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Our very first family travel to Hong Kong back in 2007 is super memorable to me. I wont even begin to explain or I will lost track on what I wish to write here. Lucky for us because our good friend Ritchie joined us, so we were able to have family pictures.

Masarap din may karelyebo sa rides to amuse Kite.

Ok the point of this post is… ewan ko saan saan na din ako nakarating til I decided I want lang to make my own tips and advices to HK Disneyland. Actually, I initially planned to just blog about the Disney Autograph Book kasi nag ask si Clarice about it then when I replied ang daming interested so kinilig ako. Tamang tama a few days ago Antonette was saying she wish I will go back to blogging (said a delinquent blogger to another).

Ok here goes my HK Disneyland Do Not Miss List:

1. Stay in Disney Hotel

Hollywood Hotel Seaview Room View

Stay at their hotel for at the very least 2 nights. We stayed 1 night on our first trip and it was just hard cramming everything in 1 night. We also stayed for 4 nights and I loved it! We were able to explore and really enjoy Disneyland.

Which hotel to stay. Disney Hollywood Hotel or Disneyland Hotel. Because they are not the same price it is for me hands down Hollywood Hotel because I like the vibe of the hotel and it feels more playful and more friendly and more for kids. (Disclaimer: I haven’t stayed in Disneyland Hotel yet but I’ve been there for breakfast and was able to roam around the area). Price of room is a major swayer Disneyland Hotel’s cheapest room is at HK$2100 while cheapest room in Hollywood Hotel is HK$1550 (HK$1=Php6). Do I wish to try staying  at Disneyland Hotel? Hell yeah of course, just to try it too. Photo above is from Hollywood Hotel SeaView Room. I tried Garden View and the view is nothing, the Park View gives you a faraway view of the Park and I guess you can see fireworks during fireworks time (good if you stay in the room at such time, we never do). The only difference of the rooms in Hollywood Hotel is the view the room size and amenities are absolutely same. All rooms comes with 2 Queen Size bed, beds 4 pax comfortably. I have known of families who occupies one room for 6 pax (2 pax on the floor).

Update: June 7, 2013. Last December 2012 we stayed in Disneyland Hotel in a Clubroom Floor, himatay sa price but it is really nice. If I can spare the money I will forever stay na sa Disneyland Hotel, much more luxurious, spacey, homey but expensive. We are going again to HK this December 2013 and we are still deciding if we go Hollywood or Disneyland Hotel. The price is really the dealbreaker. 

Also during our Dec 2012 trip we got the Park View room and we got to enjoy the fireworks from our room with a channel in the TV playing what was playing right there in the park. So if you are with a toddler might be a good idea to get a Park View room, Laya was 2 .9 then and she wouldnt sleep in the stroller so we had to cut our DisneyPark trip shop so she can sleep in the room. Not that answers my earlier questions about not being in the room at such time!

My suggested itinerary:

for an overnight stay. Check in as early as you can, if room is not available by 9am just leave your luggage and head over to the Park already, stay in the park til it closes. Go back to hotel and join the bedtime storytelling at the Activity Room then take a swim at their heated pool (pool closes at 10pm) and enjoy finding hidden Mickey’s if your energy can take it. Day 2 start the day with having a Character Breakfast at Disneyland Hotel then head off to the park again till you satisfy your Disney appetite.

for a 2 night stay: check in and enjoy the kids activities they prepared for the day. See what interest you, swim in their heated pool. Then head of to Tung Chung for Citygate Outlets and shop and have your dinner there. Day 2 & 3 follow the IT above.

for a 3 night stay: use the extra day to explore Nyong Ping and more shopping time at Citygate Outlet and swimming time at the pool.

for a 4 night stay: use the extra day to explore HK’s main land sightseeing spots then another day for Ocean Park then either squeeze the 3 night stay to 2 nights or use the 2 night stay IT

here is a sample activity sched for the day (circa 2008)

Hotel Activities (2008 Sched)

Hotel Facilities Info

2. Character Dining

Enchanted Garden in Disneyland Hotel – a photo with all characters present is rare, we were able to have this coz we arrived for breakfast late and they gave us a chance to have a group picture since there’s not much time for solo shots anymore. A very rare opportunity. They really hate having guest go home unhappy so to make up they organized this for our group. Happiness to the nth level!

Character Breakfast at Plaza Inn – this is no longer offered. Didnt see it among the choices. Plaza Inn is a Chinese Food Buffet Breakfast that’s why they are dressed in Chinese attire, sadly, food utterly not worth it, choices were limited.

I absolutely love having breakfast and seeing the characters come and visit. They make sure they go to ALL tables and have enough time for each guest to have the picture taken solo, with some, with all, to sign autographs and if it is a slow day even for some playful interactions. Please do save for this make sure you do this. Oh if you can hold off telling your kids the characters are coming the joy is even more seeing the kids exclaim that Mickey, Minnie, Pluto or Goofy or whoever just came in the dining room! Oh what a joy.

The absolutely great thing about booking a Character Breakfast in Plaza Inn is you get to enter the park even before the park is open. See this shot? RARE! Nobody in the park except for us. We got in an hour or 2 before the park was open to the public. We didnt loiter around but you will be passing by the whole Main Street as Plaza Inn is at the end just before Sleeping Beauty’s Rotunda. Awesomeness!

3. Check out Maze at Disneyland Hotel

Maze at Disneyland Hotel

If you go to Disneyland whether you are a hotel guest or not, you can take the shuttle that does the round. From Disney Park/MRT station next stop is Disneyland Hotel then next is Hollywood Hotel then back to the Park/MRT station. You can go to the hotel and enjoy the common area. We were able to explore Disneyland Hotel after our breakfast in Enchanted Garden. There is a door from Enchanted Garden leading you outside to the maze area. It is fun to get lost in the maze, not sure if it is easy but definitely not scary (hmm maybe it wold be for a kid who cant see over the hedges?)

4. Swim at the Piano Pool of Hollywood Hotel

Heated Pool

Hollywood Hotel Piano Pool – shaped like a piano and with piano keys design at the bottom of the pool. Other side is the slide pool

One of the hotels activity. Chalk drawing. Great before or after swim activity.

5. Bedtime Storytelling

No big deal really, but most likely you got nothing to do after the park closes so why not. Dont work your sched around this but if it fits then go for it.

6. Autograph Signing

Autograph Books

Hotel Housekeeping did this. So cute!

Tips re autograph book.

1. You may buy an autograph book from any Disney Stores (15 pages) or bring any of your notebook.

2. If buying an autograph book remember to take photos in landscape format. We were aware that we need a photo but it slipped our mind that the photo would be nicer in a landscape format. Try not to copy our mistake.

3. Using a notebook tend to be frustrating kasi most like there will be a lot of pages. Autograph book are just 15 pages and having 15 characters sign is the right amount for a 2 day Park trip.

4. There’s a girlie autograph design and also a boyish design so dont be misled by my photos our kid is girlie so she chose a pink one.

5. The Cast Members and characters are very very tolerant of kids with autograph book, so if you are with 3 kids do not feel embarrassed having 3 books signed, having 3 solo pictures and even sibling photos and family photos. They can take the photos for you using your camera (dslr, point and shoot, cellphone cam, any cam at all) and they are quite quick. They are very very courteous but they also wont tolerate over staying they will gently lead you to leave if you are taking longer than needed.

Hope I didnt miss anything. As for Park Tips? Hmm just go for the ride first before you hit the lines for the autographs. Refer to Park Maps (available upon entrance) to see where the character photo ops are. Don’t forget to eat those Mickey Mouse Head Ice Cream, I love the bitter taste of the sugar in their caramel popcorn, I love the Duck Rice at Comet Cafe across Orbitron but check sched this is not always open. Of course DO NOT miss the parade & the fireworks. Do not ever ever skip PhilHarmagic, next dont miss Buzz AstroBlaster. Golden Mickey is a missable show for me. Lion King is also a missable show for me.

Hope this helped!

Can’t wait to go back to Disneyland!

Update June 2013: Please visit my December 2012 Disneyland Trip. Got more advices there as some debunked my earlier comments here. HK Trip Day 1 | HK Trip Day 2 | HK Trip Day 3 | HK Trip Day 4 | HK Trip Day 5