Traveling: Disneyland Hong Kong

Saturday, 20 July 2019

China 2019 - Part 13

Tian Tan Buddha

Saturday - June 15th 2019

Today we had to leave Hong Kong since our last part of our itinerary was about to start. Our next stop was Hong Kong Disneyland. After we had breakfast and checked out, we took the subway to Lantau Island, where Disney's first themepark in China was located. When we arrived at our hotel, the room wasn't ready yet, which was okay, because today we wanted to visit the Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. We dropped off our luggage and then we were on our way to Ngong Ping 360 cable car that takes guests to Po Lin Monestary. After we purchased our tickets, we boarded the gondolas. The ride took some time, but it was a really nice way to enjoy the landscape. Once we arrived at the top, we stopped at a vegetarian restaurant for lunch. There wasn't a lot to chose from, but still the food was pretty good. Then we just strolled around Po Lin Monastery and hiked up to Big Buddha, which was indeed very big. After a coffee at Starbucks we were on our way back.

Sunny Bay Station

Huge Apartment Building

Ngong Ping 360 Ropeway

Ngong Ping Village

Tian Tan Buddha

Po Lin Monastery

Lunch

Vegetarian Restaurant at Po Lin Monastery

Po Lin Monastery

Tian Tan Buddha

Po Lin Monastery

Lantau Island

View at Ngong Ping Village and Po Lin Monastery

Ngong Ping Village

Ngong Ping 360 Ropeway

Back at the MTR station we bought some snacks for later and then we took the metro back to Disneyland. In the meantime our room was also ready and so we headed straight to the room, where our luggage was already waiting for us. At Hong Kong Disneyland we stayed at Disney's Explorers Lodge, the most beautiful Disney hotel we have stayed so far. So it was no suprise that our room was quite nice. It was very spacious, well themed and equipped with a big shower. After we unpacked our luggage, and since our tickets for the themepark weren't valid yet, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon at the hotel pool. There we got some drinks and enjoyed a lazy afternoon. In the evening we checked out the area and the neighbouring Disney Hollywood Hotel.

Hong Kong Disneyland MTR Station

Hong Kong Disneyland

Welcome to Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland

Disney Explorers Lodge

Our Room

Disney Explorers Lodge

Hong Kong Disneyland

Disney's Hollywood Hotel

Friday, 19 July 2019

China 2019 - Part 14

Hong Kong Disneyland

Sunday - June 16th 2019

Today we were really excited, because once we passed under Hong Kong Disneyland's Railraod Station, we had visited all Disney Parks around the globe. Since we stayed at a Disney hotel, we could enter the park before the regular guests. So after we got up, we took the shuttle bus to the park. We still had to wait a couple of minutes, but soon we were on Main Street USA. While I really enjoyed Shanghai Disneyland, I fell in love with Hong Kong Disneyland immediately. The traditional Main Street USA copied from Disneyland Anaheim did it for me, because it added an intimacy to the park that Shanghai Disneyland lacks. Guests were only allowed to stay on Main Street, and so our first stop was Starbucks, because we hadn't had breakfast yet. We both got a cup of coffee and the we just browsed through the shops until the rest of the park opened.

Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad Station

Main Street USA

Starbucks

Coffee at Starbucks

Main Street USA

Once all other lands were open we headed stright to Grizzyl Mountain Runaway Mine Train just to find out that it was still closed and that the lands beyond the railroad will open later. So instead we decided to give Hungle Cruise in Adventureland another try. At Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom we didn't like the ride with its stupid jokes at all, but since a boat was still waiting for guests we got in line. To our suprise the attraction was so much better than in the US and we actually enjoyed it. In the meantime Grizzly Gulch opened for the guests, which meant if was finally time for Hong Kong Disneyland's version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. That rollercoaster was a lot of fun and so we did it twice in a row.

Adventureland

Jungle Cruise

Tarzan's Treehouse

Jungle Cruise

Grizzly Gulch

Next was Mystic Manor, Disney's new take on Haunted Mansion, to which I was looking forward the most. Crowds were still low and so it was walk on. Mystic Manor was fantastic and it surpassed my expactations. The effects were amazing and it immidiately became my most favourite attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland. After we rode Mystic Manor a second time, we decided to move on. Via Toy Story Land, which was basically a copy of Toy Story Playland at Disneyland Paris, we headed to Fantasyland. There we got in line for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, a cute dark ride we knew already from the US Disney Parks.

Mystic Manor

Mystic Point

Mystic Manor

Toy Story Land

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Fantasyland

Since it was already noon, we decided to get something to eat. We chose Starliner Diner in Tomorrowland, because the restaurant was offering a veggie burger. We don't know if it was actually vegan, but it tasted quite well. After lunch we got in line for Marvel's Ant-Man & The Wasp. The attraction was similar to Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, but so much more elaborate and so much better. Next was Iron Man Experience, which uses the same ride technology as Star Tours. In the ride we joined Iron Man in a battle against robots in downtown Hong Kong. At first I was a bit sceptical, but I really enjoyed it. Before it was time for Hyperspace Mountain, we got a refreshing BB-8 slushie. Like at Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland's Space Mountain also got the Star Wars overlay. Although not as thrilling as its counterpart in Paris, Space Mountain was a lot of fun. Since it was really hot, we decided to check out more stores and then return to the hotel to get a rest.

Tomorrowland

Starliner Diner

Lunch

Ant-Man & The Wasp

Iron Man Experience

BB-8 Slushie

Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain

Tomorrowland

Main Street USA

Hong Kong Disneyland Entrance

Mickey Mouse Fountain

Land Rover Defender at Disney Explorers Lodge

After refreshing at the hotel, we wanted to get a drink, but unfortunately there was no hotel bar at Disney's Explorers Lodge. So Claudia and I walked to Disney's Hollywood Hotel to get some drinks at the Studio Lounge. The bar was really nice and so stayed for quite some time before we took the shuttle bus back to the park. Back at Disneyland we had dinner at the Starliner Diner again, and of course we got the veggie burger once more. Afterwards we joined the Rebellion to fight the Empire in Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain and then we rode Big Grizzyl Mountain Runaway Mine trains again. Before we left the park, we spent some time in the shops on Main Street.