A (2019) HalloXmas trip to Asia - Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo! - COMPLETED 5/1!!!

[Lesley Wake]

I really loved the construction walls for Frozen Land! If you haven’t kept up, this one is supposed to have 2 rides. A semi-clone of Frozen Ever After and a coaster that is the same bones as Seven Dwarves Mine Train but Frozen themed. I do wish they were adding more unique attractions, especially since they have some really awesome ones at HKDL, but I think based on cost and payoff, they decided to save money!

The concept art for the land.

I still had time so decided to take a ride on Dumbo!

Some cool views of the construction via flying around! Oh and it was active construction! I saw the cranes lifting up steel pieces throughout the day and construction workers walking towards backstage on a break before the parade.

I ended up stopping for a treat at one of the booths, getting the Minnie Mouse Ice Cream Bar, which was basically versions of sorbet but chocolate on the back. And it was yummy!

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[Lesley Wake]

It was now time for Mickey and the Wondrous Book, HKDL’s stage show

Something super cool is that they have screens on each side of the theatre so it’s a trilingual show – showing captions for whichever of the two languages weren’t being spoken at that moment (English, Mandarin, Cantonese).

Something I think would be a good spot would be to talk about the language at HKDL. It really wasn’t an issue. Pretty much all the workers spoke English, because I believe many people in Hong Kong before the british left also speak English. Also, while there are a lot of locals visiting HKDL, it really feels like the most international of all the parks I’ve visited. Of course you get lots of different countries represented at DL, WDW, and for the most part, DLP. Shanghai and Tokyo have mostly locals. But HKDL did feel international!

Ok…on with the show!

There are some narrators who help out during the show

And the story is Mickey and Goofy accidentally disturb a magical book. Causing a very familiar snowman to accidentally pop out of the book. And so the group tries to help Olaf find his way back to his story!

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[Lesley Wake]

Causing encounters with The Jungle Book

…Princesses

…Aladdin

Tiana and company!

I think at one point I must have lost camera battery or space or something, because I know they must have found a Frozen story for Olaf but I just don’t have photos!

But overall a cute show! I think most of the parks have a Mickey stage show of some sort, so it’s cool to see! I’d put this version on par with Mickey and the Magical Map (from Disneyland) but not as good as Mickey and the Magician (in Paris).

Coming up: Lunch and Fairytale Forest​

 

[KEK1]

Show looks great, I've heard people raving about it, interesting you put it as "cute". Obviously nothing like Frozen at the DL then.. ? As good as FOTLK?

 

[cindianne320]

I was wondering how the language barrier was, so thanks for sharing about that! The show looks so fun- I've been to the Paris version before, but not the DL one.

 

[KathyM2]

This was cool to see in the queue, so you knew when the photo was coming!

I love this idea, so you can pose if you want. I also love that they even put photos on a ride like WTP. It seems to me like they usually have more photos on the "thrill" type rides (which I rarely go on, or if I do, I'm too freaked out for photos lol)

That stage show looked cool with bits from a bunch of different Disney movies etc. I love that HKDL felt so international.

 

[vamassey1]

The stage show sounds great! I love live entertainment.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Show looks great, I've heard people raving about it, interesting you put it as "cute". Obviously nothing like Frozen at the DL then.. ? As good as FOTLK?

So for me, cute is a very positive term, lol! I did rewatch some show videos and maybe I wasn't giving it enough praise. It was very good, but not mind-blowing like the pirate show in Shanghai or some of the ones in Tokyo!

Frozen is on a totally different level - with that huge theatre it can be! And FotLK is just such a super different type of show.

But don't worry - HK has some awesome entertainment, which will come up in a couple installments!

I was wondering how the language barrier was, so thanks for sharing about that! The show looks so fun- I've been to the Paris version before, but not the DL one.

Yeah, no real language barrier here! Tokyo was the worst one for non-native speakers. In Shanghai they would always try to post a CM at all locations who spoke english to help. And HK and Paris are pretty much billingual.

I love this idea, so you can pose if you want. I also love that they even put photos on a ride like WTP. It seems to me like they usually have more photos on the "thrill" type rides (which I rarely go on, or if I do, I'm too freaked out for photos lol)

That stage show looked cool with bits from a bunch of different Disney movies etc. I love that HKDL felt so international.

Yeah I loved the photo warning info! And yeah, it was cool having a photo on a non-thrill ride!

The stage show sounds great! I love live entertainment.

It was fun!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Part 10 – Fantasy Gardens, Royal Banquet Hall, Fairy Tale Forest
After the show I headed to check another offering, the Halloween Gardens. During the day Winnie the Pooh characters meet in costume (and there is plenty of candy being handed out). I would have liked to take photos with the characters, but unlike during MNSSHP only one character was out at a time and I didn’t feel like waiting in line 4 times, so I skipped it. Don’t worry – I’ll be back for more atmospheric photos though!

And this is a photo from later in the day, but I just got so many of these candies throughout the day! And they were yummy – either marshmallows or gummy candies (chocolate would have quickly melted)! This was my "haul" without even really trying - I got some in the gardens and some in the Nightmare before Christmas house. CMs around the hotels also have them to give out!

I think at this point I was HUNGRY! While I did eat a lot at breakfast, I really hadn’t eaten Lunch yet! So I decided to check out Royal Banquet Hall, a quick service in Fantasyland. (Note: HKDL does have some Table Service options in the park but most of those were closed when I visited due to low crowds.)

The theming is cute

Beauty and the Beast room. I liked the artwork around the walls, especially Beauty and the Beast!

Cinderella Room

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[Lesley Wake]

A variety of food options, including grilled options, Japanese options, dim sum, and “international”

I went with Japanese, as it was HOT, so I felt like something refreshing. I think I must have gotten Mickey Sushi and Assorted Sushi Combo, with what looks like some sushi pieces, some soba noodles, rice with fish roe, and watermelon. (I think also it was off-meal hours so not everything may have been available on the menu). Anyways, I believe it was good!

The central food area. I actually really liked the murals with all the different princesses! And the forest critters holding up the banners were so cute!

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[Lesley Wake]

After lunch I headed to the Fairy Tale Forest. Basically Storybook Land Canal Boats, but a walk-through! I do have in my notes that there were some annoying Gen Z’s who had to get the perfect Instagram photo in every spot, which caused me to be delayed…(but that was probably just my inner grumpy-old-man coming out) But overall I still like the walk through!

Rapunzel’s section.

All of the sections had a couple interactive pieces. A crank by the “book” which would cause something to happen in the diorama, and a little story scene with music and other things happening.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. I loved how the plants changed for each area to fit the theme!

Beauty and the Beast

Another castle peaking over the hedges!

Cinderella

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[Lesley Wake]

Pixie Hollow – I think this is where Tinkerbell actually meets, but she wasn’t there at this time. Also, I’m not sure if this was supposed to be roped off, asI followed other guests into it but when I was done it looked like CMs were shooing people out!

The Little Mermaid – lots of fun water features! And the ground was even in-theme!

Overall a cute spot and I’ll be back later in the trip!

Coming up - Let's Get WICKED!!!​

 

[PlutosRHM55]

How fun that they have special gardens themed up for Halloween and they hand out candy there too! I love it. I would've stocked up on ALL the gummies.

Ok, I think the Fairytale Forest might be the place I would end up living in in these foreign parks. It reminds me of like Fantasy Faire mixed with Snow White's Wishing Well aka my two favorite places at Disneyland. I would just never leave. I'd probably hang out by The Little Mermaid area the most. I love all the water features and special little elements. Ugh, I would thrive.

 

[KEK1]

Gorgeous gardens, and pics!

 

[vamassey1]

Love all the character pumpkins.

The theming is cute

This restaurant reminds me of a combination of CRT, Be Our Guest and Akershus.

A variety of food options, including grilled options, Japanese options, dim sum, and “international”

Lots of good choices.

After lunch I headed to the Fairy Tale Forest. Basically Storybook Land Canal Boats, but a walk-through! I do have in my notes that there were some annoying Gen Z’s who had to get the perfect Instagram photo in every spot, which caused me to be delayed…(but that was probably just my inner grumpy-old-man coming out) But overall I still like the walk through!

This is the cutest area and again so much detail.

I really like at the framed photo ops.

 

[Lesley Wake]

How fun that they have special gardens themed up for Halloween and they hand out candy there too! I love it. I would've stocked up on ALL the gummies.

Ok, I think the Fairytale Forest might be the place I would end up living in in these foreign parks. It reminds me of like Fantasy Faire mixed with Snow White's Wishing Well aka my two favorite places at Disneyland. I would just never leave. I'd probably hang out by The Little Mermaid area the most. I love all the water features and special little elements. Ugh, I would thrive.

Haha, yeah I thought you'd like that area!

Gorgeous gardens, and pics!

Thanks! It was a fun, unique thing at HKDL!

Love all the character pumpkins.




This restaurant reminds me of a combination of CRT, Be Our Guest and Akershus.



Lots of good choices.



This is the cutest area and again so much detail.



I really like at the framed photo ops.

The pumpkins were even cooler at night!
I can see that similarity. It's sort of in the castle (in the same building complex at least). And I liked having lots of food choices.

The frames were awesome!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Part 11 – Let’s Get Wicked!!!
I had another thing on my agenda, so walked through Adventureland…

Love the Liki Tiki’s!

But it was time for yet another Halloween offering, Let’s Get Wicked. This was a new stage show this year and I had heard good things about it! It actually was in the Festival of the Lion King theatre, so that show wasn’t happening when I was there.

Walking in and it already looked cool! Even though I didn’t get there far in advance, I was able to get a second row seat, on the aisle, behind a little kid, so I ended up having a great view!

And the pre-show already solidified this would be something different! The host did some magic tricks but also just the overall atmosphere was so cool!

Especially how the cast was encouraged to interact with people during pre-show!

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[Lesley Wake]

The opening number…wow! Just so shocking when dancing suddenly happens in the aisles and everywhere around you! Oh and they taught us a movement to make with our camera lights, so you can see that in the crowds across the way!

This show had 5 villains: Ursula, Dr Facilier, Mother Gothel, Cruella De Vil, and Gaston. Each getting their own show portion! Oh and the show was in a combo of English and Chinese (unfortunately I don’t know if Cantonese or Mandarin)!

I believe I was in the Ursula section… Which I later discovered had some of the best views as the production booth was behind us, so performers would sometimes end up focusing on our section!

Dr Facilier showed up. (Certainly this performer wasn’t exactly spot on in looks, but it worked in the show)

And suddenly one of the hosts is flying around!

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[Lesley Wake]

Though I wouldn’t have minded being in Gaston’s section! And yes, I loved the color blind casting! This performer reminded me of the guy from Leverage.

Ursula was just an awesome singer!

Flotsam and Jetsum came out to play

And of course Ursula had to grow!

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[Lesley Wake]

Next was Dr. Facilier.

It was his goal to tempt an innocent soul to the Other Side!

Who totally succumbed…oh yeah!

Wow, just wow!​