Trip Planning - Hong Kong/Shanghai

[DisneyKaren]

Day 10 - Fri 24 Jan

After a night with not enough sleep from insomnia, I managed to get up and going ready for a free day in the city.  Currently not raining we took the opportunity to take photos around  the hotel's courtyards.  Eventually we were at the bus stop waiting for a shuttle to the train station.  After a few failed attempts at figuring out how to get a day pass we went back to the information centre - which is closed (although staff are inside so they crossed their arms over their chest to indicate closed and pointed to the note in Chinese).  Back at the self-serve ticket kiosks we just bought a single ride ticket and we were ready to go.

Changing trains on the way, we came out at People's Sq so wandered around the gardens for a bit before heading to Nanjing Rd.  A stop in a nice shopping centre for a clean bathroom and then lunch at Subway.  It was already almost 12 so it had taken over 2 hrs from arriving at the train station to get to lunch.  Afterwards we checked out the M&Ms store which was fun as always. Continuing along East Nanjing Rd, we reached the Bund where the wall had be decorated by flowers and plants which created scapes of sorts - artistic and appealing!  A short walk along the Bund provided a great view of the financial district with the observation building still up in the clouds.  On the walk back to the train, we stopped at a shop with a big Mickey sign and found some a couple of gifts for people.

Our next stop was the French Concession area where we again checked out a local garden before making our way to Daiso. I found my heart cut-out cutlery and we both purchased some more CNY decorations.  Due to my lack of sleep, I was fast fading and wasn't sure I could go to the Frozen art exhibit as I wouldn't truly appreciate everything when I couldn't concentrate and take information in.  We decided to head back home with the possibility of returning Monday on our free day.  The train back to Disney was wonderfully decorated with CNY Disney images so of course I took lots of photos!

Rather than return to the hotel, we walked to Disneytown, stopping at the floating Donald on the way.  Dinner at Cheesecake Factory - lucky as this was our last decent meal for a while.  We took this time to check out the amazing Lego store, drooling over the lovely CNY Lego sets and then the Disney castle and train.  Another visit to the World of Disney before catching a bus back to the hotel where we had our temperature taken prior to going inside.

Time to buy tickets for Saturday and Sunday.  Park is closed.  Full I wondered? Surely hotel guests could get tickets and they wouldn't sell out?  No ...... closed.  While at the concierge we asked about face masks which they arranged housekeeping to send to our room.  After returning to the room Lynelle realised that if nothing reopened before we left she wouldn't be able to purchase her statues so we quickly went back to World of Disney so she could make all her big purchases and I also grabbed my Lunar New Year statue just in case the hotel store had sold out.  With Disneytown closing at 8 tonight due to being the night of the Reunion Dinner for locals, we didn't have long and there may be no second chances.  On the bus back we heard the fireworks and managed to see them out the window the whole trip which was lovely.

It was sad to return to the room and I was feeling a little down.  We sat up and had a hot drink and snack in our room as I still had my Mickey Chocolate Ganache tart to finish off - I needed chocolate.  A sad end to a great day.

[DisneyKaren]

Day 11 - Sat 25 Jan - Lunar New Year

All day cast members were great at wishing everyone a Happy New Year and waving. I could even see the smile in their eyes despite the face masks covering their mouths.

An easy morning considering we literally had nothing to do today.  I did go downstairs to confirm the Lion Dance wasn't being moved to one of the hotels.  After a relaxed breakfast in the room, we went over to the Disneyland Hotel and had some photos with a few characters.  It's very quiet and both hotels people were seen leaving with their luggage which shows that they realise the park isn't opening anytime soon, I'm not going anywhere so willing to live in hope.  At least all the rain this morning made me feel better that the Lion Dance and Drummer's circle would have been cancelled anyway, even if the park was open.

Lunch at the Sunnyside Market as we don't have many options. Later in the day Lynelle watched Tron Legacy (neither of us have seen the movies) then we went for a walk as the weather cleared for a bit.  We were able to walk all the way to Disneytown which thankfully hadn't been closed off.  A great time to take photos of the buildings as well as the Disney store windows.  There were actually a few people out and about which was good to see and a few staff appeared to be in their store/restaurant probably using the time to catch up on cleaning, stock takes or other odd jobs.  As we were leaving Disneytown the security staff seemed to be turning people away so despite the toilets ticket office at the theatre as well as the information window all being open, perhaps they don't want people wandering around.  There were constant announcements about the park being closed and Steamboat Willie would get all steamed up every now and again, however his fountain was turned off.  The rain started again and even though it wasn't heavy we decided to head back to the hotel.

Walked through Lotso's shop for something to do; we can only enter the hotel through the lobby now as they take our temperature at the front door before entering.  Taking photos of Woody & Jessie who were in the lobby looking at the hotel map (it was quite fun watching them behave like people), Jessie saw me, took Woody's hand and they came towards me. As they got near one of the blocks they moved to it and waved me over for a photo - even the characters still go to the right backgrounds for their photos!

We watched Ratatouille and later went back to the Sunnyside Market for dinner.  This time we turned a different way out of the room to use a different lift and try for a different character. Sure enough the green aliens welcomed us down.  Design your own button was at 6:30pm and as we had a little time we waited in the lounge near the lobby.  Jessie was getting a couple of people up to dance with her, then she convinced Woody to join them.  After the girls sat back down Jessie pretended to play the flute as that was prominent in the music playing; at this time they were guided away to a cast only room.  I thought that would be it, however they came out not much later and once again started to have fun with people.  Woody started imitating Jessie so she told the character handler who shook his head at Woody, however he ignored him. They had fun with a janitorial staff member as Jessie showed Woody the badge on his sleeve which had them in it.  As they went to go toward the other lounge, a family came out of the lift and there were squeals of delight from the 2 little kids.  After some photos they moved away from our area while we went down to the playroom to design a badge.  We had a great selection to choose from and initially Remy looked the cutest, but after the fun with Jessie and hearing her "Welcome to the root-tootin 7th floor" greeting every day, I picked her, while Lynelle decided on the green Alien.  We sat in the little kindergarten size chairs and did our colouring in (after we washed our hands and had our temperature taken of course).  It was lots of fun!

Still early, we watched Brave.  There's only 5 movies in English and we've watched 3 of them today.

Disney must be feeling the financial side-affects considering the park is closed and a lot of hotel rooms must now be empty.  Despite this the hotels still appear to have a full complement of staff on, there were security and janitorial staff at all areas along our walk and shuttles are still running to the train and between the hotels.

[KeithS]

Wow. It must be strange being there at such a difficult time. I see they've closed Hong Kong Disneyland from today as well.

[calisota]

All I can say is...at least you got there and got to have a decent amount of time in the Park before they shut down. Would have been horrible to have gone all that way to find out that it isn't open. Plus you have an extremely unique Disney story to tell. I guess for Disney it really is a case of better safe than sorry.

Reading your posts I'm starting to wonder if it's better to read about someone going somewhere I haven't been before so I can get a taste of it, or if it's better to read about places I've been so I can picture exactly what you are describing and doing.


Greg

[Lauren05]

Yes, at least you got to spend some time there, just a shame you missed the Chinese New Year celebrations. Just an excuse to go back again!
Are you still at Toy Story? Someone just posted on Disney Dorks that they just checked in today but got moved to the Disneyland hotel because “nobody is left at Toy Story”

[DisneyKaren]

Day 12 - Sunday 26 Jan
Wow today was a strange day - but a good one all in all.  Yesterday we felt a bit lost but today the hotels were working together and getting in a new pattern with what few guests are remaining.

After fruit in the room, I put a cup of tea on to brew then went down to the café for a croissant.  It's still closed which I thought was odd as it wasn't that early.  Nope, they're not opening at all.  She guided me upstairs where a cast member advised they would take me to the Disneyland Hotel for breakfast at the Kingdom Club.  Oh ok, I'm willing to give Kingdom Club a go.  I did ring up to Lynelle but she's sneezing (no symptoms of the virus, just sneezing - she did check & and she's passing all the temperature checks we get).  2 cast members drove me over in a car, then after a temperature check I was escorted up to Kingdom Club (FYI the elevator has Mickey head buttons - I'm easily impressed) where I had a fresh OJ and some pastries.  Despite the great assortment of food I'd already had fruit and was just in a pastry kind of mood.  Goofy was out and about however I'd left the room without my phone or camera, in fact I didn't even have a jacket so was a little chilly going between the car and hotel each time.  Mickey then came out and played around for a while, he must have known I was watching him as he walked around the back and I turned so he quickly went to the side, then I turned that way and he moved back.  It was a bit of fun.  Then he came over and gave me a sticker so I wished him a happy new year and then Goofy lifted an ear toward me so I wished him a happy new year also and he seemed happy.  The characters here are really great at interacting, perhaps because they have more time.  I'd finished eating so requested a car back.  They offered me to stay until the car arrived so I also met Minnie who gave me more stickers which I passed on to Lynelle.  Really I'll likely just be scanning them and using in my photo album anyway.

Back at the hotel I went upstairs to get my camera and phone then went down to the kids room for the morning activity which was drawing  Chinese characters on two red banners.  It's quite hard by the way.  The paint brush wasn't easy to maneuver although the cast member did try to show me how to use it. Proud of my artwork I went back upstairs to store it away.  There was another craft at 10 which looked good so we went back down and made a Mickey CNY hanging decoration using those beads which heat up and stick together.  Thankfully all these crafts have templates.  Lynelle finished first and a cast member brought out a game (Go?) which they played while I finished.  I was happy watching Up in Mandarin however the other cast member brought me some colouring in and I gave Miguel a go.  Just after 11 they apologised that they had to close but they brought over some pencils for me to take with me and offered me another colouring in (I picked Toy Story 3).  Lynelle was also offered 2 and given some pencils. We now have an activity for the plane. On leaving they also gave us a present being a jigsaw puzzle in a nice Toy Story tin.

Back to reception and they guessed we were after lunch so arranged a car to the Disneyland Hotel.  While waiting we had photos with Bo Peep.  We were early as it turns out lunch starts at 12 so we just took photos around the room and out the window - Lynelle thought it would be a great touch if they put the light show on the castle tonight anyway, just for those of us dining in the Kingdom Club.  We ate well not knowing what or when our next meal would be.

This afternoon we were going to quickly rug up and go into the city for the Frozen Art Exhibit, although Lynelle wasn't sure the subway was the place to be when we're trying to avoid a nasty virus.  We found out we had to be back for dinner between 5-7 at Kingdom Club (literally nothing else is open).  We weren't back long and that call came to say the hotel was closing and we were transferring to the Disneyland Hotel.  Not surprising as there are a lot of cast members and very few guests (although we are seeing some); also our room hadn't been serviced which was odd.  Thankfully we'd partly packed so it wasn't too bad, although we threw things in smaller bags just to get it done.  Downstairs we ran into our friends from the kids room and Lynelle apologised that we wouldn't be back.  They offered to paint our hands so I now have Jessie on my hand as I started to type this, sitting in my Kingdom Club room at the Disneyland Hotel.

On our way out of the hotel I took lots of last minute photos and we waved to all the cast members, it was kind of sad to leave even though there wasn't really much to do.  I'd just worked out which lifts were voiced by green aliens and which were Jessie!  The cast at Disneyland reception have great English and were very helpful, pre-booking a taxi for Tuesday morning and giving us the kids activities list - perhaps our reputation is getting around.

We have now completely repacked with only necessities out. The kids room is closed and all crafts are in the Kingdom Club so we went and did colouring in on a piece of plastic which they melt down and put on a keychain (Tinkerbell for me and Lynelle did Simba).  Downstairs we had photos with Pluto, Donald, then Chip & Dale all the while a pianist was playing Beauty & the Beast music.  Again the characters messed around with each other.  Not a concern but odd considering I'm not paying for photos.  We looked around the gym and pool area where there were at least 5 cast members waiting for someone to go swimming (I didn't bring my swimmers considering it's winter and didn't consider having spare time).  With light rain outside we're hoping tomorrow there's enough of a break in the weather to walk in the gardens otherwise I'll just go out in the drizzle.

Dinner time so we headed across the hall as we are the closest room to the Kingdom Club dining room.  Across at the park we watched the walkway lights come on through the window, however no lights in the park - at least they're conserving electricity by turning everything off.  After a great dinner with adorable desserts, all washed down with a glass of pinot noir, there was craft being set up.  This time we shared the craft table with 2 actual children.  No Remy options here so I did a Venelope button, then a Daisy heated bead craft followed by colouring in a CNY square poster.  We were given a cute pipe cleaner shaped Minnie (we have 3 now) and I was given a pipe cleaner shaped into Stella Lou, I asked to make one but the cast member just gave me hers, which I guess was easier for both of us.  They were packing up so we thanked them and said goodbye, then a cast member stopped us and gave us a little gift bag with a puzzle in a tin (mine Winnie the Pooh) and a couple of other little things.  So sweet they gave to us as well as the kids.

I quickly changed into my PJs and slippers for a photo with bedtime Mickey.  Lynelle is now watching Monsters University as we wind down.  Considering we can't go in the park and are limited in what we can do, at least we've been amused and when there's nothing else to do, kids craft is fun.  Considering we've heard the city is largely closed down it may not be worth going in especially if they decide to cut the number of trains at some stage.  We'll keep amused with colouring in and craft.
FYI: we're enjoying the opportunity to check out another hotel.  I miss Jessie or the green aliens greeting me in the lift but the Disneyland Hotel is of course a beautiful hotel.

[DisneyKaren]

Greg - We are vey grateful we came prior to CNY and visited the park for 2 days getting everything done. It's a bit disappointing of course but we're making the most of the situation we're in and I'll have loads of cute little crafts to display! I hope you're getting a bit of both new views and reminders of your trips from my review - well other than sitting around a hotel participating in kids craft.

Lauren - there was one Caucasian couple who came in for dinner when we did craft, wonder if that was them?  I think everyone from both hotels is now up on Kingdom Club level; I'm sure they've shut down as much as possible to save on staff and electricity.  By the way they never did restock the CNY items which sold out in that video you tagged me in. The nicer items I really wanted were here so just the Duffy and friends plushies not available, other than Cookie-Ann which Lynelle had thankfully purchased (she's not in the hotel shops, just the park).

Keith - it is strange, but we feel today they've pulled out all the stops so guests feel that Disney magic.  Once they closed Disneytown our food options were limited so it's nice having Kingdom Club which has variety and the food is fresher and a far better quality.  I will admit, meals being free is also a wonderful bonus considering our current situation.

[KeithS]

As Greg always says, when you go on holiday you either have a good time or a get good story, and you've got a really unique story there.

Sounds like Disney have been wonderful in very difficult circumstances. It makes sense that they move all guests to a single hotel.

Hope your Monday goes okay! Thanks for keeping us up to date with your Shanghai news.

[DisneyKaren]

As Greg always says, when you go on holiday you either have a good time or a get good story, and you've got a really unique story there.

Sounds like Disney have been wonderful in very difficult circumstances. It makes sense that they move all guests to a single hotel.

Hope your Monday goes okay! Thanks for keeping us up to date with your Shanghai news.

Yes it's been a mix of both a fantastic holiday and an interesting story!  Disney have been great, it must have been a whirlwind for them trying to deal with cancellations, early check-outs and then keeping everything going for those still there.  We were surprised they didn't move us earlier however they would have needed time to get their bearings to ensure they did everything right rather than in a panic.  Closing the restaurants also wasn't a surprise to us, 2 cafes and 2 restaurants couldn't have been sustained.  We're grateful for the free meals, it's a lovely bonus and also being allowed to do the kids activities which technically does have age restrictions.  The cast is being wonderful and there are definitely still plenty on to keep everything running well.
Monday has been another day of relaxing, craft and strolling in the gardens.  We're almost finalised packing, just those final toiletries etc to pack and I have to decide on any final gift shop purchases.

[calisota]

Which hotel would you say is better, quality wise etc?


Greg

[KeithS]

Hi Karen - are you flying back today?  When do you leave.  Have a great flight!

[DisneyKaren]

Back home tired, but nice emptying the suitcases with so many reminders of a great trip. One load of washing done and lots of 'stuff' on the dining table for a photo of what I brought back before finding homes and creating some CNY displays in my house.

Will write a hotel review on the Hong Kong page in the next few days, brain is slower today.

[calisota]

brain is slower today.

I think we can all sympathise with that.

Greg 

[KeithS]

Welcome home!!!