We missed it by a week last year!: mmnchua

mmnchua

We missed it by a week last year!

Mar 04, 2008 23:12

Barely a month after returning from our 2007 Japan holiday, an 'innocent' email with a subject header that read "The 59th Sapporo Snow Festival@Sapporo is on 5-11 Feb 08, so if we are going, need to plan early :) " found its way to my CFO's mailbox. Surprisingly, hubby gave me the green light (as he has always been very prudent with our finance); guessed he bought my idea that we would not be able to visit the world renowned Sapporo Snow Festival (which I wanted to visit very badly and missed it just by a week when we went to Hokkaido in 2007) that happens only in February for a long long time to come once Nicole starts formal education. Planning commenced as early as 9 months ago (from Feb 08)…while people were watching the sizzling hot stocks and properties markets, I was watching out for best deals from airlines and hotels!

We were not going to give this up too since we would be travelling to Hokkaido via Tokyo. Yes I am talking about The Happiest Place on Earth, mecca for the young and the young at heart.

Initially I booked the Disney Ambassador Hotel when it opened for booking 6 months ahead of our desired dates, then changed to Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel subsequently and finally settled for Hilton Tokyo Bay Hotel. At such great deal of JPY16000 per room night with breakfast and dinner thrown in as well while the other two hotels charged JPY27,000 and JPY14,000 per room night without breakfast respectively, who could resist!

We spent not one, not two, not three but FOUR SOLID DAYS at both the Disneyland and Disneysea! We had intended to visit Tokyo Sea Life Park and see the neon lights of Shibuya on the last day but gave up the idea after seeing how much Nicole enjoyed herself that we just have to top up our tickets to a 4-day pass on the third evening!

We took lots, I really mean LOTS of rides this time and watched just as many shows/parades too as it was low season at both DL and DS because the school-going kids were having exams! We didn’t practically have the park to ourselves but it was good enough with the longest wait for kiddy rides at 15 minutes and adult rides at 30 minutes; in fact most of the fast pass counters were closed!

Last year we couldn’t even get near to the fast pass counters for the Tower of Terror, DS’ most exciting attraction as the queue was very long let alone queue for the ride itself. So this year we took the ride to our hearts contents and were glad to declare we passed our cardio-test many times ;p I would say most of the adult rides (Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull, Raging Spirits etc) were very thrilling but we took it too many times till we were pretty numbed : (

The weather was fine for that few days saved for a light drizzle on the second day while we were at DS. La Lina made her rounds this year instead of her brother El Nino, last year we could just donned light jackets but this time we have to put on our down jackets! In fact Tokyo experienced her first snowfall in 20 years shortly after we left for Hokkaido.

The little fellow definitely had loads of fun and laughter; while the older kids had an overdose of Disney happiness…anything with 3 circles and vaguely resembles the silhouette of Mickey would freak hubby out now : (

Shall let the photos do the talking…

Goofing around outside Narita Airport while waiting for bus to take us to hotel

How you tell its low season? Just look at the queue at the entrance!

Onboard the Resort Line to Disneyland

Welcome!

DISNEYLAND

The Landmark of Disneyland - Cinderella Castle

Super-Duper Jumpin’ Time: Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!
Disney characters using Disney muppets to enact ‘Cinderella’ with Donald being Cinderella, Daisy as the Princess, Mickey the Godmother and Chip & Dale the Step-sisters