Let’s go through the numbers. Entrance fee to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (official name) during peak days is HKD 395 (S$85). Total damage for 4 persons one day in Disneyland including food and gifts rounds to be in excess of HKD 3,000 (S$650).
Having been to Euro Disney and the one in US (California?), I have to agree with my mother that Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is the smallest of all. Nevertheless, if you are in Asia and don’t feel like paying a lot to fly, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is your next best bet.
You will see some photos I have taken when I am back in Singapore. Meanwhile, here are our highlights. Having stayed in Disneyland for 12 hours, we still have not covered all the rides and theme parks – probably we were taking our time. A big improvement I have seen is something called FastPass. You walk up to a small machine next to the ride you wish to join and punch in with your entrance pass. The machine will then allocate what time you should come back and when arrived at the allocated timeslot (1 hour) and zoom, you jump the queue. No time wasted while waiting.
Not to turn this chapter into an entire book, I am only going to name three memorable highlights. The rest you can explore by yourselves once you come to Disneyland.
The indoor rollercoaster was fun. It was pitch dark and only after the ride was started had I worried for my mother behind. In my own words: Mum, it is Disney, the ride can’t be that excited. We have printed the photo evidencing (a) how intense my wife Cynthia was (eyes wide open), (b) how scared my sister Lora and my mother were (eyes wide shut), and (c) how excited I was (mouth wide open with a big smile).
The 3D cinema was breathtaking. With the 3D spectacles, the image was so 3D and it could as well be the best 3D effect I have seen in my life so far. The technology has gone so far that during the show, we could feel the wind blowing to us from various directions, the water sprinkled onto us, and believe it or not, the smell of the surrounding changed as the show went. The last bit was cheeze but was a good effort. Donald Duck was supposed to shoot out of the screen (with the help of the 3D spectacle) and into the wall behind us (and yes, you see a duck’s butt sticking out wingling from the physical wall).
The firework at 9pm over the sleeping beauty’s castle was beautiful. The entire 10-15 firework was synchronised very nicely with the music. It could as well be a work of art. Even the locals agreed that the firework at Disneyland was better than the famous Chinese New Year firework. I agree with them.
My favourite Disney character may not be a tourist attraction as yet (errr … Stitch) but I do enjoy the visit.