The Far East 2016 About This Page:

[Silvercat]

So we had a lovely picnic yesterday in a local park, and spent a couple of hours sitting in fold-up chairs in the sun, with our sandwiches and flasks of coffee! The reason for the trip was to seriously discuss plans for next year.

So - despite WDW offering us free dining again for next year, we've decided to skip it for once, and this is what we have now come up with, for November 2016.

14 hour flight from the UK to Hong Kong.
6 days in Hong Kong, including 2 days in HK Disneyland.
4 hour flight to Japan.
9 days in Japan with some American friends, including 4 days at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.
7 hour flight to Singapore.
5 days in Singapore, visiting the Night Safari and River Cruise at the zoo, the new area at Marina Bay, and Sentosa - home to Universal Studios Singapore.
13 hour flight from Singapore to the UK.

Phew! We had to work out the logistics of where to start out of the 3 countries we wanted to visit, and how long to spend in each one. We knew we wanted to 'mop up' the only two Disney locations we haven't visited, (Shanghai will probably be in 2018 for us), but it was so hard to decide how much time to take in each one.

I think we now have the right balance! Now to price up flights - this is gonna be expensive!

[Hugmonster]

That sounds like so much Adventure!

[chezp]

Ah, you haven't priced up flights yet? That was my first thought when I read your post, as I was assumed you'd priced them up. I'll be interested to see what you find. I looked at something similar, certainly Hong Kong and Japan, but this was about a decade ago now. Let's just say that's why we did two separate trips, as it was about the same as getting between the two. Hopefully things have changed in the meantime.

You're definitely doing the right thing starting in Hong Kong, as the flights usually get out there late afternoon, which is good, as you've only got a couple of hours before you can get to bed - if you go direct to Tokyo, the flights arrive in the morning, which is a killer after a red eye, as well you'll know every time you return from the US.

Anyway, I think six days in Hong Kong is about right. We were there for a week and felt that was a good amount of time to see and do most things. We only did a day in Hong Kong Disneyland, but that was 2008 and with the expansion, I think two days is the way to go now.

Four days for Tokyo Disney sounds about right as well - that's how long we spent there on our first visit, but we did have a full two weeks in Japan, as there was so much we wanted to see and do there. We visited Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. Did you have any idea of which parts of the country you wanted to see or is it just literally going to be Tokyo? If it's just Tokyo, probably five days is about right again.

We've never been to Singapore (one day!) so I can't help with that bit, but I have to say your plans sound awesome!

I hope to get to Shanghai in a couple of years' time, probably before doing a two week escorted tour around China, as I want to visit Shangahi and their Disney park. Beijing, see the Terracotta Warriors and visit the panda nursery in Chengdu, before finishing in Hong Kong and going back to Hong Kong Disneyland to see the new bits there.

[Grammy Grumpy]

Sounds like an awesome trip. Will "virtually" go with you and share your adventures!

[MayraLR]

Sounds like an amazing trip!

[Silvercat]

Originally Posted by chezp

Ah, you haven't priced up flights yet? That was my first thought when I read your post, as I was assumed you'd priced them up. I'll be interested to see what you find. I looked at something similar, certainly Hong Kong and Japan, but this was about a decade ago now. Let's just say that's why we did two separate trips, as it was about the same as getting between the two. Hopefully things have changed in the meantime.

You're definitely doing the right thing starting in Hong Kong, as the flights usually get out there late afternoon, which is good, as you've only got a couple of hours before you can get to bed - if you go direct to Tokyo, the flights arrive in the morning, which is a killer after a red eye, as well you'll know every time you return from the US.

Anyway, I think six days in Hong Kong is about right. We were there for a week and felt that was a good amount of time to see and do most things. We only did a day in Hong Kong Disneyland, but that was 2008 and with the expansion, I think two days is the way to go now.

Four days for Tokyo Disney sounds about right as well - that's how long we spent there on our first visit, but we did have a full two weeks in Japan, as there was so much we wanted to see and do there. We visited Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. Did you have any idea of which parts of the country you wanted to see or is it just literally going to be Tokyo? If it's just Tokyo, probably five days is about right again.

We've never been to Singapore (one day!) so I can't help with that bit, but I have to say your plans sound awesome!

I hope to get to Shanghai in a couple of years' time, probably before doing a two week escorted tour around China, as I want to visit Shangahi and their Disney park. Beijing, see the Terracotta Warriors and visit the panda nursery in Chengdu, before finishing in Hong Kong and going back to Hong Kong Disneyland to see the new bits there.

Oh no, I never price up flights before we decide where to go on our adventures, I leave that till after we know what we're doing!

Thanks for the news about Hong Kong being a late-afternoon arrival, to be honest it was a bit of a lottery-type decision, not really based on anything, so I'm relieved to know we got this right. It also explains why the friends we are meeting up with in Japan said that they were really jetlagged the last time they went - if it is a red-eye flight, from the USA they would have had a much longer flight than we will from Hong Kong.

When we get to Japan, the only thing I want to see is the Disney parks, particularly DisneySea, but DH has expressed an interest in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so we will hopefully get to see those for him. We really can't spare any more time than 4 days of sightseeing here, as we only have 3 weeks to do all this in and we know we will lose at least a couple of days to travel time.

We will be fine in Singapore, DH lived and worked there for a couple of years some time ago, and we have since visited it twice before, so we know what we are doing and where we are going, hence the very specific list of what we want to do there.

Your Shanghai plans sound almost exactly what we want to do there too! We planned on 2018 to give it a couple of years to bed in, then we want to take 3 weeks out and do the Disney bit for a week, followed by a couple of weeks seeing the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriers, and definitely the panda nursery, etc. Do you think a guided tour is the best way of doing this? I'm not sure such a regimented way of touring is our 'thing', but then at least this way transportation between attractions would be included. Hmm, something to think about.

2017 is hopefully going to see us back in Florida for a couple of weeks, but we are thinking of adding a cruise in there too. We are not really 'cruise' people, and I am horrendously sea-sick, and very sensitive to movement on the sea, but 3 or 4 days on a Disney cruise ship would be amazing. If we are looking to do the one that goes from Cape Canaveral and includes Castaway Cay, which ship are we looking at?

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Silvercat

When we get to Japan, the only thing I want to see is the Disney parks, particularly DisneySea, but DH has expressed an interest in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so we will hopefully get to see those for him. We really can't spare any more time than 4 days of sightseeing here, as we only have 3 weeks to do all this in and we know we will lose at least a couple of days to travel time.

In that case, you may need to cut back your plans. Hiroshima is a good full day and it's a good two or three hours from Tokyo from memory. We went to Kyoto first, then Hiroshima and we had two nights in Hiroshima - definitely about right. There was much more to see than we expected and we lingered a lot in the centre of the city. Also if you're going to Hiroshima, you should go to Miyajima, the place of the Torii gate that is based in Epcot. Getting to Nagasaki would be even more time. We didn't do that on our trip.

We will be fine in Singapore, DH lived and worked there for a couple of years some time ago, and we have since visited it twice before, so we know what we are doing and where we are going, hence the very specific list of what we want to do there.

Your Shanghai plans sound almost exactly what we want to do there too! We planned on 2018 to give it a couple of years to bed in, then we want to take 3 weeks out and do the Disney bit for a week, followed by a couple of weeks seeing the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriers, and definitely the panda nursery, etc. Do you think a guided tour is the best way of doing this? I'm not sure such a regimented way of touring is our 'thing', but then at least this way transportation between attractions would be included. Hmm, something to think about.

How funny, I'm thinking maybe 2018 for China! I'm looking at one of the Virgin Holidays itineraries, as it's got everything I want in it. I had a look last night at a few other options, but I can't find anything cheaper and I like the Virgin flights. I think maybe two or three days beforehand in Shanghai and a couple of days afterwards in Hong Kong.

2017 is hopefully going to see us back in Florida for a couple of weeks, but we are thinking of adding a cruise in there too. We are not really 'cruise' people, and I am horrendously sea-sick, and very sensitive to movement on the sea, but 3 or 4 days on a Disney cruise ship would be amazing. If we are looking to do the one that goes from Cape Canaveral and includes Castaway Cay, which ship are we looking at?

You'd be looking at the Dream for a three or four night cruise. I'm hoping to do a Christmas trip for 2017, taking in Aulani, Disneyland, Disney World and maybe even a three or four night cruise...

[KimmyAnn1147]

We're doing a similar beginning to a trip. I'll be following along here as your plans shape up. For me, we're looking at June 2016.

NW USA to HK
1 day DLHK
Overland travel through S China to Laos, backpacker-type adventuring in Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam through mid-August
Overland Vietnam to China
1 day DLHK (maybe 2 if I can talk DH into it. He won't be going to the theme park, he's a "resister", as Jenseib calls it!)
Flight back to USA

I would love to do the Disney Tokyo parks, but this is a budget trip (well, as budget as this kind of trip can be) and a stop in Japan is not in the cards.

I'm super-excited for you. I'm also curious about the Singapore Zoo experiences that you mention. I'm going to look those up!

[Silvercat]

Singapore zoo is amazing. There is the regular, daytime zoo - beautiful enclosures with very little in the way of fences in sight, utilising instead waterways and shrubbery in clever ways to separate the animals from their potential lunch (us!).

Then there is the Night Safari - different areas of the zoo that are only accessible at night, where the park is lit in what looks like natural pools of moonlight, and a lot of the nocturnal animals are active and visible.

The River Cruise is something brand new, and is the only way to see the latest addition to the zoo - PANDAS!! So that is a definite for me, they are one of my favourite animals.

[Huntermom]

It sounds like quite an adventure. If it were me, I would do only two of the three stops in three weeks. I am not a huge fan of flying (I do it but don't enjoy sitting for so many hours) and with that much flying I would need first class (or possibly business class/premium) for some of the shorter flights. I can do 4-5 hours. The thought of any more makes me cringe.

Other than having to be stuck in a plane, it sounds like a truly wonderful adventure.

[Silvercat]

Thank you!

Well, it takes us around 8 hours to fly from the UK to Florida, and we've gotten used to that, so a few more hours won't make that much difference. Actually, I'm fibbing a bit there - I remember our last flight to Singapore in 2008, it was horrendous in that I truly thought I would die of boredom. I read, did some puzzles in a magazine, read every magazine in the seat-back in front of me including the safety booklet and the sick bag, listened to some music, played some video games, and watched a couple of films on the seat-back TV, then ran out of oomph to do anything else and ended up just sitting and staring into space for hours .......

[Huntermom]

Silvercat,

I just can't sit for so long. And I am a seat belted flyer so walking around isn't a frequent option. I could do first class where I would have my little pod to spread out in. I also end up with the big person next to me too often. I know some people hate them but I wish the airlines would enforce the two seat policies. (I want my whole seat whether I need it or not)

Enjoy your adventure!

[LizCatMom]

When visiting Tokyo Disneyland, I really encourage you to stay right there at the TDR resort! I've stayed at both the Disneyland Hotel and Miracosta, both are beautifully done, but if your budget doesn't allow those, we've also had excellent stays at Tokyo Bay Hilton, which is right across from a monorail stop. Getting to and from the parks is so easy and quick! It might be tempting to stay somewhere cheaper a little farther away, but you will eat up your time going to and from using the Tokyo metro/JR lines. We've done that, too, and it really is worth it to just pay a little more and stay right there! Won't lie. So jealous. We miss TDR so much!!

[Thomhazel]

I have to say that singapore london flight is a doozy but doable. By the end of this year I'll have done it or it's equivalent Brisbane -Dubai (my alternative route) 4 times this year.

I'd love to visit Singapore as I have spent so many hours in the Airport but never left. Hong Kong sounds amazing too. And then Japan sounds like a great trip.