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Family fun at Hong Kong Disneyland

International Traveller
Quentin Long reports from the front line of fun at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

Life is magnificent inside the Disney bubble.

A world meticulously built for children with a single purpose: to make every possible moment of their time there as magical as can be. And by catering so singularly to kids, Disney makes parents very happy too.

Standing in the check-in queue at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (the park’s five-star resort), a concierge in a Cinderella coachman’s costume makes sure my children are entertained.

Do they want to sit and watch Disney cartoons while Dad queues? My three- and four-year-old sons decide to cling to my legs instead, but the concierge eventually wins them over with ubiquitous Disney stickers.

The exterior of the hotel is suitably fairytale in execution, a huge white Victorian-style manor with a red, spired roof, while the interiors, as you would expect, are magical.

An entire wall of the triangular lobby is glass looking out onto a manicured garden (not a single frangipani petal is out of place) and hedge maze, and the South China Sea beyond.

There are two huge chandeliers hanging from the towering ceiling, while a pianist puts the cherry on top of the grand welcome. After checking in we head for a buffet lunch at the Enchanted Garden (one of three restaurants) and start our Disneyland immersion.

Meeting Mickey, Minnie and the crew over what my vehemently anti-buffet wife describes as the best she has ever experienced, fills the kids with an excitement that borders on hysteria.

We manage a behind-the-scenes tour of the park and rides, which proves a Godsend.

Thanks to a private guide, jumping all the queues saves us from having to entertain children for half-an-hour while waiting for our turn on the rides, and maximises the number of attractions we can enjoy. Every single experience is enjoyed with wide-eyed wonder.

Being too small for Space Mountain is of little consequence: hours are filled with the Pooh Bear mini roller-coaster, the Lion King show, the Slinky dog ride, the jungle river cruise and, yes, even the tea cups.

With little minds full and tiny legs exhausted, we decide to retire to the pool. Incredibly well designed, it has a wet-edge wading pool gently deepening before coming to an end at a waterslide exit.

It becomes our oasis. Add to the mix Art Deco tiles and covered cabanas and we feel like we are staying at our own mansion (thankfully, it is outside school holidays so the pool doesn’t feel crowded).

After a fast dinner in Walt’s Cafe we retire to huge rooms (the shower alone is as big as the kids’ entire bathroom at home), with our towels sculpted into the form of Mickey.

After two days in a place that was, for once, built for them, we prepare the kids to head back to the real world. From the park to the hotel, they have lived in a world that met and exceeded their craziest fantasies and they have loved it, even if they were possibly a bit too young to get the most out of the entire park experience.

As I wait to exit the Disney bubble, I feel aggrieved for poor Mickey Mouse. How did his name come to be so taken in vain? Labelling something ‘Mickey Mouse’ should not be synonymous with the inauthentic. Is the world so cynical that it has to besmirch a simple, wondrous family friendly fantasy?

Maybe Mickey’s greatest crime is to show just how difficult and challenging our day-to-day lives have become when viewed in comparison with the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’.

My kids may not remember this trip to Disneyland, but I will. And there’s always next time (and, trust me, there will be a next time).

Details

GETTING THERE

Hong Kong Disneyland is on Lantau Island, a 15-minute cab ride from the airport.
The resort has an MTR station accessible from Sunny Bay station only (with cute Disney train cars with Mickey-shaped windows).
It’s a 40-minute ride from Central.

PARK ADMISSION

General admission tickets are sold for one or two days.
Our tip: take two days if possible so you don’t feel like you have to cram everything in.
Single day tickets cost $88 for adults and $62 for a child (3–11); two-day tickets cost $120 for adults and $84 for a child.

TAKE THE TOUR

The Disney Spectacular Tour takes up to six guests for three hours of priority access to all rides and shows, for $830.
hongkongdisneyland.com

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This is why cruising is the best way to see Asia

    Dilvin Yasa Dilvin Yasa
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    Iconic destinations, unforgettable adventures and thrilling onboard adventures; say hello to your next Asia holiday with Royal Caribbean.

    When you want to explore the gleaming skyscrapers of Shanghai and the bars of Singapore, but also embrace centuries-old traditions in Japan before traipsing through the lush jungles of Malaysia, a conundrum presents itself: how do you do it all seamlessly without the stress of flying (or repacking)? Enter, Royal Caribbean.

    With a brand designed around maximising your holiday time, sip cocktails by the pool or watch Broadway-style performances on board as the ship glides effortlessly from one atmospheric port to the next.

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    Japan

    The itinerary

    Spectras Cabaret royal caribbean
    Prepare for a show, on and off the ship.

    The Land of the Rising Sun has never been hotter, and Royal Caribbean has a vast array of unforgettable Japanese itineraries – these range from eight-night adventures to 14-night holidays circumnavigating the country’s islands.

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    Port highlights

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    See iconic vistas of Japan.

    Off the ship, hike the dramatic volcanic peaks of Sakaiminato’s Daisen-Oki National Park, explore the iconic temples of Kyoto, enjoy traditionally brewed sake made in Niigata (the birthplace of many quality sake brands), and taste local flavours at Kanemore Red Brick Warehouse, a premier dining and shopping district in Hakodate.

    Don’t miss Royal Caribbean’s Amanohashidate Highlights shore excursion in Kyoto, an exhilarating experience that features a cable car ride up to Kasamatsu Park and includes a visit to Nariaiji Temple, a hillside Buddhist site.

    The ship

    Spectrum Of The Seas in Singapore
    Step on board Spectrum of the Seas®.

    Aboard Spectrum of the Seas®, days at sea are just as action-packed as those on land. Here, 17 dining venues, along with eight bars and lounges, take guests on the ultimate global dining tour. Stop into Sichuan Red, designed specially for this ship, where you can savour a rich tapestry of authentic spices and Asian-influenced flavours. Start with the chef-recommended royal sea cucumber, then move on to a hot and savoury bowl of mapo tofu simmered in a traditional spicy sauce, or authentic pickled radish and duck soup.

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    Thailand and Malaysia

    The itinerary

    Izumi Teppanyaki on ovation of the seas royal caribbean
    Sit down to hibachi at Izumi Teppanyaki℠.

    Royal Caribbean’s Southeast Asia sailings deliver the perfect fusion of culture, cuisine and coastlines, and the four-night Penang & Phuket cruise is proof that short escapes can still feel spectacularly rich.

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    Port highlights

    iconic ‘James Bond Island’ made famous in The Man with the Golden Gun thailand
    Zoom around the ‘James Bond Island’.

    In Penang’s George Town, a maze of heritage architecture, vibrant murals and street stalls serving sizzling char kway teow and aromatic laksa come together, blending past and present. Visit the Taoist Goddess of Mercy Temple to soak up its peaceful energy, ride the century-old funicular to the forested summit of Penang Hill for panoramic views, and wander Batu Feringhi Beach, where the Andaman Sea laps gently against golden sand. Jet skis? Why not?

    Then it’s north to Phuket, where both adventure and relaxation beckon. Make the most of the local beach scene at Kata Noi and wander up Monkey Hill for sweeping vistas (and mischievous company). Be sure to book Royal Caribbean’s thrilling shore excursion here – you’ll zip along in a three-engine speedboat to the iconic ‘James Bond Island’ made famous in The Man with the Golden Gun. After a day of exploration, you’ll have enough time to enjoy a sunset cocktail on the waterfront before returning to your ship for another unforgettable evening.

    The ship

    Ovation of the Seas®, royal caribbean
    Experience thrills aboard Ovation of the Seas®.

    Of course, life on board Ovation of the Seas® is just as exhilarating as your adventures off it. Sit down to 16 flavoursome finds, from Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver® to theatrical hibachi at Izumi Teppanyaki℠.

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    The result? A holiday brimming with discovery, indulgence and Royal Caribbean’s signature magic: Asia, perfectly packaged.

    Start planning a cruise around Asia that you’ll never forget at royalcaribbean.com.

    Family fun at Hong Kong Disneyland - International Traveller