bucket list item for me. I'd hoped to do it with BSM but my tour was a few months after they stopped going there. Similarly we did a VIP tour--which could sometimes get you in--but it was right after the remodeling was complete and it was too packed. I know it's not the original or the same, but it will be cool nonetheless

 

[Calfan]

Great list! I don't think I'm going to bring a converter--the only electrical things we will have are iPhones and those are 110/220--but will be need plug adapters? Any previous adventurers remember whether the hotels that don't have American style plugs have adapters?

None of the hotels on our trip (including the Ritz Carlton Chengdu) had American style plugs. We needed adapters at every hotel. Since we had brought them, I didn't need to ask whether the hotels could supply adapters, so I can't help there.

 

[Calfan]

Verizon has a plan that sounds pretty similar to the AT&T passport. I'm planning on getting that. For me, it's the same - I want to have it for emergencies. I have to admit, I generally still use my tablet in the evenings to check facebook and post a few pictures while on a trip. Assuming we have WiFi. And the tablet is great for backing up my photos. Main reason I carry it.

Just wanted to make sure you were aware that you won't be able to access Facebook in China without a VPN since China blocks access to many social media sites. I did a one-month VPN subscription so I could access and post on FB while in China. It worked great, but I remember reading that the government is cracking down on VPN use to access these sites.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Just wanted to make sure you were aware that you won't be able to access Facebook in China without a VPN since China blocks access to many social media sites. I did a one-month VPN subscription so I could access and post on FB while in China. It worked great, but I remember reading that the government is cracking down on VPN use to access these sites.

I had a VPN as well. Though the only place I needed it was in Beijing. I wasn't able to access my g-mail on hotel wi-fi. I don't actively do FB (rarely, if ever, do I go on -- I de-activated my account for over 2 years and only went back on because FB said someone in China was supposedly trying to hack my account).

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

None of the hotels on our trip (including the Ritz Carlton Chengdu) had American style plugs. We needed adapters at every hotel. Since we had brought them, I didn't need to ask whether the hotels could supply adapters, so I can't help there.

Okay, sounds like I better get at least one adapter. Thanks!

 

[sayhello]

None of the hotels on our trip (including the Ritz Carlton Chengdu) had American style plugs. We needed adapters at every hotel. Since we had brought them, I didn't need to ask whether the hotels could supply adapters, so I can't help there.

Where did you buy your adapters? The places I've checked lately have these big, bulky Universal adapters, and I've not had luck with those. I have UK style ones for Hong Kong, but I'm not positive what to bring for China. Stuff I read is conflicting.

Just wanted to make sure you were aware that you won't be able to access Facebook in China without a VPN since China blocks access to many social media sites. I did a one-month VPN subscription so I could access and post on FB while in China. It worked great, but I remember reading that the government is cracking down on VPN use to access these sites.

Yep, I knew about that, and I actually talked to @Cousin Orville about it. Just waiting until a week or so out so that one month will cover the whole trip. But thanks! I'm going to need it for FB and gmail both. Not sure about the DIS...

Sayhello

 

[Calfan]

Where did you buy your adapters? The places I've checked lately have these big, bulky Universal adapters, and I've not had luck with those. I have UK style ones for Hong Kong, but I'm not positive what to bring for China. Stuff I read is conflicting.
Sayhello

We had a set of adapters that came with a converter we bought years ago, but I also bought an additional adapter set since we were going to be in two rooms so each room could have an adapter. I bought the set off of Amazon, but I can't remember the exact one I bought. Here's a link to something on Amazon that is a 3-pack of the type of adapter needed for China. You probably don't want 3, but it will show you the correct shape/style. It's a 3-prong, but they are slanted.

https://www.amazon.com/Ceptics-Chin...347205&sr=8-1&keywords=plug+adapter+for+china

 

[sayhello]

We had a set of adapters that came with a converter we bought years ago, but I also bought an additional adapter set since we were going to be in two rooms so each room could have an adapter. I bought the set off of Amazon, but I can't remember the exact one I bought. Here's a link to something on Amazon that is a 3-pack of the type of adapter needed for China. You probably don't want 3, but it will show you the correct shape/style. It's a 3-prong, but they are slanted.

https://www.amazon.com/Ceptics-Chin...347205&sr=8-1&keywords=plug+adapter+for+china

Thanks! That's exactly what I needed to know!

Sayhello

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

We had a set of adapters that came with a converter we bought years ago, but I also bought an additional adapter set since we were going to be in two rooms so each room could have an adapter. I bought the set off of Amazon, but I can't remember the exact one I bought. Here's a link to something on Amazon that is a 3-pack of the type of adapter needed for China. You probably don't want 3, but it will show you the correct shape/style. It's a 3-prong, but they are slanted.

https://www.amazon.com/Ceptics-Chin...347205&sr=8-1&keywords=plug+adapter+for+china

Thanks for the link! Exactly what I was looking for, too.