Hong Kong Disneyland

Hi everyone! 

What a day! Theme parks always take it out of me. Today we set off just after 8amand made the one hour (and three train lines) journey to Hong Kong Disneyland! The Disneyland train had mickey shaped windows and mickey shaped train handles. When I was 12 we went to Anaheim disneyland for six days and I loved it so much that I cried when we left. Needless to say, I was a tad excited for today!!

Firstly we had to queue for about 45-60 minutes. Then when we got in we browsed around for the half hour before the worlds opened up. 

There was a countdown to 10.30 and then they were open! In 2005 in LA one ride I really wanted to go on was Space Mountain. Unfortunately it was closed for maintenance so I missed out. So when the countdown ended, I grabbed Mum's hand and we sprinted all the way to Space Mountain. We sprinted so fast that we were the second pair on it! And it was worth the 11 year wait - whizzing around a roller coaster in the dark. Awesome!!

Then we did the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. We had done these in LA. It involves shooting targets with a laser. We remembered that mum wasn't great at it and Adam and I fought over it the whole time. We went on twice today - the first time I scored 44,000 and mum 4,000. The second time Mum gave up and I scored 127,000!!

Next was the Space Orbit ride and then Space Mountain again using a fast pass (we are still pros from 2005!). Then we queued for a photo with Snow White. The lady looked at us as if to check we were in the right place and I assured her that, yes, I like the 6 year olds surrounding me wanted a photo with Snow. Haha!! Then we took some photos with the beautiful Sleeping Beauty Castle, inspired by Neuschwanstein in Germany. 

Our next stop was the Teacups ride, whizzing around and spinning the wheel. Then we went on 'It's a Small World' - I've still got the tune stuck in my head!! It's a trip around the world with little models singing and moving in traditional costumes surrounded by native animals. Australia's involved a kangaroo, someone holding a boomerang, three platypuses and some random totem poles (not sure what that bit was all about!!).  

We enjoyed a delicious coke slushie with ice cream and then went on the Cinderella carousel. Next we used another fast pass to go on the 'Winnie the Pooh' story ride, a slow journey through a story. Then onto the Dumbo flying ride. 

We went to a show called "Mickey's Philharmagic" which was a clever 3D show involving some all time favourite Disney characters and some favourite songs. I sang along - loudly - and probably annoyed the people around us. But by this point in the day I had been walked into and stepped on so many times that I didn't care! To be fair though, no one queue jumped all day. A few years back at Universal Studios Singapore it was an absolute nightmare with queue jumpers!

Next up was another ride that was closed in LA - the Jungle Cruise. A cool cruise with very lifelike animatronics! Then we caught a raft to the island in the middle of the river and climbed up Tarzan's Treehouse. 

Onto 'Geyser Gulch' world (which reminded me of Sovereign Hill!) and we went on the 'Geyser Gulch' ride. Rides here are similar to their LA counterparts but have different names. Once on the ride we discovered this was pretty much Thunder Mountain - and it was my favourite! Throughout the day I went on it four times. It went backwards in one part when you least expected it and I was genuinely terrified! The little girl behind us laughed the whole way. 

We queued up next at Mystic Manor (a little like the 'Haunted Mansion') but it broke down whilst there so they gave us a 'skip the queue' card to come back later. 

So on we went to Toy Story world. We went on the RC Racer, a bit like a roller coaster version of a pirate ship ride. We both started feeling a bit crap at this point, particularly Mum. But we persisted and went back on the Geyser Gulch. 

At this point mum didn't feel very well. It was so hot all day and we were sweating buckets and getting very hot! So we sat in an air conditioned shop for a while and then she was ok. We went on the railway to the Main station. 

Then we had a look inside an animation exhibition. There were interesting drawings and models. We learned that 'Toy Story' was the first animation movie made wholly on computers, and that 'Steamboat Willy' was the first Mickey and Minnie cartoon and was produced in 1928. 'Snow White' had two million sketches drawn to produce the film and took four years to make. Lastly, we learned about a man called Tyrus Wong, from nearby Guangzhou, who sketched many of the 'Bambi' designs. 

Coincidentally, in that building there was a 'Baymax' photo session (from the movie 'Big Hero 6' in 2014) so I got my photo taken! We had a look around at the shops and then had dinner in the 'Banquet Hall'. Mum had pasta and I had a pizza which was of course in the shape of Mickey's head!! :)

We went back to Mystic Manor and it has reopened. We used our cards and skipped the queue. It was all about a professor and his pet monkey who accidentally opened a music box that had the power to bring inanimate objects to life! We really enjoyed it. 

Mum watched while I went on the Geyser ride twice more (single rider queue for the win - no wait time!!) and then we had one last go on 'It's a Small World'. 

Then we stayed to watch the 'Paint the Night' parade (the electrical parade) which was absolutely amazing! The floats were fantastic and we loved it. Finally, we also watched the fireworks. Also fantastic - lots of photos to come!! There were projections of all different Disney films onto the castle and fireworks above. 

After Disneyland, we caught the train back to Hong Kong city and mum headed back to the hotel. By sheer coincidence, two of my friends from high school are here on a trip with the Australian Youth Band this week. We caught up for a drink. After a couple of failed attempts to get into places due to being 'underdressed', we finally found a place to have a beer. Was great to catch up. 

Now I'm back in the hotel and it's 12.30am. Writing the blog then off to sleep!! Having a bit of a lie in tomorrow after what has been a fantastic but exhausting day. I absolutely love that childhood excitement feeling Disneyland gives you, no matter how old you are :) What a great day!

Love to all
Claire
Xoxox