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

 

[amjt660]

Remaining sights in Toy Story land

 

[DisneyGigi]

Remaining sights in Toy Story land
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See, I felt like Pandora, although well done, was small. The land was just Meh, to me. FoP, however- Amazing! It didn't feel like a "land" though, to me anyway, too small. Not being an Avatar movie fan, and loving Toy Story as much as I do, I probably will like whatever we get though. Great pictures.

 

[amjt660]

See, I felt like Pandora, although well done, was small. The land was just Meh, to me. FoP, however- Amazing! It didn't feel like a "land" though, to me anyway, too small. Not being an Avatar movie fan, and loving Toy Story as much as I do, I probably will like whatever we get though. Great pictures.

I have not seen Pandora in person so I reserve judgement
I am a fan of the visual aspects of the movie Avatar ( I also like the message but could not look past the acting/screenplay to send the message).
So with that said I am looking forward to seeing the visually stunning aspect of DAK's new land.
(and riding FOP is important too!!)

Toy Story land is a fun small area primarily for the young ones (in HKDL and DLP).
I hope it turns out well in Florida.

Max

 

[amjt660]

Day 2 con'd
Next up in my journey was Mystic Point
It is a small land that includes a walkthrough area and of course the ride Mystic Manor

The Gardens of Wonder is an area set up for discovery

This is how HKDL website explains it.
By standing it certain location you get interesting 3D effects
I did not have anyone to do it with so - oh well - move on

Now to try to explain the wonderful Mystic Manor

First off the idea of ghosts being scary is not culturally accepted in this area of the world
Being visited by your ancestors in ghost form would be an honor.
So the idea of a haunted mansion does not fly at HKDL
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
More on the ride later though
First the exterior is beautiful - first pic is the gift shop

Wait time was too long (50 min) so I decided to come back near closing time.

 

[Courtney6682]

LOVE all the Toy Story pix..can't wait to see what ''ours'' looks like!

 

[amjt660]

LOVE all the Toy Story pix..can't wait to see what ''ours'' looks like!

me too!!

 

[amjt660]

Day 2 cont'd
Walking a few steps past Mystic Manor and I find myself in Grizzly Gulch (think Frontierland)

Chip and Dale were out to greet

Definite Wild West feel to this area

Next up was Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars

Now was the time to take advantage of staying onsite.
I was given two Priority Pass - they were FP good for 4 people - but actually to more rides than those that had FP
FP is only available on 3 ride (Pooh, Hyperspace Mtn and Iron Man)
The priority pass could be used on Grizzley and Mystic as well (possible others that I cannot remember)

So I skipped the 60 min line and essentially walked on.

Now think about what would happen if you combined BTMRR and Everest.
That is pretty much what you get here.

You start with a relatively simple start and climb/drop.
Then as you go up the next hill you suddenly drop and go backwards for a minute or so
(like Everest but not corkscrew - just a flat backwards ride)
Then you stop - see a couple of animatronic Grizzlies above you that press the plunger to ignite the dynamite
And you blast off to finish off the ride.

Overall a really good roller coaster - slightly better than BTMRR (sorry @Longers ) but not as thrilling as Everest.

Will be riding this one again for sure!!

 

[Princess Leia]

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

 

[amjt660]

Continuing through Grizzly Gulch

A few pics of the geysers

and the mountain that is supposed to be a grizzly bear ( DCA Grizzly is easierto see in my opinion)

And then entrances to 2 shows that I did not get to

 

[D Hulk]

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.

 

[amjt660]

Day 2 cont'd - getting dark....
The island at HKDL hosts Tarzan's Treehouse ( I guess Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer would not resonate over here).

Kept walking .... Professor Porter got a store

Interesting smoke (not cooling though)
And yes it was still hot and muggy

Walked back to Fantasyland

I decided it was time for dinner so I went to the Royal Banquet Hall and grabbed a quick serve meal

 

[amjt660]

I ate a grilled meat platter
It was good - and I was hungry

After dinner I walked back to Mystic Manor for my first ride - 15 min posted wait - took about 10 to get on the ride
Enough time to take some pictures of the queue

Pictures of Lord Henry Mystic and his pet monkey Albert ( who is so cute!!)

Model of the exterior of the ride (I love models like this)

This is a picture of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers
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!!!)

 

[amjt660]

More Mytic Point
First more from the queue

The preshow was really good with an animatronic Albert joining in

And this is why this ride is amazing
Trackless Ride Vehicles - same system as Pooh's Hunny Hunt in Tokyo
The possibilities are endless and the Imagineers pushed the limits
There is one scene that you are literally going in a big loop at least 3 times like you are in a hurricane (which is the image on the walls around you)

The first room include Lord Mystic and Albert animatronics (telling you about the Magical music box)
And of course Albert is mischievous little monkey and he opens the box

I will have a couple more ride pictures from Saturday
I will finish up with two shots outside of the manor

This is the best dark ride (non thrill ride) that I have ever been on.
Poohs Hunny Hunt is a close second.

But I hear Pirates at Shanghai is pretty good too - maybe someday

 

[amjt660]

Headed over to the hub to watch the fireworks/projection show
I did not take any pictures or notes so I do not have much to add
I remember I liked it but that is about it. ( Sad , I know)
So I will use this from the HKDL website

Unfortunately Paint the Night was not running during my 2 days
On Saturday night I was able to see a Halloween parade instead.
I wish I could have seen PTN again - I caught it once at DLR by my viewpoint was not a great one.


Headed out , took some pictures at the entrance and back at the hotel

Chef Mickeys (breakfast on Saturday!!)

And thus ends Day 2 of the trip and my first day at HKDL
Next up : my full day at the park

 

[dddisney]

Thanks for the great report.

 

[Kiwiduck]

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.

 

[MinnieM123]

I decided it was time for dinner so I went to the Royal Banquet Hall and grabbed a quick serve meal

You had some great photos throughout your trip.

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.

 

[Tuvalu]

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

 

[amjt660]

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

More to come
Second day at the parks will add more to your virtual experience!!

Max

 

[12in12]

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.