Hong Kong overnight layover

While hunting for airfares to Japan, and not finding anything under $1600 with 1-2 transfers, a friend suggested flying through Hong Kong. By spending one night in HK, our flights were under $1,000 each, saving almost $2,000! I used Expedia points on a room at the airport Marriott, and it was a great hotel! The assistant manager left us a note of things to see, with an article under our door. But we didn't get it until after we went out to explore.

Here is the view from our room...

Venturing to the MTR (train into Hong Kong)

The down side... We really only had a few hours to explore, and the temps were nearing 100F with humidity at a million %. The two options suggested by friends, were to go to explore the waterfront along Tsim Sha Tsui- TST, or shop the markets around Mong Kok. I chose Mong Kok for the cheap eats, but wasn't expecting the heat. Or the crazy crowds so thick, we could barely move. Or the difficulty actually finding a place to eat that was allergy friendly. It was so muggy, I didn't feel like shopping or bargaining. The pictures don't depict the reality, since I waited for some space to take them.

Finally found a Hong Kong cafe for dinner... char siu rice and a Hong Kong milk tea for me. The mandarin drink K and hubby got was on the bitter/tart side. I felt better after eating, and even did a little shopping.

I had a fitful rest due to said tea, and we spent our last HK dollars on some dim sum and drinks at the airport, which we had to dump before boarding the plane, as no liquids are allowed on board. Bummer. Oh, and I picked up Shellie Mae (Tsum Tsum) at the airport Disney store.

Goodbye Hong Kong!

Tokyo Disney Sea

We've had a long couple of days, and I ran out of time to post. What an amazing park! I could spend days exploring the different lands. The park is celebrating 15 years. Lots of special displays. I literally walked in, and my mouth dropped open in awe...

K recognized a friend...  

Our first order of business, grab a Fast Pass for Journey to the Center of the Earth. Caught the Tanabata Greetings show on the harbor, where the characters come out on a boat.

Then, on to book lunch at Magellan's restaurant. I read to ask for "the cellar" but they didn't seem to acknowledge the request. But when we returned at 1:10, we were led to this semi private room downstairs, with a secret button to enter. Very cool!

Of course the food was amazing! They had a special allergy set menu. K didn't want it since she had read the kids menu, but it was tasty! Notice the Micky shaped potato?

I had the pork cutlet. Hubby got the 3 course set with appetizer and dessert. It was pricey, but a nice escape. They did have a fire alarm go off, which was a bit jarring.

Before lunch, we wandered through Port Discovery. M and K rode Aquatopia, and I got a snack called a Ukiwah bun. It looked like a life preserver, with Donald Duck in it, and it was warn and had shrimp inside. Yummy!

 

It was time to use our Fast Pass for Journey. I didn't know much about the ride, so it was a good surprise! Very cool. We walked through Mermaid Lagoon, and K rode the Whirlpool. She wanted to ride again, but I wanted to see everything once. 

 

Next stop, Arabian Coast, where we rode Sinbad's Storybook Journey, a meandering boat ride with a catchy tune, similar to It's a Small World. K loved this ride, and later claimed it was her favorite. Hubby was nodding off into dreamland, while I enjoyed the air conditioning.

We also rode a flying carpet ride. Each land has stunning architecture and visuals. It really is spectacular.

We quickly went to get a Fast Pass for Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull for after lunch. This ride is similar to the one at CA Disneyland, but K did fine in the scary parts. Here is a shot taken in Lost River Delta, near the ride...

Went back for another ride on Sinbad, and caught the show at the Magic Lamp Theatre. Which of course was all in Japanese. Doh! Rode the double decker carousel, and got treats at Sultan's Oasis. Strawberry milk shave ice with soft serve for K. I tried the Muscat Grape, but it was a bit tart. Hubby went to get curry flavored popcorn.

Went back to ride Aquatopia, wandered around American Waterfront in search of dinner.

Teddy Roosevelt Lounge was too busy, so we wandered around Mediterranean Harbor, I grabbed a pork rice roll at a stand, and hubby and K ate Italian. It's so pretty around the canals, just like being back in Venice. 

And the sun was setting over the harbor.

We hung out for the Fantasmic show, which K has never seen. It got a bit scary at the end, so we left.

The park is even more magical at night.

The Monorail (fee) has really cute cars. The one we caught featured Duffy Bear, who is oddly popular here, and Gelatoni the cat, Duffy's friend. Check out the fuzzy commuter rings.

Tokyo Disneyland

Big day at Tokyo Disneyland! Got there before they opened at 9 am. I ran, or fast walked, as cast members were holding signs asking "Please no running" to get fast passes for Monsters Inc ride. Hubby and k went straight to Pooh's Hunny Hunt, but somehow I beat them, and rode it before them.

It's probably a good thing, because I didn't know you aren't supposed to take pictures on the ride. Pretty much everyone, and all rides are in Japanese, with little translating.

The line was short, so we rode again together. 

Then It's a Small World

Grabbed a quick snack, tipo torta (chilled pastry filled with caramel cream).

Rode Haunted Mansion, Pinocchio, and entered Cinderella's castle, before our fast pass time for Monsters at 11 am.

Rode Star Tours (no wait!), used our Fast Pass for Space Mountain (K loved it!). Caught a show, One Man's Dream... All by Noon. 8 rides and a show. That is something we've never done at a Disney park in such a short amount of time. No lines anywhere so far.

Made reservations for dinner at Hokusai, the Japanese restaurant in World Bazaar (Tokyo version of Main Street, a covered arcade of shops), and ate lunch at the Pizza Port. They are very thorough with K's food allergy. Very impressed in Japan as a whole with this. I had purchased food allergy cards in Japanese, and food allergies aren't very common, though I learned my cousin's daughter has a milk allergy. I had to get the little green alien mochi, I had seen on a Disney food blog. They are cute, and filled with chocolate, strawberry and vanilla cream. Yummy! I had a seafood cream calzone, and hubby had chicken tomato, they made K a special cheese pizza.

After lunch, we went to use our Fast Pass for Astro Blasters, but the ride was closed. Tried Space Mountain, and they closed for testing. Then we headed to the other side of the park and rode Pirates, after watching a brief parade. This was the most common posted wait time, though we usually went throughout the long path for the queues, and went directly onto rides.

 

Rode Jungle Cruise (no wait), and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad next. K loved that, and we rode twice. There was maybe a 10 minute wait for that.

FESTIVAL

Today was the first day of Tanabata Days, a festival of wishes. They have displays set up, and pass out cards you can write wishes on, and hang up. The characters and cast members are dressed in kimono, and there are special shows and merchandise. 

Here is the Tanabata Greeting parade. We had front row seats! In japan people in front must sit for parades.

It's Japan, everyone bows, even Chip! Or is it Dale?

More castle pics...

Dinner at Hokusai was delicious! The kids menu was adorable, but K ordered the same meal as me, tempura set with udon!

Time for our 2nd Fast Pass to Monsters. This is a fun ride, you have a flashlight to find the monsters. Probably my favorite ride at this park. We rode Star Tours again since there was no wait, and got a different version, so that was cool. Line for Space Mountain was a bit long, so we went to get a spot for the electric light parade in the rain. Forecast was rain all day, perhaps that was the reason for low crowds, but it has only rained a bit here and there. By now, it was raining steadily, and the parade was cancelled. They did a substitute brief parade called Night Glow. Then we were wet and tired, and headed back to the hotel. Tomorrow is a day at Disney Sea!