Hong Kong - Disneyland

So, having accepted a job offer in Tangshan for 12 months we needed to sort out my visa… Unfortunately, during the process of gaining the internship I was never advised what was required to change from a student visa to a working visa… one of the requirements was having your original degree certificates notarised by the Chinese Government and then by some other Chinese organisation or institution… seemed a little complex to me.

My mother scurried and scuttled through my bits and bobs back in Australia and fortunately found my original certificates then sent them to me in ‘Express Mail’, which is not a thing in China so I received everything after about three weeks. The documents then had to be taken to Beijing during the blue moon in the year of the Hippopotamus under the veil of night on a magical unicorn with golden hooves… that is… getting a work visa is an exceptionally complicated process that takes a bloody long time and unfortunately, I was trying to sort mine out when the Spring Festival fell – when the whole of China basically shuts down for a month.

My visa was up on Feb 15, so regardless I needed to be off the mainland by that date. Long story short… and trust me, this is the short version, I’d been sent to Hong Kong until further notice when the appropriate visa docs etc arrive, at which time I can visit the Consulate, get a stamp and head on home.

Hong Kong has never even been in the vicinity of my radar, its never even occurred to me as a place I’d even considered to consider to visit… my understanding was that it was a ‘shopping attraction’, close to Macau for some gambling… neither of which really interest me. However, I was determined to make the most of the visit, there MUST be something I’d like to do in Hong Kong, there just must be…

And there was.

Strangely a few days before confirming I’d need to be sent to Hong Kong I’d been putting together a bit of a list, kind of a bucket list I suppose. On this list was a place I thought I’d NEVER get to visit, somewhere I’d dreamt of visiting ever since my Auntie had come back from seeing it back in the early 90’s. A place in my 20’s I actually dreamt of visiting with my favourite singer at the time, Jewel.

Disneyland.

While researching what I’d do to fill my days while waiting around in Hong Kong and discovered… THERE IS A DISNEY LAND IN HONG KONG!

Boom! Tick… and Happy Wiggle Dance!

Getting from Tangshan to Hong Kong involved two busses, one plane (international flight style with free food and drink, small pleasures!) three trains, some wandering about like an ant amongst towering boxes trying to find my hostel which was hidden in a building on the third floor without any signage… A cat pat, some waiting, a walk down a dark alley way and 10 hours of travelling in total.

I thought Beijing was busy… It is NOT. Hong Kong is nuts. You literally feel like you are a mouse scurrying about with your hundreds of estranged sisters and brothers through a matrix that has no exit. The buildings soar up above you, their top floors cutting into clouds. The lights and noise and speed, everyone has a place to go and seem to know how to get there, or atleast they pretend they do. I couldn’t for the life of me find an eatery, a restaurant and if not for the big M in the sky, I doubt I’d have had anything to eat that first night.

I was pooped! However my itinerary stipulated the next day, my first in Hong Kong, that I visit the long awaited and ever prophesized Disneyland. I crept onto the hardwood bed and tried to lapse into sleep, tomorrow was going to be quite a day indeed!

So, Disney opened at 10am and closed at 8pm. It would take me an hour and a half on the subway to get from Causeway Bay (where I was staying) to Mickeys Station (three guesses!).

Given I had no idea where to find food, I returned to Macca’s for another inappropriate and yet satisfying meal… or so I thought… I was anxious to make the most of my day at Drisney and had no interest waiting for 20minutes in line so I popped to the coffee counter and ordered a croissant and an English Brekky Tea… After some kuffuffling I scooted down the stairs and dashed across the road back toward the subway station, in my excitement and sense of urgency the bag of my croissant had opened and while zipping across the road between cars, busses and trams, my croissant went flying… its melted cheese and thickly cut ham glimmering cruelly at me in that slow-motion-why-is-this-happening way…

I picked it up, and yes… there was a moment when I thought, “Did any one see? Is this a three second rule moment”, which was quickly slapped from my mind with a “Fiona… it was on the ROAD… in HONG KONG… PUT IT IN THE BIN YOU DISPICABLE WOMAN YOU”… so sadly, it ended up in the bin, a waste if ever there was one, it’d been quite a long time since I’d had a croissant.

The subway system in Hong Kong is so simple, easy to read, understand and navigate, so it was a simple case of on, off, on across and off again before I got to the DISNEY LINE… there is a dedicated Disney line, complete with a DISNEY TRAIN! How does a normal train differ from a Disney train? Well a Disney train has windows in the shape of Mickeys head, passenger handles in the shape of Mickeys head, bright pastel coloured material on the seats, Disney figurines at the entrance of each cabin – a simple delight! My childhood tummy butterflies suddenly awoke for the first time in years and fluttered about in anticipated glee!

After a fifteen minute ride it as announced that we had arrived, the doors opened and Disney Animation theme tunes wafted on the wind. The station itself looked more akin to something out of Harry Potter with an old-world feel, a certain warmth to the railings… As I walked up the stairs and toward the park the day shone down at me, it seemed the brightest bluest day I’ve had in many many a month, but maybe it was just the Disney magic meddling with my mind.

As you breach the stairs there is a wide road before you, a “Welcome to Disney Land” banner as you approach. “Be Our Guest” blared from speakers on either side as I made my way along the road, flanked by families and groups of children, skipping and singing and expecting a day of nothing but joy.

I came upon a giant water fountain, bronze figures of the original Disney characters standing above the water, while Mickey surfed above a giant ball, rising and falling in time with the music.

After getting through security and purchasing a ticket for the day I was admitted to a long-time childhood dream. First stop Main Street USA.

Main Street USA is, I think, based on the quintessential 1900’s American town, warm and inviting with the Fire Station, Police Station and across the way, the Candy Store and Milk Bar. Externally it was adorable and I hoped upon walking into the stores, I’d feel like I’d stumbled back in time, see a candy store with wall to wall glass bottles with all-sorts and suckers and everything Willy Wonker would approve of. That the fire station might have Goofy dressed as a fireman, maybe the Milk Bar with Daisy arguing with Donald about how best to make a frothy milkshake…

Keep in mind I never really believed I’d actually get to Disney, it seemed a distant and ridiculous idea and given how untouchable it was, my imagination created a version of Disney that met all of my personal expectations.

These were quickly quashed when, upon walking into each of the buildings and discovered row after row of Disney souvenirs. I cant say I wasn’t disappointed, but I was determined not to let this impact the rest of my experience, and admittedly, the shops were set up beautifully, with images of original Disney characters, everything you could dream for from magnets to hats to clothes to something that shot something out of it and apparently made you feel like a hero of some description…ok – so I’m not across the Star Wars paraphernalia.

Lets just say I am less than immune to Disney’s pervasive commercial skills… I spent my first hour at the theme park IN one of the stores choosing the Mickey Mouse ears that really represented “Me”, and then stood in line for another 20 minutes in order to purchase them! I felt unable to proceed on my Disney adventure without adorning mickey’s proudest appendages!

My Mickey Ears? Mickey the Magician from Fantasia. When I was, I think 6 or so, my Grandparents bought me the video of Fantasia for Christmas. I still remember sitting on my Grandpop’s knee and watching the video on their TV… my first exposure to classical music, aligned with imaged of tutu-clad Hippo’s, magic sweeping brooms, the dark daemon from Bald Mountain, winged horses flying through the clouds and cheeky cherubs! Fantasia I hold ever so closely to my heart and I felt appropriately adorned walking out the store with my Magicians Cap set snuggly between my furry Mickey Ears.

I carried on down USA Main Street, wondering where it would lead , when before me rose the pastel pink and blue of Cinderella’s Castle. I could almost see Tinkerbell arching from left to right, a starry golden sparkle following her trail, like it does before the films.

I caught a gasp in my throat and had another, “really… am I here” moment.

I set forward, my cheeks almost aching with the ear to ear smile plastered my face.  

I passed under the Cinderella Castle, took a right past Pooh’s Corner, waved to Dumbo and his friends as they flew past and, as if my Magicians Hat was leading me home, came upon the Phil-har-magic (nice play on words!)

I swept past the entry point and was given a pair of 3-D glasses, s I walked down the ramp I took in the faux wooden awnings, the cobbled stone floor, lanterns hanging, all to sweep you back in time, possibly back to the 1940’s Disney Classics of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mickey on the Steam Boat, and Goofy… just being Goofy.

I waited with a slowly increasing group of visitors, none of which were Western if you are interested, as we listened out while Donald banged and crashed behind and before us (unseen… he was busy preparing the stage!). We stood firm in anticipation, waiting for the giant wooden doors to swing out way and allow us access to the theatre.

Suddenly, there was a creak and a gust of wind and the doors swung open, beckoning us to

enter. I slid between groups considering and deliberating as to where best to sit… I found a place for myself three rows back and centre to the stage. I felt smug and looked left and right, enjoying my find-a-seat expertise. I met the eyes of a lady to my left, who smiled a similar smug smile, she was also by herself, and so silently, I think we decided to enjoy this next performance together.

Sitting on my red velvet seat in a theatre set up like something, again, from 1940’s America (as well as a knew from the movies!), I popped on my 3D glasses and was prepared for disappointment. That’s not to say I wasn’t pleased to be where I was, but the glasses seemed cheap and I figured I’d be in for a mediocre musical performance.

Suddenly there was a BANG… everyone flipped their heads and looked behind them.

Another THUMP and we heard a screech from Daffy, a fluffing and faffing about. A horn blew, a whistle piped, more crash and bang.

Goofy thudded behind us and a window blew open – Mickey’s voice suddenly echoed around the theatre, demanding some form of calm. He warned Daffy to get the orchestra set up and to not… NOT NOT put on the Magician’s hat – which suddenly appeared on the stage before us.

Now, for those of you who know Daffy, this will come as no surprise… Once Mickey was out of sight, he snuck up past the bouncing trombone, clinging triangles and beating drums and popped the Magicians Hat upon hit egg-white head and all and everything went terribly wrong.

I was swept away with Donald’s dilemma, music dancing back and forth, quiet and loud, it felt as though the chair I was sitting on was moving in time! Infront of me the image of water about touched my cheeks, only the be shocked by actual spurts of water falling upon my skin.

We flew down a hole and wind blew before and to the left… then we were in the water and bubbles were rising up at my very fingers – the single girl I was sitting with giggled with me, as we reached out to touch was seemed to close!

There were horns and dancing brooms, flying cupids and splashing pools of water, music flew from one corner of the hall to the other, I was lost on a ride that I can only hope to journey on again. The music stole away my heart and the special effects brought me back to my childhood…

By the time I emerged back into the light of day I was giggling like a five year old and felt surrounded by a bubble of joy that was being emanated by those who joined me on that ride.

I am a bit of a vegies before steak kind of girl, meaning… I’ll leave the best for last, so the next place I went to on the map was not Tomorrowland with the Iron Man ride, but Toy Story Land – which in itself was something to see.

Woody stands  mountain alone, tipping his hat and welcoming you through… there are giant peg pitted rope hanging above you and green clad strutting soldiers duck-footing below giant alphabet letters. You do feel like you’ve suddenly fallen into a four year old boys lunch box.

I did, however, find something of interest… what was as close to a roller coaster as I’d seen so far. I lined up with others, handing over my backpack and mouse ears before alighting the Matchie looking car… I felt like a giant speed racer as the safety holder came down upon me… then… without a 1, 2 OR 3…. The racer zoomed forward, stopping shockingly at a 90 degree angle for less than a minute but more than 30 seconds before, again… 

withouth warning, it zipped back until again, I was hanging at another 90 degree angle, but this time my feet dangling down with the gravitational force.

And again down… up… stop… down… up… stop…. I’m glad it went back up and down, I felt like I’d left my stomach at one end and was glad to collect it upon my return.

WHEW! It was AMAZING! Although I often thought I was rather close to death, I would do THAT again in a heart beat! What fun!

I advised my jiggling legs that it was time again to walk, we passed the Dinosaur from Toy Story, I waved briefly as he wished me well and made my way to Mystic Point.

Apparently this attraction is unique to Hong Kong Disney, but harks back to maybe an 1800’s explorer, almost a Ridley’s Believe It Or Not Character who collects unusual bits and bobs from exotic spots around the world, along with his pesky but beloved side-kick, the adorable monkey Albert.

I cant tell you how much I loved the pencil drawings of the old adventurer and his primitive pal!

You enter the beautiful ate 1800’s Victorian Manor and take time to observe the drawings of this place and that. The portraits of family members and other explorer’s. Continue along and enjoy the artefacts… from Egypt to Italy, some pertaining to be discovered from Atlantis itself, before being closed into a small quadrangle shaped room where you first have the fortune to meet the Doctor and, more importantly, Albert.

The anima/human-tronic characters re close to believable, but, what’s more – they are entertaining. The group I was cordoned in with were all as amused as I.

Next… we were shuffled (whether in groups or individually) onto small electronic carts to be swung, this way and that, through the halls of the mansion, to take in the wonders of the Professors years of exploration… UNFORTUNATELY (or fortunately for us) just as we are preparing for an English-type polite, yet education (almost Antiques Road-Show level of appropriateness) tour, Albert pops out from nowhere and touches the… special diamond… this diamond gives life to normally silent and still artefacts!

Suddenly my trolley was whipped and whipped and thrust through another door where I appeared lava started spewing from the walls, then a tapestry of Romans came to life, masks moved and danced before my eyes, wind blew and water spat…

Albert popped up here and there, the Professor tried witlessly to grab him and put his artefacts back in order… eventually I returned to where I’d started from, heart beating and smile beaming, an enjoyable ride… with some heart-warming characters (I want an Albert of my own!).

Having emerged from the Mystic Mountain and wandering through the surrounding manicured garden, complete with a giant bronze statue head of Zeus, I suddenly found myself in West World (not the current telle series, lets think back to the original 70’sfilm)… it was eerie.

I have an adversity toward films set in Mexico, Africa… or Central Australia because even the concept of a desert causes me stress and anxiety. When my mother (much to my Fathers disapproval) purchased the FULL Encyclopaedia Britannica, I spent many hours looking up all of the jungles, forests and waterfalls in the world… I wanted none of the deserlet, none of the harsh summer wheat yellow, or cicadas or grasshoppers… green… only lush and only green. Our school excursion to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, really solidified my distaste for the desert (didn’t mind the water park though!)

So, lets just say, I didn’t spend too much time on ‘Grizzly Mountain’, an area of Disney dedicated to the history of American Gold Mining, Jails, Grizzly Bears and… nope… I think that’s it!

I cant deny it wasn’t pretty interesting wandering through, I could almost hear the trip and trap of cowboys on their horses heading toward their plot. Seeing the wagon, stripped bear, and thinking of the family that came upon it – the length of their journey and where they may have come from…

As I traipsed through the “site” water spouted from the ground, a water tank stood looming above, smoke spewed from a would-be coal hole, and kids shot water at their parents from water guns. I wandered past a rather concerning sign warning… “Work in PEACE… not in PIECES”… nice!

Meanwhile… I found another roller coaster type ride!

Imagine you are a mining worker (in a Disney movie… lets not get morbid) and are getting into the wee wagin to head further into the mountain to do the digging and the picking to get out the gold… all is going well. You have your pick and are dressed in your favourite dungarees, jump into the next wagon heading to the right direction…

You’re thinking of the lump of yellow money that could stop your pick while your wagon makes its way through the cut mountain when… suddenly… a bear ROARS! The wagon changes direction, your head is whiplashed as the wagons direction changes, pulling you back to the beginning, but there is a problem with the mechanics and your are thrust forward, but along a different trail! Water spurts up below you, a coyote calls for blood, in a moment you STOP… stuck… darkness…

Light appears in the distance and a grizzly raises its unkempt and discontent head, steers its steely eyes toward your trolley…

The gears click in and again you are flying through up and up and along and around, the mountain is a dizzying mist in your eyes and…

THUMP! You stop. I was still screaming like a chicken being chased…

And we are back to where we began, the ride is over… but our hearts are still beating, adrenalin running through our veins…

Now that’s a ride!i

So, after all that I thought it time to take a bit of a break… I headed away from Grizzly Gulch and toward Adventureland. About time for a nice River Cruise? The low boat cruised quietly along the river while a semi-English cruise conductor told us about the beasts and beasties that lurked in the waters… from Crocodiles that raised their jaws as we approached, to adorable baby Elephants enjoying the splash and splish of waterfall falling water. There were Zebra’s along the route, giant spiders and climbing trees in fear of an angry Rhinoceros!

There are many other paths to cross and things to see, but I went in Winter and a lot of these things were closed. Admittedly some of the viewing opportunities are less than intriguing, so lets not spend our time reliving whats not interesting… (well to me at any rate!)

I happened across a theatrical performance just minutes before it was to begin! What luck!

The theatre became packed, an accomplishment given they have the same performance three times a day, six days a week! I cant say it wasn’t worth it…

I sat, enthralled, as a full orchestra brought to life EVERY Princess, from Arial to Belle, that Scottish Arrow Wielder to the Snow Princess, Olaf being chased by Goofy and Mickey trying to sort the whole thing out! The costumes… the performances… My personal favourite… a piece from The Princess and the Frog – that girl has pipes and jazz in her soul!

Had the time come? Had it indeed come? Was it time to take on Tony Stark and see if I could endure the ‘ride’ of the century – lets not be crude!

I was determined not to allow my expectations to ruin the experience so… I had NO expectations, or even less than. I mean really… why were they advertising this ride so much if it was so good? A good thing needs no marketing… (she said to herself)…

I wandered through, along with my confused compatriots (ie the parents of their kids who had to come along to allow their 10/12 to 15 year olds go on the ride) through the halls of memoranda, some filmography of the history of Stark Industries, observing mini versions of the latest hovercraft type vehicles and most recent reconstruction of Stark Towers… 

eventually our group got to the shuttle entry point, having been provided Stark Industry Super Duper Glasses (I cant remember what they called the glasses (it was technical), but in my mind… it converted to SUPER DUPER).

We stood, quietly, anticipating our imminent death – NO! Waiting for our time to board… like a Lambourgini Convertible, the doors of the shuttle opened up and above out heads. We were ushered in by dedicated staff, provided with safety rules, including… HOLD ON!

The doors closed and we were welcomed, in his usual professional manner by Vision. He explained the wonder of what we were about to experience, seeing Hong Kong, the most advanced city in the world… and advising that all would go wonderfully…

ARGH!!!!!

The cabin shot forward and back, I was jolted this way and that! Vision sounded shocked and confused and all of a sudden we were flung… FLUNG into the atmosphere!

WARNING

WARNING

Red lights flicked and flickered above us…. The sky line, once interesting to comprehend, seemed a likely crash point.

We yipped and yelped, but… as he always does, Vision took control… we were OK… apart from the giant alien machine beings that were stomping over Hong Kong in an attempt to initiate their World Invasion…

Not on our time! Or Visions time… NOR ON IRON MAN’S TIME!

Suddenly Mister Stark was front and centre, fully dressed and ready for battle, together we took on the mechanical beasties, not before Iron Man saved us one or two times.

The shit had shifted left and right, up and down, we had been shaken and shook and turned about and, I think, many of us were ready to return home. Fortunately, between our performance, Vision and Iron Man, we had saved the world… Iron Man flew us back to the expo for us to depart safely.

WOW…

Gotta tell ya, it was a pretty impressive ride, I’d not be disinclined to do it again J I would suggest more water… but then I am partial to a water slide

I walked out and came across another sneaky ride… and after going ON the ride I understood the facial expressions of the girls in charge of said ride… It was a Toy Story type of experience where three to five year olds could use pretend guns to destroy terrible monsters and work with the Toy Story characters… Gotta tell you though, I still had fun shooting those creepy little alien things!

Apparently I’d emerged at just the right time for one of the three Disney Parades… Snow, Bell and Cinderella were dancing on a float, followed by my all time faves… Balloo from the Jungle Book, laides riding lady bugs and Simba and Rafiki! Cheeky CHEEKY Rafiki!

I may have saved the best til last without even knowing it… I headed back into the jungle… I wanted to spend some time with the Lion King…

I waited fifteen minutes with a growing crowd gathering behind me, I was determined to get a seat close to the ring, to sit and breath and smell and be as close as I could be to the performance…

Eventually we were allowed in, hundreds of us sat chair to chair… cheek… unfortunately, to cheek …and not mouth cheek! Around what presented more like a Circus Ring than a stage… when the lights shut down… there was a moment of silence, the energy of the crowd increase and, like lightening, those first notes of the Lion King, that African song struck, like lightening, through the crowd.

The performance had begun.

From the left came a giant elephant, from the right, a giraffe… the Lion King came upon behind me and Zeebras, Hayeena’s, Monkeys and animals from every corner of Africa erupted onto the floor. (I swear some of the flame dancing guys were kiwi though! One or two of them I’d be inclined to take home... with their consent… ofcourse…)

Man, how luck could I be? Here… I… was?!?!

I saw The Lion King many years ago in London, and I was shocked, amazed and my breath – taken… A decade later, tears rolling down my cheeks by the very same story. The performance was beautiful, the only thing missing was a few people who I wished were sitting beside me… but WOW…

The sun was setting as I left the ‘Jungle’ but I felt my trip would not be complete without a creepy trip to the “It’s a Small World” tour… I remembered it from the video my Antie had taken many years ago… and I wanted to torture myself in the same way… I will retain the word torture because that is what it is… that song, over and over and over and over again… with small mechanical representatives of different cultures rocking back and forth and back and forth like patients from an 1840’s Institution for the Seemingly Insane…

But you kind of have to do it, don’t you?

I think I did Disney well… I started at 10am and left about 7pm, and a delightful day it was. I never thought I’d be able to say “I’ve gone to Disney” and it may seem a silly thing to some, but for me, it’s a strange childhood accomplishment, one of which I am proud.

So… Stuck in Hong Kong… No Visa… What shall we do next?