Disneyland: Welcome to the Magic

By the time Day 3 rolled around, we were pretty much into all things Hong Kong including learning the different ways to speak and learning the meaning of certain mispronounced words. Our tour guide, Tim, was a funny guy and often referred to himself as Andy Lau.

The one that got everyone cracking on the bus was when he joked, "When Hang Kang powlis want to catch thief, he will run vely fast beco he go thlu 18 monks physica twaining.. he run vely fast in the opposik dilection!" Now, if you didn't get that don't bother going to Hang Kang. :)

So thankfully the day arrived when we will get a full day at Disneyland. The girls were so wound up at this stage too, having waited a full 2 days on top of the month long wait to get to Hong Kong. We were also to join up with my brother's family (they are booked into Hollywood Hotel in Disneyland and had a headstart).

Sofia's typical breakfast- haiz...

almost there!!

hip hip hooray!! we finally made it..

a rare smile for the camera.

And the moment, we entered the gates (and sneaked in our foodstuff), I was lost in wonderland. In all my worldly travels with my parents, we have never been to Disneyland. I was as excited as the kiddies, hence proving it a place "where adults become children".

I handed Arissa the map and time guide and told her today is her day- that we will do everything she wants to do. Her little face immediately lit up "everything ker Mummy?" so I had to bring her back down a little "well, most things ok?" I don't want her to think she can eat lollipops for lunch and stand on her head while riding the Cinderella Carousel.

So the map pretty much stayed with her the whole day as she tried her darnest to decipher words on it, a really good spelling exercise mind you!


While waiting for the rest of the clan to arrive, we hopped on the tram that took us on a parameters tour and got off back at the main entrance to be met by a long snaking queue that was Mickey & Minnie- Meet & Greet. This was about as close as we got, the hub and I never could be bothered with queues..


One photo for posterity and then we're off to explore Fantasyland (Flower Earring aka Angel from Lilo & Stitch included)..


The Cinderella Carousel is a perfect ride for me and Sofia- its safe, it doesn't give me vertigo and it plays beautiful music. We took this maybe half a dozen times, every time we pass by here Sofia insists to get on it. Again. See how happy I look- haha? :)



Even Hafidz couldn't resist the lure of all things golden and made of kiddy dreams..


The following rides in Fantasyland included Winnie the Pooh:




..Dumbo the Flying Elephant:



Toy Story Land, the latest park to open, is chock-full of kids and waiting time was 60minutes to get on any ride. This is the inherent problem with travelling during school term break, we just could not be arsed to wait as the rest of Disneyland beckons.


We broke for lunch at Adventureland with vegetarian Indian fare and the usual cup noodles for the kids, and some mucking around session. Dad bought tasty grilled sotong from a street vendor and we ended up eating so much of them because everything else had pork.


I'm not sure if spinning in a little teacup is ideal right after lunch but since no one puked, its not my day to say anything.


The weather had gotten a lot warmer too and everyone ditched their jackets- thank goodness for my kiddy stroller which became a coat rack of sorts. It was warm enough to warrant an ice-cream treat, which we discovered even the sparrows loved and begged for more..



And then it was another ride that Sofia truly enjoyed, I know this because she stood up straight throughout the 10min boat ride- wide eyed and curious. Mum had the same expression actually.. hehe. I don't remember the name of this ride but it kept playing Its a Small World After All music sang in various languages and the props were awesome!





By this time, we were all pretty tired and Sofia fell asleep soon after allowing Hafidz and I to get on with our agendas. Mum and Dad volunteered to look after her while Hafidz and Danial got on some crazy indoor roller coaster ride with shooting laser lights that left him partially paralysed for the next hour, and I got on a car ride with the rest of the kids that took 40 minutes in queue and 4 minutes in action- waste time only..!

With Sofia awake, we squeezed in Adventureland minutes before the fireworks were due to go off at 9pm. We went up the treehouse that belonged to Tarzan, got on a thrilling (but wet) boatride that took us through spouting geysers and fiery volcanoes, past dangerous crocs and water hippos to safe ground.




We had a ball of a time! I have not felt like a kid in ages and it was wonderful to forget everything and live life for the moment. By the time we got to Sleeping Beauty's castle for the fireworks show, the camera was sucked dry of batteries. Oh well, there are loads on youtube that you can watch so it doesn't really matter. What did matter was it was the most fun-filled magical day of my adult life! :)

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
~ Dalai Lama