Repeating a trip? China?

[disneyphx]

Hi

Has anyone here repeated a trip? What did you think? Did it lose 'the magic'?
I am really tempted by the updated China itinerary - ABD is about the only way I would go to Shanghai Disneyland!
We loved our ABD China in 2010. Part of me thinks there is so much to see and do it would be OK to repeat. But I also wonder if we would be bored?

Any thoughts?
Thanks
Michele

 

[sayhello]

Hi

Has anyone here repeated a trip? What did you think? Did it lose 'the magic'?
I am really tempted by the updated China itinerary - ABD is about the only way I would go to Shanghai Disneyland!
We loved our ABD China in 2010. Part of me thinks there is so much to see and do it would be OK to repeat. But I also wonder if we would be bored?

Any thoughts?
Thanks
Michele

Did your ABD include the Terracotta Warriors? I don't recall when that was added to the itinerary.

Sayhello

 

[Cousin Orville]

I'm looking at repeating China next year albeit with my DW who has not been before. There might be a few activities I consider skipping the 2nd time around - possibly the acrobat show in Shanghai... but not many. The China itinerary on the ABD site looks quite good, but I'd add some post nights in Shanghai. It looks like you only go to Shanghai DL in the afternoon and evening. I'd want some more time. Same thing in HKDL. The current itinerary gives you a couple of hours in the afternoon. Then you meet up for dinner, fireworks and you're done. I think you need at least another half day there if you're a big parks fan.

 

[disneyphx]

Yes, our trip did include the Terracotta Warriors - that was an unexpected highlight for me!
We would likely add some time in Shanghai too - on our previous ABD China we added a day at HKDL. And on our way to the SE Asia ABD we had 2 days in Hong Kong - we went to Ocean Park that time to see the pandas.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I'm looking at repeating China next year albeit with my DW who has not been before. There might be a few activities I consider skipping the 2nd time around - possibly the acrobat show in Shanghai... but not many. The China itinerary on the ABD site looks quite good, but I'd add some post nights in Shanghai. It looks like you only go to Shanghai DL in the afternoon and evening. I'd want some more time. Same thing in HKDL. The current itinerary gives you a couple of hours in the afternoon. Then you meet up for dinner, fireworks and you're done. I think you need at least another half day there if you're a big parks fan.

Okay, too funny. I just asked you a question about the revamp in the other thread. I guess it's good though if you are thinking about redoing. We are looking at the two early June trips, hoping it wouldn't be quite so hot!

 

[Cousin Orville]

HK will be Hot, Hot, Hot! I remember going to HKDL during our post days. We were sweating. I bought 2 Mystic Manor umbrellas for my son and I to use as sun umbrellas. We probably looked ridiculous, but it was lots of fun!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

HK will be Hot, Hot, Hot! I remember going to HKDL during our post days. We were sweating. I bought 2 Mystic Manor umbrellas for my son and I to use as sun umbrellas. We probably looked ridiculous, but it was lots of fun!

Too funny. DD is a ginger so I suspect the sun umbrellas will be a must!

 

[sayhello]

HK will be Hot, Hot, Hot! I remember going to HKDL during our post days. We were sweating. I bought 2 Mystic Manor umbrellas for my son and I to use as sun umbrellas. We probably looked ridiculous, but it was lots of fun!

How was the weather besides Hong Kong?

Sayhello

 

[disneyphx]

We went in early July and it was hot everywhere.....one of the hottest days on record when we went to the Forbidden City, super hot and humid (and rainy) in Chengdu, Shanghai and Hong Kong.....the guides bought everyone cold drinks in Beijing and umbrellas in X'ian. Yep, those little touches that sold us on ABD!

 

[Cousin Orville]

How was the weather besides Hong Kong?

Sayhello

There were a couple of days in Beijing that were hot, but I can't recall anywhere else feeling oppressively hot. HK is tropical - hot and humid. Still worth it, if that's when you choose to go, but I'm sure weather in the fall is better.

 

[TexasMouseFan]

We are doing China this Christmas. We are going to tack on a day for Hong Kong Disney. The description for HKD for 2016 is very vague on how much time you actually get in the park and what you get to do (other than dinner). After HKD we are going to Shanghai Disney for a couple days. I'm very nervous about going by myself, but hopefully we can figure it out.

It looks like they removed the fan dancing and OYO time in Shanghai and replaced it w/ Shanghai Disney. After talking to one of the ABD guides, we considered do that same thing on our own. Right now we will be keeping the Christmas trip unless someone sees something else that we will miss from the 2017 trips. TIA

 

[Cousin Orville]

We are doing China this Christmas. We are going to tack on a day for Hong Kong Disney. The description for HKD for 2016 is very vague on how much time you actually get in the park and what you get to do (other than dinner). After HKD we are going to Shanghai Disney for a couple days. I'm very nervous about going by myself, but hopefully we can figure it out.

It looks like they removed the fan dancing and OYO time in Shanghai and replaced it w/ Shanghai Disney. After talking to one of the ABD guides, we considered do that same thing on our own. Right now we will be keeping the Christmas trip unless someone sees something else that we will miss from the 2017 trips. TIA

Missing fan dancing (Tai Chi) in Shanghai is not big deal... and there wasn't much on your own time.

As far as the actual time in HKDL this was our experience in 2014. We finished up at HK Harbor at 3:00p. We made it to HKDL by 3:30p. We made it onto Main Street by 4:00p. Dinner was at 6:30. We went directly to Mystic Manor (awesome), walked around a little bit in Toy Story Land (hopefully DHS' is much better) and Fantasyland, shopped for a few minutes on Main St and it was time for dinner at the Plaza. So, we had about 2.5hrs on our own. Didn't ride much, didn't see Tomorrowland. Just enough time to walk around a bit. If you're park enthusiast you'll want more time. In fact some of the teens on the trip asked their parents if they could skip the final dinner and hang out more in the park.... I was jealous. After dinner it was fireworks time and the final ABD slideshow. Keep in mind this was the old itinerary.

The only new thing they've added which is brilliant is the Temple of Heaven. I really enjoyed seeing that on our own in Beijing. Not only do you see the temple (copy of which is in the China pavilion in the World Showcase) but we saw lots of Chinese locals just enjoying the park. You can really see how they value their outdoor spaces and parks. With that in mind, it makes perfect sense that Shanghai DL has their Gardens of Imagination Land in front of the castle.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

At this point in my travels I don't feel that I could repeat a trip, especially one as expensive as ABD. For me there are too many places I want to experience before repeating a trip (i.e. Australia or China).

We (maybe just 'I' but I will bring along one of my children) want to go to Antarctica, Peru, SE Asia, Machu Pichu, the Galapagos and explore parts of Europe I haven't visited before. I'd also love to witness the Northern Lights and see the polar bears in northern Manitoba. And ski the interior of British Columbia (we go to Whistler at least every other year) as well as go heli skiing at least once before my knees won't allow it anymore lol.

If I were to repeat visits to any cities they would be: Florence, London and Paris. Three of my favorites all of which I would feel very comfortable doing on my own.

If you want to visit Shanghai Disney you could maybe plan your own trip. Hit Shanghai Disney, fly to Hong Kong, do HKDL, then fly to Tokyo and visit the park there. My good friend, who has been to every Disney park (with the exception of the yet-unopened Shanghai park), says the Tokyo park is her favorite by far. You could easily hire a private guide in all of these cities to see any sites you want to see that you haven't already been to. Maybe you could even fly from Tokyo to SE Asia and start an ABD from there. Just a suggestion......

 

[EllinK]

Hit Shanghai Disney, fly to Hong Kong, do HKDL, then fly to Tokyo and visit the park there.

ABD honchos, are you listening? This sounds like a great adventure to me! Maybe you should think about adding it to the lineup...

 

[disneyphx]

Hi

Well, DH thinks there is too much repetition to what we have done - and we both think there are too many places to see in the world!
I love your list *WDW*Groupie* - we have been to Peru and Machu Pichu (Thomson Family), SE Asia (ABD) and Japan including the parks (on our own). Antarctica is high on our list - along with Galapagos, Amazon, Kenya/Tanzania, Paris DL, showing our daughter London and Ireland and Borneo. Yep, the list is way larger than our wallet and our vacation time.
I have anxiety about Shanghai Disney on our own stemming from our visit to World Expo in Shanghai during our ABD China in 2010 - very very pushy crowds......but I am sure we will go before too long. A return to the Japan parks is pretty high on our lists!

Off to think about where we should go in Spring and Summer 2017.

Thanks all
Michele

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Hi


I have anxiety about Shanghai Disney on our own stemming from our visit to World Expo in Shanghai during our ABD China in 2010 - very very pushy crowds......but I am sure we will go before too long. A return to the Japan parks is pretty high on our lists!

Michele

We plan on booking a Premier tour (the equivalent of the VIP tour in Orlando). The problem is they aren't able to book it quite yet. I have the price (and it is steep) but since we will only be there 1 day I figure it is the best way to ride the rides that most appeal to us and minimize the lines. I don't know how we will do it if the Premier tours sell out before we are able to book one. From what I have been told they won't start bookings for this tour until the beginning of May. So we are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

Incidentally for those looking to visit Shanghai Disney they sell tickets for specific days and they require your passport number. You must take your passport to the park with you (no photocopies). We have already booked and paid for our tickets for Sunday, July 10th. Some days for the summer have already sold out.

 

[Calfan]

We are doing China with Thomson Family Adventures this July, and we have added two extra days for Shanghai Disney. I've already bought our date-specific tickets. *WDW*Groupie*, would love to hear more about the Premier tours and your experience in trying to book. I'd love to do something like that on one of our two days at Shanghai Disney.

 

[distravel]

We plan on booking a Premier tour (the equivalent of the VIP tour in Orlando). The problem is they aren't able to book it quite yet. I have the price (and it is steep) but since we will only be there 1 day I figure it is the best way to ride the rides that most appeal to us and minimize the lines. I don't know how we will do it if the Premier tours sell out before we are able to book one. From what I have been told they won't start bookings for this tour until the beginning of May. So we are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

Incidentally for those looking to visit Shanghai Disney they sell tickets for specific days and they require your passport number. You must take your passport to the park with you (no photocopies). We have already booked and paid for our tickets for Sunday, July 10th. Some days for the summer have already sold out.

What is the cost of the Premier tour. I was told to check back in May for that information. Perhaps some others in your ABD group will be going back to Shanghai Disneyland and could share the tour and split the cost. We are going in October. Thanks.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

What is the cost of the Premier tour. I was told to check back in May for that information. Perhaps some others in your ABD group will be going back to Shanghai Disneyland and could share the tour and split the cost. We are going in October. Thanks.

I was told 18,000 CNY which would be approx. $2,800US for a group of 6. However I'm not sure if the information is accurate or not -- there seems to be a lot on confusion on the part of the cast members answering the phones at Shanghai Disney. I think the price is steep but necessary for us since we want to maximize our time there and I'm fairly certain the crowds will be insane.

 

[distravel]

I was told 18,000 CNY which would be approx. $2,800US for a group of 6. However I'm not sure if the information is accurate or not -- there seems to be a lot on confusion on the part of the cast members answering the phones at Shanghai Disney. I think the price is steep but necessary for us since we want to maximize our time there and I'm fairly certain the crowds will be insane.

Wow, that is more than I thought it was going to be. The only way we will consider a private tour is if we get two other couples to join in. Can you write a small report on your experience at Shanghai Disneyland for us? Thanks. The entire trip should be so exciting.