Trip Report Sometimes going halfway is a good thing - Max's Hong Kong Adventure

Hello All and welcome to another Max Trip Report

This one is solo - sans family - as it was a quick stop at a new park for me
Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) opened in 2005 and has slowly been growing into itself
Initial feedback on HKDL was too small and not enough to do.
As you will see in this brief stop I had plenty to do (and actually did not accomplish everything I wanted to do)

Who: Max , aka Clarence to those who read my Cali report recently.
What: HKDL for a day and a bit
When: Friday Oct 6and Saturday Oct 7
Why: A Disney park I have not been to AND my company was sending me back to Japan so I detoured at the start of the business trip to catch this gem of a park.

Up next: Intercontinental travel !!

Max

 

[fractal]

Lovin' your report and Mystic Manor looks awesome! Maybe someday I'll get there.

 

[amjt660]

Your pictures are great! Looks like a fun trip so far

I was having fun up to that point and it got better the next day - stay tuned!!

Hooray for hotel FastPasses! It totally flabbergasts me how much busier the park was for your visit. I’d estimate 10x more people.

Festival of the Lion King was really well done, and apparently slightly different from DAK’s version. With the low crowds of September, it was useful to fill out the day.

Very eagerly awaiting your opinion on HKDL’s other treasures to come.

The hotel FP came in handy on day 2 as well
Unfortunately I did not get to do the shows I wanted to - poor planning on my part

Thanks for the great report.

The report is not over or as Monty Python put it

I'm glad you liked Mystic Manor, it was one of my favourite rides ever. Cant believe the wait was at 50 minutes - it was a walk on almost every time I did it. And I loved the Grizzly mountain runaway ride - it was so smooth, I loved it better than big thunder.

Mystic Manor is an amazing ride that the entire family can enjoy ( Walt would be impressed!!)

This is one of my favorites, because I love the Cinderella and Prince dancing sculpture in the middle of the banquet hall. There's this frenetic energy all around it with people rushing to order/get their food, etc. Then, you see this lovely white, serene statue of them waltzing together in the middle of it all. It's kinda like two universes going on there.

I wish I can say I artistically planned that picture but I did not.
Glad you like it - more to come

Never thought I’d say this, but I had fun in Hong Kong (virtually of course.) Thanks, Max!

Glad you are enjoying it so far - never say never

I am loving your trip report, all your photos are bringing back great memories. I am glad you loved Mystic Manor as it was my favorite ride. I am a bit sad you didn't get to see the Lion King as the HK version is much better than the WDW one.

You will be upset when you hear about the other show I missed on day 2 at the parks

Lovin' your report and Mystic Manor looks awesome! Maybe someday I'll get there.

I really hope you do make it to HKDL (and Tokyo Disney Sea)
I would love to see the amazing pictures that you would take and share with us

Max

 

[amjt660]

Day 3 of the trip - Day 2 at HKDL - 1st full day (confused yet?)
Woke up early (park did not officially open to 10 and my internal clock was no where near correct yet)
Some more pictures from the room

and the hotel

and no @Zipitidoda I did not take this one off the person's door (but I was tempting to!)

Elevator shots

and from the grounds

 

[kaitertot5249]

So they came up with Mystic Manor
The home of an explorer who has found a magic music box that brings inanimate objects to life

Interesting point is that the man on the far left is Hightower - who is the "famous" explorer from Tokyo Disney Sea's Tower of Terror
(nice tie in boys!!!)

There is a pretty huge back story that goes very deep into Disney lore regarding S.E.A. and the various times Imagineers have worked the story line into Disney parks around the world. I find it very interesting!
There's a lot of articles out there if you want to read more about this society and the park to park tie ins.

 

[amjt660]

There is a pretty huge back story that goes very deep into Disney lore regarding S.E.A. and the various times Imagineers have worked the story line into Disney parks around the world. I find it very interesting!
There's a lot of articles out there if you want to read more about this society and the park to park tie ins.

If you have a link to any of these back stories please share!!

Max

 

[D Hulk]

If you have a link to any of these back stories please share!!

Max

8 Disney attractions connected by the Society of Explorers and Adventurers

 

[kaitertot5249]

If you have a link to any of these back stories please share!!

I'll try to find some when I get a home from work!

 

[kaitertot5249]

If you have a link to any of these back stories please share!!

Or I'll look now because... procrastination!

http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Society_of_Explorers_and_Adventurers - This is some of the basic info. I know I've come across a website with way more detail but I can't seem to find it right now.

 

[amjt660]

Day 3 cont'd - Walk around the resort before Breakfast!

I was able to get someone to take a picture of me on the Mickey bench

I forgot to mention that I did try out the pool on the Friday night
Slide was fun but the water was so warm it was not refreshing at all
(it was still 28 C - 82 F at 10pm and still muggy)

It is a piano pool - hard to see from this shot

Tribute to the Hollywood sign in California

The path ways were meant to be roads so along the way I found this

and this

View from the back of the resort -expensive condos in the distance (I assume)

 

[becca_]

I am late but I am here!!

Awesome pictures, I hope to get there someday myself.

 

[amjt660]

I am late but I am here!!

Awesome pictures, I hope to get there someday myself.

Your not too late
Probably half way done so far

Thanks for following

Max

 

[amjt660]

Day 3 - More pictures from the grounds behind the Hollywood Hotel
First off this is the google map of the Hollywood hotel
At the bottom of the sat pic in the middle is the walkway that goes outside the gate
The pathway that is perpendicular with the rocks beside it is public access (looks like a good biking or jogging trial)
As I looked across the water I saw the white building (guessing condos)

Check out the cool reflection in this plaque on the gate.

Pictures on the outside of the gate

Again the mirror plaque on the outside of the gate made for an interesting picture @fractal

Here is a larger sat shot showing the bay and the location of the white buildings

 

[amjt660]

Overall view of resort
The shuttle bus took me from the HH (bottom left) to the Bus drop off (top middle)
The walk straight done to the circle courtyard is where the fountain is (Mickey surfing over the whale)
The entrance is to the left of the fountain (on this map)
The major attractions like Mystic Manor, Grizzley Gulch, etc show up on this screen shot too.

 

[amjt660]

Day 3 - more walking around the hotel
Back inside the fence and walking back to the hotel along the "freeway"

Love this bench that looks like a highway guardrail

Pool and slide

Fun posters inside

 

[amjt660]

Day 3
A walk through the hotel and out to the front gate (as I said - I woke up way too early!!!!0

Chef Mickeys!! - Not open yet

Lobby

Outside in the front and at the gate

Explorers lodge is next door (maybe next time???)

 

[amjt660]

And Chef Mickey's was now open!!
Good food, both Asian and Western choices, great friendly service

Winnie the Pooh was a banana bread - his ear fell off - I did not take a bite before the pic - I swear

 

[amjt660]

Chef Mickey's cont'd
The signs over each food station were cute and accurate

As I was leaving I met the big guy
( I was actually given a time window to go up and meet him - very efficient method)
First a selfie

Then a pose

Next up - Off to the park!!!

 

[fractal]

Day 3 - More pictures from the grounds behind the Hollywood Hotel
First off this is the google map of the Hollywood hotel
At the bottom of the sat pic in the middle is the walkway that goes outside the gate
The pathway that is perpendicular with the rocks beside it is public access (looks like a good biking or jogging trial)
As I looked across the water I saw the white building (guessing condos)
View attachment 244346

View attachment 244337 View attachment 244338
Check out the cool reflection in this plaque on the gate.
View attachment 244342
Pictures on the outside of the gate
View attachment 244347 View attachment 244348 View attachment 244349
Again the mirror plaque on the outside of the gate made for an interesting picture @fractal
View attachment 244350

Here is a larger sat shot showing the bay and the location of the white buildings
View attachment 244351

I agree - nice reflection shot. Great shots all around!

 

[amjt660]

Day 3 - to the park I go!!

A few more Halloween banners

Bag check was quick (did not have one)

Walked up to the front gate at about 8:50am (approx. 1 hour before opening and found this)

No one waiting (perhaps this is what @D Hindley was taking about?
I placed my hat down to save my spot and then took some more pictures

For those noticing I switched from my blue Mickey Hat to my red Canadian Maple leaf hat

Those two hats are not permanently retired to the garage at home
I sweat so much over the 2 days that the hats are now "work around the garden/lawn " hats.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Awesome pictures! Hong Kong Disneyland looks so fun and different from some of the other parks. Someday I will go, someday...