Shanghai and Hong Kong Disneyland March 17 – Day 7 Complete in Hong Kong Proper; 12/04

[darrenf67]

Swapping Orange Scents for Grass and Roses – Soarin’ Over the Horizon



From Treasure Cove back to Adventure Isle. We were sure putting in the steps today.


Soarin’ Over the Horizon is the updated film that replaced Soarin’ Over California. This was a film clip that I was looking forward to viewing as it replaced the stunning California with iconic locations around the world.


We had pulled a FP for this attraction earlier in the day and our window had opened up. When we got to the FP entry, we were all a little surprised to learn that we had to show our park ticket with the FP ticket. It did hold us up for a little bit. I hadn’t realised it before or maybe I’d never really looked at it in detail but the FP ticket does include the park ticket number that it was associated with.

It was after we had gotten through the line that we figured out that this was countermeasure Mark 1 to the FP scam we had seen at the gate this morning.

We just whizzed right on through the queuing area and it was only after I came home that I realised that I didn’t do this queue area any justice from a photography perspective.





It sure doesn’t look at all like the Soarin’ queue I remember. I had to remind myself that this was Soarin’ and not the Indiana Jones attraction!






Looks like our flight captain has also been refreshed.






We did try and ask to be seated in the middle section of the ride but the CM wasn’t keen to let us wait. That left us sitting on the extreme right…..with a highly distorted view.



Despite everything having a radical sort of slant to it, I liked seeing the images from around the world and smelling the new scents of roses and grass. It was great to see Sydney and the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall and the Pyramids and Iguazu Falls.



But the images seemed to lack the Soarin’ factor of California. I think you know what I mean.
We didn’t swoop over the snow-capped Tahoe area, we didn’t glide over Yosemite. There wasn’t that rush of exhilaration you feel when you sail over the Redwood Creek, as you curled your toes inwards to avoid the cold water. I missed the Redwood Creek of California. I even missed catching the golf ball over Palm Springs (but then I always missed catching it away). I missed seeing the riders at Anza Borrego. I missed the orange smell.


Perhaps it was the fact that this was my first time on Soarin’ Over the Horizon; and I had such vivid memories of Soarin’ Over California. Perhaps I wasn’t ready to let go of California just yet. Perhaps it was the distorted view we got.

My DM and I decided that once was enough for this visit and we never did go back for a re-do of Soarin’.


Perhaps we should have given it a second chance and smelt the roses again. And I should have definitely stopped to capture more of the queue scenes.



(Continued in Next Post)

We satin front right and I found the curved screen off putting - it distorted the images - still like the original more!

 

[PrincessInOz]

So glad I made it in time for Peter Pan! That's my favorite ride! That Tron ride is cool. Love your pictures! Thanks for posting them!

Thanks for stopping by again, Denise. Hope you have been well and say hello to J for me!

Peter Pan is your favourite? I think I knew that. But we still can't beat going round Its a Small World and singing at the top of our voices!!!

So sad that your memory card ran out, but good for you a you were able to enjoy it.

I was a little frustrated when it happened and then we turned the corner and I wasn't when I saw the new section. It worked out for the best.

But I'm hoping you went on the ride again so I can see some of it. I have no idea when we will get to Shanghai, if ever. It sounds so cool!

Absolutely! I managed to get on it multiple times on the next couple of days so there will be pictures.

I rode Soarin from only the top middle for my first several times. I had to make a real attempt to go on it and not have a good seat, and it was definitely disconcerting. I missed the original version from my first ride. I think you nailed it with your assessment. The little adrenaline rushes you would get from Yosemite, the shock of the golf ball (I always flinched), and yes dipping your toes in Redwood Creek!

I think I will give the new version another spin if I'm ever at a Disney location with it showing (and the queues aren't horrendously long).

Yes. The new version misses those little moments. If they had managed to incorporate similar feelings, it would have been great.

We satin front right and I found the curved screen off putting - it distorted the images - still like the original more!

It is a crazy distortion. I expect this version will be around for a while but maybe Disney will take less time to come out with a new release.

 

[Fairy Floss]

We satin front right and I found the curved screen off putting - it distorted the images - still like the original more!

We were also in this position - the curved Eiffel Tower really did my head in!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Because It’s Shop O’Clock Somewhere - The Newest World of Disney



People who say I’m hard to shop for clearly don’t know where the 4 World of Disney stores are located. Let me help you out.


Disney Village Marketplace aka Disney Springs, Walt Disney World, Orlando. This flagship store opened up in Oct 2, 1996. It’s the largest Disney retail therapy to be found!






Downtown Disney, Disneyland, Anaheim. The second World of Disney opened in Jan 12, 2001, when the Downtown Disney District originally opened.





There was a World of Disney in NYC at one stage. This store is no longer opened so it doesn’t count. (Picture courtesy of my DH)





The 3rd World of Disney is one that I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting. That store is located in Paris and it opened on July 12, 2012. My photo collection is not going to be complete until I make a visit.



The 4th and newest World of Disney is located at Disneytown, Shanghai Disneyland, Shanghai. This store opened on June 14, 2016 when this whole resort opened. You may recall that the store was closed when I first walked past this morning.





After I changed my shoes and socks, I headed on back towards the park. The others and I had made plans to catch up again at Starbucks. I found myself here instead.






I know the others are reading. In my defence…..I was at Starbucks at the appointed time. I sent messages by WhatApp and waited 15 minutes without any response.

You really didn’t expect to wait in Starbucks when there was all this merchandise to look at right next door????? Afterall, it was Shop O’Clock whilst I was waiting!!!





Come to think of it....with the Shanghai WoD opened, it will be Shop O'Clock somewhere in the world any time of the day!

Back to the story.


Ok. Let’s just pretend that I found this mug inside Starbucks.





I did leave messages to say that I had headed to WoD. I did. I really did.





Where did all my money go? It’s like Hocus Pocus, I’m brokus! But that’s okay. I was just window shopping tonight.

The interesting thing that we all found out about Disney shopping in Shanghai was that there were very few items on discount. Shanghai’s policy for dealing with excess or last season’s stock is to offer them as Gift With Purchase to shoppers. The more you spend, the higher the value of the GwP. They also did the standard spend X amount and you can buy this item for Y amount.


See the backpack on the right of the picture? I think it ended up being 50 Yuan if you bought over 300 Yuan of merchandise. The literal translation and definition of Disney Fuzzy Maths = “Spend $60 and you can then have the pleasure of spending an extra $10 for the bag”.




Yup, with that kind of shopper’s delight and incentive policy, it’s amazing how many of us needed to get this backpack. Need, want. Such a fine line. I know we ALL came home with one.


And for anyone wondering what to get me, anything from any World of Disney store will be fine!




(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

The Up-Side of Rain Days – Park Reflection




When I got on the bus to head back to the park, a CM at the resort took one look at my tripod and shook his head. “No tripod” was what he said to me.

I knew Disney’s policy on tripod has been changing and the rule seems to be that small tripods, providing they fit into the backpack, are allowed in. As I have a smaller backpack than most, my travel tripod doesn’t fit.
So, I took him at his word and left the tripod back in the hotel room.

On reflection, I wish I had tested him out and taken my tripod to the park that night.


Whilst it lightened my load, I was completely gnashing my teeth when I eventually caught up with Wendy and her DD and we headed into the park. Do you see what I saw?






We had to spend some time trying to capture that reflection!





It is the Mickey Avenue Train Station at the top there but there isn’t a railroad running around this park. When will my reflection show who I am inside?





More pretty reflections as we walked down Mickey Avenue.






I resorted to handheld shots and am pretty happy with how they turned out.





But now that I’m home and with the luxury of reflection time, a part of me really wished I had my tripod with me that night!






It was still raining when we walked down Mickey Avenue and my lens constantly had rain drops on them. That meant that my pictures also had rain drops in them.






One of my photography goals this year is to learn how to drive Photoshop. I’m using those Raindrops-Kept-Falling-on-my-Lens shots to experiment. I think I was going for the Vincent van Gogh Starry Starry Night look but I may have ended with the Fantasia Night on Bald Mountain instead. You have to admit….there is a rather Chernabog look to that Castle!








So...the up-side of rain? Just look down and see pretty colours on the ground!


(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

That was a Rather Dumbo Suggestion of Mine - Dumbo the Flying Elephant




We were all getting wet in the rain and feeling a little hungry. As we were right there, Wendy suggested that we head into Remy’s Patisserie and got a sausage roll each. For those interested, the rolls were 30-something Yuan each.
I didn’t end up getting pictures.



We didn’t want to wander very far away from the hub. So, we walked around the Gardens of Imagination at night. In the wet, I didn’t end up taking any pictures.


But there was something that I wanted to do. Wendy and her DD were happy to go with the flow.






I suggested we get on Dumbo. Afterall, it is something of an iconic ride at DLR. And it was walk-on and sit right down.






But I forgot something, didn’t I? It had been raining and everything was wet.





Yup. It was only logical that the Dumbo ride would be wet as well. To go with the wet socks and shoes from earlier, as soon as I sat down, I ended up with wet jocks as well.





Talk about needing a spin dry! That was a very Dumbo suggestion of mine!






(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

Trash Cans at 30 Paces – More Park Reflections at Fantasia Carousel



We didn’t wander very far from Mickey Avenue after the sausage roll snack and getting on Dumbo.

I might be missing my tripod but I had a backup plan in mind. Photographers heading to a Disney park have been thanking Walt Disney for the opportunity to use trash cans as tripod replacements for years!


I had no hesitation in using the trash cans in the rain. Disney policy is to keep the parks sparkling, trash cans included, so everything always looks clean. Despite the opening month news about Chinese behaviour, I had seen enough during the day to realise that the Disney cleanliness policy was also in full swing at Shanghai. Plus, it had been raining all day so I expected the tops of the trash can to be well washed. My camera and lens can attest to the rain. Somewhere on there is Wendy and her DD. See if you can spot them!!!






I wasn’t entirely happy with that location so….30 paces away, I came across another trash can.

Walt Disney truly thought of everything when planning his parks, including convenient placement of trash cans. According to legend, he calculated how many steps people took before they needed a trash can whilst watching them eat. He also ate a hot dog and wandered about 30 steps before he was done.





These two trash cans captured the Fantasia Carousel but, on reflection, when I looked at the pictures at the back of my camera, I realised it didn’t give me the distance that I wanted. The images would have been perfectly fine on a dry night but I was after a bit more.


Another 30 paces away from the 1st trash can, I found the view I was after.





Yes, I can confirm that in this part of Gardens of Imagination/Mickey Avenue, trash cans in Shanghai Disneyland are also within 30 feet of each other.





Always happy to contribute to the Trash Can legend.




(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

All about Montages - Ignite the Dream



The first time I saw a montage sequence, I must have been about 7 or 8. The montage occurred in the movie, Holiday Inn (I love this movie!!) which starred Bing Cosby and Fred Astaire. During the Independence Day holiday part of the movie, there is a clip showing images from World War II. Then, montages were played all together using split screen. In the case of Holiday Inn, there were 6 splits in the screen, each showing the sequence. It did make the scene ‘busy’ and hard to follow.
There is another montage later in this movie but it layers multiple images over the same scene. Again, it makes the screen appear ‘busy’.


Both these styles of montage have long fallen out of favour in movie making. Today's montages avoid the use of multiple images in one shot. Instead, movie makers prefer to use a simpler sequence of individual short, rapidly paced shots combined with a specially created background song to enhance the mood or reinforce the message being conveyed.


Ignite the Dream, A Nighttime Spectacular of Music and Light is what I would call Disney’s Montage show at Shanghai Disneyland.
Not content with a standard montage of individual shots, they have thrown the entire kitchen sink at this. The show features fireworks, water fountains, fire, lasers, projection mapping, search lights in the sky all set to music. That’s like trying to watch the Independence Day sequence of 6 split screens on Holiday Inn!!!


Depending on how you feel about Sensory Overload, you’ll either love it or not.


You may recall that I had already shot the fireworks from my room with a view. At the time, I felt grateful that all I needed to do from my room was focus on shooting the fireworks because it meant that I didn’t have to wrestle with my camera settings to jump between photographic techniques. Not so tonight.


So, on the list for me to capture……

…..water fountains…..(we were too far to do this justice).....




















….fire….









…..lasers…..























…….projection mapping……
































….and search lights.








I love the Disney Montage show. I really do. But the photographer in me "Wishes" they would simplify it a little.




Postscript.

I had picked a spot closer towards Mickey Avenue to view Ignite the Dream. I think we were on the other side on the same longitude as the Storyteller’s statue. We were too far back from the castle to do this show justice.


Plus, it was raining. I found myself constantly having to wipe away the rain drops off my camera lens.





That meant that if I pushed too hard, I was moving the lens position, and the shots would be out of focus. I must have been pushing hard because there are a lot of shots out of focus.


All in all, this is a night I would say that those Firework Gods and I were at deuce-all; and Mother Nature won hands down.





(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

Calling it A Night - The Long Way Round to the Resort




It was still rainy and wet when Ignite the Dream was over. And it had been cold standing out in that rain. All 3 of us voted to head back to the resort. I can only assume that Fairy Floss and Zanzibar did the same.

We parted company at the Steamboat Willie fountain outside the park.





By this time, we had been at Disneyland for about a day and I did know my way around.


I…er…kinda detoured a little on my way back to the transport hub. I didn’t go inside. I really should have. Next time.






I was still in a reflective kinda of mood.





I was also checking out the layout of Disneytown and the restaurants.






And being pleasantly surprised by the relatively reasonable pricing at this Disneytown for food.





I headed back to the resort shortly after this. It was time to call it a night! All in all, it had been a very good (but wet) first day at Shanghai Disneyland.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Lovely, lovely pics!

I think shopping over Starbucks was a good use of your time!

It's a shame that tripods are now banned.

 

[Fairy Floss]

I ended up with wet jocks as well.

Lol!!

 

[zanzibar138]

I've been keeping all up-to-date with reading... not so much with posting. So here goes!

When Shanghai was announced, the initial concepts showed an amazing Treasure Cove and a new Pirates attraction. Without a doubt, Disney were banking on the star power of the movie franchise and creating a whole land around the franchise. Having spent some time walking back and forwards into this area, I was completely bowled over by how Disney had managed to create an area that looked so fresh without falling back on the cliché’s of the original attraction or the movie. They have done an amazing job at ensuring that no matter what happens with the movie franchise, this area will continue to be a drawcard for this Disneyland.

Totally agree. This area is really well done.

Once we got past the front part, the queue area started to get a bit more interesting. It may not be the dream suite….but I bet they could charge a fortune for someone to spend the night here!

As long as you didn't mind checking in after the park closed and checking out before it opened again the next morning!

There were similar areas on the right side of the queue. I just didn’t get a chance to capture any of it.

This could be it...



There was this little room too.

There is also another area on the left side where you get to look down at the vehicles as they progress along the ride. I never managed to get a decent shot of that spot.

With subtle differences. I guess after waiting around for 50 years, that dog has finally bitten the dust and turned to a skeleton!

[/QUOTE]

I have to admit I like the dog better not as a skeleton!

….and at this point, the memory card in my camera was completely filled up!

In many regards, I am pretty happy to have enjoyed this first experience without having to look down the barrel of my camera. And whilst I may not have many computer memory of the first time I rode on The Battle of the Sunken Treasure, the feeling will be seared into my necktop memory banks for a long, long, long time.

I agree. Totally worth experiencing that attraction the first time with no distractions! I actually waited until my second (or could have even been third) go on it for my Opening Day report!

But the images seemed to lack the Soarin’ factor of California. I think you know what I mean.

We didn’t swoop over the snow-capped Tahoe area, we didn’t glide over Yosemite. There wasn’t that rush of exhilaration you feel when you sail over the Redwood Creek, as you curled your toes inwards to avoid the cold water. I missed the Redwood Creek of California. I even missed catching the golf ball over Palm Springs (but then I always missed catching it away). I missed seeing the riders at Anza Borrego. I missed the orange smell.

My DM and I decided that once was enough for this visit and we never did go back for a re-do of Soarin’.

Perhaps we should have given it a second chance and smelt the roses again. And I should have definitely stopped to capture more of the queue scenes.

I saw the new Soarin at WDW and have a similar feeling. My idea is that it is because the California version was better at incorporating the dynamics of nature into the film. To me the new version seemed far too focussed on man made objects that are so static (and therefore the contortion is far more visible than before as well).

The good thing for me for SDL is that their biggest hot ticket therefore is not a must do for me there. I would like to see the different ending (and the different line) there, but it is not a must do for me.

We were also in this position - the curved Eiffel Tower really did my head in!

I have never really 'got' Soarin'. I think I only went on the California version once, and kind of came off thinking 'that's it?'. This definitely wasn't a high priority for me, and if there had been a long wait, I wouldn't have bothered. Glad that circumstances were such that I managed to do it though.

I have to agree - I think the more natural California one was nicer.

….so, when we walked past the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and I noticed that it was a 10 minute wait for stand-by....

I….er…..coerced most of the others to get in line. I knew the attraction was down for scheduled maintenance in Hong Kong and I figured this was probably going to be the only opportunity I was going to get to see Pooh Bear in the dark.

I will say that the space heading into the boarding area just seemed a little bare (or should that be “bear”). Maybe they might add some interest or interactive games in here at a later time.

I gather that there is a new movie version of Winnie the Pooh in the air.

A little bird told me that it’s a live action version, re-imagined…just a rumour, of course.

I didn't even notice that this was scheduled for maintenance in HK lol! We didn't mind going on though - was a pleasant way to escape the rain for a bit after all!

I'm not sure how I feel about a live action re-imagined Pooh Bear movie. Of course, I've been sceptical about most of the live action remakes to date and have loved all of them so far, so perhaps I will feel the same about this one.

It had rained for the better part of the day so far and it was pretty miserable waiting in the rain. Unlike the other guests, we didn’t have an umbrella and whilst the jacket and hood I was wearing was doing the job, my feet were getting rather soaked. On reflection, I don't think I was the only one! I think I can see one of the other guests on the other side with CROCS!

When I heard that it was going to be rainy while we were there, I made sure to pack my waterproof hiking boots. The rest of me may have been damp and cold, but at least my feet were dry and comfortable for the whole trip!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Rainy Day Parade at any Disney before.

Yeah. I think we were all on some sort of high at being at SDL. Ordinarily, I may have just taken the opportunity to go-see another attraction.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a rainy day parade. I think I remember asking a CM if the parade would be on and they said 'yes'. I just assumed the rain didn't affect their regular parade for some reason lol!

I wasn’t keen to repeat that cough or experience in a hurry! And my DM was also keen to get warm. So, after the parade, we headed back to the resort.

We weren’t the only ones. I think everyone headed back to their respective rooms to dry off a little!

Yikes! Glad you managed to avoid a repeat of that!

Yes, the rest of us headed back to our rooms too. The rain was getting a bit much by that stage and we were all damp and cold and a bit over it.

There are rumours that the new Frozen boat ride coming to HKDL will be based on the same technology. If that is true, I bet their Frozen will be so much superior to the Epcot one.

Oh, that would be awesome! I'm not a big Frozen fan, but I would totally be hanging out to do that ride if it was along the same lines as Shanghai's Pirates!

I don't mind drizzle but the constant rain was not fun.

I'll leave you with the rain.

Yep, agreed. FairyFloss, you can have the rain all to yourself lol!

After I changed my shoes and socks, I headed on back towards the park. The others and I had made plans to catch up again at Starbucks. I found myself here instead.



I know the others are reading. In my defence…..I was at Starbucks at the appointed time. I sent messages by WhatApp and waited 15 minutes without any response.

You really didn’t expect to wait in Starbucks when there was all this merchandise to look at right next door????? Afterall, it was Shop O’Clock whilst I was waiting!!!

I did leave messages to say that I had headed to WoD. I did. I really did.

Yes, in PIO's defence, she did try to reach out to us. Unfortunately due to the issues I was having with my communications (ie SIM wasn't working, no access to wifi), I didn't get the messages until too late.

We did actually wonder if PIO had gone to WOD, and actually briefly checked it out, but we must have either already missed her or lost her in the huge store!

It worked out ok though. FairyFloss and I had each other for company, and we knew we would be catching up with PIO in the morning over breakfast.

See the backpack on the right of the picture? I think it ended up being 50 Yuan if you bought over 300 Yuan of merchandise. The literal translation and definition of Disney Fuzzy Maths = “Spend $60 and you can then have the pleasure of spending an extra $10 for the bag”.

Yup, with that kind of shopper’s delight and incentive policy, it’s amazing how many of us needed to get this backpack. Need, want. Such a fine line. I know we ALL came home with one.

I actually didn't come home with a backpack. However, the red plasticy looking things next to the backpack were packs of bath toys that came free with a purchase over a certain amount. There were 6 bath toys in each pack, each representing a character from the Garden of the 12 Friends. I managed to come away with both packs, or 12 bath toys taking up valuable space in my luggage! On the plus side, they went down a treat as a souvenir for my little nephew!

Another 30 paces away from the 1st trash can, I found the view I was after.

Oh, I spent so long trying to get this photo! I must have had the wrong trash can lol!

Love all your night time reflection photos!

Ignite the Dream, A Nighttime Spectacular of Music and Light is what I would call Disney’s Montage show at Shanghai Disneyland.
Not content with a standard montage of individual shots, they have thrown the entire kitchen sink at this. The show features fireworks, water fountains, fire, lasers, projection mapping, search lights in the sky all set to music. That’s like trying to watch the Independence Day sequence of 6 split screens on Holiday Inn!!!

Depending on how you feel about Sensory Overload, you’ll either love it or not.

For the record, with Shanghai's air quality laws, Disney were unable to use fireworks as the main focus of their night time show. This may explain their apparent need to throw everything else at it that they could in an effort to make up for the lack of fireworks.

I quite liked the show, although I do have to agree with PIO that it did make it quite difficult to photograph well!

Plus, it was raining. I found myself constantly having to wipe away the rain drops off my camera lens.

All in all, this is a night I would say that those Firework Gods and I were at deuce-all; and Mother Nature won hands down.

Yes, most of my shots from this show turned out like this too. I was trying to protect my camera with a Ziploc bag, but was still having to constantly wipe drops from the lens. I'm actually quite surprised my camera still works, given how sensitive the previous models have proven to be to moisture.

It was still rainy and wet when Ignite the Dream was over. And it had been cold standing out in that rain. All 3 of us voted to head back to the resort. I can only assume that Fairy Floss and Zanzibar did the same.

I headed back to the resort shortly after this. It was time to call it a night! All in all, it had been a very good (but wet) first day at Shanghai Disneyland.

Yes, FairyFloss and I headed straight back after Ignite the Dream. There was no hanging around DisneyTown for us either! Although for some crazy reason I decided it would be a great idea to walk back to the hotel in the rain. After all, I was already about as cold and damp as I was going to get lol!

Despite the rain and communication issues, it had been a (mostly) fun first day![/quote]

 

[mvf-m11c]

I can't believe I missed this many updates. But it was so nice to read all of your updates.

That is so neat that you got to hang out with a lot of DISers and friends during the trip. Those are very nice group shots.

Seeing all your photos of your trip at the park is so different from seeing the Disney commercial pictures. Even though you just got in the park that first day, I am already excited and seeing your side of your trip.

I remember before you post these updates that it was raining that first day at the park. Even though rain can be annoying when walking around but it does get you good photos as well. It is a shame that Shanghai doesn't allow tripods like WDW and DLR (sometimes but I did brought my tripod last month).

Even though I barely go on roller coasters, the TRON Lightcycle Power Run would be something that I would enjoy.

Nice to see that you were able to ride the 7DMT and to get a front row. Why does this remind me when I was at the MK when I rode it last year. Oh yea, you were in that same boat like me where I got to ride in the front and it was raining when I rode it.

Shame that the memory card filled up during the Pirates ride. All of your photos are amazing.

Even though it was wet that night, the nighttime shots are great. I'm glad that you were able to use the trash cans as another way to get your long exposure shots at night while they won't allow tripods. I have used the trash cans before but I do enjoy using my gorilla pod when I don't use the tripod. When I read Tom Bricker site about using other items without a tripod, I learned about the Green Pod which can be a good alternative. I have used it and it is nice but there are some disadvantages about using it.

Igniter the Dream fireworks looks so amazing and I would have enjoyed seeing that firework show. Talk about a lot of new firework shows these last few years at the Disney Parks with Disneyland Forever at DL, Ignite the Dream and MK new firework show next week Happily Ever After.

Great updates.

 

[Fairy Floss]

Yep, agreed. FairyFloss, you can have the rain all to yourself lol!

...and that's why the crowds are so low that the headline rides are a walk on

 

[Aussie Wendy]

I didn't exactly like Hook but I didn't hate it either.

And I have a cookbook.


I definitely think it was time for a new version. The old film was starting to look tatty.
But they could have definitely done a better job with the new version.

Actually I meant the book of the movie Hook written by one of my fave authors Terry Brooks. I think your WtP cookbook is awesome - very jealous.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Lovely, lovely pics!

I think shopping over Starbucks was a good use of your time!

It's a shame that tripods are now banned.

Thanks!

Tripods aren't exactly banned. The policy states:

• Tripod stands or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack

However, it also seems to depend on how the CM interprets that policy.

As long as you didn't mind checking in after the park closed and checking out before it opened again the next morning!

To stay in the Pirates ride for night, I would have no issue with that!

This could be it...

Thanks for sharing!!

This was the area I never quite managed to capture. Thanks for sharing this one!

I have to admit I like the dog better not as a skeleton!

I haven't quite worked out which one I prefer. I think it's great that Shanghai has the skeleton. I'm not sure that I want to see the other versions end up with the same skeleton.

I agree. Totally worth experiencing that attraction the first time with no distractions! I actually waited until my second (or could have even been third) go on it for my Opening Day report!

That's the same with me. I think that I took the most shots through Pirates on our 3rd day.

I have never really 'got' Soarin'. I think I only went on the California version once, and kind of came off thinking 'that's it?'. This definitely wasn't a high priority for me, and if there had been a long wait, I wouldn't have bothered. Glad that circumstances were such that I managed to do it though.

I have to agree - I think the more natural California one was nicer.

I loved Soarin' Over California. But I wouldn't wait a long time for it. I tend to get a FP or FP+ for this ride. Luckily, every time I've hit DCA, I've managed to get on it around the 20 minute mark or under. For Epcot, I would just hit it in the morning and only if there was not more than a 30 minute wait.

I didn't even notice that this was scheduled for maintenance in HK lol! We didn't mind going on though - was a pleasant way to escape the rain for a bit after all!

Glad we went in then.

I'm not sure how I feel about a live action re-imagined Pooh Bear movie. Of course, I've been sceptical about most of the live action remakes to date and have loved all of them so far, so perhaps I will feel the same about this one.

I feel the same way about the recent spate of live action remakes. So, I'll wait to see how the Christopher Robin movie works out.

When I heard that it was going to be rainy while we were there, I made sure to pack my waterproof hiking boots. The rest of me may have been damp and cold, but at least my feet were dry and comfortable for the whole trip!

That's a very sensible thing to pack.

I was going to take my Rockport. But when I checked them, I realised that they were a little worse for wear. They were cracked at the toe. I had got them soaked by sea water when I went down the Great Ocean Road and they would have ended up letting the rain in them as well.

I need new hiking boots.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a rainy day parade. I think I remember asking a CM if the parade would be on and they said 'yes'. I just assumed the rain didn't affect their regular parade for some reason lol!

It happens often at WDW. I've just never bothered to go see the rainy day parade before.

We did actually wonder if PIO had gone to WOD, and actually briefly checked it out, but we must have either already missed her or lost her in the huge store!

It worked out ok though. FairyFloss and I had each other for company, and we knew we would be catching up with PIO in the morning over breakfast.

I think we kept missing each other by about 5 or 10 mins. I figured we were in the Gardens of Imagination at the same time.

I actually didn't come home with a backpack.

My mistake. I thought you came home with it as well. I know we had a conversation about the backpack at the hotel lobby when we were waiting for our taxi. But then again....I was in a complete muddle that whole morning!

Oh, I spent so long trying to get this photo! I must have had the wrong trash can lol!

Love all your night time reflection photos!

Thanks. Yeah. There were so many trash cans in that area!

If you want a high res version of that photo, let me know.

For the record, with Shanghai's air quality laws, Disney were unable to use fireworks as the main focus of their night time show. This may explain their apparent need to throw everything else at it that they could in an effort to make up for the lack of fireworks.

Yes, most of my shots from this show turned out like this too. I was trying to protect my camera with a Ziploc bag, but was still having to constantly wipe drops from the lens. I'm actually quite surprised my camera still works, given how sensitive the previous models have proven to be to moisture.

I have a similar set of photos like this for the second night.

Although for some crazy reason I decided it would be a great idea to walk back to the hotel in the rain.

Wow. I'm guessing you got very wet and had a hot shower when you got back to the room.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I can't believe I missed this many updates. But it was so nice to read all of your updates.

The good thing about the Dis is that the posts are there and you can always catch up.

It is a shame that Shanghai doesn't allow tripods like WDW and DLR (sometimes but I did brought my tripod last month).

It has the same policy as WDW and DLR. I really should have tested it out by bringing the MeFoto to the gate and getting security to make the call rather than just accepting the word of the CM at the hotel. I can understand leaving it behind on the first night.....but I really should have brought it on another night. Truth be know....I just didn't want to leave the park and head back to the room to get it. And I had those firework trails from the hotel room in the bag already.

Even though I barely go on roller coasters, the TRON Lightcycle Power Run would be something that I would enjoy.

If you like Test Track, you'd enjoy TRON.

Shame that the memory card filled up during the Pirates ride.

It was. But I wasn't sorry. It was just great to sit back and enjoy the fantastic imagery that the rest of the ride provided.

the Green Pod which can be a good alternative.

It is. I did have it in my bag that night and used it for balancing the camera on. The problem was that the lens got wet and I needed to wipe the water off between shots. Whilst the pod is great, it does need time to settle down again after you move it. During the fireworks show, it just wasn't a workable option in the rain.
The other thing about the 'hub' area at the Gardens of Imagination is that the prime spot for viewing fireworks doesn't really have a lot of flat areas to balance the pod on. There are areas with fencing but the tops of those are round and they were wet and slippery. So the pod didn't work in this area.

Igniter the Dream fireworks looks so amazing and I would have enjoyed seeing that firework show. Talk about a lot of new firework shows these last few years at the Disney Parks with Disneyland Forever at DL, Ignite the Dream and MK new firework show next week Happily Ever After.

Yes. Lots of new fireworks shows. I hope that there are more firework bursts in them.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Actually I meant the book of the movie Hook written by one of my fave authors Terry Brooks. I think your WtP cookbook is awesome - very jealous.

Ah. I have to admit....I never got into any of Terry Brooks' books. I did start to read the Shannara Chronicles but never made much headway. Maybe I need to re-borrow them from the library again.
I'll have to keep an eye out for his Hook book.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day 5: Shanghai Disneyland All Day Today



Rainy Day Strategy #1 – Sleep In



I woke up early to take a look out the window. There was not going to be a sunrise this morning.


The rain hadn’t let up all night. It looked wet, wet and wet out there….and not particularly photogenic. A Rainy Day strategy would have to come into play for us today!


Strategy #1. Head on back into bed to grab more zzzz. None of that “I’m awake so why isn’t the Sky awake” stuff this morning. If the sky is wet, I’m going to stay warm and dry!




(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

An Illuminating Establishment – Lumiere’s Kitchen



I'm generally an early riser so sleep-in only goes so far for me.

Good planning had 6 of us book in for a character breakfast at Lumiere’s Kitchen this morning. Wendy and her DD opted out of this DisMeet. Providence had our booking coincide with a wet morning.





Lumiere’s is one of only 3 table service establishments at Shanghai Disneyland. Dining here for the character breakfast will set you back 248 Yuan; or about $50 in my money.





$50 is comparatively pricey for a character breakfast; especially when you stack it up against the same offerings in the US. But if it seems expensive by Western standards, it must seem exorbitant by Chinese standards. I guess that’s why there are only 3 TS dining places at SDL and much more options for QS and snacks. In any event, we figured it was going to be a good way to spend some Dis-time together.



With a name like Lumiere’s, it isn’t hard to guess what the theme of this establishment is.





There were Beauty and the Beast touches everywhere!





I know there had been a lot of rain but I have to admit that I was surprised to find that there were drips INSIDE this area of the resort.





However, I did wonder if it was a function of a leaky plumbing system. The others were to find later in the after that the plumbing had been turned off during the day. Maybe they had to switch off the water to repair a leak or something.



We had booked our breakfast session for 7.30 – 7.45 am. At this hour, and on a Monday morning, this place was empty!





Our table was by the window. I’m guessing you won’t have any trouble picking out my DM.





The buffet area.





Whilst we were waiting for the others, I did take the opportunity to capture a few more details of the dining area. This was the inner dining section.





It was an illuminating experience. I loved the BatB touches here too.





I think this was my favourite section of the room. Loved that mural.





I guess 7.45 – 8 am was a slightly more popular session. By the time, I headed back to our table, there were a few more people in Lumiere’s…..





…..including my breakfast companions.






(Continued in Next Post)