cheryl.UK
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- Aug 30, 1999
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Cheryl and Boris Hit Hong Kong Disney
We waited to do Disney until the last 4 nights of our 2 week holiday to Hong Kong because we didnt want Disney to colour our view s of Hong Kong. It was always a place wed planned to visit. Boris tells people that the only reason hed persuaded me to go was the promise of going a HKD. This isnt entirely true but it certainly brought our trip forward a few years.
Day 1
We left the Sheraton Hotel in Kowloon at around 11am and took a taxi over to Lantau Island where Disney and the Airport are situated. Just like WDW and DLP, you know youre getting close because Mickey ears start to appear on the road signs. As we drove onto Disney property we experienced the usual rush as the verges of the road turned instantly into the perfectly manicured boarders we are used to.
As the hotel came into view, my Disney grim crept across my face and Bo began to giggle. Those of you whove met him probably know him as rather quiet. Youve not met his Disney self. Hes bi-polar when it comes to Disney.
The hotel is in the same family as the GH and the Disneyland Hotel in Paris. Its white with a red roof, colonial looking. Its only been open since February so its still absolutely perfect. As we stepped out of the taxi not one but 4 bellboys rushed over to help us with our things. They whisked us into reception. It was light, airy with sofas and the most enormous gold and glass chandeliers.
Once wed checked in we were shown to our room which appeared at first to be on the first floor but we realised later was actually on the second. Wed chosen a Fantasy room that took up half of one of the turrets at the end one of the wings. The room was huge and beautiful. The bedspread had pictures of snow white and other princesses within the pattern and the armchair was big enough for 2, we tried it. Our bathroom had a large corner whirlpool bath and the bath area was also a wet room with one of those huge showerheads that drop water over your head like rain. Once wed bounced around it for a while and unpacked we set off for the park.
You can take a shuttle bus to the park but the stop is not very close to the gates. Its actually as quick to walk.
As we approached the gates I started skipping. Oh yes its not just Boris who goes bi-polar. And yes I cried. Happens every time.
You enter under the railway station and as you come out, Main Street lies before you with a view of the castle at the end. Think MK but 1/3 of the size, literally. The shops look almost identical, as does City Hall, except they are all 1/3 of the size, even in height. We took in the sights for a few minutes and Bo bought me a balloon then we jumped on the train for a ride around the park. You get a glimpse of all of the main attractions as you go around.
One thing I should warn you about the castle, its very small. Not the towering beauty of WDW or DLP and its battlements for the backdrop to Fantasyland. Feeling hungry we headed down Main Street and ate at the bakery before heading over to Adventureland to the Jungle cruise. There are 3 lines there, English, Cantonese and Mandarin. The ride itself is pretty similar to WDW but the animals have better animatronics. The jokes are no better though. The other attractions in this land are Festival of the Lion King (which we did another day) and Tarzans Tree House (which we skipped) Think Swiss Family Robinson except its Tarzan.
I was desperate to see Dumbo so we headed over to Fantasyland.
Dumbo was busy so we headed into Mickeys Philharmagic. 
Its identical to the ones in DSP and MK, and in English. The Chinese absolutely loved it. Almost everyone was trying to catch the 3D instruments and gems. The other rides in Fantasyland were the Teacups, Dumbo, Pooh and the Carousel.
Once wed come out we went on Pooh. The lines are short for Pooh in MK and I think this added to our enjoyment cos Id always been a bit disappointed in WDW. Once wed done Pooh, we sat and waited for the parade. It was then that I began to realise that the sun had certainly heated up and come out from behind the clouds. Bo and I both have fair skin and burn easily se we knew that after the parade we had better go find some shade. The parade was fantastic. Its at this point that I might point out that Both Boris and myself are, how shall I put it, vertically challenged. Normally we have trouble seeing a parade if there is someone in front of us standing. No such problem in HK. In HK, my 5 2 frame is TALL. The 2 teenage girls in front of us were 410 and our view was perfect. The parade looked to be the same one that was in DLP a few years ago, a homage to most of the Disney films from Snow white to Toy Story.
Once the parade passed us we made our way to Futureworld and Buzz Lightyears Spin. We love this ride and can be very competitive. Boris won THIS TIME!
After that the heat was beginning to tell and having not brought our sun cream we decided to head back to shops and from their the hotel. I have to say that I LOVE SHOPPING and had really been looking forward to buying loads of HK Disney stuff but the choice wasnt as big as Id hoped and much of it could have come from any Disney park.
At around 6pm we headed back to the hotel. The walk back was magical. You walk along these beautiful pathways with trees, flowers and fountains to the soundtrack of Disney songs. It takes around 10 minutes and fro those 10 minutes we didnt see another soul. All that just for us.
We rested for a while, showered and went down to the main restaurant for a meal. Its more upmarket than the typical Disney character buffet with white linen tablecloths and napkins. The food ranged from Indian to Chinese to European. The puddings were the best bit. May of them were perfectly formed miniature puds like you see on a sampler plate. So we took a dinner plate and made our own sampler (of everything!) Just when I though Id eaten enough pud for an army, Boris pointed out that the chocolate fountain in the middle was not just for decoration so we made fruit kebabs and drizzled melted choc over them from the fountain. As the hotel wasnt very busy, the characters spent loads of time with us. If I can manage to work our how to post pictures Ill add some. We met Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and Pluto.
After that we had a drink at the bar overlooking the South China Sea and went to bed dreaming loads of lovely Disney dreams.
We waited to do Disney until the last 4 nights of our 2 week holiday to Hong Kong because we didnt want Disney to colour our view s of Hong Kong. It was always a place wed planned to visit. Boris tells people that the only reason hed persuaded me to go was the promise of going a HKD. This isnt entirely true but it certainly brought our trip forward a few years.
Day 1
We left the Sheraton Hotel in Kowloon at around 11am and took a taxi over to Lantau Island where Disney and the Airport are situated. Just like WDW and DLP, you know youre getting close because Mickey ears start to appear on the road signs. As we drove onto Disney property we experienced the usual rush as the verges of the road turned instantly into the perfectly manicured boarders we are used to.
As the hotel came into view, my Disney grim crept across my face and Bo began to giggle. Those of you whove met him probably know him as rather quiet. Youve not met his Disney self. Hes bi-polar when it comes to Disney.
The hotel is in the same family as the GH and the Disneyland Hotel in Paris. Its white with a red roof, colonial looking. Its only been open since February so its still absolutely perfect. As we stepped out of the taxi not one but 4 bellboys rushed over to help us with our things. They whisked us into reception. It was light, airy with sofas and the most enormous gold and glass chandeliers.
Once wed checked in we were shown to our room which appeared at first to be on the first floor but we realised later was actually on the second. Wed chosen a Fantasy room that took up half of one of the turrets at the end one of the wings. The room was huge and beautiful. The bedspread had pictures of snow white and other princesses within the pattern and the armchair was big enough for 2, we tried it. Our bathroom had a large corner whirlpool bath and the bath area was also a wet room with one of those huge showerheads that drop water over your head like rain. Once wed bounced around it for a while and unpacked we set off for the park.
You can take a shuttle bus to the park but the stop is not very close to the gates. Its actually as quick to walk.
As we approached the gates I started skipping. Oh yes its not just Boris who goes bi-polar. And yes I cried. Happens every time.
You enter under the railway station and as you come out, Main Street lies before you with a view of the castle at the end. Think MK but 1/3 of the size, literally. The shops look almost identical, as does City Hall, except they are all 1/3 of the size, even in height. We took in the sights for a few minutes and Bo bought me a balloon then we jumped on the train for a ride around the park. You get a glimpse of all of the main attractions as you go around.
One thing I should warn you about the castle, its very small. Not the towering beauty of WDW or DLP and its battlements for the backdrop to Fantasyland. Feeling hungry we headed down Main Street and ate at the bakery before heading over to Adventureland to the Jungle cruise. There are 3 lines there, English, Cantonese and Mandarin. The ride itself is pretty similar to WDW but the animals have better animatronics. The jokes are no better though. The other attractions in this land are Festival of the Lion King (which we did another day) and Tarzans Tree House (which we skipped) Think Swiss Family Robinson except its Tarzan.
I was desperate to see Dumbo so we headed over to Fantasyland.
Dumbo was busy so we headed into Mickeys Philharmagic. Its identical to the ones in DSP and MK, and in English. The Chinese absolutely loved it. Almost everyone was trying to catch the 3D instruments and gems. The other rides in Fantasyland were the Teacups, Dumbo, Pooh and the Carousel.Once wed come out we went on Pooh. The lines are short for Pooh in MK and I think this added to our enjoyment cos Id always been a bit disappointed in WDW. Once wed done Pooh, we sat and waited for the parade. It was then that I began to realise that the sun had certainly heated up and come out from behind the clouds. Bo and I both have fair skin and burn easily se we knew that after the parade we had better go find some shade. The parade was fantastic. Its at this point that I might point out that Both Boris and myself are, how shall I put it, vertically challenged. Normally we have trouble seeing a parade if there is someone in front of us standing. No such problem in HK. In HK, my 5 2 frame is TALL. The 2 teenage girls in front of us were 410 and our view was perfect. The parade looked to be the same one that was in DLP a few years ago, a homage to most of the Disney films from Snow white to Toy Story.
Once the parade passed us we made our way to Futureworld and Buzz Lightyears Spin. We love this ride and can be very competitive. Boris won THIS TIME!
After that the heat was beginning to tell and having not brought our sun cream we decided to head back to shops and from their the hotel. I have to say that I LOVE SHOPPING and had really been looking forward to buying loads of HK Disney stuff but the choice wasnt as big as Id hoped and much of it could have come from any Disney park.
At around 6pm we headed back to the hotel. The walk back was magical. You walk along these beautiful pathways with trees, flowers and fountains to the soundtrack of Disney songs. It takes around 10 minutes and fro those 10 minutes we didnt see another soul. All that just for us.
We rested for a while, showered and went down to the main restaurant for a meal. Its more upmarket than the typical Disney character buffet with white linen tablecloths and napkins. The food ranged from Indian to Chinese to European. The puddings were the best bit. May of them were perfectly formed miniature puds like you see on a sampler plate. So we took a dinner plate and made our own sampler (of everything!) Just when I though Id eaten enough pud for an army, Boris pointed out that the chocolate fountain in the middle was not just for decoration so we made fruit kebabs and drizzled melted choc over them from the fountain. As the hotel wasnt very busy, the characters spent loads of time with us. If I can manage to work our how to post pictures Ill add some. We met Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and Pluto.
After that we had a drink at the bar overlooking the South China Sea and went to bed dreaming loads of lovely Disney dreams.
