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19 Fun Things To Do in Singapore with Kids and Teens

August 26, 2026 / Asia, Singapore, Travel / 0 comment

19 Fun Things to do in Singapore with Kids and Teens

Singapore is a tropical island city-state in Southeast Asia. A busy trading port that turned into a global hub for many businesses, Singapore has a vibrant combination of cultural heritage from its blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian and European immigrants. Visitors will love Singapore’s lush greenery, ritzy shops, exotic heritage and delicious food.

We recently visited Singpore again for a few days and while we barely scratched the surface of what there is to see and do in the city, we do have some tips on things to do in Singapore with kids – both little and big!

Things to do in Singapore with kids and teens

Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island is where Singaporeans go to play. The resort island is is located a out 15 minutes off the coast of Singapore and features theme parks, restaurants, beaches and luxury hotels.

To get to Sentosa, you can take the Sentosa Express Monorail (Board from Level 3 of VivoCity on the mainland), Cable Car (this is the exiest but most scenic option – board from Mount Faber or HarbourFront Centre), walk across the Sentosa Boardwalk or drive via the Sentosa Gateway.

Skyline Luge

On our previous outing, we took the kids on the Sentosa Skyline Luge, which was a big hit. The luge ride goes downhill, then, after the ride, a chairlift brings riders, luge carts, and the helmets back to the starting point..

Palawan Beach

Cool down at Palawan Beach – the most kid-friendly beach on Sentosa. it can get very busy on weekends, but it’s a great spot regardless. Clean bathroom facilities, shallow, calm water and play equipment.

Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore is located within the Resorts World Sentosa integrated resort on Sentosa Island. Featuring 24 rides, shows, and attractions in seven themed zones, it’s a huge day out for families who love theme parks.

Get more info on visiting Universal Studios Singapore here.

Singapore Oceanarium

Singapore Oceanarium is a state-of-the-art ocean institute that reopened on July 24, 2025, following the rebranding and expansion of the former S.E.A. Aquarium.

It features one of the world’s largest sea jelly habitats in its Ocean Wonders zone.

Get more info on visiting the Singapore Oceanarium here.

Sentosa shopping and dining

While on Sentosa, check out the shops and dining! We enjoyed the LEGO Store, Popmart and Pierre Herme Paris store, which has incredible desserts and ice cream.

Chinatown

A walk through Chinatown is a colourful experience. Market stalls assault the senses and kids can choose cheap trinket souvenirs.

You might have a monk-sighting like we did, and try some local food.

We stopped by the Noodle Man, renowned for his authentic, hand cut noodles.

Kids can watch him make noodles from scratch. They taste so good you’ll order a second bowl.

Get more info on visiting Chinatown.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

A Tang Dynesty-styled Chinese Buddhist temple in Chinatown that gets its name from the Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic it houses. The temple overwhelms the senses with colour, incense and the chanting of buddhist monks. Underneath the temple is a famous vegan foodcourt.

Get more info on visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is an unmissable experience in Singapore and requires at least three hours to see everything.

The attraction of three large garden areas, the main, and most popular, being Bay South garden, which houses the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, Supertrees Grove and Children’s Garden.

The Flower Dome is an indoor hothouse bursting with manicured gardens right out of a storybook.

The Cloud Forest takes visitors up an indoor mountain through a circular path, behind a waterfall.

The “mountain” is clad in beautiful epiphytes such as orchids, ferns and peacock ferns.

The Supertrees Grove is filled with tree-like structures with heights that range between 25 metres (82 ft) and 50 metres (160 ft).

They are vertical gardens at the top of which is an elevated walkway, the OCBC Skyway, between two of the larger Supertrees, giving a panoramic aerial view of the Gardens.

While kids will enjoy all of the features of Gardens by the Bay, a trip to the Children’s Garden will be a highlight of your trip. Perfect for kids aged one and up, the children’s garden is renowned for its fabulous water play area.

There is a toddler zone for kids under 5, and a larger area for children 6 and over. With clean bathroom facilities and a shaded amphitheater, it’s obvious why this is a hot spot for families. Kids aged 6 -12 will also enjoy the Rainforest Tree Houses and the Adventure Trail nearby. You can visit this area for free, which is an added bonus in very pricey Singapore. Read more about our experience here.

This Family Zone also features fun play equipment for kids to enjoy.

Get more info on visiting Gardens by the Bay.

Mandai Wildlife Reserve (Singapore Zoo)

The Mandai Wildlife Reserve is a nature and wildlife destination that is home to the following major attractions:

Singapore Zoo: Famous open-concept zoo housing free-ranging animals.
Open daily from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

Night Safari: The world’s first nocturnal wildlife park, featuring tram rides and walking trails. Open daily from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

River Wonders: Asia’s only river-themed wildlife park, home to giant pandas and manatees. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Bird Paradise: Asia’s largest bird park which replaced Jurong Bird Park.
Open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Rainforest Wild: Adventure-based wildlife parks split into East and West zones.

Indoor Play & Edutainment: Includes Curiosity Cove (playscape for children) and Exploria.

Get more info on visiting Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

Read Busy City Kid’s review of Singapore Zoo here.

Afternoon Tea at Raffles

The Raffles Singapore is a historic, luxury colonial-style hotel, opened in 1887 and named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore. Their afternoon tea is an elegant affair, both for the ambiance of the extremely refined hotel, and the delicious food on offer.

The Raffles afternoon tea includes delicate finger sandwiches, home-baked scones, exquisite cakes and seasonal treats, elegantly served on a silver stand with curated teas and champagnes. They offer a vegan menu and are happy to accomodate dietary requirements.

There is no special kids’ version of the afternoon tea, so I would suggest sharing a stand if you are visiting with a younger child, and if they are a bit of a picky eater, contact the hotel in advance and ask for substitutions that are simpler than what is offered on the menu.

Get more info on afternoon tea at Raffles.

High Tea at the Swissotel The Stamford

High tea at Swissôtel The Stamford in Singapore is available at SKAI, Singapore’s highest restaurant, on the 70th floor and featuring panoramic city views.

The current theme of the high tea is “Tea with a Little Hunny” celebrating Winnie the Pooh’s 100th anniversary. Check before booking to see if this theme has been updated with a new one.

The Swissotel do not offer a kids’ menu for their high tea, however the menu on offer is heavily discounted for kids, so I suggest checking the menu before booking to ensure your kids will eat it.

Get more info on current high tea offerings at the Swissotel Stamford.

ArtScience Museum

The ArtScience Museum past of the Marina Bay Sands resort in downtown / central Singapore. It features exhibitions that blend art, science, culture and technology through hi-tech exhibits that engage and immerse visitors through innovative and often interactive installations.

Their permanent exhibition, teamLab Future World, is a highly interactive world of art, science, magic and metaphor.

teamLab was an incredible hit even with a teenager. We spent hours exploring this hands-on interactive exhibit, including a slide, climbing a rope bridge and creating our own creatures which then came to life and joined digital worlds in front of our eyes.

The ArtScience Museum is one of our top picks for things to do in Singapore with kids and teenagers.

Get more info on visiting the ArtScience Museum here.

Merlion Park

Merlion Park is a famous Singapore landmark. The Merlion is a mythical creature representing the nation’s traditional name, “Lion City” and humble origins. The lion head honors Singapura (“Lion City” in Sanskrit and Malay), inspired by a legendary prince who reportedly saw a lion when he first landed on the island and the fish’s tail represents Singapore’s historical roots as a fishing village.

Disney Adventure

The Disney Adventure is Disney Cruise Line’s largest ship and its first to homeport in Asia, sailing 3- and 4-night round-trip voyages from Singapore.

Read about our experience and get tips for sailing on the Disney Adventure here, or more info on booking your own Disney Adventure cruise here.

Changi Airport

Ranked the world’s best airport airport, Changi has a lot of attractions to make the must-see list itself of things to do in Singapore with kids! The most famous being the Jewel Rain Vortex, but there are so many other things to do such as playgrounds, the bouncing net, cactus, bamboo and butterfly gardens, plus a movie cinema!

Get more info on attractions at Changi Airport.

Getting around Singapore

The best way to navigate Singapore is by train and bus. You can tap on and off with your phone if you have a bank card in your wallet. If travelling with kids who don’t have their own bank card, you can visit any SimplyGo Ticket Office located at MRT stations or bus interchanges to pick up a physical card.

Kids under 7 and under 0.9 meters tall ride Singapore‘s public transport for free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult (you will need to get them a Child Concession Card from the SimplyGo Ticket Offices). Use Google Maps to navigate public transport.

Climate

Sitting just one degree north of the equator, Singapore is hot all year round, with average temperatures around 27°C to 28°C – although, with high humidity, it usually feels a lot hotter. Not surprisingly, it rains a lot in Singapore throughout the entire year, with heavy storms common from November to January.

Pack light, breathable clothes, a hat and sunscreen. The locals spend a lot of their leisure time in pools for a reason! I also advise taking a light, foldable umbrella with you at all times for both sun protection and also frequent storms. It’s best to go out in the mornings and then evenings when it’s cooler.

Where to stay in Singapore

Swissôtel The Stamford

On this visit we stayed at the Swissôtel The Stamford which is located inside the Raffles City Shopping Centre. The location is excellent – right on top of a shopping centre with plenty of dining options as well as a major train station making it very easy to get on a train without going outside in the heat.

The Swissôtel The Stamford is also walking distance to several attractions and has several restaurants inside serving delicious high tea and an incredible buffet breakfast.

Get more info on the Swissotel The Stamford.

First-timers’ Tips for Visiting Shanghai Disneyland Resort China

August 25, 2026 / Asia, China, Disney Travel, Disneyland, Theme Parks, Travel / 0 comment

Shanghai Disneyland Resort China

Shanghai Disney Resort opened on June 16, 2016, in Pudong, Shanghai, China. It’s the first Disney resort in mainland China and features the the largest castle of any Disney park, the world-first Zootopia-themed land, two themed hotels (with a third currently being built), and the shopping/dining district, Disneytown.

While the Shanghai Disneyland Resort China only consists of the one park, it is absolutely massive, at 225 acres in size. This makes making Shanghai Disneyland Resort bigger than both Disneyland Park (California) and Disneyland California Adventure Parks combined (157 acres).

Ride-wise, the park has 18 rides, compared to Disneyland California’s 35 (the park with the highest number of rides in it). You can guess from this that you will spend a lot of your day walking as it’s quite a distance between each ride, however not actually that many rides to do overall.

We spent two days in the park and devoted our time to exploring the unique features of the park as well as the top rides we had on our list to experience.

Key Features & Attractions at Shanghai Disneyland Resort China

Shanghai Disneyland Park

The main theme park, which features unique rides like Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure and a Zootopia-themed land, as well as the called the Enchanted Storybook Castle.

Accommodation

Official Disney accommodation includes the luxury Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and the family-friendly Toy Story Hotel. A third hotel is currently under construction.

We stayed at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel (See below for more info on the hotel).

Disneytown

Disneytown is a shopping, dining, and entertainment district featuring international places to eat and shop. Located adjacent to the park, Disneytown is also the location of the early entry access point for hotel guests.

Shops include LEGO, Pandora and Pop Mart. Dining includes the Cheesecake Factory. The huge inflatable Donald is a must-see for cute photos.

Wishing Star Park

Wishing Star Park is a large public recreational area featuring a lake with a bird sanctuary, walking paths and a bridge that connects to the start of the Disneytown district.

Unique Attractions at Shanghai Disneyland Resort China

Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure

This ride is mind blowing! It starts similarly to the other Pirates rides around the world, but then morphes into an engineering masterpiece using massive wrap-around screens and advanced animatronics.

Zootopia Land and Zootopia: Hot Pursuit

The world’s first Zootopia-themed land, this is a very popular section of the park and is full of adorable photo ops. Zootopia: Hot Pursuit is the only ride in this “land”. It is a trackless, dark ride, putting guests into a police-car chase through the city’s districts.

Voyage to the Crystal Grotto

This is a slow boat ride that sails underneath the massive Enchanted Storybook Castle.

Camp Discovery Challenge Trails

The “trails” is very unique in that it is an interactive, rugged ropes course, set inside Adventure Isle featuring hidden ruins and waterfalls. It involves harnessing up and doing some active climbing.

Roaring Rapids

A river raft water ride that is centered around a mysterious cavern, and involves an encounter with a massive crocodile-like beast named Q’araq. This ride was closed in winter when we visited.

Top Attractions at Shanghai Disneyland Resort China

TRON Lightcycle Power Run

The original Tron ride, this is a fast, thrilling motorbike-style steel roller coaster that launches riders straight into sci-fi world of TRON. This ride is incredible and super popular so definitely needs early entry or a DPA to avoid a long wait.

Seven Dwarves Mine Train

Seven Dwarves Mine Train is an eternally popular family-friendly roller coaster featuring rocking mine cart vehicles, some lightly thrilling outdoor drops through a rocky landscape, and an indoor dark-ride scene with some very cute audio-animatronics of the dwarfs (singing in Mandarin). Similar to the other Mine Train rides around the world, this is a must-do ride for us in every country.

Parade

The Mulan float in the daily “Mickey’s Storybook Express” parade is only place in the world where you can see Mulan in her armour rather than her traditional princess dress!

Fireworks

Shanghai Disneyland’s nightly nighttime spectacular is called ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration. It takes place at the Enchanted Storybook Castle, typically starting between 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM (most often around 9:00 PM), featuring projection mapping, lasers, water fountains, flames, and fireworks.

The fireworks can be watched from across the Wishing Star Lake. A great view point is from the back side of the Disneyland Shanghai hotel, which is another reason the hotel makes for an excellent accommodation choice.

Unique Architectural & Walk-through Highlights

Enchanted Storybook Castle and Once Upon a Time Adventure

Representing all of the Disney princesses, the Enchanted Storybook Castle is the largest castle in any Disney park. The castle houses a royal restaurant, a boat ride, and the Once Upon a Time Adventure walk-through.

Alice in Wonderland Maze

The maze is a whimsical, large-scale walkthrough hedge maze, themed to Tim Burton’s live-action Alice in Wonderland film.

Merchandise

A special mention for the adorable Duffy and Friends mech that is available in Shanghai! These characters are only available to purchase in Asia and Shanghai Disneyland Resort China has an excellent range in shops outside of the park in Disneytown as well as inside.

What you need to know when visiting Shanghai Disneyland Resort China

Early entry

Early entry at Shanghai Disneyland Resort China lets guests into the park an hour before general admission. There are two types of early entry: one is a benefit that comes with staying at one of the Disney hotels, and the other can be purchased online. One of the biggest perks to staying at an official Disneyland hotel is not just the early entry benefit, but the access into the park.

The early entry location for hotel guests is seperate from the main entry – it’s located across from the Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Disneytown, which takes you right into the middle of the park, near the castle area. This is hugely beneficial to getting into the park ahead of the crowds lining up at the front gate and we found we could easily knock out at least two main rides during early entry, before the main gates opened.

App / park wifi

Shanghai Disneyland Resort has the trickiest app system we have used at any park, as the app only works while on the park Wi-Fi. You cannot use your own roaming sim and VPN and also access the park app at the same time. We had to ask a cast member how to actually get this working and she showed us how to turn off our roaming, connect to the park Wi-Fi and how to access the app.

We had issues with connectivity due to the spotty Wi-Fi which can be stressful as the park tickets and DPA (fast passes) are all inside the app. You can however also use your paper ticket that is issued at the gate when you first enter the park and this is what we ended up doing for most of our visit to avoid any stress with the app.

Highly suggest downloading the app before entering the park (we downloaded all apps we might need before leaving Australia just to be safe).

Disney Premier Access / Fast Passes

Since there aren’t a huge amount of rides and the park is huge, you can guess what that means – lots of people queuing for rides.

While early access helps with a few rides in the morning, Disney Premier Access (DPA) helps with rides throughout the rest of the day. There are two ways they can be purchased: in advance as a bundle, or on the day as a single ride.

DPA is digital only and must be purchased inside the official Shanghai Disney Resort app.

Buying a bundle in advance is cost effective if you want broad coverage of rides. The biggest benefit is that the rides have no fixed return time, so you can redeem them whenever you like. The downside of the bundles is they usually include a ride that doesn’t need a DPA so you do end up with at least one pretty useless DPA that you’ve paid for.

Buying a single ride is great if you just want to do one or two rides and can be purchased on the day. The downside is you will be given a fixed return time and must redeem the DPA during that time window.

Communicating

We used Google Translate with mixed results in China. We were lucky to find quite a few of the staff at Shanghai Disneyland Resort could speak English. Staff who were English-speakers had a special badge designating their ability to converse in English and were often summoned at the hotel or guest services locations when we had questions.

The majority of staff didn’t speak English and we were extremely grateful for their kindness in assisting us even when they couldn’t understand a word of what we were saying.

We had several cast members fixing our phones for us to help us with connecting to the park Wi-Fi, for example, or showing us how to us the local payment apps that were all in Chinese. A huge thank you to the wonderful cast members at every location throughout the park!

Where to stay: Shanghai Disneyland Resort

We had an incredible stay at the Shanghai Disneyland Resort. The Art-Bouveau-themed resort sits across the Wishing Star Lake from Shanghai Disneyland Resort, making it the closet hotel to the park.

Featuring 420 rooms and one restaurant, Lumière’s Kitchen, it’s a great base to explore the park and be able to return to the hotel to rest quickly or for a break to then go back again later to either the park or Disneytown.

We also enjoyed the cute little gifts that were included with the room.

The hotel offers water taxi or shuttle services to the theme park, however it’s only about a 15 minute walk, so we chose to walk to ensure we were at early entry as soon as possible and also to return again afterwards without waiting for a shuttle bus or water taxi to arrive.

Special Dining Mentions

Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights

Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights is a Donald Duck-themed casual bistro located in Disneytown just outside the main gates of Shanghai Disneyland. The menu features Western dishes with a twist and the food is the best we have eaten at a themed restaurant.

The CookieAnn Bakery Café

The CookieAnn Bakery Café is a 1950s vintage-styled lifestyle cafe located on Mickey Avenue at Shanghai Disneyland. They serve adorable baked goods and excellent crepes, which you can eat with a gorgeous castle view.

Lumière’s Kitchen

Lumière’s Kitchen is a Beauty and the Beast-inspired restaurant located on the ground floor of the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. The restaurant is buffet-style and features a character dining experience for breakfast.

Cheesecake Factory

This is just a standard Cheesecake Factory but it’s worth noting that its an easy dining option when traveling with people with dietary restrictions or picky kids who just want simple food.

Il Paperino

This Italian-style gelato and ice cream parlor located on Mickey Avenue inside Shanghai Disneyland Park is absolutely adorable.

We picked up a The Donald Duck Gondolier Sundae here, which is a delicious ice cream assortment inside a detailed, reusable plastic gondola boat complete with a small figurine of Donald dressed as a Venetian gondolier.

Get more tips for visiting Shanghai and China with our Three Day Shanghai Itinerary First Timer’s Guide.

Shanghai in three days: A first timer’s family-friendly itinerary

August 17, 2026 / Asia, China, Travel / 0 comment

Shanghai in three days: A first timer’s family-friendly itinerary

Shanghai is China’s most populous city. It’s a vibrant blend of old and new, with archaeological remains dating back 4,000 to 6,000 years, colonial buildings from the British and French trade that began i 1842, and modern, even futuristic, architecture of today. Shanghai in three days is an easy way to get an overview of what this incredible city has to offer travellers of all ages and backgrounds.

Shanghai in Three Days: what to see and do

The Bund and Oriental Pearl Tower

The Bund is an iconic waterfront promenade in old town Shanghai. It stretches along the west bank of Huang Po river and is lined by colonial buildings. Its spectacular to see both day and night. The the famous Oriental Pearl Tower is also bestviewed from the Bund. We suggest walking from the start of the Bund along the river and over the bridge into North Bund to the North Bund Gardens to the very popular reflective egg installation.

Yu Gardens

Yu Garden (or Yuyuan Garden) is a traditional Chinese garden located beside the City God Temple in the northeast of the Old City of Shanghai at Huangpu District. Yu Garden was first built in 1559 during the Ming dynasty and is a beautiful place to explore in any season (even winter!). We particularly enjoyed watching the wildlife in the ponds, seeing species of birds we had never seen before.

Visit again at night to see the surrounding shops and markets lit up.

Hanfu hire and photoshoot

We booked in advance through a small business in WeChat, however there are many places you can walk into off the streets around Yu Garden where you can hire a hanfu and have a photographer take photos of you on the spot. We chose to do this during the day when there were less people. It was much more popular at night. It does take a while to do the traditional hair and make up, so allow a few hours if you choose this activity (and we highly recommend that you do!).

Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road is one of the world’s busiest shopping streets. It spans about 5.5 kilometres from People’s Square in the west to the historic waterfront known as the Bund in the east. There are so many stores we visited twice to see everything.

A few highlights for us on Nanjing Road:
Pop Mart
Chocolate Museum
White Rabbit Store
Qingzhi (famous hand cream with free engraving)
Miniso
MnM Store
Sanrio Gift Gate
Louis Vuitton Boat (at the end of the road)
Starbucks Roastery (next to the LV boat)

Tip: Save your feet by taking the Nanjing Road sightseeing trolley (often called the Dangdang tram). This open-air, electric mini-train carries passengers along the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street east-west between the The Bund (near East Nanjing Road Station) and People’s Square. Tickets Cost: 5 RMB per person for a one-way trip (about 1 AUD). Operating Hours: Daily from 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Where to Board: Dedicated stations are located at both the east and west ends of the pedestrian zone.

Anfu Road

Anfu Road is a trendy 850-meter-long street located in the former French Concession of Xuhui District, Shanghai. Known for its leafy, plane tree-lined sidewalks and historic architecture, it has evolved into a vibrant cultural hub famous for independent designer boutiques, concept stores, and specialty coffee shops.

A few highlights for us:
13DE Marzo Cafe bear drinks
Adidas Originals Store (decorate your own pair of sneakers)
RAC Coffee & Bar (Shanghai-meets-Paris vibe)
Wiggle Wiggle (Korean store)
LookNow & Flow (great range of Jellycat)

Xuhui District / French Concession

Wukang Mansion (a famous mansion where locals go nuts trying to get a photo at the crossing)
Apoli Itabakery (a Harry Potter-vibed bakery)

Shanghai Disneyland Resort China

We also visited Shanghai Disneyland Resort China. You can read our tip tips for visiting here.

More places to see:

Shanghai Natural History Museum
snhm.org.cn/

Shanghai Museum
shanghaimuseum.net

Temples
Jade Buddha Temple, Jing’an Temple, Longhua Temple

Zhujiajiao Water Town
Zhujiajiao is the most famous ancient water town in Shanghai, located in the Qingpu District. Easily reached via Shanghai Metro Line 17 in about an hour, this 1,700-year-old town features Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, 36 ancient stone bridges, and narrow canal-side streets.

General Shanghai information

Shanghai in three days felt like a good amount of time for us. I could have done with one extra day, but overall, I think three days is pretty good for a taster of the city.

We felt incredible safe everywhere, probably largely due to the surveillance cameras set up all over the city. I don’t think it’s possible to commit a crime in Shanghai anymore.

Getting around: download the DiDi app to use to get cheap taxis all over the city.

Google maps does not work in China. Download Baidu Maps instead.

Paying: credit cards are not widely accepted. Download Alipay or WeChat and set these up in advance for easy payment everywhere.

Internet: we used Telstra global roaming and thinking it would be easier than setting up a new sim and activating it while travelling. While this worked seamlessly, I didn’t count on the WiFi in Shanghai being so bad in our hotels, so we quickly burned through the daily allowance.

VPN: Telstra roaming includes a vpn so that was taken care of with our phones, however we needed to download a VPN to our laptops/ iPads to be able to access certain websites. We used LetsVPN which was very easy to set up and use.

Communication: we used Google Translate and it was honestly not great. Thankfully the locals were very kind and helped us out whenever we needed assistance.

Entering China: At time of writing, Australian ordinary passport holders do not need a visa to enter China for stays of up to 30 days.

Where we stayed

The Waldorf Astoria on the Bund

We had an amazing stay at the Waldorf Astoria on the Bund. 10/10 location, room size and quality and service. The hotel is located right on the Bund and walking distance to many attractions including Nanjing Road and Yu Garden. The buffet breakfast was next level incredible.

Hong Kong Disneyland Trip Planning Guide

June 13, 2024 / Asia, Disney Travel, Disneyland, Hong Kong, Theme Parks, Travel / 0 comment

Hong Kong Disneyland Trip Planning Guide

Hong Kong Disneyland was the second Disneyland in Asia, opening in 2005 on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Disneyland is owned and managed by Hong Kong International Theme Parks.When building the resort, Disney attempted to avoid problems of cultural backlash by incorporating Chinese culture, customs, and traditions, including adherence to the rules of feng shui. Notably, a bend was put in a walkway near the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort entrance so good qi energy would not flow into the South China Sea.

The park consists of eight themed areas: Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point, Toy Story Land, World of Frozen and Stark Expo.

There are single tickets and annual passes, called Magic Access, that are available for tourists who visit Hong Kong Disneyland. The theme park’s cast members speak Cantonese, English, and Mandarin.

Make the most out of your trip with this Hong Kong Disneyland guide.

Transport to the park

The park is easy to reach via train (MTR service) on the purpose-built Disneyland Resort line, a themed shuttle train service between the Disneyland Resort station adjacent to the park, and Sunny Bay station, where passengers can transfer to the Tung Chung line for access to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, or Tung Chung.

Tips for visiting Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Stay onsite in a Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Hotel

While the park is easy to access via public transport, we highly recommend staying at one of the Disneyland hotels onsite for the full Disney experience. There are three hotels: Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Explorer’s Lodge and Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. We stayed at Disney’s Explorer’s Lodge (read the review here) and thought it was the most immaculate of all of the Disney hotels we have stayed thus far.

While guests of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort hotels do not receive any special perks regarding park access, they do have access to the free shuttle bus that runs between the hotels and the parks each day, plus the bonus of being able to use the facilities at any of the three hotels.

Each hotel has a range of beautiful facilities such as pools, shops and restaurants that extend the Disney experience beyond the parks.

Try the Disney Dim Sum

The Disney-themed dim sum is only available at Hong Kong Disneyland! Anyone can book a table at the Crystal Lotus restaurant inside the Disneyland Hotel to enjoy the special Disney-themed dim sum. We were even able to order special vegetarian dim sum in advance by emailing the restaurant.

The dim sum are so cute and shaped like Disney characters – an absolute must in our opinion!

Read more about the Disney Friends Dim Sum here.

Book a table to experience the dim sum here.

Book an Early Park Entry Pass

Anyone can book an Early Park Entry Pass, which lets guests enter the park an hour before the offical park opening time. Most visitors to the park tend to come later in the day, which means if you arrive early you will be able to get on rides without any queues as well as score some great park photos with no one else in them.

With early park entry, we found it possible to ride all of the rides we wanted to without any queues – so no need for the additional Premier Access paid passes.

Find out more about the Early Park Entry Pass here.

Premier Access Passes

If you’re not an early bird and don’t want to queue for rides, considering purchasing a Premiere Access Pass. The passes can be purchased for 3 or 8 rides, or individual rides (this is the most expensive option) and works like a fast pass, giving an alternative entry point to rides to skip the majority of the queue.

Find out more about Premiere Access Passes here.

Meet the characters

Character meet and greets are possibly even more popular at Hong Kong Disneyland than the rides, and attract massive queues. There are generally always characters in the entry plaza area, so if this is important to you, I would recommend meeting characters early in the day before the queues get too long and then having the option of purchasing Premiere Access Passes for popular rides afterwards if the park is busy.

We made it a priority to meet LinaBell, one of the Duffy and Friends characters that is exclusive to the Asian parks. The Duffy and Friends characters are hugely popular and have a designated area to line up and meet them. I highly lining up for this as soon as possible if it’s a priority, or purchasing an access pass to meet one character, which is what we did to meet LinaBell.

Visit the Castle of Dreams

Castle of Magical Dreams is the centrepiece castle of Hong Kong Disneyland. The castle replaced the park’s previous Sleeping Beauty Castle as part of the park’s 15th anniversary celebration, with a brand new design that pays tribute to the 12 Disney Princesses and 2 Frozen queens: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Anna, Elsa, and Moana.

Walk through the castle to the special princess meet and great area.

Enter the Magic World of Frozen

The Frozen-themed land in the world opened in 2023 in Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. The land includes two rides, Frozen Ever After, a boat ride through animatronic scenes from Frozen, and Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, which is a short rollercoaster ride. Frozen Ever After is the longer and more popular ride, so we suggest doing this ride first.

The other entertainment option in the World of Frozen is the Playhouse in the Woods, which is a live show playing constantly all day where visitors can be part of the Frozen story with Anna and Elsa.

Shop the unique merchandise

A high priority for us was shopping the unique Duffy and Friends merchandise, which is specific to Asia. There are so many shops throughout the park featuring Asia-specific merchandise, especially the Duffy and Friends characters.

Eat all the snacks

Hong Kong Disneyland has some incredible snacks! Cakes, donuts, churros, ice cream, popcorn, and they’re all so cute!

Watch the fireworks

The fireworks occur every night over the Castle. The show when we visited was “Momentous”, an evening spectacular that included projection mapping, lasers, and searchlights, as well as pyrotechnics and water fountains. Spectacular! We purchased tickets to watch the fireworks from the prime location at the front of the castle, which meant we were able to enjoy the park and rides until closer to the fireworks began and then take our spot.

Find out more about visiting Hong Kong Disneyland.

Disney Explorers Lodge Hong Kong Disneyland Review

June 13, 2024 / Asia, Hong Kong, Travel / 0 comment

Disney Explorers Lodge Hong Kong Disneyland Review

Immerse yourself in the Disney magic with a stay at the Disney Explorers Lodge at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

The Disney Explorers Lodge was the 3rd hotel to open at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, on 30th April, 2017.

The hotel has an “adventure” theme with rooms themed to the four unique tropical climates of Asia, Oceania, South America and Africa, and serving international cuisines from the five continents. The Disney Explorers Lodge has the motto “ad explorare et somniare” (“to explore and dream”).

The three hotels in Hong Kong Disneyland Resort are all in a row, making transport between the three and the park extremely easy. Guests are able to use the free resort shuttle bus to enjoy the facilities at all three hotels.

While the parks contain more than enough entertainment, if guests wish to extend their stay for some additional relaxation time, the hotels each provide Disney-themed recreational activities such as handicraft classes, poolside activities, ball games, and indoor exploration activities.

Examples of activities run at the hotel include tai chi, yoga, board game rental, badminton, mini golf, movie screenings and crafts.

Rooms

The rooms at the Disney Explorers Lodge are extremely spacious and well equipped with amenities including international power adaptors and toiletries.

In-Resort Transportation

Complimentary shuttle service is available between the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Hollywood Hotel, Disney Explorers Lodge and the Hong Kong Disneyland Park. Departing every 10 to 20 minutes depending on the time of day, the shuttle can be picked up in front of the hotel to the right of the main lobby. Between the hours of 1am and 7am, shuttle service can be arranged by contacting the Bell Desk in the main lobby.

Raindrop Pool

At the edge of the Pool Garden is the Raindrop Pool, a large swimming pool surrounded by stone walls and paving. The Raindrop Pool is open 8am-10pm.

Resort Gardens

The Disney Exploers Lodge has four uniquely themed gardens: Kevin Garden, the South American garden; Little Squirt Garden, the Oceania garden; Hathi Jr. Garden the Asian garden and the Rafiki Garden, the African Savannah garden. Explorers will find elements of the different animations that are associated with the names of the characters that these gardens are named after.

Dining Options

Dragon Wind
A taste of ancient Chinese wisdom where guests can dine on rural and authentic Cantonese and provincial delicacies seasoned with classic herbs and spices in a harmony of the five elements.

World of Color Restaurant
World of Color Restaurant brings together the food cultures from across the seas, islands and continents along the old spice trails for a symphony of textures and flavors that is fresh and light.

We dined at the World of Color Restaurant and loved the food.

Chart Room Cafe
Chart Room Cafe is a quick service cafe with snacks and casual dining options. Food can be eaten in the seating area near by or taken back to your hotel room.

In-Room Dining
Choose from a variety of American and Asian favorites, as well as specialty items unique to the Disney Explorers Lodge. An 10% service charge will apply to all delivery orders.

Get more info on the Disney Explorers Lodge Hong Kong Disneyland here.

Disney Friends Dim Sum at Crystal Lotus Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

Hong Kong Disneyland Trip Planning Guide

Disney Friends Dim Sum at Crystal Lotus Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

June 3, 2024 / Asia, Hong Kong, Travel / 0 comment

Disney Friends Dim Sum at Crystal Lotus Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

Enjoy Disney Friends dim sum shaped like adorable Disney and Pixar characters, exclusive to the Crystal Lotus restaurant inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

An absolute must when visiting Hong Kong Disneyland is sampling the special Disney-themed dim sum! These cute treats are not available at any other Disney park in the world.

The Disney Friends dim sum are not just cute, they’re extremely tasty, too. At the time of our visit, the options included:

Duffy & ShellieMay Steamed Sweet Bun
Winnie The Pooh Milk Custard Bun
Eeyore Red Bean Puree Bun
Piglet Seafood and Chicken Bun
Tigger Pork and Vegetable Bun
Mickey’s Double-Layer Turnip and Taro Pudding

Disney Friends Dim Sum is available daily for lunch and must be ordered at least 24 hours prior to your visit.

Book your Disney Friends Dim Sum visit here.

Read our Hong Kong Disneyland Trip Planning Guide here.

Discover Tassie: Five Day Tasmania Itinerary

February 20, 2024 / Australia, Travel / 0 comment

Five Day Tasmania Itinerary

Tasmania is an island state of Australia, located approximately 240 km off the coast of the mainland. Home to an abundance of unique wildlife, spectacular scenery and incredible locally-made produce, Tasmania is a tiny island that packs a lot in.

While we recommend spending at least a week or two driving around the island, if you’re short on time and want to see a few highlights, here is the perfect five day Tasmania itinerary for you.

Day 1 – Launceston

Bridestowe Lavender Farm

Start your morning with a drive to Bridestowe Lavender Estate. The fields of lavender run over 260 acres and is the world’s largest privately-owned lavender farm. With an estimated 650,000 plants, the lavender rows stretch for about 200 kilometres in total. The lavender is in peak bloom December to January so plan your visit accordingly if you want to capture photos with endless fields of purple.

Try lavender scones, tea or ice cream in the cafe and browse the gift shop for lavender products made from harvested farm lavender before you leave.

bridestowelavender.com.au

Platypus House – Monotreme Magic

Take the 45 minute tour at Platypus House to see live Tasmanian Platypuses and Echidnas up close. The monotremes are rescued, rehabilitated and released back into the wild where possible at this unique educational facility in the Tamar Valley.

The educational tour is suitable for all ages. Guests can watch the platypus and echidna actively feeding and playing. Book your tour well in advance especially in peak seasons.

platypushouse.com.au

Seahorse World

Seahorse World is located on the same pier as the Platypus House, and it’s easy to book tours at both attractions back-to-back. Seahorse World is a working seahorse farm that breeds these unique marine animals and ships them to aquariums around the world.

A 30 minute educational tour of the farm takes guests on a journey of seahorse life from the very beginning, with baby seahorses only a few hours old, through their first few months of life until they are sent to their new homes.

The tour ends with the opportunity to hold a seahorse in your hand.

seahorseworld.com.au

Low Head Penguin Tour

Self drive or book a tour that includes transfer to Low Head, approximately 50 minutes drive from Launceston, to see the world’s smallest penguins, the Fairy or Little Penguins, return after sunset to their burrows within the Low Head Coastal Reserve.

This reserve has the largest penguin rookery in Tasmania, with penguins returning every night throughout the year. The fully guided tour takes guests down to the beach to watch the penguins swim ashore and preen themselves, before waddling up the beach.

The penguin viewing is fully guided and takes approximately 1 hour. Including transfers to/from Launceston, allow around 3.5 hours. Cameras are welcome (turn flashes off). It gets old at night even in summer, so wear warm clothes.

penguintourstasmania.com.au

Stay: Change Hotel

We stayed at the Change Hotel in Launceston, which was centrally located and had a fantastic two bedroom, two bathroom unit with a full kitchen and dining area. Perfect for a family.

changeovernight.co

Day 2 – Launceston to Cradle Mountain

Stroll Launceston

Wake up earl and take a stroll around Launceston, It’s a beautiful, walkable city on the mouth of the Tamar river, and has beautiful historic buildings and gardens to wander through.

Queen Victoria Museum

The Queen Victorias Museum (QVMAG) includes two sites in Launceston: the Museum at Inveresk and Art Gallery at Royal Park.

The Museum at Inveresk contains a great (albeit somewhat depressing) section on the extinct Thylacine (Tasmania Tiger) and a planetarium.

qvmag.tas.gov.au

Drive to Cradle Mountain

The drive to Cradle Mountain takes about 2 hours.

Devils @ Cradle

Devils @ Cradle is a wildlife conservation facility only a hundred metres or so from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre, right in the heart of Cradle Mountain.

Whilst Devils @ Cradle concentrates primarily on the Tasmanian devil, the sanctuary is also home to the closely related Spotted-tail and Eastern quolls – Tasmania’s three largest carnivorous marsupials, which are all now threatened in the wild.

Visitors can wander through the sanctuary at leisure, or join a personalised guided tour which ensures a close up encounter with the animals.

devilsatcradle.com

Cradle Mountain National Park

Cradle Mountain, in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, is a spectacular place to visit in any season. There is abundant wildlife to spot, including Tasmanian devils, quolls, platypus, echidna, wombats and black currawongs.

Cradle Mountain offers walking tracks to suit all visitors, from the non-hikers to the serious walkers. There are a wide variety of walks on offer, from easy boardwalk strolls to the legendary Overland Track.

Start your journey at the Visitors Centre for information and a shuttle bus ticket (no cars allowed in the park during shuttle bus hours). Take the shuttle bus loop from the Visitors Centre to each of the drop off points to discover the various sites inside the park and set off on the designated walks.

parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/cradle-mountain

Stay: Cradle Mountain Lodge

We stayed at Cradle Mountain Lodge, the closest hotel to the Cradle Mountain National Park. Accommodation at Cradle Mountain Lodge consists of cosy cabins spread out around the central hotel building, which has cosy living room and dining areas, perfect for relaxing after a hike in the park.

cradlemountainlodge.com.au

Day 3 – Launceston to Hobart

Drive to Hobart

After a morning walk around Cradle Mountain, drive on to Hobart, which will take approximately 4.5 hours.

Hobart Waterfront & Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery

After arriving in Hobart, take a walk along the historic waterfront and step inside the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery (TMAG), which is open daily 10am-4pm and has free entry.

The TMAG is the second oldest museum in Australia and has its origins in the collections of the country’s oldest scientific society, the Royal Society of Tasmania, which was established in 1843.

tmag.tas.gov.au

Stay: Movenpick Hotel

We stayed at the Movenpick Hotel, which is extremely centrally located and has large, comfortable, modern rooms.

The hotel also features daily “chocolate hour” with free chocolate pastries available in the lobby for guests to enjoy.

Movenpick Hotel Hobart

Day 4 – Hobart

Bruny Island

The perfect day trip from Hobart, Bruny Island is a 30 min drive (33km) to the ferry terminal in Kettering. followed by a 20 min ride on the car ferry. You will need your own car to drive around Bruny Island. If you do not have a car, you can take join a tour group departing Hobart.

Bruny Island is known for its natural produce, with local businesses specialising in oysters, cheese, honey, whisky and chocolate.

The businesses are well marked on the map, and we recommend driving to the southernmost point and working your way back and stopping off at each to sample the produce.

We tried and loved Bruny Island Raspberry Farm, Bruny Island Honey, Bruny Island Cheese Co. and Bruny Island Chocolate.

Bruny Island also has spectacular landscapes (take the short but steep walk up The Neck for the most famous view) and wildlife such as the white wallaby.

brunyisland.org.au

Day 5 – Hobart

MONA

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is a remarkable art museum carved into a headland at Berriedale, 13km north of Hobart’s CBD. MONA opened in 2011 and has divided critics with its fresh, whimsical and at times confronting approach to art.

The MONA is, at heart, a place to immerse yourself in ideas and challenge your notion of what art can and should be. IMONA is fun, shocking, silly, irreverent and a truly great day out for the whole family.

Bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful view from the grassed rooftop.

The best way to visit MONA is by ferry. Catch the MONA Roma ferry from Brooke Street Pier.

mona.net.au

Salamanca Place

Salamanca Place is the historic docks area of Hobart, lined with a long row of 1830s Georgian sandstone warehouses.

Salamanca is also home to a majority of the best restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Tasmania, and Salamanca’s Weekly Market (Saturdays).

salamanca.com.au

Battery Point

From Salamanca Place, climb the colonial era Kelly’s steps and wander up up through the quaint streets of historic Battery Point

Stroll down Hampden Road, the main strip of Battery Point, which houses cafes, art and gift shops and an artisan bakery.

Additional Hobart Ideas

Maria Island

It’s a bit of a hike to get there, with a 1.5 hour drive from Hobart plus ferry, however Maria Island is home to some of the most visible and plentiful wildlife in Australia. Wombats, Forester kangaroos, Cape Barren geese and one of the healthiest populations of Tasmanian devils all call Maria Island home.

Walking and cycling are the only ways to get about on car-free Maria Island.

discovertasmania.com.au/regions/east-coast/maria-island-national-park/

Cascades Female Factory

The World Heritage-listed Cascades Female Factory Historic Site is the most significant site associated with female convicts in Australia. The Factory tells the story of the displacement, mistreatment and forced migration of convict women and girls, and their contribution to colonisation throughout the history of colonial Australia to the present day.

femalefactory.org.au

Cascades Brewery

home to the oldest operating brewery in Australia, Cascade Brewing Co. Book a table at the bar or a tour and tasting at the Mill.

cascadebrewerybar.com.au

Find more things to add to a five day Tasmania itinerary here. discovertasmania.com.au

Visiting the Wildlife Learning Center in Los Angeles, California

November 8, 2023 / California, Travel, USA / 0 comment

Visiting the Wildlife Learning Center in Los Angeles, California

Wildlife Learning and Conservation Center (WLCC) is located in Sylmar, California and is home to over 100 displaced, rescued, and zoo-born wild animals.

WLCC was founded in 2007 to give a home and care to animals in need and to provide public education in the life sciences, conservation, and the environment.

The animals who call WLCC their home are either rescues or part of the SSP breeding program mentioned below. You can read the stories of the animals as you walk around the center on a self-guided tour, or hear about them from their keepers on a guided tour. You can read a bit about their stories here, as well. There are some extremely sad stories from some of the animals regarding their previous lives. They are certainly leading a much happier, enriching life at the WLCC.

WLCC participates in species conservation efforts called Species Survival Plans (SSP), which are managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSP programs cooperatively manage threatened and endangered species within AZA-accredited Zoos and Aquariums, Certified Related Facilities, and Sustainability Partners.

SSP’s preserve species from extinction by maintaining sustainable and genetically diverse populations of species. As part of their conservation mission, Wildlife Learning Center is an active participant in the SSP programs for the two-toed sloth (Cholopous didactylus), 3-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus), and North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum).

WLCC is open to the public for general admission, private tours, and special events. WLCC offers life science outreach programs to schools, libraries, scout groups, and private events.

Wildlife Learning Center
16027 Yarnell St, Sylmar, CA 91342, United States
wildlifelearningcenter.org

Find more things to do in Los Angeles with kids here.

Met Art World – Metal Art Gallery In Melbourne Australia

November 8, 2023 / Melbourne, Travel, Victoria / 0 comment

Met Art World – Metal Art Gallery In Melbourne Australia

Met Art World is the biggest metal art gallery in Australia showcasing unique artworks, interactive installations and creative workshops for all ages.

Met Art World, located in Port Melbourne, Victoria, is a unique art gallery with stunning metal art statues handmade from scrap metal and recycled materials. The statues are interactive (feel free to touch, hold, sit, drive them and take pictures!) and represent many favourite characters from themes including anime, movies, animals, the military, cars, motorcycles, and princesses.

The second floor is home to an incredible starry night exhibition that uses advanced technology throughout the 12 exhibitions which include a 360° immersive experience tunnel, and a bright 5D starry sky.

Met Art World also hosts over 30 artmaking courses including various handicrafts from button painting to paper 3D puzzles, plus drawing, painting, installation, collage, and sewing, all included with the price of entry

There are also over 60 DIY workshops for all ages for an additional fee including the Turkish mosaic series, whipped cream decoration series, plaster doll painting series, sculpture painting collection, fluid bear pouring DIY, miniature box theatre, jewellery beading, shell painting, embroidery, and etc.

Met Art World – Metal Art Gallery
155 Boundary St,
Port Melbourne VIC 3207
metartworld.com.au

Find more things to do in Melbourne with and without kids here.

What to Expect On A Disney Wonder Cruise Review

November 6, 2023 / Cruising, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Travel, Travel / 0 comment

What to Expect On A Disney Wonder Cruise Review

The Disney Wonder is part of the iconic Disney Cruise Line fleet that sail all over the world – including Australia and New Zealand! Signature Disney Cruise Line offerings include rotational dining, Broadway-style shows, themed dining, character encounters and fireworks at sea.

Each of the Disney Cruise Line ships have been designed with spaces catering to families, kids and adults, so guests will feel the wonder of a child (and magic of Disney!), no matter their age.

Disney Wonder Stats

The Disney Wonder is the smallest of the Disney Cruise Line Fleet. It is still jam-packed with incredible features, but is a smaller ship rather than the behemoth cities-on-sea that are currently launching on the cruise market.

Crew                           950
Passenger Decks      11
Capacity                     2,713 passengers
Staterooms                875

Family Areas
D Lounge – Deck 4
Wide World of Sports deck – Deck 10
Twist ‘n’ Spout water slide – Deck 9
AquaLab interactive play area – Deck 9
Goofy’s Pool family pool – Deck 9
Mickey’s Pool children’s pool – Deck 9
Dory’s Reef splash zone– Deck 9
Edge – Deck 9
Sea Treasures retail shop – Deck 3
White Caps, Mickey’s Mainsail retail shops – Deck 4

Youth Areas
It’s a Small World Nursery– Deck 5
Disney’s Oceaneer Club – Deck 5
Disney’s Oceaneer Lab – Deck 5
Vibe teen club – Deck 11
Edge tween club – Deck 2
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – Deck 10

Adult Areas
After Hours – Deck 3
Crown & Fin Pub
Azure
Cadillac Lounge
Senses Spa & Salon – Deck 9
Quiet Cove Pool – Deck 9
Cove Café – Deck 9
Signals – Deck 9
Promenade Lounge – Deck 3

Dining
Tiana’s Place main dining – Deck 3
Animator’s Palate main dining – Deck 4
Triton’s main dining – Deck 3
Palo adult-exclusive – Deck 10
Cabanas casual dining – Deck 9
Pete’s Boiler Bites, Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, Daisy De-Lites quick service – Deck 9

Plenty of Family Entertainment

Does anyone do family entertainment better than Disney?

Guests aboard the Disney Wonder can enjoy three Broadway-style stage shows in the Walt Disney Theatre.

“Frozen, A Musical Spectacular” follows the captivating adventure of royal sisters Anna and Elsa as they embark on a journey to discover the meaning of sisterhood, inner strength and true love.

“The Golden Mickeys” celebrates the musical heritage of Disney animated films, immersing guests in all the glamour and excitement of a Hollywood awards gala.

“Disney Dreams… An Enchanted Classic” is a signature Disney Cruise Line show that tells a bedtime story featuring popular Disney characters who together teach a young girl the power of her dreams.

There are also movies shown in the Walt Disney Theatre, as well as up on deck by the family pool and in the Buena Vista Theatre, a cinema that screens first-run movies and digital 3-D films.

On select itineraries, the “Pirates IN the Caribbean” celebration to enjoy, which includes an interactive show featuring Jack Sparrow and culminates in a fireworks spectacular choreographed to the dramatic musical score from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

Fun in the Sun on the Upper Decks

The Disney Wonder features separate outdoor spaces for children, families and adults.

AquaLab, an interactive water playground open to kids age 3 and older.
Dory’s Reef, a special splash-and-play area for little ones up to age 3.
Goofy’s Pool, a pool for families of all ages to enjoy including two whirlpool spas.
Twist ‘n’ Spout, a double-looping waterslide. You’ve got to be 38 inches or taller to ride.
Quite Cove Pool for adults only.
Wide World of Sports Deck, the perfect place for a pick-up game or ping-pong match.

Uniquely-Themed Rotational Dining

Guests aboard the Disney Wonder “rotate” through three family restaurants, accompanied each night by the same serving team.

Tiana’s Place, is a celebration of New Orleans-inspired dining and entertainment. The whole evening is just a fun party with a southern-style menu inspired by the flavors and ingredients of Louisiana. Expect live music, dancing, characters and beignets!

Tritons, named after the Little Mermaid’s father, is an upscale restaurant offering sophisticated family dining “under the sea”. Take in the small details in this stunning restaurant: chandeliers, stained glass, sea-inspired architectural flourishes and a sweeping mural of Ariel and her father. This regal restaurant also serves breakfast and lunch.

Animator’s Palate is a not-to-be-missed dining experience. The restaurant is decorated in classic black and white, from the animation-adorned walls to the giant paint brushes around the room and seats representing Mickey Mouse. The walls have large high-definition flat-screens hanging on them – you will want to take a seat with a good view of the screens to watch the animation magic that takes place throughout the night. This is an extremely special interactive dining experience that really sets the Disney Wonder apart from other cruise lines.

Palo is the final restaurant. It is an adult-only Italian restaurant open for brunch and dinner at an additional cost.

Spaces for Kids of All Ages

The Disney Wonder began the Disney Cruise Line tradition of specially designated spaces for kids of all ages. Adults can only visit these spaces during the ship “open house” events.

Disney’s Oceaneer Club transports kids ages 3 to 12 to the magical lands of Disney fairies, courageous Super Heroes and adventuresome toys.
Disney’s Oceaneer Lab is a nautical wonderland where children ages 3 to 12 embark on a journey of discovery with arts and crafts, gaming and counselor-led activities.

It’s a Small World Nursery is a whimsical world for infants and toddlers up to age 3 where they are safely cared for by trained Disney counselors.
Vibe (ages 14 to 17) and Edge (ages 11 to 14) are ultra-cool teen and tween hangouts with comfy couches, music, video games and other chill-out necessities.

At Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, aspiring young princess and knights become Disney royalty with the help of a fairy godmother-in-training. When the pirate deck party is on the evening schedule, the space transforms into The Pirate League, where young sailors can unleash their inner buccaneer with a piratical makeover.

Read about our previous experience at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on Disney Cruise Line here.

Chill Spa for Teens: Guests ages 13 to 17 can enjoy the Chill Spa, located inside Senses Spa & Salon on Deck 9. Chill Spa includes two treatment rooms with showers where teens can stress less and chill out with spa treatments designed just for them.

Adult-only Spaces

Adults needn’t fear that they will be trapped with kids the entire cruise. The Disney Wonder has dedicated spaces for adult guests to enjoy for a relaxing and rejuvenating cruise.

After Hours, an extraordinary adult-exclusive nighttime entertainment neighborhood that features trendy and sophisticated bars and lounges.

Crown & Fin Pub resembles a traditional British tavern, with dark woods, plush leather furniture and brass accents. Guests can duck in for a jolly time and a frosty pint while socializing at this inviting and nostalgic bar.

Cadillac Lounge delights guests with the glitz of classic Hollywood, featuring an intimate and upscale atmosphere, crafted mixed drinks and live piano music nightly.

Azure is a lounge featuring a bar and dance floor, inspired by the shapes, colors, sounds and movements of the sea.

Senses Spa & Salon is a luxe space for adults ages 18 and older to indulge spa treatments, massages, manicures, pedicures, and a rainforest-themed aromatherapy steam room and sauna. The fitness center is well-appointed with state-of-the-art equipment and offers personal training sessions and instructional classes in yoga, Pilates, aerobics and more.

Quick-and-Casual Family Dining

There are plenty of quick, convenient options for meals and snacks on the Disney Wonder, from casual walk-up dining options to room service (and all included!).

Cabanas
Cabanas is a casual dining experience offering food and beverage stations during daytime hours. This massive buffet is the prime spot for breakfast and lunch and gets super busy, so go early to avoid the crowds.

Daisy’s De-Lites
A healthy fast-food option offering salads, sandwiches, wraps and fruit.

Pinocchio’s Pizzeria
Enjoy a slice of pizza throughout the day at this outdoor eatery located next to Goofy’s Pool. Choices include pepperoni, vegetarian, Hawaiian or plain cheese. Gluten-free is also available.

Pete’s Boiler Bites
Classic American fare like burgers, hot dogs and tacos are on offer at Pete’s Boiler Bites, a great place to enjoy a quick meal for lunch, dinner or anytime in between.

Eye Scream Treats
Unlimited soft serve icecream is available near Goofy’s Pool on Deck 9 at Eye Scream Treats, inspired by the friendly, one-eyed monster Mike Wazowski from the Disney•Pixar animated feature “Monsters, Inc.”.

Free Room Service

Room service deserves its own category because it’s such a luxury to enjoy meals delivered to your door! Guests on the Disney Wonder can enjoy fresh, made-to-order Disney dining 24/7 in the comfort of their stateroom. Be sure to order one of the special off-menu items that aren’t listed: Mickey bars, Uncrustables and cake of the day. Room service is included in your overall cruise fees, however please remember to tip $1 USD per item ordered.

Character meet and greets

Mickey, Minnie and a wide range of their friends are available for character meet and greets throughout the cruise. Check your daily schedule in the app to find out where the characters are going to be and be early if you want to meet them.

Tip: Not every character appears every day. When you see someone you want to meet, be sure to go line up and don’t put it off.

Royal Gathering: This is a meet-and-greet with Disney princesses that you book in advance online or through your app. It’s the only bookable character experience on the cruise.

Royal Court Royal Tea

The Royal Court Royal Tea also deserves its own section as it’s a popular event that books out and is quite a special event for kids who love princesses. It’s a pricey event but it does include entertainment, meet-and-greets, gifts and a lovely high tea for kids up to age 12 and their accompanying adults.

Tip: The Royal Court Royal tea books out extremely fast so book it as soon as your activity window opens.

Read about our previous experience at the Royal Court Royal Tea here.

Get more information on the Royal Court Royal Tea experience.

Beautiful Staterooms

We love the rooms onboard the Disney Wonder. The understated elegance of the rooms with a touch of Disney is just the perfect decor for our tastes. We find the rooms to be a great size for our family of three (they actually fit four or five).

Tips on Cruising with Disney

Tipping the staff

This is an American company and tipping is an integral part of the business. Whether you agree with tipping or not, it makes up a substantial part of the cruise staffs’ wages so my opinion is that if you can afford to cruise, you can afford to tip and build that into the expected costs.

You can read about the recommended tipping for staff here. I choose to pay gratuities in advance when I pay for my cruises so I don’t think about any additional costs on board.

Merchandise

If you are a lover of the merch like I am, then you will want to get to the shops when they open on departure day – which is after the ship has entered international waters. The merchandise is extremely popular and items sell out on the first day.

Seasickness

If you suffer from seasickness like I do, choose a cabin that is mid ship and low level. You can bring as many meds on board as you like – you can also visit the Health Center and get medication there.

Preparing for crowds

On the Australian and New Zealand voyages in particular, prepare to have to queue for character meet and greets. I would suggest seeing characters as early as possible on your cruise if this is a priority for you, and arriving at the spots where characters are meeting well ahead of their scheduled time.

Shows are also packing out so arrive half an hour before show time to ensure you get a seat (front middle is the best place!)

Read more about our previous Disney Wonder cruise to Alaska here.

Get more information about booking a Disney Cruise here.

Read about our Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Fantasy here.