Blog
10 years of Shanghai Disneyland: You don't want to miss this!
Discover Shanghai Disneyland and its 10th anniversary, from shows to merchandise!
In this second installment of Florivida, the Travel Podcast Willem and Rick take listeners to Hong Kong. Although it is officially episode two, for them it feels like the first “real” episode in the new format. They publish an episode every two weeks about travel, theme parks, cruises and special vacation destinations. The podcast can be listened to at Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
They step “on board” toward Hong Kong, this episode's destination. Willem and Rick talk about why Hong Kong has become a new favorite for them. They first visited there together in 2024 and have since even gone back several times. The conversation starts with a series of helpful, factual highlights: Hong Kong has been a Special Administrative Region of China since its handover in 1997, and consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, plus hundreds of smaller islands. Due to its compact size and 7.5 million inhabitants, the city feels extremely densely built, with many high-rise buildings and impressive cityscapes. They also name practical details such as the time difference (6 or 7 hours, depending on our summer and winter time), the currency (Hong Kong dollars) and driving on the left, which you'll immediately notice when traveling by bus or cab.
An important part of the episode is the journey there. They tip Cathay Pacific as an ideal airline for Hong Kong and Asia, with direct flights from Amsterdam and strong onboard service, including extensive entertainment. Want to know more about Cathay Pacific? Read here Why Florivida chooses Cathay Pacific! Hong Kong International Airport is located on an (artificial) island and is an efficient departure point to quickly travel into the city. In doing so, they give a practical warning: cabs you can often only pay with cash. They also mention the Octopus Card as a handy payment and public transport card.
Then they take you to Lantau Island, their favorite base for a mix of nature and theme park experiences. Hong Kong Disneyland gets a lot of attention: not necessarily because of its biggest attraction list, but mainly because of its location among the mountains, its tropical resort feel and atmosphere. They discuss the three Disney hotels (Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Hollywood Hotel and Disney Explorers Lodge) and emphasize that you can enjoy yourself here even without constantly being in the park, due to the pools, gardens and restaurants. They do lack a real entertainment and shopping area as you often have at other Disney resorts. The park is accessible via a private Disney train that connects to the subway system, which makes for a great day trip from the city as well.
On Lantau Island, they also visit the Ngong Ping 360 cable car and the Big Buddha. The cable car ride takes about 25 minutes and they tip that you can choose between a normal cabin or a “Crystal Cabin” with a glass bottom, the latter being less suitable if you are afraid of heights. Upstairs you will find the Big Buddha, which appears to be surprisingly modern (built in the early 1990s), yet has a timeless look. Also in the same area is the Po Lin Monastery, which is actually authentic and active, making the visit extra special.
Then the episode shifts to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, with typical city experiences. They talk about Victoria Peak, the viewpoint over the skyline and harbor. Their own visit was a complete “nothing to see” experience due to thick fog, but it is stressed that with good weather it is absolutely worth it. They also tip the iconic Peak Tram, which has been in operation since 1888. They further discuss the city's escalator system (the famous long outdoor escalators), including their own adventure where they went too far up and ended up having to walk back because there was little to do at the top.
Another must is the Star Ferry, a cheap and fun way to cross the harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, with skyline views. In Kowloon, they pass by the K11 area, an upscale mall with art and design where they also catch the Symphony of Lights. They find it fun to have seen, but advise against building your entire schedule around it. For a rawer, more typical Hong Kong, they call Temple Street Night Market, with street food, stalls and the familiar mix of souvenirs and fake designer items.
Rick shares his practical tip on the best travel time and smart route planning.
Hong Kong has a subtropical climate similar to Orlando: hot, humid and frequent short but heavy rain showers.
Rick emphasizes that Hong Kong is perfect if:
With Cathay Pacific, you can easily spend a few days in Hong Kong without additional flight costs because it is a major hub. Ideal combinations are:
This way you break up a long flight as well as visit multiple destinations in one trip.
In this regular column, Willem dives into Hong Kong food, which visibly makes him hungry.
Hong Kong, he says, is the place where street food and Michelin-starred restaurants coexist.
Rick shares a funny anecdote: he once accidentally ordered only sweet dimsum (custard buns) for dinner, when they are actually more suitable for breakfast or snack time.
In addition, they reminisced about a special dinner at the Disneyland Hotel, where William ate a fish dish with crispy fried scaleskin, a unique textural experience.
Hong Kong, according to them, stands for culinary:
Their conclusion: if you love food, you can indulge in Hong Kong.
At the end, Willem and Rick look ahead to the next episode: Los Angeles, the City of Angels. They invite listeners to send in questions and tips so that the podcast is truly “for and by” the community.
Discover Shanghai Disneyland and its 10th anniversary, from shows to merchandise!
Go to Tokyo with Willem and Rick! Discover the different neighborhoods & the tastiest snacks.
In this blog, read everything you need to know about Disney Adventure, the Disney Cruise Line's newest cruise from Singapore!
English
Nederlands Nederlands English