Star Wars Tomorrowland Takeover at Hong Kong Disneyland

 

Two weeks ago, in a galaxy far, far away, we got a little taste of the Disney summer event “Star Wars: Tomorrowland Takeover”, taking place in Hong Kong Disneyland till 31st August 2016! Luckily for us, this particular galaxy was only an MTR ride away.

Fans of the film franchise will appreciate the details in the Star Wars-themed decor strewn around Tomorrowland. Or maybe complain that there isn’t enough. Depends on how big a fan you are.

Can the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy” beat the speed at which my ice-cream is melting?

With R2-D2 at the Command Post!

Chewieeeee!!!

Hahaha he looks like he’s reluctantly giving a high five.

I was hoping to get accosted by Captain Phasma and the stormtroopers while wearing my “Resistance” pin, but alas, no such luck.

Rebel X-wing starfighter, located outside Space Mountain (now Hyperspace Mountain for the time being).

Structurally, Hyperspace Mountain is the same as Space Mountain, but with an added narrative and a much, much cooler soundtrack. There were some sound effects that caught me by surprise, so overall it was really entertaining!

Looks like I found my ride home!

When I first watched Jedi Training at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I was like, “Ohmydkgjhgeiaufgwsh it’s so cute!” I’m so glad that it’s here in Hong Kong as well. There can never be too many mini Jedi knights.

Kylo Ren also makes an appearance.

Now on to the food, which was pretty much my objective. XD

For lunch, we had the Darth Vader burger, which is just a regular cheeseburger with Vader’s mug printed on a steamed bun. We also had fried chicken, which made its way into our bellies before it could be photographed.

Average, but it’ll do for theme park food.

Found this Star Wars cookie at a stall on Main Street, but it looked like nothing more than an ordinary cookie, so I didn’t try it. Honestly, there are better things I can spend HK$35 on, such as…

… a lightsaber churro stick! Yes, HK$35 is also rather expensive for churros, but in my experience Disney churros are better than most, and for the experience of holding an edible lightsaber, I’d say it’s worth it.

Must… resist… buying… another…

Ah well, screw the diet. We’re in Disneyland, after all! Anyway, I requested for Darth Vader, but they were out, so I got a Stormtrooper instead. The chocolate soft-serve ice-cream was way too creamy, and not particularly chocolate-y. I guess I’ve been spoiled by my usual Haagen-Dazs. 😡

After the churro and ice-cream, I was up to my eyeballs in sweet stuff, otherwise I’d have gotten a cotton candy. At HK$55, it’s steep, but you get to keep the light-up wand.

From the bakery on Main Street : hot chocolate and latte, with themed chocolate thingies at the end of the stirrer.

Would anyone like to take a bite out of the Millennium Falcon?

We stayed at Disney’s Hollywood Hotel, and had a breakfast buffet the next morning, where I got to enjoy my favourite Mickey-shaped waffles!

If you can look past the chocolate syrup, you’ll see that there’s also a Darth Vader waffle. A larger version can be purchased on Main Street, but if you love waffles as much as I do, consider going for their breakfast buffet at one of the hotels – free flow waffles for the win!

I hadn’t noticed before, but there were these coin machines located throughout the park. I know some people collect them (the coins not the machines), and they do make good souvenirs!

Special map and guide for the summer.

A few days ago, I went again and picked up new copies of the map and guide! Yes, you read that right – I went to Disneyland yet again! We have purchased the Annual Pass (known here as Magic Access), so that means I get to skip off to the Happiest Place on Earth as often as my heart desires!

I’ve got more posts lined up, Disney-related and otherwise, so stay tuned. I’ll try to put them up soon – assuming I’m not traipsing off to you-know-where again!

Shopping at Hong Kong Disneyland (Part Two)

More Tsum Tsum madness! And Star Wars too! First, a little music to set the mood:

As mentioned in the last post, Disneyland Hotel is a great place to shop for Disney souvenirs. The gift store has a great selection, and you know what it doesn’t have?

Crowds.

Space is such a luxury in Hong Kong, so it was definitely an enjoyable experience to take our time (and a few pictures) without having to fight a ferocious mob of tourists. And speaking of pictures…

Lots of Star Wars-themed souvenirs! You can also see some Christmas-themed goodies ‘cos that was when we visited the park. Honestly, the holiday season is my favourite time to be in a Disney park!

Darth Vader lunch tray and water bottle for your little Anakin. Have fun getting him/her out of the dark side.

Edwin and I both fell in love with Stitch Yoda instantly. There’s also Mickey as Luke Skywalker and Minnie as Princess Leia, but Stitch Yoda has got to be the cutest crossover!

This little green alien came home with us!

I got these with the intention of wearing them to watch The Force Awakens. Since then, I’ve worn the “Resistance” pin on a few other occasions. Some of my older students (massive fans of the franchise) loved it, while one of my younger students asked why I was wearing a pilot pin. Haha!

Keep Calm and Join the Resistance

Picked up three more Tsum Tsums: Pluto to round up the original gang, Scrump to join Stitch, and Alice because I adore Alice in Wonderland! Fun fact: Alice is my only “human” Tsum Tsum to date. I clearly need more!

Ah, no better way to show my love for the castle of my dreams.

Got these adorable Post-It notes as a free gift! Technically they’re from a lucky draw that you can participate in when you’ve spent a certain amount. Because I never have any luck with these things, the grand prize always goes to some lucky soul while I get yeah, Post-It notes. Yay me.

Group photo!

It’s not Disneyland, but another great place to shop for souvenirs is the Disney Store at Hong Kong International Airport. Got these babies last December! I used to be all about refrigerator magnets, but now I tend to favour accessories.

Disney style, all day, every day.

This picture hangs behind the counter at the hotel gift shop. It’s a beautiful depiction of Hong Kong Disneyland and its fireworks show among the mountains. It’s a scene I’ll get to see in… two weeks. Yes, two weeks! So you can look forward to another Disney post soon. 🙂

In the meantime, I’ll try to find time to post an assortment of other things, so stay tuned, and take care!

 

Throwback Thursday: Hong Kong Disneyland 2010

Since I’m feeling productive and nostalgic today, I thought I might do a throwback post featuring my very first trip to Hong Kong Disneyland, way back in 2010. When I arrived at the airport (Edwin moved to Hong Kong before I did, so I would visit twice a year), Edwin greeted me with a kiss and a hug and… luggage of his own.

“Why do you have a bag? Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” And then instead of taking the Airport Express into town, we hopped onto a taxi and headed to… Disneyland!

The lobby of Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. Christmas decorations are the best! Disney magic gets multiplied a hundred times over!

Of course it’s got nothing on Disneyland Hotel, which is just so, so pretty with its old-fashioned Victorian elegance.

Imagine, if you will, a time before everyone was bitten by the Tsum Tsum bug and thousands of little girls were running around in Elsa gowns, Duffy was the biggest attraction in Disney gift shops. I wonder what merchandise they’ll come up with next? In any case, Tsum Tsum plushies are still going strong, and I can’t wait to add to my collection!

All that talk, and I hadn’t even set foot in the park yet! Here we go!

What’s this? A ballroom dance studio in Disneyland? I WANT!

We had lunch in Corner Cafe on Main Street. I picked the Christmas special, which came with tomato soup and a turkey and apple salad. How adorable is that Mickey crouton?

Smoked duck with a dark cherry sauce, and tree-shaped carrot slices. So many cute details!

Edwin had the -ahem- less interesting sole and salmon fillet.

Dessert came in the form of a chocolate cake with a white chocolate Christmas tree on top.

All aboard the Orbitron!

Disney princesses in the parade!

The “Agrabah” scene is still one of favourites on the Small World ride.

For dinner, we went the budget and dined at the Royal Banquet Hall, which is similar to a food court. The ramen, tempura, and gyoza wasn’t be as good as what you’d find in a Japanese restaurant, but it was decent.

Mixed grill and mushroom soup.

I know I’m repeating myself, but Christmas is just so dreamy when even boring ol’ trees are all dressed up and sparkly!

The bed in Disneyland Hotel had a Sleeping Beauty theme! Well, it makes sense…

Our luxurious bathroom.

There’s a dressing table next to the bathtub. How many hotel rooms have a designated dressing table? Love it so much!

Grooming is important, even if you’re the fairest in the land!

At Enchanted Garden Restaurant the next morning, queuing up for the character breakfast!

All these food pictures are making me hungry…

Argh, craving for a Mickey waffle now!

Carrot Mickey says hi.

Speaking of whom, guess who dropped by?

Goofy and Pluto were good sports, as usual.

Even chipmunks get decked out in Christmas cheer.

Someone got high from all that food at the buffet.

Took a raft to get to Tarzan’s Treehouse!

Always impressed by the details in these attractions.

View from the top!

Shopping during the festive season is always fun, especially when it involves Disney souvenirs.

With my prince. ❤

Now and always.

 

My 5 Favourite Disney Films + Fall DisneyBound Ideas!

Autumn has finally arrived! We may not see leaves of red and gold in Hong Kong, but folks here won’t pass up the chance to put their best foot forward when it comes to fall fashion!

In anticipation of sweater weather, I thought I might share a few DisneyBound ideas for the season, this time inspired by my five all-time favourite Disney animated films!

(By the way, the films are not in order of preference, because I don’t have just one favourite film. I can’t choose, so don’t ask me to!)

Belle from “Beauty and the Beast”

Belle is one of my favourite Disney princesses, and it’s not hard to see why. She loves to read and knows not to judge a book by its cover.

Jasmine from “Aladdin”

The soundtrack from “Aladdin” has got to be one of the best. It’ll be a long, long time before I get “Arabian Nights” out of my head.

Lilo from “Lilo and Stitch”

“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” Enough said.

Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog”

I’ve said it before, but Tiana really is underrated as a Disney princess and role model. She has two jobs and a dream of owning a restaurant, and to be honest, is much easier to relate to than a certain someone who only wanted to go to the ball.

Eve from “Wall-E”

Pixar just can’t stop making good films, and I’m not complaining. If two robots could fall in love, there’s hope for the rest of us.

Going to enjoy autumn while it lasts! Next thing you know, I’ll be complaining about the winter chill!

Disney Inspired Outfits: Dapper Day Ideas

In the past year, several vintage-inspired dresses have caught my eye. I don’t own any vintage clothing, but I’ve always loved the look of a fitted waist and a flared skirt. It’s romantic, feminine, and oh-so-timeless. Classic never goes out of style!

One of these days, I will make it to Disneyland on Dapper Day. It must be great fun to stroll around Disney with everyone is dressed to the nines! If only there’s Dapper Day in Hong Kong Disneyland… well, it might just happen if I wish hard enough!

Until then, I’ve got to be content with creating virtual outfits on Polyvore…

Minnie Mouse

She’s the best dressed mouse, after all.

Belle (Beauty and the Beast)

Be the Belle of the ball/park, complete with a book clutch!

Pocahontas

An adventure is just around the river bend.

Peggy Carter/Agent Carter

One of my favourite fictional characters EVER. She’s strong, stylish, and all-round amazing. Besides, Disney now owns Marvel, so I guess that sort of makes her a Disney character now?

This last one is simply vintage-inspired and not tied to any particular character. Although if you squint a little, it could pass for Minnie Mouse, or maybe Queen of Hearts? In any case, I would definitely love to go all out with a fascinator and lace gloves!

What do you think? Who’s your favourite character to Disneybound as?

Shopping at Hong Kong Disneyland

Who’s ready for some Tsum Tsum madness? Tsum Tsum, which translates to “stack stack”, is a plush toy that’s the latest craze in Japan, and it’s taken the world by storm! These little babies are cuter than cute, and impossible to resist! The rides weren’t a priority while we were at Disneyland last week (and the crazy long queues didn’t help either), so we spent a lot of time in the various gift shops instead, and started a little Tsum Tsum family of our own. I have a feeling that it’s only going to grow…

Aren’t they just adorable? Hong Kong Disneyland also has other characters available, such as Duffy and Shellie May, along with Woody, Buzz and the Toy Story gang. I decided to go with the more “central” characters. It took a lot for me not to buy them all! There were also some characters I was looking out for, but as of now they’re not yet available in Hong Kong.

Big Hero 6! Aaaahhhh Baymax is impossibly cute!!! But alas, this collection is only available in Japan.

Chip and Dale Tsum Tsum… pillows? These are for our bed, and they’re so huggable!

The chipmunks and their babies. The mini ones are perfect for a small child’s grasp, and kids all over the park were holding one in each hand. The large ones are probably more popular with big kids like myself. :p

A mini Tsum Tsum costs HKD58 (~S$10), while a large Tsum Tsum costs HKD168 (~S$30). In a way, the latter is more value for money, but cuteness does not adhere to logic.

You sense a theme going on here, don’t you? On a side note, we’re going to need a larger refrigerator to accommodate all the magnets purchased during our travels.

Yep, even the cookie tin (containing chocolate chip cookies) isn’t spared. But it stops here!

Before the Tsum Tsum invasion, Disney pins were all the rage, and they still hold their own, especially with the sweetest designs like this one. Another collection in the making, perhaps?

The Pooh ears, which complete my Winnie the Pooh #disneybound look.

A bag that perfectly unites of two things I simply adore: Disney and nautical fashion. Now I can easily inject a little Disney into every day! This tote is poised to be my summer companion, although I won’t be able to wait that long!

Half bangle, half charm bracelet, 100% desirable. I don’t usually get bracelets as many are too large/long/chunky for my small wrist, but this one fits like a dream. And the tiny Mickey-shaped key is too precious.

Even the shopping bag is so pretty! I can’t bring myself to throw it out even though there’s a tear in it! Does anyone have any ideas on how it can be repurposed?

Here’s the entire gang! In case you were wondering, we had a coupon for 30% off everything we bought that day, so the total came up to a little over HKD1200 (~S$200). I’m in love with every single item, so it’s definitely worth it!

Also, we had three chances to participate in a lucky draw, which resulted in the three giant paper clips on the top right corner. I’d have loved to win a stay at the Disneyland Hotel, and who wouldn’t? Hmm… speaking of that, maybe I’ll start planning my next Disney trip. Christmas, perhaps? 😉

 

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, Part Two is now available here!