hong kong disney..

[Neha]

hi guys..

I'm new to the boards, I'm Neha..a mum to 3 kids currently 41/2, 2 1/2 and 8 months. I have been reading this board for awhile so decided to join.

We are planing a trip to hong kong disneyland in March 2014. Has anyone from the aussie board been there? I have heard that it is small compared to the other parks(America) and more geared to little kids. My kids will just have turned 5, 3 and 1 so that sounds perfect for them. Would love to take them to the Wdw and Dl in America once they can sit through the long flight times.

The 2 year old will be turning 3 while we are at Disneyland..i have heard that special things can be organised for a birthday..does anyone have any info on this? Also has anyone tried the bibbiti bobbiti boutique over there? I know my daughter (4 year old) would love that!

Would be great to hear from anyone who has been especially with little kids.

 

[Meemoo]

Hi Neha and welcome I've been to HKDL twice, both whilst my kids were very young. I wasn't sure about it as I had previously done California, but honestly for kids of this age it was just perfect It is very convenient if you plan to stay in the Disney Resort area too, with the free shuttle that runs almost constantly. March is a good time to go too, not too hot or too cold.

My daughter (4 years at the time) did bibbiti bobbiti boutique, (previously it was the Princess Parlor) but has been revamped so is even better now I've heard. It was money well spent, the price has gone up quite a bit now but it was so worth it, pampering for our special girl The photos were beautiful, you do get a couple free in a cardboard folder, but we bought a beautiful book that they will try sell to you following it, a bit pricey but it would be hard to say no!

You could celebrate your daughters birthday at one of the character dining venues. Hollywood hotel has Mickey's Kitchen which has a really fun cool atmosphere with the characters. HKDL Hotel has the Enchanted Garden which looks like something from a fairytale and is very beautiful, food has more selection and seemed more upscale but I loved the food at Chef Mickey too! Take them to the maze at teh HKDL Hotel, my kids loved it more than Disneyland itself! I could go on and on about this place, I love it! If you feel like to venture out sometime, Ocean Park is also very worth while and like nothing we have here in oz.

Check out their website, there is lots of information there, or feel free to ask me anything specific.

 

[zanzibar138]

A few of us have been, and there is actually a whole section on the boards for HKDL, although there is nothing as in depth as there is for the other parks.

I wouldn't say that HKDL is necessarily geared towards little kids, but it is smaller than other Disney parks, with less thrill rides, so maybe that's where that comes from

If you're only going to HK for Disneyland, I would definitely recommend staying onsite. Both hotels are great - the HKDL Hotel is the more upmarket version but both are definitely kid friendly. Unfortunately the food at both is very overpriced, which is because there's really nothing else in the area. Having said that though, we thoroughly enjoyed our meals there. It might be worth splurging on a character breakfast on the birthday.

Both times I've been have been in March, and so far it's proven to be an awesome time of year to go We've had perfect weather, and very little to no crowds.

I believe you can get birthday buttons. If it's anything like having anniversary buttons, you will get lots of birthday wishes and stickers from CMs, which makes it just a bit more special If you're staying onsite, make sure you mention that there will be a birthday and you *may* get something special.

Feel free to have browse through my trip reports or yell out if you have any specific questions.

 

[Neha]

Thanks..sounds perfect for our first trip with the kids.

zanzibar138- I am looking at your trip report now. looks awesome!

 

[cola]

I think HKDL is great with little kids. It is very small, much less chance of over doing things, and even though the food and accomodation is expensive for Hong Kong, it is still cheap compared to Australia and the park tickets are cheap. If you can avoid the weekend you will almost have the parks to yourself.
I went in November a few years ago and it was practically deserted. That would be my only concern with a birthday button - there really were so few CMs around that the random magic might not be that much, but if you book character meals and BBB it should help.


I found the quick service food in the parks to be shocking. I like Chinese food, but it was this strange westernised version of Chinese and easternised version of Western food that all tasted wrong, wrong, wrong! The table service at the hotels was good.

 

[Tashinwdw]

I have never really thought about doing Hong Kong Disney but with what you guys have said it does sound good, I might have to go check out the other threads and some TRs and find out more. We are planning Paris Disney in 2016 so might have to add that into that trip as well.

Neha your daughter will have a magical birthday being at Disney, make sure you get a birthday button for her, all the CMs will wish her a happy birthday, my kids love it.

 

[zanzibar138]

We are planning Paris Disney in 2016 so might have to add that into that trip as well.

That's what I did - it was awesome and worked perfectly as a quick stopover to break up the trip on the way back

 

[Meemoo]

I loved all the food in and around HK Disney. My husband was born in HK so I am used to a lot of their local food. If you're not keen on Asian style food (and yes I admit it is a little Westernised in the park) there is a sweet little bakery on Main Street, they have pies and sandwiches and pastries, and another place in Tomorrowland that has burgers etc, the fries are really yummy! The hotel restaurants are extremely good and whilst it is expensive for a family it still is cheaper than a buffet of that standard here.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm another one of those that spent time holidaying in HKDL and HK. My trip was in 2012 (and I also wrote a TR on the 10 days there).

Like Zanzibar, I hit it during March/April and if you can avoid the Chinese holidays around early/mid April, it could be a very good time to go to HK.


For the ages of your kids, it could be the perfect park for them. My DS was 12 when we went and there was still enough to amuse him.

Like any Disney park anywhere in the world, you'll find food to; and food not to, your liking. Unlike the US parks, there is significantly less information and pictures about the food; so finding the right food service location can be hit or miss in the park. We also stayed and ate at the HKDL resort. I found the food to my liking at the resort.

 

[Neha]

meemoo - do you remember approx how much the total photo package cost with the extra book? i emailed hk disney but they didn't seem to understand my question and just quoted the normal package prices.

thanks for the replies everyone, getting very excited now

 

[Meemoo]

I'm not sure, but I think the book was something in the likes of $150-$200 AUD.
It is beautiful though, think Wedding quality. The prices for the dress, make-up etc are on the website now, I think its around $100 for the one including the dress.

 

[Neha]

that sounds gorgeous meemoo - about how any pages did it have? allot of photos? sounds very special

 

[Meemoo]

It has about 10 photos - they are really thick pages with gold edging. Its got a cushioned cover with HKDL logo in gold on the front and comes in a nice box. They initially presented us with 2 books. These were not the ones that you could take, the photos were slipped into these, just as a preview. I then asked could I pick my favourites from the 2 books and just have them made into the one book and they said that was fine. It was delivered to our room later that day.

 

[DisneyAngel05]

Hi Neha,

I'm taking my 3-yr old twins to HKDL next month - like you, we're taking advantage of the shorter flight while they're still young.

I went to HKDL a couple years ago for my 25th birthday and wore a button and felt very special! So I can only imagine your little one will be even better taken care of. One thing is that the CMs give out stickers everywhere they go, so I can imagine kids will love that.

We're planning on the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique as well, but just the hair as my daughter has a Minnie Mouse dress already that she'll want to wear. Good to know about the extra book!

I might try and do a TR after we get back in case there's some tips for everyone!

Getting very excited now - I've been to all the Disneys, but never with my own children - this is bucket list stuff for me now!!