February 2024
After the daily whirlwind that is family life, we finally carved out a pocket of time for a much-needed getaway. We packed our bags, charged our phones and iPads, and headed to Hong Kong — a city we’ve always loved, but this time, with one goal in mind: Disneyland.
This wasn’t just any trip. It was our first time bringing the kids to the happiest place on Earth, and let’s just say… their faces when we walked through those gates? Worth every queue, snack spill and bubble wand negotiation. From Mickey waffles to a long-awaited Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique princess transformation to fireworks under the stars, we embraced the full Disney magic.
But first, we landed in Tsim Sha Tsui. Read on for our family-friendly itinerary, and here’s hoping that it can help you plan your travels!
Day 1: Tsim Sha Tsui, Victoria Harbour, Avenue of Stars
Old meets new — one of the things I love most about Hong Kong.
We landed in Hong Kong and headed straight to Tsim Sha Tsui. Bustling and familiar, it was the perfect starting point to ease into the city’s energy — a mix of old haunts and new discoveries.
Checked into The Kowloon. The hotel felt dated and dingy, to be frank, but it was affordable (connecting rooms for just SGD$300!) and very convenient (right next to an MTR!). We only planned to stay a night, so it’s all right.
Our first big adventure? Hopping on the Duk Ling to tour the Victoria Harbour while watching Symphony of Lights. With its signature red sails catching the wind, the boat gently rocked along Victoria Harbour, offering a slower, quieter view of the city.
As night fell, the Symphony of Lights began — buildings across both shores lighting up in sync with music, a familiar but still magical dance of colours and beams.
[Schedules and booking information can be found on Discover Hong Kong.]
The redemption was fuss-free – we simply headed to the designated spot opposite Starbucks and waited in line to show our tickets and board. It was an amazing experience for the elder sister! The little brother fell asleep because it was so chilly and cosy.
Day 2: Legoland Discovery Centre, Disneyland
The next day, we visited the Legoland Discovery Centre at K11 Musea. The kids were thrilled — from the interactive rides to the miniature Lego replica of Hong Kong. It was more fun than we imagined.
And then, we checked out and headed to Disneyland!
You can take a lovely MTR ride to Disneyland, switching to the dedicated Disney line where even the windows were shaped like Mickey ears. But we choose to head there straight via taxi because of our luggages – the time was just nice for YB to take his nap too.
We arrived at the Disneyland Hotel and it was gorgeous!
There are a few different hotels near Hong Kong Disneyland — each with its own charm. Disney’s Explorer Lodge has a fun, adventurous feel, while Disney’s Hollywood Hotel is sleek and retro. But we were drawn to the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, with its elegant Victorian architecture, manicured lawns, and storybook atmosphere. It just felt the most charming — like something out of a fairytale, which made it the perfect fit for our first Disney trip with the kids.
Although it was too cold to swim during our stay, we had a lot of fun simply wandering the hotel grounds, spotting hidden Mickeys, playing at the outdoor playground, and even making a bit of napkin art in the lobby lounge. The room amenities were wonderfully kid-friendly too.
We also had a special meal at Crystal Lotus, the hotel’s award-winning Chinese restaurant. The kids were delighted by the character-shaped kid’s meal — almost too cute to eat (almost!).
Food was yummy, but so expensive.
That’s a wrap on Day 2! We explored Disneyland in Day 3, so stay tuned for that in the next post.
This Little Season 