Keira Goes To Disneyland Hong Kong!

We are already in Hong Kong to visit relatives and welcome a new addition to our Shih family... We have some time to spare and Disneyland Hong Kong is only a train ride away, so why should we not bring our little one there? After all, she LOVES her Disney!

I know of friends who say they would rather wait to spend the money when baby is a little older and could appreciate it more, They can wait if they wish to do so with their kids, but we're right there and we live by the present. If there's opportunity to go again when she's bigger, by all means. So, why not just seize the moment and go, right?

With low expectations, we set off to Disneyland Hong Kong this afternoon after our yum cha date with my aunts. We being my hubby, my mom, little Keira and myself.

Of course Keira fell asleep during the train rides there as it just after late lunch and she already spent alot of energy "entertaining" relatives! She needed her recharge before her Disney adventure began, but that did not stop me from taking photos of her :)

By the time we got to Disneyland, it was almost 4.00pm, but we had no high expectations. We just wanted to enjoy the quick visit there with our baby and enjoy ourselves walking about. 

But Kevin and I did have one secret goal set in our minds which we hoped to accomplish in this visit. That was was for our little princess Snow White to meet Snow White - in costume! Keira LOVES Snow White and she acknowledges the Snow White character as "Kia" (her manja name for herself). Everytime she sees Snow White, she will point and say "Kia" as if telling people that's her. And why shouldn't she - she was after all Snow White on her 1st birthday. Perception is reality ain't it and she does have skin as white as snow...

As if Keira could sense that we had arrived at our destination just as we got off the Disneyland station, the final stop, she woke up - wide eyed and eager to explore the new surroundings and find her Disney princess friends.

We changed her attire - oh yes, the crazy parents that we were, Kevin and I actually packed her Snow White costume and changed her just before we entered Disneyland. My mom had nothing to say but help us change her and just shook her head and never would she have imagined that our fantasy would become a reality. [I'm sure in her mind she thinks, "I know my daughter is already crazy enough to do something like this, but combined with my son-in-law, who's just a crazy to be encouraging her in her crazy ideas, they are both double trouble!" Hah!]

Just as we stepped into the streets of Disneyland Hong Kong, our very own Snow White caught the eye of many visitors and the tourists. Many seem to be so fascinated by her in costume and could not resist asking us if they could take photo with our little princess. Well, what do you know... Keira was a mini-celebrity in her own right. And she absolutely LOVED the attention!!!

As if it were written in the stars, guess who was the first Disney character we met? Yes, you guessed it right!

Well, hello Snow White. Meet our little Snow White! :)

 

Of course Keira was stunned at first to see a "bigger her" in real life. It's like looking in the mirror, but not... And I bet Snow White was also simply fascinated to see a mini her staring at her. How many parents would go to that extent of crazy?

Kevin and I were happy as our secret mission was fulfilled within the first half hour we stepped into Disneyland. A great start to our visit, that's for sure!

We continued to have lots of fun after, with Keira meeting more of her princess friends and other Disney characters she loved, and going on some rides too! Lots of shopping followed!

 

  

 

We waited until the fireworks at the castle ended before we headed back to our hotel!

All in all, taking our 1 year 3 month toddler, Keira to Disneyland Hong Kong was a truly magical experience and so much fun!!! Absolutely worth it! We will definitely continue to go for more Disney adventures when she's older as this is not the end. DisneyWorld Florida, we'll find our way to you one fine day, that's for sure!

In summary: Oh yes, it is very much possible to visit Disneyland with a baby and still have a great time!!! We did it, and I'm sure many other families enjoyed it too. I dare you to try it with your little one! :)

OMG! She thinks she's Snow White!

I grew up on fairy tales, so it's only natural that this will eventually passed down to my little munchkin... Especially since mommy has been catching her up on Disney fairy tales, animation and flicks from the very early stage of pregnancy (mostly without daddy's knowledge).

It started two weeks back - Thursday (March 14, 2013)... 

No, I'm not referring to the Disney installation for my little growing peanut... The "It" I'm referring to is the Disney-Snow White effect that has rubbed on to my little munchkin... At 5.57 in the morning (yes, I checked my watch as it was an ungodly hour and still seemed quite dark outside), I was awaken by the sound of birds chirping and serenading by our bedroom window, followed by the little munchkin in my belly reacting to the musical affair. She definitely wasn't kicking or punching (by now, I can pretty much differentiate between her kicks, punches, belly-flops, taps, shakes and dance). I believe this new move she has developed is termed "stretching". When it comes to this little bundle of joy, there's always a first time for everything, everyday!


Oh yes, I believe the little munchkin was literally doing her "morning stretch" in my belly, as if the musical beings outside the bedroom window were her exclusive morning alarm and were here to serenade her "good morning and wake up sleepy head". 

I do have my sneaky suspicion that she was the one that summoned them for their services (oh, she has her ways!). And there I was shouting at the birds to shut up, shut up, shut up!!! "6.00am is just too early for this honeybun!", I keep telling my little one whilst rubbing my belly, "Mommy needs her beauty sleep and rest and does not need to get up until at least 7.15am for work." 

And during this time, what was my husband doing? He was still sound asleep...I had to shake and wake him so that he can also witness this "Snow White moment" and his response was simple, "Get over it! They are here for our daughter, not you. Don't "perasan" or jealous and leave them be to serenade her. Yes, I hear them. Expose her to Disney some more... Let me sleep, woman!"

And as if the little one understood what we were talking about... The next day onwards, the birds gathered by our window at about 7.00am, not earlier. I guess she sent out a memo to them secretly on the time change?

Two weeks have passed and they still come serenading outside our bedroom window every freakin' morning. Birds chirping by the window that early in the morning is still annoying, but just too damn cute!!! Puts a smile on my face every morning :) And these days, I don't even need my alarm clock anymore thanks to my darling little Snow White.

On occasions when the songbirds can't make it, guess what comes in their place? The crows!!! Those are the days I wish I had a shotgun or slingshot handy to aim at them. Go kaw-kaw-kaw somewhere else!

I was still curious, and of course secretly very impressed, so on one of the mornings, I drew up the bedroom curtain in one hand whilst holding a camera in the other in hope of capturing the moment and getting proof of them in action. The birds just flew away... unfortunately!

There were at least three birdies outside our window. But by the time I scrambled to my bag to grab my camera and got back to the window, they had all flown away... But they came back and continue their services when I retract back into bed. I could hear! 

I made many photographic attempts over the past week, and finally this morning I managed to snap a photo of one. Woohoo!!! 

Here's one of the many pretty birdies that come every morning to serenade my munchkin.

The one that was too slow to fly away (the others managed to get away).

It has been two weeks now, and they still come... I wonder how long their "morning wake-up call" contract is with my little one. And if she decides to take this Snow White effect further, are we to expect squirrels and other forest animals to drop in too??? It would be a little tricky for them since we live on the 17th floor... and what about them seven dwarfs?!?

I guess only time can tell... *wink*