Disney

If you ask Lydia what her favorite place, of all that she’s visited in Asia, her answer is Hong Kong Disneyland.  To me, that hardly registers as a destination…but it goes to show just what an impression Disney can have on kids (and some adults!).

This was our second visit to HK Disney.  The first visit was during our first August in HK, on a weekend when the temperatures, humidity, and crowds were at their peak.   It felt like an entirely different experience to go on a weekday in November. 

What also made it a radically different experience is Lydia’s age.  Our first time out, she’d just turned five and just the three of us went.  She was hestitant about many rides, believing they might be scary. 

This time, we went with another family that also has a seven year old daughter.  The girls were really independent – they rode all but just a few rides on their own, with adults either following or watching from the outside.  What a difference a couple of years made!

Dave had the honor of riding the teacups with the girls.  Once. 

We all had fun watching the parade and fireworks. 

Not many American brands “translate” in Asia.  Most have to make modifications to relate to the this market.  Sometimes they make the original brand nearly unrecognizable.   Not Disney.  Nearly everything at Disney has the look and feel of Disney in the US (the exception being some of the food offerings and the mix of English/Mandarin/Cantonese speaking at the shows) – and people, no matter where they are from, clearly love it.  Including Lydia!