Stepping into a new continent – a week in Hong Kong COMPLETED About This Page:

[chezp]

Originally Posted by RobDVC

The hotel looks very elegant!


Is this a picture of a rail car? How cool that it's named Marceline. Did you happen to notice any other names?

Do you know what Rob? I only noticed that after I took it - and yes, I think it is the rail car. I thought the name was great, but unfortunately I didn't spot any others. I wish I had now.

[chezp]

OK, as we're off to Berlin for Easter, this will be the last update I do before we go away. Normal service will resume on Monday!

Monday 18 February – part ten: dinner with some very boisterous characters!

We asked at concierge where we could eat and she recommended either the Crystal Terrace or the Enchanted Garden, the two restaurants I had put at the top of list from the website that I had looked at before we left home. We went for the Enchanted Garden, after checking what there was on the buffet for me to eat. The answer was lots, especially desserts. I haven’t seen a dessert selection like that since Palo and their brunch! I had no problem filling up and went back about three or four times, I lost count in the end!


This is also a character meal and we had Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto there and my goodness, they do play up too here, especially Pluto, who was very dog like and just constantly wanted attention from you. I think that the character generally seem to be more fun outside of the American parks, which is interesting. I wonder in a weird way whether that’s because they can get away with more, knowing that they’re not going to get sued? I don’t mean that in a nasty way, but they are a lot more physical with you with Goofy playfully hitting me on the head and Pluto leaning on me – and that’s exactly what we found in Disneyland Paris as well.




Can you see a certain dog’s paw in this shot?



While we were there, we saw all the characters at last twice, as it wasn’t busy, then it was time to settle up and go. The buffet costs HK$398 each, which is about £55 for the two of us. OK, so it’s a lot of money, but it was first class food and some fun interaction and the chance to dine in the Disneyland Hotel, so we were happy with that.

When we came out, we caught the resort shuttle back to the Public Transport Interchange, which stops at the other Disneyland hotel, Disney’s Hollywood Hotel, on the way. It’s a great system and makes getting around very easy. It’s clear there’s a lot of scope to develop here and I hope they do, as they seem to have two great hotels on their hands and a lovely park, but sadly, it’s a park that holds no interest more than one day, just because there’s not enough to do. Now that will change over time, I have no doubt, but they need to make this into a great two day park and possibly even another park to meet its full potential. It’s one I will keep an eye on with great interest and if we do ever find ourselves back in this part of the world, then I won’t hesitate to come back.


The shuttle bus service

A glimpse of Disney’s Hollywood Hotel – sadly, the closest we got to it!

We caught the Disney train system back to Sunny Bay station and I loved the way that they told you that you were coming back to the real world. It was a nice gradual transition.




We had the longest wait when got back to the station – nearly 10 minutes, but fortunately when it got there, we got seats immediately. It was quite peaceful on that train, but my goodness, it was a very different story when we changed on to the other line. That was just packed with people chatting away on their mobile phones. The noise was incredible, it was like being in some bustling market. It’s an advert for not making mobile phone signals widely available on other underground systems around the world.

We walked back to the hotel and that was the end of another fun packed day.

Today we walked 6.72 miles.
The weather today was dry and sometimes sunny and sometimes cloudy, with temperatures in the high 60’s.
The best thing today was Hong Kong Disneyland.
The worst thing today was not being able to see Disney’s Hollywood Hotel.
The funniest thing today was dancing down Main Street with Dale.
Today we tried Hong Kong Disneyland
And the result was it’s a wonderful place and we both loved it there.
The most magical moment today was seeing Mickey and Minnie in their new year costumes.

Next: visiting the “Las Vegas of Asia”

[Disneybine]

That buffet looks delicious! I actually recognized some "non-Asian" food Sounds like you had an awesome day at HKDL

[Colexis Mom]

What a great buffet! I'm glad you had great character interaction as well Fantastic pictures! What a great day overall

[lauren-roxy]

That buffet looked so delicious and the characters seemed like so much fun!!!

[TheMadonna3]

I think that the character generally seem to be more fun outside of the American parks, which is interesting. I wonder in a weird way whether that’s because they can get away with more, knowing that they’re not going to get sued?

I tend to think because Americans as a society are intimidated by less than 3 feet of personal space where as other cultures are more intimate.

[CountryTink]

Great update. Hope you have a lovely Easter in Berlin.

[RobDVC]

That was one terrific-looking buffet! Quite an array of items on offer.... and the character interaction - HYSTERICAL!

[elizabeth shannon]

I've never seen so many character shots of the Mouse & co - it seemed like they took time to pose and the results are really good. I especially like the one of Mickey and Mark with their arms folded Glad you enjoyed the buffet.

[MGW]

I know, I'm behind, but I'm loving this TR.

Was the tram to the Buddha built just for that?

What were the females statues? Offerings to Buddha?

What are the stone carvings on the side of the mountain?

The women were getting their hair done and everything? Like a big slumber party! Are they domestic type workers? Very interesting!

Those escalators are very cool! What an amazing adaptation for the locals.

I'm confused, the escalators took you up above the Peak Tram? You had to walk down to the Peak? That is amazing!

[Cam22]

The hotel was absolutely gorgeous and that buffet looked excellently Your photos make me feel that I've been to Disneyland Hong Kong myself.

[Lemap760]

I just read your report from the beginning to today. What a fabulous trip. I'm enjoying hearing about Hong Kong and seeing all the great photos you took .

[DrDolphin]

What's a girl to do when she can't sleep?? Catch up on TRs of course!!

Wonderful updates and photos...as always! Your pics from the hotel and buffet looked great - and that character interaction looked out of this world!

[DyanKJ130]

Just catching up! Great updates! Can't wait to hear more

[chezp]

Originally Posted by MGW

I know, I'm behind, but I'm loving this TR.

Was the tram to the Buddha built just for that?

What were the females statues? Offerings to Buddha?

What are the stone carvings on the side of the mountain?

The women were getting their hair done and everything? Like a big slumber party! Are they domestic type workers? Very interesting!

Those escalators are very cool! What an amazing adaptation for the locals.

I'm confused, the escalators took you up above the Peak Tram? You had to walk down to the Peak? That is amazing!

To try and answer your questions, the first three I don't know the answer to. I think the cable car was built to take you to the monastry, although I'm not 100% sure.

I think the women are domestic type workers, from all the books I'd read.

Sorry to confuse you - the escalators take you up to the end of development on Hong Kong Island, then we had to walk back down to the tram terminus to catch the tram up to the Peak, which is way above all the development on the island.

Hope that helps.