!st trip to Hong Kong Disneyland

[sharon mouse]

Hi, me and DH are visiting Hong Kong in November and as disney addicts are planning a few days at the newest disney park. We are regular visitors to the parks in USA and Paris and are very excited to be visiting Hong Kong. So we were wondering if you could answer a few questions please????

What sort of weather should we expect in mid November??

Is pin trading popular? And do the cast members wear lanyards?

Are there lockers available to rent??

Is international food available as well as local?

Many thanks, I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions as the time gets closer.

[GUYNYC]

I was there thanksgiving week--and the weather was warm, I remember sweating a little bit at times. And had some nice days in the pool at our hotel. However, on the day I went to the Park it was pouring down rain, but I don't remember it being cold. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt... I don't remember about the pin trading, but the cast members were very friendly. Get there early, as there's nothing quite as amazing and walking up Main Street all by yourself, looking at the cm's waving to you. Or having your picture taken in front of the Castle with NO ONE around. And yes there are lockers--I believe they are in the middle of Main Street.

[TDR_Fan]

Remember to keep your expectations down. Since you are familiar with other Magic Kingdoms, keep in mind that Hong Kong Disneyland has almost none of the familiar E-ticket attractions (Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, etc) . It's a pretty park, but it is also very small. Space Mountain (nearly identical to Disneyland's), the Jungle Cruise, and it's a small world are pretty much the only major attractions there. They don't even have the classic Fantasyland dark rides (Winnie the Pooh doesn't count).

[UncleMac]

Hello! I was at Hong Kong last April. I have a report here on this board if you're interested.

To answer your questions, I'd expect the weather in November to be cool, compared to April anyways, which was hot and humid.

Pin trading in Hong Kong is okay too, I know at least one other MCer (from HK) who collects pins. I've seen cast members in the park wearing those lanyards with pins so I guess you can collect a few. There is a place on Main Street dedicated to Pin Trading.

Yes, there are lockers. Close to city hall on main street, if I recall correctly.

There is also a variety of food being served at the park, a good mix of international and local. I remember having fish and chips for lunch.

I hope you have fun visiting Hong Kong.

[mclubber]

What sort of weather should we expect in mid November??

Good time to come and it won't be hot out. Typhoon season will be over then.

Is pin trading popular? And do the cast members wear lanyards?

There is Pin Trading. Ask around the merchandise CM or attractions CM

Are there lockers available to rent??

I think so. You may need to check with City Hall

Is international food available as well as local?

Yep

[Malin]

Hi sharon mouse

First you may like to check out my very own trip report + pics, just follow the links posted in my Signature.

November is said to be a very good time to go, with very little rain fall.

Hong Kong Disneyland has a great variety of western food available. Burgers, fish & Chips and pasta dishes are just some of the selection you will find here. But hey when in Rome, so you may like to try the Korean Squid.

Like TDR_Fan says don't come here expecting another Disneyland Paris, the park is very nice and the level of quality is above what you can expect to find at other Disney parks, but the offerings are very slim. I would give the park a couple of days, I did a full day here in May and did almost everything, except a few things and had to come back another day and finish of a couple of the attractions, plus get some more rides in. Anymore I think your pushing it, especially with so much else going on in Hong Kong to see and do.

[TDLFAN]

Sharon Mouse, like others have said... HKDL is a very small park, and it is still pretty much a work in progress IMHO... I think one day to spend there would be enough... but I would advise two days max if you really want to soak up the whole experience... including visiting the hotels and nearby relaxing park with lake.

What sort of weather should we expect in mid November??

Weather is milder and not as hot and humid as it is in the summer months...so enjoy.

Is pin trading popular? And do the cast members wear lanyards?

Yes and yes. You won't have any problems with Pin trading. A popular spot for that is on Main Street's mid point, under the canopy area in center street, next to Emporium. They have a nice selection of HKDL exclusive pins. You are welcomed to wear your own lanyard and pin trade with CMs and other pin trading guests.

Are there lockers available to rent??

Yes, and they are located half way up main Street next to the bakery. You can pay with credit card and cash and they are rentable for the day, meaning, you can re-open them as often as needed. Just keep the receipt you get from the manchine which contains your locker combination.

Is international food available as well as local?

Many of the restaurants are heavy on local chinese fare, but you won;t have problems finding a few spots that offer the traditional park fare. Starliner Dinner in Tomorrowland sells hamburgers and chicken..with fries and other stuff. The Corner cafe on Main Street also has fare like spaghetti bolognese... etc. But do not go searching for churros.. they do not sell those.

Many thanks, I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions as the time gets closer.

Feel free to ask anytime, as I go there every other month and keep current on what's going on at the park. BTW... I still have pics from the HKDL Chinese New Year celebration and you can see those if you click on the link in my signature below.

[WDW1974]

I agree with much of the advice above (as an APer at WDW, DL and DLP who just visited for the first time last week). But I really think two days is overkill. I could see maybe a full day for just the park and come back one night for 3-4 hours to explore the hotels and maybe have dinner. But there is no way enough in this park for a two-day visit unless you want to ride Buzz Lightyear 16 times, Winnie the Pooh 11 and Space Mountain 9.

As far as food goes, while some western food is available (Corner Cafe, Starliner and Royal Banquet Hall all have items available) this park serves largely Chinese cuisine. I would venture to say 80% of the food offerings are such, and that may be a low estimate.

And the cars will have squid tentacles and fish balls (really!) but there isn't even an ice cream shop on Main Street, but there is a new small stand near Small World.

It's well worth a visit, but you really need to keep your expectations in check. It is a nice, small park with two hotels that are a bit of a distance away and absolutely nothing else.

It's not a bad thing by any means ... but it isn't an Anaheim, Orlando or Paris thing either.

[sharon mouse]

Well thank you very much for your replies and answers. I am going to visit the park with a very open mind and take it for what it is. That said however, we are very much looking forward to experiencing the park as well as the whole of Hong Kong and hopfully Macau, (as Las Vegas comes a close second to my love of Disney Holidays.) But I also understand that Macau isn't going to be quite the same as Las Vegas, (but we had our annual fix of that in June.) Just looking forward to seeing the 'Las Veagas of the East'

I'm pretty sure nearer the time there will be loads more questions I have to ask, but my excitement is being split at the moment as we are off to DLRP in Oct, 4 weeks before our trip to Hong Kong.

Thanks again

[WDW1974]

.Moved ... to correct thread. Nothing to see here ...

[TDLFAN]

OK ... so I know I said I'd talk about Small World, but first I need to go back to the whole McDisneyland thought.

Because I think what I feel most of all is that HKDL feels like a cut and paste job. Adventureland is wonderful, but you can't help but realize much of it is DAK for instance. Winnie the Pooh was such a complete lift from the MK that they even included the tribute to Mr. Toad that makes no sense in a HK context.

I know Disney parks all borrow from each other for many elements. But there is such a feel that things were simply copied with this park. I suspect that even if the original plans had been followed thru, I'd still feel this way since so much was going to be cloned and/or lifted from other parks.

Anyway ... just a thought.

Next up: thoughts on Small World and HKDL's stable of attractions.

I think this belongs in your thread next door 74, not here on Sharon's.. Just a thought.

[WDW1974]

Well thank you very much for your replies and answers. I am going to visit the park with a very open mind and take it for what it is. That said however, we are very much looking forward to experiencing the park as well as the whole of Hong Kong and hopfully Macau, (as Las Vegas comes a close second to my love of Disney Holidays.) But I also understand that Macau isn't going to be quite the same as Las Vegas, (but we had our annual fix of that in June.) Just looking forward to seeing the 'Las Veagas of the East'

I'm pretty sure nearer the time there will be loads more questions I have to ask, but my excitement is being split at the moment as we are off to DLRP in Oct, 4 weeks before our trip to Hong Kong.

Thanks again

I will be writing about Macau in my thread, but much like you I love Vegas just like I love Disney parks. And no, Macau isn't the same as Vegas.

I was at the Venetian for its first anniversary last week, which was also opening day for the Four Seasons and the debut of the first Cirque show in Macau (Zaia).

Just like HKDL, Macau is well worth a visit. But just like HKDL, the new stuff, the expensive, glitzy, Vegasy Cotai Strip is basically two places and another dozen under construction. The other three Vegas-type casino/resorts are not on the Strip, but right near the ferry port ... I was only in one of them (the Sands) and only briefly, so I can only comment on the Venetian.

[WDW1974]

I think this belongs in your thread next door 74, not here on Sharon's.. Just a thought.

UGH!!!

Bad jetlag!!!

Thanks! I'll move it.

[Malin]

Hi Sharon Mouse I agree with WDW1974, Macau while no Vegas yet is still worth a visit. You have two options on visiting Macau either you can go on a tour and take in all the tourist areas or go out on your own for the day and explore. Actually if you have time, maybe you should plan on spending a night here too, maybe enjoying a show and a nice meal. ZAIA at the Venetian is supposed to be an excellent show if you enjoy Cirque du Soleil. Actually for anyone who's interested I have a photo album up from Macau http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=1bswwqaqh.1rmctilm1&x=0&y=18geoc

[WDW1974]

Hi Sharon Mouse I agree with WDW1974, Macau while no Vegas yet is still worth a visit. You have two options on visiting Macau either you can go on a tour and take in all the tourist areas or go out on your own for the day and explore. Actually if you have time, maybe you should plan on spending a night here too, maybe enjoying a show and a nice meal. ZAIA at the Venetian is supposed to be an excellent show if you enjoy Cirque du Soleil. Actually for anyone who's interested I have a photo album up from Macau http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?...1&x=0&y=18geoc

My day and night was almost entirely spent at the Venetian for the ZAIA premiere, so I can't comment much beyond that resort, which is fantastic and IMHO a bit overbuilt for the market at present.

I kind of think Sheldon Adelson and Sands Corp. went too much in the build and they will come direction as opposed to Disney in HK.

I intend to go more into depth on this in my HKDL thread in the near future because I think a great analogy can be drawn.