I have always loved Disney movies and characters. I make it a point to watch all their movies and keep DVD copies of them so that I can review them whenever I want to. I also make it a point to visit Disneyland if I come to a place where there’s one.

A few weeks back, I was in Hongkong and was just in time for the grand opening of Hongkong Disneyland. The child in me and that of my wife Ruthie cannot help but took a day of enjoyment to become part of this event, and eventually sample the thrill and excitement of this newest theme park from Disney.

Here are ten good reasons why Hongkong Disneyland is the place to be especially during the upcoming holiday season. Enjoy!

1 Space Mountain
Thrillseekers will consider this, the theme park’s only true roller coaster, a must at Hongkong Disneyland. It may not be the most gut-wrenching ride, but there’s an added level of excitement because the ride takes place in near darkness, with only hundreds of tiny, shining “stars” in the background. Personally, having ridden Anaheim’s version of the Space Mountain, I like this better. It is darker and you don’t know where it will turn next. Expect lines to be antagonishly long, however, and go early to get a Fast Pass. They’re likely to run out by mid-morning.

2 Mickey’s Philharmagic
This 3-D multi-sensory theatre takes the long-standing Fantasia story and adds a Donald Duck twist. The yellow plastic “opera glasses” make you look silly, but you get to see the show in glorious three-dimension. Although it may be tempting to remove the glasses mid-way and try to figure out just how it’s done, you should resist: as with all things Disney, it works best and is at its most enjoyable when you just suspend yourself to the magic. The show itself is a potpourri of snippets from various classic Disney movies, but there are one to two surprises along the way.

3 Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
This interactive ride takes you to a space battle with Buzz Lightyear to fend off the evil Zords, who are intent on stealing Buzz’s batteries to take him out of commission. The ride not only gives you a laser gun to shoot at various targets, but also lets you rotate the cart for ease in aiming. Children will love the life-size, animatronic Buzz acting out in signature moves, but don’t be fooled into thinking this ride is just for trigger-happy little boys. Going on the ride with a group of friends makes all the difference because you can compare score afterwards. Ruthie made level 5, meaning she scored more than 250,000 points. Think you can do better?

4 Jungle River Cruise
Watch out for Lucky! The lifelike mechanical dinosaur roams the waterways on which the boat ride cruises through Adventureland. The thrills don’t come from the bumps or drops—instead, it’s the creepy abandoned temples and special effects such as underwater explosions, fires and playful elephants that make this ride enjoyable. To see all the effects in all its grandeur, make the trip when the sun’s already out. The trip lasts 10 minutes.

5 Main Street, USA
The first sight for visitors entering Hongkong Disneyland is Main Street, USA—an instantly recognizable image. The park’s main thoroughfare is lined with quaint little shops and wide sidewalks. Look down the street and you can see the magnificent trademark Sleeping Beauty Castle at the end. All things Disney can be found here, including some items not available at Disney stores. Some souvenir hunters never progress past this part of the park. The Corner Café at the end of the street serves Hongkong-style coffee house fare in a spacious setting.

6 Disney in the Stars Fireworks Display
As night descends and exhaustion from the day’s activities creeps in settle back, relax and enjoy the show. The Sleeping Beauty Castle in Fantasyland takes on new colours as a lightshow plays across its façade, and the sky is set alight by fireworks that seem to shoot from the castle’s spires. The display is choreographed to the medley of Disney’s theme songs. You don’t need to worry too much about grabbing a spot in front of the castle, because the show is designed to be viewed afar. One show takes place daily at some point.

7 Disney on Parade
Floats! Dancers! Costumed performers braving the heat! It’s the parade extravaganza that every Disneyland in the world is known for, and it also provides the most impressive photo opportunities. The procession of floats leaves from the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Fantasyland and heads down Main Street, USA. It’s guaranteed to be a crowded and popular event and for many it is the highlight of the day. The parade starts at 3:30 pm. Watch out for many Filipino performers among the cast members of the parade.

8 The Cast Members
It’s always the little surprises that make a trip special, and the same is true at Disneyland. Everyone knows about familiar faces such as Mickey, Goofy, Donald Duck, Pooh, Tigger and Buzz, and many others wandering the park and posing for photos, but equally delightful is the gaggle of cast members performing tricks or selling balloons. Look for the talking trash can, the walking giraffe contraption in Adventureland, and cast members who can exchange the store-bought Disney pins for their own, limited edition ones.

9 Festival of the Lion Kings
It’s not exactly Broadway, but the 28-minute musical is fun-filled, rollicking affair with a costumed cast of 30 singers and dancers. Like the movie, it tells the story of how Simba the lion cub came to be the king of the jungle with the help of his friends, a meerkat and a warthog. All the hit songs, including I Just Can’t Wait to be King, Hakuna Matata and The Circle of Life are performed, and seeing the show in the jungle atmosphere of Adventureland adds an extra taste of the wild. Nine shows are performed daily.

10 The Golden Mickeys
You won’t be gripping your seats in anticipation of which nominees will win the Golden Mickeys at this award ceremony—but you may be gripping them because you’re amazed at all its production value. The 25-minute show, at the Storybook Theatre in Fantasyland, is a parody of awards shows such as the Oscars and Golden Globes. It promises to let the visitors relive the classic Disney stories, and features song and dance performers from Mickey, Minnie, Lilo and Stitch, Tarzan, Mulan and the Little Mermaid gang.

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