Anyone Considering the Annual Passholder Trip to China this Summer?

[MKMK]

We have called to inquire as it sounds great, but not many people have signed up.

 

[sayhello]

I have heard absolutely nothing about this. Of course, that may be because I'm not an annual passholder. Which departure is it?

Sayhello

 

[MKMK]

Departs July 8th... starts in Disneyland, then on to Hong Kong Disney and finally Shanghai Disney... plus various other stops you would expect (Wall, Forbidden City etc.).

 

[sayhello]

I found a link to the itinerary. It sounds like the same itinerary that the DIS is doing. I can't imagine going all the way to China and not seeing the Gumdrop mountains and the Terracotta Warriors. It spends the entire time in the city. I guess it's great for people whose main objective is to see 2 of the Asian Parks.

https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...ina-parks/PDF/AbD_AP_China_Flyer_Oct_2016.pdf

Sayhello

ETA: Maybe they are all waiting to see if they won the trip or not. The Sweepstakes ends on the 28th.

http://www.**************.net/2016/...ffers-free-trip-to-disneys-china-theme-parks/

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Totally agree, Sayhello! Gumdrop mountains and Terra Cotta warriors are two of my big must sees (the others being Pandas and the Great Wall).

 

[carpenta]

It was on the news today that Hong Kong Disney has posted a 22 million dollar loss......along with ESPN the only dark spots on their financial ledgers. The people say the park "is too small". Probably those who went to Disney World first. Like you Sayhello traveling so many miles I would also want to see so much more.

 

[OhanaCuz]

I've been entering the contest every day trying to win spots on this trip.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Yeah it looks pretty much the same as the DIS ABD Kevin created. It sacrifices Guilin, Xian and Chengdu for more time in Shanghai and HK. For those, like Sayhello, doing the original China ABD, you will not be disappointed. Gumdrop Mountains and Terra-cotta Warriors are absolutely incredible. Even Chengdu was a big surprise to me of how much I loved it. However, it left me with a desire to spend more time in Shanghai and HK. I think I've said this before, but it deserves repeating... If you're doing the classic China ABD and are a big Disney Parks fan, plan on spending at least another day in HK. The visit to HKDL by ABD was very brief. Even the day tour of HK (the city) by ABD is pretty abbreviated. It's worth spending some extra time in HK/Shanghai if you can.

Yeah, I think anyone going to HKDL and expecting the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland will probably be disappointed a little. It's different. For one, it's a little over 10 yrs old, not 40 or 60 yrs old. So it doesn't have as many attractions. But it does have Mystic Manor and that's reason enough to visit! We spent 3 half days at HKDL and that was enough for me. In fairness probably a quarter of that time was riding Mystic Manor several times. Grizzly Mountain was also very unique and very good.

 

[OhanaCuz]

If you're doing the classic China ABD and are a big Disney Parks fan, plan on spending at least another day in HK. The visit to HKDL by ABD was very brief. Even the day tour of HK (the city) by ABD is pretty abbreviated. It's worth spending some extra time in HK/Shanghai if you can.

I was very surprised in the tour description of how they have regular sight seeing activities planned on the days that you go to HK and Shanghai Disney. One day doesn't seem like nearly enough time to explore a new park you've never been to, much less a partial day.

 

[Cousin Orville]

I was very surprised in the tour description of how they have regular sight seeing activities planned on the days that you go to HK and Shanghai Disney. One day doesn't seem like nearly enough time to explore a new park you've never been to, much less a partial day.

Preaching to the choir here, but China is so vast if you're there for 2 wks, something's gotta give. I loved the classic China ABD. It really hits the major sites, but there's so much they have to leave off. I don't think it's ABD's fault. They just run out of time.

I believe you get to HKDL around 3:00 and have maybe 4 hours to tour around before dinner at the Plaza Restaurant. A number of the teens on the trip skipped the final dinner to hang our in the park more. I was jealous.

ABD guests are interesting. Before I went on an ABD I would have guessed all ABD guests are hard core Parks fans, but that's just not the case. I didn't pole everyone about whether they felt they had enough time in HKDL, but I'm sure a number of them were completely satisfied with their few hours. Case in point, there was one other family who stayed several days extra in HK and they didn't go back to HKDL. They actually spent a day at Ocean Park (another popular park in HK). So, I'm sure there's a range of opinions out there. For me I'm pretty passionate about both traveling and Disney Parks, so that doesn't help much.

For me, I was able to Mystic Manor a couple of times, Grizzly Mt, one or two rides in Fantasyland, and shop a bit down Main Street. I did not get to Tomorrowland, skipped most of Adventureland, wasn't terribly interested in Toy Story Land... I think you need at least a full day there. So we went back 2 more mornings after the ABD was over.

I'd equally stress much is left out of HK. Most notably seeing the HK skyline lit up at night. Shanghai is kind of the same way, except in the classic China ABD you do have dinner on the Bund with the opportunity to go out to the balcony to see the skyline. If you do nothing else in these 2 cities you should see them lit up at night if only briefly. They are the 2 best skylines in the world. But you also don't get the chance to see the HK streets lit up at night, like Mong Kok with all it's neon. The food HK is famous for... It's a really cool city.

It's a great ABD. One of my favorites, but it needs a couple more days on each end.

 

[MKMK]

We spent time in Hong Kong/China for work pre-kids. We have been looking forward to introducing them to China and originally thought about China ABD next summer. When I saw this option, thought it might be more "fun" (the parks part) as the kids are still young and don't fully appreciate the historic sights (i.e. they loved the ABD Danube River Cruise last year - could care less about the history, but loved playing with the other kids). After reading this thread, maybe we just wait till next year and do the China ABD.

 

[Cassamenia]

My first disboards post! I, too, have been entering everyday. Winning is the only way I could afford an ABD. I am not even sure I can afford the taxes on this trip if I do win. The sacrifices for Hong Kong and Shanghai are huge but if it is a free trip, I won't complain.

 

[Cousin Orville]

We spent time in Hong Kong/China for work pre-kids. We have been looking forward to introducing them to China and originally thought about China ABD next summer. When I saw this option, thought it might be more "fun" (the parks part) as the kids are still young and don't fully appreciate the historic sights (i.e. they loved the ABD Danube River Cruise last year - could care less about the history, but loved playing with the other kids). After reading this thread, maybe we just wait till next year and do the China ABD.

They're both good options. I'm going back this Fall on the DIS China trip which is basically the same itinerary as this AP China trip, and I'm very excited about it. I think it just depends on what you want to see in China. The clear advantage to this trip is you're staying at the Disneyland Hotels so there is a clear focus on the Parks (at least in HK and Shanghai). And you spend more days in HK and Shanghai, both of which are cut short on the regular ABD. It's designed with the Disney Parks enthusiast in mind. The clear advantage of the regular China ABD is seeing the Terra-cotta Warriors and Gum Drop Mountains, but with a lot less time in the parks.

 

[MKMK]

They're both good options. I'm going back this Fall on the DIS China trip which is basically the same itinerary as this AP China trip, and I'm very excited about it. I think it just depends on what you want to see in China. The clear advantage to this trip is you're staying at the Disneyland Hotels so there is a clear focus on the Parks (at least in HK and Shanghai). And you spend more days in HK and Shanghai, both of which are cut short on the regular ABD. It's designed with the Disney Parks enthusiast in mind. The clear advantage of the regular China ABD is seeing the Terra-cotta Warriors and Gum Drop Mountains, but with a lot less time in the parks.

Agreed. I was drawn to the Parks aspect of the AP trip as I thought the kids would enjoy that itinerary more than the regular China ABD.

 

[sayhello]

I believe you get to HKDL around 3:00 and have maybe 4 hours to tour around before dinner at the Plaza Restaurant. A number of the teens on the trip skipped the final dinner to hang our in the park more. I was jealous.

ABD guests are interesting. Before I went on an ABD I would have guessed all ABD guests are hard core Parks fans, but that's just not the case. I didn't pole everyone about whether they felt they had enough time in HKDL, but I'm sure a number of them were completely satisfied with their few hours. Case in point, there was one other family who stayed several days extra in HK and they didn't go back to HKDL. They actually spent a day at Ocean Park (another popular park in HK). So, I'm sure there's a range of opinions out there. For me I'm pretty passionate about both traveling and Disney Parks, so that doesn't help much.

Since they've re-arranged the order of the days for this year's itinerary, we benefit from the fact that our time at HKDL is not our final night on the ABD, so there's no Farewell dinner to deal with. In fact, dinner that night is On Your Own, so I imagine most of us will be scarfing down counter service food, and continuing to enjoy the park.

While we *do* have our Farewell dinner at Shanghai Disneyland, we arrive at the Park before lunch, and have lunch on our own, as well as the afternoon on our own. And then Fireworks after dinner.

I *am*, along with CaliforniaGirl09, planning a post-day to return to Shanghai Disneyland & do things we didn't get to the previous day. I'm doing a pre-day in Hong Kong, also, but I'm not sure how up to running around a Disney Park I'll be after traveling for upwards of 19 hours and arriving in the early evening. We're playing that one by ear.

I do love the Disney Parks, although I would not term myself as hard core. I haven't been to WDW in a few years. They're scheduling all the things that make WDW fun to me out of the experience. I do still go to Disneyland, which I prefer to WDW anyways. And I *am* looking forward to the time in HKDL & Shanghai DL. But not enough to give up Guilin, Xian & Chengdu!

Sayhello

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I'm just going to ditto sayhello--exactly! And cousin Orville, I'm taking notes

 

[Calfan]

Count me as another who would not want to give up Guillin/Yanshuo (the "Gumdrop Mountains," which, BTW is an exclusively Disney nickname; our guide on our China trip with Thomson Family Adventures had never heard of the limestone karst formations being called the Gumdrop Mountains, LOL), Xian (Terracotta Warriors) and Chengdu (pandas). In fact, the three days we spend in Yangshuo among the Gumdrop Mountains were my very favorite of our China trip. We added on two days at the end of our trip for Shanghai Disneyland, which was fantastic, but I wouldn't want to sacrifice traditional China touring and activities for the parks.

 

[wilkeliza]

We totally would have been on board but we already have a 2 week Europe trip booked so can't take any more time off. When I heard about it it sparked my interest though.

 

[sayhello]

Count me as another who would not want to give up Guillin/Yanshuo (the "Gumdrop Mountains," which, BTW is an exclusively Disney nickname; our guide on our China trip with Thomson Family Adventures had never heard of the limestone karst formations being called the Gumdrop Mountains, LOL), Xian (Terracotta Warriors) and Chengdu (pandas). In fact, the three days we spend in Yangshuo among the Gumdrop Mountains were my very favorite of our China trip. We added on two days at the end of our trip for Shanghai Disneyland, which was fantastic, but I wouldn't want to sacrifice traditional China touring and activities for the parks.

A quick google brings up a few non-Disney references to the Gumdrop Mountains in Guilin. (Not a ton, but definitely some). I'm pretty sure I knew they were called that before ABD...

Sayhello

 

[Calfan]

A quick google brings up a few non-Disney references to the Gumdrop Mountains in Guilin. (Not a ton, but definitely some). I'm pretty sure I knew they were called that before ABD...

Sayhello

Ok. Interesting.