Ika 6 ng Abril 2009: Disneyland Adventure

Everyone must be pretty excited about going to Disneyland, our planned trip today. The kids were up without much prodding. We were able to keep the sked as planned. We're supposed to meet Dayap's homegroup friends who kindly offered to buy tickets for us at huge discount at the ticket booth. Dayap's friends are crew members of Cathay and United Airlines. They are entitled to a 50% discount on the ticket price for up to a maximum of four tickets. Of course, we couldn't let that opportunity pass. They had to buy the tickets themselves. It was kind enough that they offered their discounted tickets to us. It was even kinder that they arranged to meet with us there even if one of them has a flight later today while the other was on stand-by.

Dayap and I prepared breakfast which the kids hurriedly ate. One by one, we took our turns in the bathroom. We were all dressed up and raring to go at 9:45am. We were supposed to meet at 11:00 am. It was a rainy morning and Dayap was a bit concerned........... We went to the train station as Dayap and her friends were coordinating via calls and text messages. After about four transfers, we arrived at the last station with the cutesy Mickey Mouse train. One of Dayap's friends and his son were in that station. We all took the MM train excitedly.

We would reach Disneyland gates soon and meet up with Dayap's other friend.... Dayap's friends bought the tickets and turned over our tickets to Dayap. I was a bit surprised that MS is considered an adult in HK. He doesn't get the special rate for kids. I can't believe that.... he's still my baby.

After purchasing the tickets, we would learn that Lion King which Dayap highly recommends is not shown during weekdays. It is shown from Friday to Sunday. We came on a Monday as we wanted to avoid the throngs from mainland China. Dayap was unaware of the schedule of the shows. We did avoid the crowd ....but missed a great show..... As a compromise, the kids were given Lion King characters stickers. Wow, that is one equal trade..... To guide our tour, we got this very useful and colorful map.....

As soon as the signage saying Hongkong Disneyland was within sight, my camera went a-clicking at every opportunity. Both kids and adults went for a potty break. After settling down, we walked to the main entrance to go inside the resort park. We would be welcomed by the greeters at the tunnel entrance.

In the blink of an eye, we would almost bumped into Mickey and Minnie scampering for the exit. I wasn't prepared and took only pictures of their backs. To compensate for this miss, we sought other characters.... Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle. This time, we lined up to pose with them. My kids commented that their poses have been well-rehearsed. They truly look like characters plucked from the storybook in the pictures we have taken.

Before going further, we decided to see our first show, High School Musical, right there in the Main Street. The performers came a-blazing with their mobile backdrop. The singing and dancing were engaging, even the oldies were swinging to the beat. MS was wondering if he'd see Zac Efron. I told him it's HS Musical, the Chinese version. Although, I would see a number of Pinoys from among the performers.

After the show, we went to Tomorrowland with its futuristic rides and gadgets. Here, we all went for the Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, an interactive, shoot-'em-up dark ride, where visitors use hand-held ray guns throughout the ride to score points while targeting the Evil Emperor Zurg. We rode a car equipped with ray guns and shot at z targets. We were two in each car......Dayap and I, Dayap's son and MS, and ED and MD. Well, I was in the mood to shoot but not my gun but my cam.... This should explain my dismal score. Dayap mightily beat me in this game.

Next ride would be the Speedway bumper cars. There was a long line. Upon entering, a sign hanging said that there is a 45-minute waiting time. We went in anyway. We ate our packed bread and fruits while waiting. It wasn't really 45 minutes or we probably didn't notice it because soon enough it was our turn. MS and Dayap's son were complaining because I wanted to be at the first car with Dayap so I could take pics. The kids took a car individually. Well, it was a bumpy ride and I could never get a good angle trying to shoot my cam. I ended up taking pictures blindly whenever there was an opportunity. My best shots turned out to be when the cars were still stationary.... before we set off.

Next ride was the Space Mountain which Dayap dread. I would have missed this ride but Dayap's son was also in no mood..... so I had to accompany MS. The four of us went into this dark chamber. Before entering, there was a TV screen with a local warning us in Chinese on what to expect. Since we didn't understand a word of what he said, we went ahead. The less one knows, the better. But as we entered, it felt scary. We couldn't actually hear the screams but the description of the ride in the brochure is enough to scare us out of our wits. Rocket at warp speed to synchronized music and sound effects on this one-of-a-kind indoor roller-coaster. Launch into the inky blackness of the nether reaches of space. Known for its exhilarating hairpin turns, quick dips, high tech sound and special effects, this state-of-the-art space journey takes you past shooting stars, careening comets and into the future! ED and MS went together while MD and I partnered. For some strange reason, MS would not want to be with me. Just before a certain portion of the queue, there was a warning that that is the point of no return. Well, we are not faint-hearted. We went for it........ It took a while before we could get our ride because a defective train had to be taken off track. Finally, we were let in. There was a feeling of adrenaline rush and panic especially as we slowly inched our way to a very steep track atop is what looks like a constellation of stars. We were expecting the next step would be a drop.... Then, the train moved very, very fast with sharp turns and it felt like we were swirling as our hair get all ruffled. I was screaming and MD was shouting she doesn't want anymore......... There wasn't a very deep drop as we expected but just a very fast ride that get one all heated up craving for more. Just before the ride ended, there was a flash of light..... our picture was taken. Upon exiting, we would be greeted with an electronic panel of our pictures.... ED's face and mine covered with our hair. We were laughing as we made our way out of the souvenir shop located at the exit.

Next we went to the Stitch Encounter.... some kind of a show with Stitch talking to the audience. It's cute and funny.... It's animation and yet Stitch was actually talking to selected people and at the every end to the audience. The first audience participation was by a tandem of a son and his dad. The dad was called dade, dade by Stitch..... always he would say it twice. Another participant luckily chosen by Stitch even had his picture taken and shown on screen.... He was tagged as a prisoner who escaped from the space prison by Stitch. Even wonderful, ED was also chosen as the last participant by Stitch. He asked her name. He got confused spelling ED's name and would cause him to make a planet explode. Later on, he made ED his girlfriend. Towards the end of the short skit, he would acknowledge the son and dade, dade, the escapee, and would sweetly say goodbye to ED. Again, we laughed and teased ED as we made our way out.

We took a break after this as the Parade will start in about 30 minutes. The parade is the most awaited event for all. It happens only once in a day unlike some other shows. We couldn't stray away as we might miss it. Some of us took a toilet break. Then, we had hotdogs. MS would ask for a corn cob.

After snacks, the kids would request to try the space mountain the second time around. There was still time before the parade. I went with them. This time, we were excited rather than nervous. There were more people than the first time we tried it. We were more ready and aware and knew how to enjoy this ride. We were also more prepared for the picture taking. Our faces would be seen when we checked out our photos.

We came out a few minutes before the parade and we went to the Main Street and jockeyed for position. We would see Dayap's friends there in a vantage point and sat near them. Soon, the parade would start. Various performers in costumes would emerged entertaining the crowd.....then a float bearing the Disney sign..... followed by a giant Mickey........ and then a storybook float complete with crayons while performers on skates swirled around..... then performers in reels of films costume dancing around a float for film-making...... dwarfs prancing would be followed by the floats of our beautiful heroines.... Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle...... Alice in Wonderland characters would be dancing while Alice would play around in a float.... Strange sea creatures would herald Ariel and the rest of the Little Mermaid's characters in another float....... Toy soldiers would marched before the float of Toy Story emerged..... performers in colorful costumes would dance before the final float bearing the famous Disney characters; Mickey and Minnie Mouse; Donald and Daisy Duck; and Goofy and Pluto. The highlight was surely the parade where all the characters march along to Disney songs. After the parade, people would go in different directions.






We went to the Jungle Adventure.... stopping at some points for picture taking. Too tired to pose for my cam, the kids were uncooperative. I asked that they take my pictures instead. Dayap was laughing as I posed for the cam. We went to a guided river cruise with a local narrating in gibbirish English the different attraction in the tour. Most were faux animals and natives partly hidden in the jungle. People would get nervous as we settled in a spot and fire would almost engulfed us. Dayap and I were secretly laughing as we would sometimes give in the guide's occasional questions..... Tarzan's treehouse would be seen during the cruise. We did not go to the tree house anymore as Dayap said it's only what we see.... nothing much there......

After the cruise, we went to see another show, the PhilHar Magic. Mickey's PhilharMagic is a 3-D film attraction found at the Magic Kingdom theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort and at Hong Kong Disneyland. Mickey's PhilharMagic is a 12-minute long show featuring 3D effects, interactive smells and water as well as a number of characters from Disney movies. It is shown on the largest purpose built 3D screen ever made, at one hundred and fifty feet wide. We were given this yellow framed eyeglasses. Inside, we enjoyed the spectacle as we tried touching the characters right in front of us. It was a fast-paced show with chasing and falling effects. It ended up with a real Donald being stuck to the back wall with just his behind showing..... another cutesy.

To slow down the pace, we went for a train ride at the Fantasyland train station which goes around the whole of the park. The first stop would be half of the park. We went for the next stretch to tour the entire park. We ate some more of our packed snacks while enjoying the site. We would meet Dayap's friends once again in the second half of the train ride. Disneyland HK is the smallest of the famous resort part according to Dayap. This would serve to prove this point as we got to meet her friends several times in the park.

Dayap's son would then request for a Smoked Turkey Leg, Walt Disney World Signature Snack. Dayap said that they would always have this treat when they go to Disneyland. Then, we should try that on my kids' first Disneyland adventure. Dayap and I ordered turkey legs for the kids. We would share that turkey legs which is actually big (turkeys are big) among ourselves as we complimented it with the bread we brought. My kids love the smoked turkey leg saying it tastes like tinapa. After they finished eating, the kids requested to try the Astro Blasters another time.

Then, we went our way to go to the Golden Mickey show, Disneyland's version of the Golden Globe. It's a enjoyable musical extravaganza in both Chinese and English playing to packed houses with performance from famous characters like Tarzan, Toy Story's Woody and Bo Peep , the Little Mermaid, and the Disney characters...... It's an entertaining show with Mickey and Minnie talking in Chinese.... We enjoyed this last show that we watched.

I wonder what Lion King is like. Dayap said it is her favorite show in the resort park. We have enjoyed all the shows so far. I guess this means we have to go back if only for this.........

After Golden Mickey, Dayap and I would go for a toilet break near It's a Small World. It's like a tiny kingdom with structures outlined by colorful lights. We told the kids to go there and take pictures while Dayap and I went to the washroom. The kids said that it's a slow boat ride. Having tried more exciting rides earlier, they decided not to try it.... Or they must have really grown.... they also did not try the carousel, the teacup, and other kid's rides.

After this, my kids requested to buy their souvenirs at the shops along the Main Street. I went with them while Dayap and her son rested on a bench in an area we chose to view the fireworks happening in a while. ED, MD, and MS looked around to choose a souvenir given a certain budget. ED and MS chose caps while MD chose a bag. After paying the items, we went back to Dayap and his son.

We would wait for the fireworks display which capped our Disneyland adventure. Everyone was preparing for this spectacle as we all took a spot to watch and take pictures. First, the castle which provides the backdrop to the fireworks changed color..... really awesome....





Soon, the first fireworks would start..... the first batch released......folowed by another..... each time brighter or more colorful than the preceding fireworks Everyone was in awe. It was an spectacle that lasted about 15 minutes. As the last of the fireworks was released, people headed for the exit. We walked back to the gate.... making a brief stop at the customer service as Dayap wanted to know if she can convert her ticket into an annual pass.

We went for the ticket booth. As I went out, a woman accosted MS for not using his Octopus card. The kids were trailing us and I didn't really see. I explained that we are tourist. MS went back and tried his card but it would show invalid usage. The woman asked how old MS is. I said he is 12. She said that he can't use the card because it is only for kids less than 12 tears old. I ended up paying a full fare for MS...... drats, drats..... I was budgeting our remaining HK dollars as we still need fare money for our bus ride to the airport tomorrow.

I didn't want MS to feel bad about the whole thing after our wonderful adventure and let the incident passed..... All were tired and hungry as we rode the train getting home. Dayap was thinking of passing by a McDonalds. I told her the kids wanted a rice meal. We have enough food at home. We just needed to cook rice. So we agreed that dinner would be at home. Too tired, we all sat quietly on the way home.

In time, we would reach Dayap's place. Dayap would immediately cook rice and reheat some food stuff as I prepared the table. The kids rested taking their turns at the bathroom. We would eat one at a time. MS would go to bed as soon as he finished his dinner. The girls would help in cleaning up as I washed the dishes. After everything was in order, I'd pack the rest of our stuff and take out what will be used in going home. Since we did not actually shop, there was little to pack but our dirty clothes. I'll be finish in time and was thinking about not going to sleep as I might oversleep. I took over the laptop when Dayap's elder son went to sleep, to while away the time...... but soon the spirit would give in. I turned off the laptop and went to bed praying that I would wake up in due time.....

In a few hours, we would be going home........... I still have the high asDisneyland surely delivered its promise of a magical adventure..... What a way to cap our HK holiday with my friend Dayap and her sons.....