My Disney Day Trip: Spoiler Alert - It's a Rant!
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Phew, I've just returned from Disney and there are a few things that stick in my mind and need to be shared!
- About “FastPass/Express Pass":
- Oh my goodness! If you don't purchase the "FastPass" or similar name of quick pass (a ticket that allows you to skip the long queues and access special fast tracks), it feels like having come all this way for nothing. You can barely enjoy any attractions as intended!
- Queues everywhere!
- Want to experience a ride? Prepare yourself for waiting a good 2 to 3 hours at least—seriously, my days literally seem to revolve around waiting in lines instead of actually having fun.
- The unusual "smell":
- The park is full of heather plants.
- Brief clarification for those unfamiliar with heather: Heather is a type of tree which blossoms white tiny flowers in spring, commonly seen in parks and roadside in many Chinese cities. But there's something about its floral bloom that emits a quite… unique fragrance, which might not appeal to everyone, even deemed unpleasant or smelly. To me though, the smell was truly mesmerizing!
- The park is full of heather plants.
- Level of thrill on rides:
- Most of the attractions seemed to be more... for kids. If you're seeking thrilling experiences that make you scream with excitement, you may be left somewhat disappointed.
️ Important travel tips & lessons learnt ️- Key point: Get your hands on the FastPass or equivalent privilege!
- Issues you'll meet: Without one, typical wait times for popular rides are easily 2-3 hours; you'd probably end up going through only 2-3 items in a whole day, the rest spent staring blankly at people’s necks in line.
- Solution: Shell out a little extra cash! Research the official Disney app or website beforehand to see what quick-pass services they offer (such as "FastPass", "Preferred Card" among others). Although costly, it can save a lot of queuing time and let you genuinely enjoy more rides, rather than watching someone else’s head.
- Be cautious of the "flower aroma" during springtime!
- Issues you'll meet: Should you happen to visit during heather blooming season (usually spring), its intense fragrance might dampen your visiting experience considerably, especially if sensitive to smells.
- Solution: Consider avoiding early spring flowering times (generally early-to-mid March through April, depending on local weather). Or perhaps, wearing a face mask could alleviate it a bit?
- To thrill-seekers: Set right expectations!
- Issues you'll meet: Disney's overall vibe tends more towards fantasy and fairytales, with many rides being family-friendly and child-oriented.
- Solution: Don’t expect there to be many major adrenaline-pumping roller coasters before arrival. Stay calm and embrace the fairy-tale atmosphere or perhaps look for the lesser few thrilling spots (like the 'Avatar Flight of Passage' if this Disney has it).
Happiest Place On Earth # Believe In Fairy tales # Disney # Disney Reviews
- About “FastPass/Express Pass":
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Honestly, it's not thrilling or fun enough. It's too childish.
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I felt the pirate ship was the most thrilling ride there.
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Is it still crowded on weekdays?
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Extremely crowded, with an average of 30,000 to 50,000 visitors a day.
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All I can say is I've been there, and I'll never go back. The experience was really bad.
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I agree. I can't imagine what the experience is like during the May Day holiday.
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You were really lucky!
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My legs were killing me yesterday! But I bought an Express Pass for TRON and another high-thrill ride, and they were fantastic. Other rides had queues of about 1-2 hours... Still, it was a dream come true!
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Those two are pretty much the most popular ones. Riding them makes it all worthwhile.
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That's normal. If you want to have a genuinely good time, you have to be willing to pay extra.
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True, but 500 (yuan) is still a lot of money.
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Hong Kong Disneyland offers the best value for money. The overall experience is great, with average wait times around 20 minutes per ride, and some even as short as 10 minutes.
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You only truly appreciate how good the Hong Kong Disneyland experience is after you've been to Shanghai Disneyland.
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So when my friends ask me what's fun in Shanghai, I say 'nothing.' They then ask, 'What about Disneyland?' I reply, 'It's not fun.' And they still don't believe me.
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The Express Pass is the way to go. Based on my personal experience, I really wouldn't recommend waiting in the regular queues.
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I went on the 20th. I managed to hit 8 attractions, taking photos along the way. I just checked the app for shorter queues and headed there. Took about two hours for meals and rest in between.
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True. If you go for the popular rides, you just have to be prepared to queue.
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So cute!