Dreamy Disneyland

On the plane to Hong Kong, I was feeling quite excited as this was my first time to Disneyland and so was my 4-year-old girl. In fact, she kept asking "Mummy, are we there yet?" throughout the 4-hour flight. I told her all good things are worth waiting for. 

The Disney Experience

Prior to the trip, I have done my homework online and knew that Hong Kong Disneyland is much smaller compared to the other Disneylands. I wasn't expecting much and thus was not that disappointed even though HK Disneyland turned out to be about as small as Singapore's Universal Studio. Still, we have had a blast of a time. The weather there was nice and cool in November, and we could walk around or rush from one place to another without perspiring.

We managed to visit all the 5 theme parks -- Adventure Land, the newly-opened Toy Story Land, Fantasy Land, Tomorrow Land and Main Street USA -- because we didn't waste precious time waiting for the popular rides that usually came with long queues. We just went for whatever rides that were available at that time. Since we only had a one-day pass, we had to plan strategically and made sure no time was wasted waiting in line for rides or taking photos with the Disney characters. But we did manage to catch the popular shows like The Golden Mickeys stage show, Festival of the Lion King musical, and Mickey's Philhar Magic 3D show. 

The other more memorable moments at Disneyland were taking the raft to Tarzan's Tree-house; the exciting and sometimes hilarious Jungle River Cruise with some unexpected surprises along the way; Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride (my little girl's all-time favorite) and the indoor ride into It's A Small World where you get to see all the cute miniature dolls dressed in their colorful national costumes from all over the world and with the familiar song playing in the background. This was my favorite as I felt like I was being transported into a colorful miniature world surrounded by happy people from different cultures and nationalities. It's A Small World -- this was where I really felt like a child again, happy and carefree. 

One of the highlights of Disneyland was the Grand Parade but regrettably, we missed the timing as we were so engrossed with covering the 5 theme parks and catching the musical shows and some interesting rides. We didn't even get a chance to take pictures with any of the Disney characters, though we did catch a glimpse of Mickey and Minnie Mouse as they were ushered away. If it was any consolation, we did catch a mini Christmas parade by the Disney characters. Of course it wasn't as grand as the Main Parade, but it was still better than no parade at all.

The other major highlight of Disneyland was the fireworks finale at 8pm. Even though we were totally exhausted when evening came, we didn't want to miss the fireworks and resisted the temptation of heading back to the comfy beds in Disney Hollywood Hotel. And we did not regret our decision. The fireworks were spectacular and too awesome for words. It nicely wrapped up our fantastical experience at Disneyland.

If I have to choose a Best Moment in Disneyland, it would be the heartwarming moment when both my hubby and child were huddled together and laughing with delight at the 'snow' falling on their heads and faces. This special moment was priceless, never mind the snow was fake. It was the joy that bubbled from within and translated into laughter -- and it was something I would remember for a long time.  

Where to Eat and Shop

Hong Kong is both a shopping and food paradise so if you have spare time after visiting Disneyland, you may want to check out these places for some retail and gastronomical therapies.  

* Jardine's Crescent Bazaar (Causeway Bay) -- where rows of shops selling ladies' and children's fashion apparel and accessories are aplenty. You can bargain here but make sure you buy after bargaining, or some shop-owners may give you a black look.

* World Trade Center (Causeway Bay), Times Square (Causeway Bay), The One (Tsim Sha Tsui) and K11, said to be the world's first art shopping mall (Tsim Sha Tsui) -- for more upmarket shopping.

* Street markets -- for those who like bargain shopping. The more popular ones are Temple Street Night Market (Jordan MTR) which only starts from 4pm, Ladies' Market (Mongkok MTR), and next to Ladies' Market is the famous Shoe Street (also known as Fa Yuen street) where you can find many shops selling nothing but shoes - all kinds of shoes.

If shopping is not your thing, you can make a trip down to the other attractions like the Madame Tussauds museum and the beautiful night scenery at The Victoria Peak. I had been to Madame Tussauds in London, so we gave this one a miss. If you have spare time, drop by to see the Symphony of Lights at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront between Arena of Stars and Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The free laser lights display starts at 8pm, so make sure you go slightly earlier to get a good viewing spot. And grab a jacket along, it can get very chilly at the harbour at night.

When we were in Hong Kong, we managed to try out some yummy food at these eateries which are worth recommending. But be prepared for long queues as it usually comes with good food.

* Cafe de Coral (a fast-food chain with many outlets) -- the food is cheap and reasonably good, the place is also clean and service is fast. But it can be difficult to find seats as it is usually crowded.

* Wing Kee Noodle ( 45 Jardine's Bazaar) -- there is usually a queue but the noodles are delicious and prices are reasonable. The down side is the shop space is really tiny, so you can expect elbow-to-elbow kind of seating arrangement.

* Tim Ho Wan (Kwong Wah Street, Mongkok) -- another tiny eatery that serves great food and this one came recommended in the 2011 Michelin Guide. A lot of tourists and even their locals are willing to wait at least 2 hours to try their dim sum. Since our hotel was just around the corner from the restaurant, we went there after breakfast to get a queue number (yes, they distributed queue numbers to keep the crowds in order) and returned about 2 hours later just in time for our dim sum lunch. To be honest, the food was not exceptional, just above average. But the prices were reasonable and I must add that despite their huge fame, their service was rather good. The wait staff even thanked the customers for patronising their restaurant when the customers leave after their meals. A rare sight in Hong Kong indeed. 

And don't leave Hong Kong without trying their famous desserts at Xu Liu Xiang. You will be spoilt for choice as there are so many varieties of hot and cold desserts and drinks to choose from their menu. My girl loves the mini glutinous rice balls mixed with frozen fruits. Yummy! They have several chain outlets, so it's quite easy to find them anywhere. The delicious desserts add to the sweet memories of our family vacation in Hong Kong and Disneyland!


Disneyland Revisited

When we visited Hong Kong Disneyland again in March 2014, it was much less enjoyable because we went with the extended in-law family and without hubby by our side as he wasn't able to take leave from his work.

We stayed two nights at the 4-star Langham Place Hotel which was conveniently linked to the Langham Mall and a stone's throw away from the Ladies' Market in Mongkok; the other two nights were at the Disneyland Hotel.

There were not many changes to the theme park since we visited more than two years ago, except for two new attractions -- Mystic Point and Grizzly Gulch. The latter was not quite my cup of tea, nor was it suitable for little children as it was built like a rugged mine with roller-coaster kind of cars racing in and out of a man-made mountain. Mystic Point was more interesting as it featured a mysterious manor which housed the manor lord's wide collection of art and antiques from around the world. A chain of carriages would take you through the inside of the manor which was dimly lit and filled with surprises!

This time, Sweet Pea and I have more time to enjoy the Disneyland Hotel compared to Hollywood Hotel the other time. I especially like the food served at the hotel's Walt's Cafe. The lobster pasta I had was simply delicious! Sweet Pea's favorite was the white chocolate cheesecake dessert.

The Disneyland Hotel also has both an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor pool complete with a slide built amidst the rocks. We only tried the indoor pool as the outdoor pool slide looked quite steep. In the evening when the sun is down, you can also take a leisurely stroll through the perfectly manicured maze in the hotel garden ground.

Although Disneyland is every child's dreamland, I realised Sweet Pea didn't enjoy it as much as when she visited over 2 years ago. She seems to prefer a leisurely and relaxing kind of vacation, like a beach resort or a cruise holiday. Just like her personality -- cool, carefree and happy-go-lucky!

Cruise Escapade

I love the ocean, and especially waking up to the ocean sounds and cool sea breeze on my face. I have my desire fulfilled on a recent cruise with an oceanview balcony cabin to boot!

Though it wasn't my first time on a Star Cruise, it was my 3-year-old tot's first cruise on a big ship and I was excited for her. On the way to HarbourFront terminal, she repeatedly asked, "Are we there yet, Mommy?" like she couldn't wait to board the ship. Once we were on board the Star Virgo cruise ship, we went straight to our balcony cabin to unpack and then brought darling daughter on a ship tour while waiting for the ship to set sail.

The next few days on the large ship were simply relaxing and divine with plenty of food, fun and entertainment. There were several restaurants to choose from, some were free (which you would have already paid for this vacation) while some were chargeable. If you loved Japanese food, the restaurant Samurai was a good choice. Though it was a little pricey for the relatively small portions, the food was good and there were free flow of piping hot green tea if you ordered the set meals.

Those who liked fine dining would find the formal sit-down dinner with live music at Bella Vista just up their alley. But be warned that the food came in rather small portions, so those with big appetites might not feel enough to eat. Fret not, hearty eaters could head to the chinese restaurant Pavilion Room which served pretty decent chinese cuisines and they came in rather generous portions. And if you preferred casual, eat-to-your-heart's-content dining, the Mediterranean International Buffet should satisfy any cravings.

My only gripe was the Gala Dinner reservation which required one to ballot (which reminded me of primary school registration) where you had to queue to ballot and reserve for a seat in the restaurant of your choice. It was on a first-come-first-get basis, so if the restaurant you wanted was filled up when it came to your turn, you would have to choose another restaurant for the Gala Dinner.

There was no lack of entertainment on the ship, but not everything was free so make sure you checked first or you might find yourself paying beyond what you already had. While you were on the cruise, try not to miss the performances which were usually quite good. We watched a rib-tickling and incredible magic show on one night and a spectacular show based on the legendary Rasputin on another night. The latter was a great production that combined not just singing and dancing, but also breathtaking acrobatic performances coupled with colorful costumes and stunning stage designs and visual effects. Definitely a must-watch!

There was also a cinema on board the ship and screened some blockbuster movies like Mega Mind, Up, Iron Man II, Karate Kid and The Social Network. But if you didn't want to spend your time lounging in the cinema, there were plenty of other options like sweating it out at the Universal Gym or pampering yourself in the Apollo Spa. But you had to pay for the entrance fee and services at the spa.

A must-try on the Star Virgo cruise was the gigantic snaking water slide with one transparent part jutting out into the ocean. I was initially hesitant to try it as I have height phobia. But once I overcame the fear and took the plunge (literally!), I had to go for a second and even third round, it was that thrilling! The best part -- it's free so you could try as many times as you liked.

We also had our first karaoke session as a family at the Celebrity Disco & KTV Lounge. We went during off-peak time so our 3-year-old girl could enter, and we have had a whale of a time singing as a family! Our tot got her turn to sing 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' and even got applause from the other customers!

Our 4-Day-3-Night cruise included a Penang and Phuket shore excursions, so for those who were feeling bored onboard and wanted some adventures could choose to alight from the ship. As for us, we much preferred a no-stress, no-rush vacation as there were plenty for us to explore with our kid on the ship. In fact just lying on the deck chair, watching my two most loved ones playing in the jaccuzi pool, and being near the sky and the sea was already bliss.