DIS/Dreams Unlimited China Adventure Oct 14th - 25th 2017 SOLD OUT!!!

[macman752]

Will try to figure out Skype for this afternoon! Seem to be a bunch of Michael Bowlings in CA when I searched. Which city?

Look for the Michael Bowling with this Avatar:
View attachment 263324

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

Hi Michael
Not sure how much help we'll be, living in the UK but it would be nice to put faces to names.
Hopefully we can attend, what name should we search for as there seems to be a lot of people with your name?
Ian&Diane

I am Michael Bowling California. Mouseketeer Michael. That should narrow it down. Looking forward to meeting you!

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

I really enjoyed our Skype call today. A lot of good information about the Visa application process, travel insurance, and VPN service was shared. It was also nice to start putting names and faces together, and hearing what we are all looking forward to and what we are a bit apprehensive about.

I did learn that for me to add a person to a group call, they must send me a message on Skype asking me to accept them as a contact. Once they are in my contacts list, I can add them to a group call.

We have scheduled another Skype call for Sunday, September 10 at 12 noon (PDT). I hope more of our travelers can join. As they might say in China, 多多益善！

 

[kuzco-like]

On the Skype call today (thanks Michael, for setting it up), there was much talk about weather and how to pack/dress for the expected weather. So I decided to look up what to expect in October. Hong Kong (http://www.holiday-weather.com/hong_kong/averages/: highs of 82F; lows of 73F; average rain 8 days/month (average 45mm/rainfall); average sun 6 hours/day. Beijing: (http://www.holiday-weather.com/beijing/averages/): highs 66F; lows 45F; average rain 6 days/month (average 19 mm/rainfall); average 9 hours/day of sun. Shanghai (http://www.holiday-weather.com/shanghai/averages/): highs 72F; lows 59F; average rain 12 days/month (average 61 mm/rainfall); average 6 hours/day of sun. Tokyo (http://www.holiday-weather.com/tokyo/averages/): highs 68F; lows 59F; average rain 17 days/month (average 158mm/rainfall!); average 4 hours sun/day.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

On the Skype call, I mentioned a couple of books I'm reading:

• Building Magic: Disney's Overseas Theme Parks by William Silvester
• Travelers Series Guide to Tokyo Disneyland & Tokyo DisneySea by Travis Medley

 

[belle41379]

On the Skype call, I mentioned a couple of books I'm reading:

• Building Magic: Disney's Overseas Theme Parks by William Silvester
• Travelers Series Guide to Tokyo Disneyland & Tokyo DisneySea by Travis Medley

Thanks Michael! I'll be looking these up for sure.

 

[belle41379]

As you are creating your packing list, might I suggest some (ahem...) travel toilet paper/tissues and hand sanatizer. Evidently these items aren't always readily available. I inderstand ABD has a bag of items the guides carry, but it might be a good idea to have some necessities with you.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Kevin (me) & Kate - 2
Chandra - 1
Chris, Chuck & Amy - 3
Ian & Diane - 2
Lauri & Brian - 2
Michael & Cynthia - 2
Jim & Linda - 2
Tami & Jeremy - 2
Sally & Dave - 2
Rob - 1

If I have missed anyone, please let me know. That makes it 19 in total. We will have 2 large round tables.
Here is the menu: https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/~/media/Files/PDF/Rosewood_Hotels_and_Resorts/Rosewood_Beijing/Dining/Menus/CK/Country Kitchen DinnerBeverage FA2015-ok-王 晚餐修改.pdf

We'll do a la carte so everyone can order what they want.

Should be great!

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

Here is the menu: https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/~/media/Files/PDF/Rosewood_Hotels_and_Resorts/Rosewood_Beijing/Dining/Menus/CK/Country Kitchen DinnerBeverage FA2015-ok-王 晚餐修改.pdf

The menu is ... interesting. What do you think deep fried yellow croaker is? Frog? I think I'm just going to have to ask the guides for some recommendations and go with that! Or ask you, since you seem to be an adventurous eater!

Edited to add that I found a few reviews of the restaurant:

http://www.forbestravelguide.com/beijing-china/restaurants/country-kitchen

https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2014/11/23/first-glance-country-kitchen-rosewood-beijing

http://www.eatwithjess.com/duck-you-look-so-good-country-kitchen-in-rosewood-beijing/


Laurie

 

[christannj]

I agree with Laurie, the menu is fairly intimidating based on our unfamiliarity with the food items. I looked at the alcohol menu because I may end up drinking my way around China.... For those of you who know me.... This would be completely out of character... I am a one glass of wine at most kind of girl.

Chris

 

[Cousin Orville]

Below are the set menus for comparison. We could certainly elect to do one of those. The price is probably a higher than what it would be if everyone were to order a starter/ noodles and main a la carte. And there were a few selections on the set menu I didn't think would be popular... beef tripe, ox tongue, chilled black fungus... I kind of figured those would not be the top winners.

They seem to be famous for their home made noodles. You can see them making them in the restaurant. They are also famous for their peking duck which is sliced duck, hoisin/bbq sauce, wrapped in a thin pancake. Peking duck has to be ordered ahead of time. So let me know if there is interest. FWIW, I will probably get an order of noodles and duck.

You can also kind of see pictures of what people ordered on the tripadvisor reviews.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaur...Country_Kitchen_Rosewood_Beijing-Beijing.html

If anyone has any questions you want me to ask the restaurant, let me know.

 

[Cousin Orville]

On the Skype call, I know there was some questions about the food in general in China. Many of these restaurants are different from 3 yrs ago on the regular China ABD. But in general, I felt the food on the ABD was very approachable. Other than it being Chinese food, nothing stuck out to me as being particularly adventurous.

Some of the more unusual dishes were peking duck in Beijing and the soup dumplings in Shanghai. But the meals were mostly family style so even if you didn't like one thing, there were many other options. I wouldn't be too nervous about that.

 

[Cousin Orville]

The menu is ... interesting. What do you think deep fried yellow croaker is? Frog? I think I'm just going to have to ask the guides for some recommendations and go with that! Or ask you, since you seem to be an adventurous eater!

Laurie

I had to google it... Yellow Croaker is a type of fish found in the East China Sea. I like your guess of a frog though. lol

 

[tardis1029]

Kevin (me) & Kate - 2
Chandra - 1
Chris, Chuck & Amy - 3
Ian & Diane - 2
Lauri & Brian - 2
Michael & Cynthia - 2
Jim & Linda - 2
Tami & Jeremy - 2
Sally & Dave - 2
Rob - 1

If I have missed anyone, please let me know. That makes it 19 in total. We will have 2 large round tables.
Here is the menu: https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/~/media/Files/PDF/Rosewood_Hotels_and_Resorts/Rosewood_Beijing/Dining/Menus/CK/Country Kitchen DinnerBeverage FA2015-ok-王 晚餐修改.pdf

We'll do a la carte so everyone can order what they want.

Should be great!

If you can add 2 more to the list Micki & I would love to attend.
John

 

[Disney Enabler]

Kevin (me) & Kate - 2
Chandra - 1
Chris, Chuck & Amy - 3
Ian & Diane - 2
Lauri & Brian - 2
Michael & Cynthia - 2
Jim & Linda - 2
Tami & Jeremy - 2
Sally & Dave - 2
Rob - 1

If I have missed anyone, please let me know. That makes it 19 in total. We will have 2 large round tables.
Here is the menu: https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/~/media/Files/PDF/Rosewood_Hotels_and_Resorts/Rosewood_Beijing/Dining/Menus/CK/Country Kitchen DinnerBeverage FA2015-ok-王 晚餐修改.pdf

We'll do a la carte so everyone can order what they want.

Should be great!

Michael would like to join also.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

I like the a la carte idea. I think I will pass on the tripe, fungus and anything called pork trotter jelly, but I am excited to try some new things and the reviews for Country Kitchen are great! Thanks for organizing, Kevin. Seems like their duck is a favorite. So even though we will be having that at Duck de Chine, we will probably try it there too. This is our Great Wall day, so I think so we may work up an appetite climbing stairs.

Does anyone know what the situation is for sit down dining in the parks? Is it like WDW where we should have ADRs in advance of the trip or can do it there? We have the 3 nights in Tokyo, and then it looks to me like we have on our own dinners on Monday and Tuesday in Hong Kong and on Sunday in Shanghai. I was just wondering if we should try booking something in advance. There are several restaurants I am interested in. It doesn't look like there's a way to book them online, so I was thinking about maybe trying the concierge?

Laurie

 

[Cousin Orville]

Michael would like to join also.

Sorry about that Michael. You mentioned that to me earlier and on Skype.


Kevin (me) & Kate - 2
Chandra - 1
Chris, Chuck & Amy - 3
Ian & Diane - 2
Lauri & Brian - 2
Michael & Cynthia - 2
Jim & Linda - 2
Tami & Jeremy - 2
Sally & Dave - 2
Rob - 1
Michael - 1
Micki & John - 2

That makes 22. And I put down 4 of us Lauri & Brian and Kate & myself for Peking (bbq/roast) duck. Usually 1 duck is big enough to share with several people especially if you're getting something else to eat. We'll see what they recommend.

 

[Malia78]

Kevin (me) & Kate - 2
Chandra - 1
Chris, Chuck & Amy - 3
Ian & Diane - 2
Lauri & Brian - 2
Michael & Cynthia - 2
Jim & Linda - 2
Tami & Jeremy - 2
Sally & Dave - 2
Rob - 1
Michael - 1
Micki & John - 2

That makes 22. And I put down 4 of us Lauri & Brian and Kate & myself for Peking (bbq/roast) duck. Usually 1 duck is big enough to share with several people especially if you're getting something else to eat. We'll see what they recommend.

If not maxed out, my father and I will join (Karilynn and Bill)

 

[Cousin Orville]

If not maxed out, my father and I will join (Karilynn and Bill)

Sounds great! I updated the reservation!

Kevin (me) & Kate - 2
Chandra - 1
Chris, Chuck & Amy - 3
Ian & Diane - 2
Lauri & Brian - 2
Michael & Cynthia - 2
Jim & Linda - 2
Tami & Jeremy - 2
Sally & Dave - 2
Rob - 1
Michael - 1
Micki & John - 2
Karilynn & Bill - 2

24

 

[jmccormick]

I was looking to see if they had a iron in the room at the hotel. Happy to see they have AED's, that means we can have some real fun. BTW, I could not find the iron.