Children's Day Activities 2013

This Friday is Children's Day and if you are fretting over where to bring your special ones on this special day (and the coming weekend), we have done the homework for you!

Colouring Fun & Drawing Competition

4 Oct 2013

9.30am - 11.30am

Esplanade Concert Hall

5 to 12 year-olds can participate in the On-the-spot Drawing Competition, with prizes to be won while 2 to 4 year-olds can indulge in some Colouring Fun! Event is free but registration is required. Visit HERE for more information and to register. *Closing date for registration is 2 Oct 2013.

OCTOBURST 2013

4 - 6 Oct 2013

Esplanade

Various Timings

It's time for Octoburst! - the children's festival that promises an exciting weekend of arts activities. There will be a wide array of both ticketed and free events, including ParenTalk workshops to inspire Daddies and Mummies. Click on the Event Calendar below to find out more.

For more information, please visit www.esplanade.com/octoburst/2012/

Celebrate Children’s Day with Inuka the polar bear

4 - 5 Oct 2013

Singapore Zoo

Various Timings

FREE (Zoo Admission fees apply)

Chill out in Singapore Zoo’s Frozen Tundra with the little ones this Children’s Day and enjoy a frosty fun time with a lineup of educational activities about polar bears. Pique your child’s curiosity about polar bears – the largest land predator in the world – in our Snow & Tell session, and see the children go wild on a great seal hunt.  To end off on a warm and fuzzy note, work on a beautiful ‘Happy Children’s Day’ card together for Inuka the polar bear!

1. Snow & Tell session
Venue: Auditorium
Duration: 20min
Time: 9.30am, 10.30am, and 11.30am

Discover how polar bears adapt, survive, and live comfortably in their cold environment in a Snow and Tell session. Participants will learn interesting facts such as the polar bears’ habitat, diet, and threats they face in the wild. Also find out how zookeepers at Singapore Zoo look after and engage our very own polar bear, Inuka. This talk is free of charge and requires no registration. Simply follow the signs to the auditorium at the specified time slots.

2. The Great Seal Hunt
Venue: Frozen Tundra
Time: 10.00am to 2.00pm

Children get to hone their predatory instincts in the Frozen Tundra Great Seal Hunt. Participants play the role of little polar bears hunting for prey — hidden seal stickers around the Frozen Tundra exhibit. Follow the instructions on the stickers and mark out the specially designed Frozen Tundra map provided by Singapore Zoo staff. The first 100 participants to complete their map will win attractive prizes!

 3. Draw for Inuka!
Venue: Frozen Tundra
Time: Zoo operating hours – 8.30am to 6.00pm

Have your child express their creativity by penning their own drawings of Inuka wishing him a Happy Children’s Day! Participants can bring their drawings when visiting the Zoo and their work will possibly be displayed at the Frozen Tundra exhibit. A drawing corner and drawing materials will be available for children who wish to draw at the Zoo itself.

Squawk to Children’s Day @ Jurong Bird Park

4 - 5 Oct 2013

Breeding and Research Centre (BRC); Junior Eggs-pert Room

11.45am, 2.30pm &4.30pm (20 mins)

FREE (Park Admission fees apply)

Gather your kids, fly over to the Breeding and Research Centre (BRC) in Jurong Bird Park and indulge their senses at ‘Squawk to Children’s Day’, an engaging activity lined up for them this Children’s Day. Get up close and personal with beautiful macaws and cockatoos, while enthusiastic trainers impart avian knowledge to the little ones. Grab this exclusive opportunity to take a photograph with one of our cockatoos, and because it is Children’s Day, all participants will be rewarded with a Children’s Day gift from Jurong Bird Park!

CyberShock @ Suntec West Atrium

4 - 6 Oct 2013

Suntec Mall, West Atrium (outside UNIQLO and H&M)

11am - 8pm, FREE

Help defend the Nation and learn about Cyber Security in the process. Curious to find out what Cyber Security and LEGO have in common? Come down to Suntec West Atrium to see Singapore’s largest LEGO city built from over 160,000 LEGO parts and defend THE NATION while learning more about cyber security in CyberShock. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/letsstandtogether.sg

Young Learners Festival

4 - 6 Oct 2013

Science Centre Singapore, Marquee & Ecogarden

10am - 5pm

Science Centre Singapore is proud to present the latest edition of Young Learners Festival! This year’s theme is “Colour My World” and kids will be given the opportunity to participate in a couple of hands-on activities - The Colours in the Garden, Bobbly Bubbles  & Delightful light - and bring back your own hand made souvenirs. ($2 per activity)

In addition, through an exclusive guided tour, kids can immerse themselves in the Ecogarden and be thrilled by the plants and animals there. Also, do not miss the fascinating science show: Colour my world! For more information, please visit www.science.edu.sg/events/Pages/YoungLearnersFestival.aspx

Justice League Meet & Greet

4 - 6 Oct 2013

Causeway Point, Main Atrium (L1)

1pm, 3pm & 5pm

Meet Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Green Lantern and bring home a polaroid as memento.

Baby Market 2013

4 - 6 Oct 2013

Singapore Expo Hall 3

4 & 5 Oct: 11am - 9pm | 6 Oct 11am - 8pm

The Massive Show with over 100 Exhibitors and 400 brands – Baby Market will have all major strollers, cots, prams, diapers, play-pens, carriers, milk powder, baby gadgets and other necessity brands under one roof! Baby Market is a shopping source that brings heaps of great deals, focused on pregnancy, babies, birth and toddlers, as well as women health and family needs.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2: KIDS PARTY!

5 Oct 2013

9am onwards

Golden Village, City Square

$25 for Public / $20 for GV Movie Club Members

On 5th October 2013, kids get to enjoy an exclusive screening of hit animation comedy Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 at a fun-filled kids party organised specially by Golden Village. Ticket prices include a movie ticket, admission to cookie decorating workshop, photo taking at instant print photo booth, goodie bag, kids popcorn combo and one chance to win prizes during the lucky draw). For more information, visit www.gv.com.sg/moviedetails/gv_moviedetails_0815.jsp

FREE Guided Chek Jawa Boardwalk trip

with the Naked Hermit Crabs

5 Oct 2013

Meeting Time: 9:30 am
Meeting Place: Chek Jawa Information Kiosk, Pulau Ubin
Duration of walk: Approximately 2 hours
Cost: No charge
*Registration is COMPULSORY. To sign up, visit HERE.

Barbie Meet & Greet

5 Oct 2013

OG Albert Level 3, Children’s Department

1pm, 3pm & 5pm

Sara the Forgetful Dinosaur - Children's Treasure Hunt

(A Guided Tour)

5 Oct 2013; 10 - 11am

The Green Pavilion, Botany Centre, Tanglin Core of Singapore Botanic Gardens

 $8.50 per child & $6.00 per accompanying adult

Go on a hunt for dinosaur eggs in the Singapore Botanic Gardens and learn about the interesting members of the plant kingdom. Suitable for children in K1 - P6 Levels. Pre-registration is required. For enquiry and registration, please contact the SBG Education Branch at 6471 9961 & 6465 0196 or through email: nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg. Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Lianhe Wanbao KidSports Bonanza

5 & 6 Oct 2013

City Square Mall, L1 Atrium

As part of Lianhe Wanbao's 30th Anniversary and in celebration of Children's Day, Singapore Press Holdings, in collaboration with City Square Mall, is organising a KidSports Challenge for families with children aged two to twelve years old. Vie for medals, cash and other prizes in the adrenaline-pumping sports games!

River of Life Exhibition

4 Oct - 30 Nov 2013

Gardens by the Bay

9am - 9pm

FREE

River of Life is a Gardens by the Bay exhibition that illustrates the importance of a clean water system for the conservation and protection of a biodiversity-rich environment. Supported by ExxonMobil, with contributions from schools and individuals from the community, this exhibition shares the message of environmental sustainability and commemorates the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. There will also be a series of complementary educational programmes that kids can participate in:

The Fruit Loop Scavenger Hunt
Join in a fruity scavenger hunt and learn fun facts about fruits and flowers. Pick up a map from the fruity booth at the Canopy and start looking for clues on its team of walking “fruits”!
Date: 4 -6 Oct 2013
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: Outdoor Gardens

Carried Away Garden Trail
How do plants propagate and spread their splendour all over the Earth? As you explore the outdoor gardens with this self-guided Garden Trail, learn about the life cycle of plants and how plants adapt themselves to better disperse their seeds. Pick up a copy at the Canopy and let’s get ‘carried away’! *Suitable for kids aged 7 and up.
Date: 4 -6 Oct 2013
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: Outdoor Gardens

River of Life Gaia Trail
Visit the Kingfisher and Dragonfly Lakes to discover the significant role plants play in maintaining the quality of water in rivers and lakes. Learn the importance of sustainable water management and find out how Gardens by the Bay uses plants as a natural eco-filter to clean the water in our lakes. Pick up a free copy of this Gaia Trail map at Ticketing, Gallery (beside Cloud Forest exit) and Friends of the Garden counter. *Suitable for kids aged 7 and up.
Date: 4 Oct - 30 Nov 2013
Time: 9am - 9pm
Venue: Kingfisher and Dragonfly Lake, Gallery

Smoulder Lava Cakes: Bite-sized Pleasures

Product Review

(Daddy chomps)

If you have got a sweet tooth that just refuses to budge but yet are afraid to pile on the calories, then you may want to head on down to Smoulder for its bite-sized lava cakes. These are warm and moist cakes with hot molten centres - but with its petite size, it makes consumption a tad less sinful. Especially since no sugar is added to these pleasures as whatever sweetness comes from the cocoa and fresh fruit Smoulder use.

Uhm... pardon the untidy layout of the lava cakes above, no thanks to the overzealous nature of both Ash and Ayd who were all too anxious to lay their hands on them as soon as I took out the boxes.

Smoulder has currently 11 flavours on its menu and they are Signature Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Black Forest, Intense Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate Mocha, White Chocolate Matcha, White Chocolate Lemon, White Chocolate Raspberry, Milk Chocolate Rum & Raisin, White Chocolate Pistachio, Milk Chocolate Hazelnut and White Chocolate Oreo.Thankfully enough, the kind people at Smoulder took the hassle of me agonising over which flavours to pick by sending all of them over!

And it was impeccable timing too, since we had a Mid-Autumn Festival gathering with the wifey's extended family 2 weeks back when these lava cakes landed on our laps.

All of the lava cakes are baked only with the finest Belgian chocolates and have zero preservatives, meaning you got to eat them when they are fresh and piping hot... with its molten chocolate lava oozing out tantalizingly!

The signature dark chocolate and intense dark chocolate lava cakes contain 50% and 70% cocoa respectively and these were the ones I zoomed in first. 2 words - completely irresistible. The texture of the lava cake was extremely smooth and it was not not too sweet, as are all of their other lava cakes. The dark chocolate one carried off the bittersweet taste rather well too.

My other personal favourite was the White Chocolate Pistachio and this tasted something different to the previous two. There were some crushed pistachio nuts on the surface of the cake; a nice touch as this crunch added an extra zing to the chocolate and pistachio flavour.

As for the monkies, they hoarded the White Chocolate Raspberry lava cakes before anyone else. And unsurprisingly, this emerged as their all-time fave.

The blurry capture of the above photo can be largely attributed to the speed at which the lava cake was devoured.

Combing smooth white chocolate with fresh raspberry bits, this berries-and-cream duo certainly satisfied both of them pretty well... come to think of it, they loved it so much that no other adult had the good fortune to bite into this particular flavour!

Coming in second and third in the boys' lava cakes ranking are the Milk Chocolate Hazelnut and White Chocolate Oreo respectively. I was told by the co-owner of Smoulder that these two are popular with kids as well. In fact, because of its convenient size, these lava cakes make an excellent dessert choice at children's parties I reckon. One portion is just nice for kids; and for adults, it gives them the stomach space to try more flavours.

Or if you have a newborn baby and are on the lookout for unconventional 'manyue' favours for relatives and friends, Smoulder has the answer with its 3-cake favour box and it comes personalised with the newborn's photo and ribbon packaging. Each box costs $8.20.

Photo Credit. Smoulder Softcore Bakers

As a whole, everyone at the gathering certainly enjoyed the lava cakes which were scrumptious, mouth-watering and most importantly, not overly sweet. But they taste best when eaten warm. So if the cakes are at room temp, simply pop them in the microwave oven for 5-7 seconds on Medium heat for that optimal flavour.

The next time you are looking for a chocolate fix, be sure to check out Smoulder - the softcore bakers with the hardcore flavourful lava cakes.


Useful Information

Outlets: Raffles City Shopping Centre #B1-68 & Takashimaya Food Hall #B208-4
Prices: $2.80 per piece.  $8.20 for a 3-piece box.  $24 for a 9-piece box.
For bulk orders, email enquiries@smoulder.it or call 6225 6422.
For more information, kindly visit www.smoulder.it

Because it's Hong Kong Disneyland Magic

(Daddy blogs)

The monkies' September School Holidays got a tad special this year, which came courtesy of some extremely special magic fairy dust from Hong Kong Disneyland. Yes that's right, the happiest place on Earth that can make kids (and some grown-ups too) ricochet off walls at the mere mention of its name.

The wifey and I had originally decided to only tell the kids of our intended destination on the eve of our departure. But who were we kidding? There was no way that we could conceal our excitement for that long and so, the relentless bugging from the monkies ensued... all the way until we hopped onto the Hong Kong-bound plane. And the excitement factor went a few notches higher when we finally checked into Disney’s Hollywood Hotel.

Six years ago, we too stayed at the same hotel and amazingly, the rooms still looked as new as ever. The only change? The 2 boys have grown up quite a fair bit since then.

That, and with the addition of a solitary Diva of course. This time around, it was this same Diva who was particularly inquisitive and off she snooped to explore the four corners of our hotel room.

And she became rather smug with herself after she had chanced upon some toiletries that were meant for kids.

If you ask me, I could just chill in my Sea View Room for a little while longer to soak in the views and catch up on some of my sleep.

 But guess who wouldn't afford me that luxury?

 Three monkies and the wifey included, that's who.

All because there was still the small matter of hauling ourselves down to Hong Kong Disneyland proper.

I don't know about you, but there seems to be something magical about standing along the Main Street, U.S.A. in Hong Kong Disneyland. Perhaps it is the piped-in Disney music, or the 20th-century small-town replica buildings, or the sight of Sleeping Beauty's Castle towering in the distance.

Suffice to say, the boys were zipping through the park on a high in search of rides that they could unleash their adrenaline on. But those plans had to be put on hold temporarily as the once-per-day Flights of Fantasy Parade was something that we could never miss.

Along the way to the park, Ale had actually fell asleep in the her stroller and we had to rudely awaken her from her slumber. Given any other occasion, she would have screamed blue murder at our audacity in cutting short her nap. But this particular time, she woke up abruptly... with a smile to boot on seeing her favourite Disney characters.

It is amazing how much power waving Disney Princesses possess.

The street parade definitely did not disappoint, with its colourful floats, marching band, lots of dancers... and the occasional Disney character whom one got to high-five as well.

Initially, I had thought only Ale would enjoy the parade but it turned out that both Ash and Ayd loved it too and even requested to watch it again during our second day at the park! So we decided to do something a bit different this time around - we found a table at the Corner Cafe at Main Street, plonked ourselves down and and savoured its Magical Afternoon High Tea Set.

And all these while, the monkies could carry on watching the parade in air-conditioned comfort while the wifey and I got a much-needed rest.

The delectable savouries were definitely most welcomed too!

And how satisfying was our high tea? I guess Ayd's expression says it all.

But enough of gorging, time to pump up the adrenaline and it doesn't come any closer in the form of the three new theme areas in Hong Kong Disneyland! 

Toy Story Land was the first of the three to be opened in 2011, with Grizzly Gulch next in line in 2012 and the final piece in the jigsaw, Mystic Point opened in May this year. Of the three, the boys have been gunning for Grizzly Gulch most all because of a certain mine-coaster ride.

Exclusive to Hong Kong Disneyland, Grizzly Gulch is fashioned to feel like an abandoned mining town set amid mountains and woods. The centerpiece structure is Grizzly Peak, which houses its star attraction - Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars.

The Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars is a steel roller-coaster where one gets to experience the thrill of riding a fast-speeding mine car careening though and over Grizzy Gulch.

Unlike a regular roller-coaster, the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars (Min. Height: 112cm) does not feature any high plunges or death-defying loops. But what it does have is thrilling speeds and a section of the ride that goes backwards! I have to say, this is unlike any other coaster rides that I have taken. It was definitely a refreshing twist to the usual roller-coaster rides and more importantly, the boys loved it so much... as you can probably tell from below.

Saves me the trouble of writing a review, no? Pure genius, I am.

ANYWAY... as Ayd mentioned in his review above, the other area that we also spent a fair amount of time was at the Geyser Gulch, a huge water play area designed for one sole purpose - to get people drenched. But it's all in the name of good fun though!

The newest kid on the block, Mystic Point, was next on our list. Also exclusive to Hong Kong Disneyland, the premise of Mystic Point is a dense, uncharted rain forest surrounded by mysterious forces and supernatural events.

The story of Mystic Point follows the adventures of eccentric explorer and art collector Lord Henry Mystic, who invites guests to board the Mystic Magneto-Electric Carriage for a tour of his private museum located within his Mystic Manor. When Lord Henry’s companion, his monkey Albert, mischievously opens a newly acquired magical music box, the enchanted Music Dust within is released and, accompanied by a haunting tune, a mysterious journey begins.

The minimum height requirement for this ride is 82cm which meant that Ale made the cut and our entire family was able to experience the ride together. When I first got onto the carriage, I had initially thought this was just going to be a normal ride where we would be driven to various rooms.

Well, I was half-correct. We were ushered into different rooms via our carriage but the experience was anything but normal. For one, I was deeply impressed with the trackless ride system where the carriages receiving directional instruction are operated via radio-frequency identification technology within the floor and Wi-Fi. This meant that the carriages are free to travel throughout the mansion as they are not permanently programmed to one path.

Ride-wise, there were a few dark moments but nothing too scary for the young ones overall. In fact, Ale was the first one who remarked that she wanted to go on it again! And we would have acceded to her request if not for the fact that the reason that the ride was so overwhelmingly popular with the rest of the park visitors.

The other part of Mystic Point that is worth stopping for is Garden of Wonders, where the ancient sculptures and paintings create some of the most perplexing 3D illusions.

And if those illusions manage to not only boggle the eyes but work up an appetite as well, there is the Explorer's Club Restaurant nearby to satisfy those taste-buds.

I like the fact that restaurant actually continues the storyline of Mystic Manor, with its different themed seating areas like Morocco, Russia, India, Egypt and China. A Halal-certified restaurant, it serves mainly Asian cuisine like Korean, Japanese, Indonesian (nasi goreng!) and South-East Asian (chicken rice!). We had one of our dinners there and it was a definite welcome change since we were getting a tad jaded from all the usual Western theme park food.

The uber-colourful Toy Story Land was the last stop out of the three newest theme areas and personally, this was the one area that I enjoyed the most especially since Toy Story is one of my favourite movies of all time... that is until they build a Star Wars Land in Hong Kong Disneyland. One can dream, right?

There are a total of 3 rides here - the Slinky Dog Spin, the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop and the RC Racer. To Ale's delight, she was able to go on two of those rides. I figured she would have no qualms going on the Slinky Dog Spin but what of the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop? It turned out that she was more fearless than I give her credit for.

As for the RC Racer ride (Min. Height 112cm), I can tell you more but I think Ash will be able to do a competent enough job as well.

And this, is the ride in question.

Simply put, this was by far the most thrilling ride I have ever attempted. The U-shaped track can be rather deceiving, but let's just say when you are up there it can get very scary exhilarating! The most thrilling part of the ride has got to be when I felt myself lifted slightly off my seat on the way down... exactly why this is ranked as Ash's top ride in Hong Kong Disneyland.

Of course, a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland will not be complete without experiencing the original attractions it has to offer too. And if you have kids who are of the same age as Ale, they will surely enjoy the Jungle River Cruise at Adventureland.

The attraction simulates a riverboat cruise down the major rivers of Asia, Africa and South America, complete with animatronic beasts like hippos, elephants, cobras and orangutans. Nothing too exciting which probably explained why Ash and Ayd got a little bored towards the end, but Ale thoroughly enjoyed it.

But the boys perked up when I told them we were going to catch the Festival of the Lion King next.

If your kids are familiar with the animated film, they will love it. Even if they have not watched 'The Lion King' before, the sheer colours, infectious music and energetic dancing will no doubt endear them to this theatrical extravaganza. A must-watch, in my opinion.

Right after, we then made our way to Tomorrowland where I can finally let my ears rest, no thanks to the boys' incessant clamouring.

And that can be largely attributed to this attraction.

Somehow, this has remained a perpetual fave for Ash... even after six years since his first Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride. Even Ayd has become a fan now, no doubt the main draw being boasting the bragging rights of being the top blaster of the ride. Thankfully enough, this was a Disney FASTPASS attraction which meant the boys got to blast the evil Zurg to their hearts' content.

The other 2 rides we would have loved to have tried were the Autopia and Space Mountain attractions. But the former had a leg-numbing waiting time of 60 minutes while the latter was closed in preparation for the park's upcoming Halloween celebrations. So no stomach-churning roller-coaster fix for the boys then.

Finally, it was the turn of Fantasyland... which Ale has been patiently waiting for all these while.

And it must have been well the wait, thanks to these 2 Disney Princesses.

Inevitably, she is currently in her Princess-y phase and all things royal. So imagine her utter amazement at first when she came face-to-face with not one, but two Princesses. But she did regain her composure rather quickly and had her mandatory princess photo moment.

For some reason, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride always sports a long queue. So it is a good thing too that it has a Disney FASTPASS system, seeing how the 3 monkies are huge fans of the ride.

Ale then got her obligatory carousel ride at the Cinderella Carousel... though I have to add that we had to wait 30 minutes for our turn! If you had told me that I would willingly suffer in the queue amid a bunch of noisy toddlers during the pre-kids era, I would have laughed my head off. Now, I do so patiently in return for a 2-minute ride on horses that go up and down... and be rewarded with a smile that is all so priceless.

The one ride which we have never been on is the classic "it's a small world" boat ride.

We finally did... and did so again and again. Three times in all, all because the monkies demanded it.

Come to think of it, I never realised that there were actually so many attractions in Fantasyland alone. In addition to the Mad Hatter Tea Cups and Dumbo the Flying Elephant rides, we also managed to catch a further 2 shows with the first being Mickey's PhilharMagic - a 12-minute long show featuring 3D effects, complete with scents and sprays of water.

The other one was The Golden Mickeys at Disney's Storybook Theater which was essentially a musical show that showcased various songs from Disney cartoons of the past, like The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, Tarzan, Beauty & the Beast and Toy Story.

For once, there is a show that appealed to both the wifey and me more than the monkies, simply because we could identify with the songs more. But I guess that is the magic of Disney, isn't it? There is always something for everyone, be it a grown-up or child.

And something that is bound to delight everyone alike has got to be the Fireworks show - an amazing end to our two amazing days at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Oh, and did I mention the dining in Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel was amazing as well? I am no food blogger when it comes to reviewing eating places but I just have to turn the spotlight to the restaurants there... simply because we had our breakfast, lunch and dinner in three different restaurants at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and every single one was a unique experience on its own.

Breakfast was at the ever-popular Enchanted Garden Restaurant, where a fabulous international breakfast buffet awaited us.

But the food wasn't the main star. This, or rather, these were.

Oh yes, it is official - Disney characters make children eat more during breakfast. And quicker too.

So that they would be able to have their photos taken with the Mickey and gang if they obediently finish up their breakfast. In truth, the characters will stop by every table for a photo opportunity but the kids do not need to know that. There isn't any need to rush or queue to have your photo taken as all diners will have a chance to do so... and even steal a kiss or hug, or both.

On a side note, the Chef Mickey restaurant over at the Disney's Hollywood Hotel also serves up a mean buffet breakfast, albeit at a lower price.

You still get a decent choice of breakfast items, with all the usual Mickey motif offerings.

As well as one photo opportunity with the main mouse himself - Chef Mickey.

And if you would rather consume your Disney characters than to have your photo taken with them, Crystal Lotus at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel will be your best bet.

The Chinese restaurant serves up award-winning Chinese cuisines with a unique Disney touch. And if you only need one reason to dine here, its Disney’s character dim sum which is uniquely available at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will be it.

Little Green Men Pork and Vegetable Bun, Little Pigs Barbecue Pork Bun & Mickey's Seafood Glutinous Pancake

Duffy Steamed Lotus Red Bean Puree Bun

How cute are these dim sum??? Even the winter melon in the Stuffed Whole Dried Scallops in Mickey Winter Melon Chicken Soup is shaped in the Mickey Mouse motif!

Oh, and I have to give a special mention to the Baked Tasmanian Crab Meat Fried Rice in Whole Crab Shell. Other than it was served in a gold metal crab casing, it tasted heavenly! The rice, not the casing.

Even Ayd, who is a bigger fan of noodles than rice, walloped his entire portion! And to think I harboured hopes of having extra servings after finishing my share.

If our breakfast and lunch had bordered on cuteness overload, then dinner was the complete opposite.

Our dinner at Walt's Cafe was by far the best meal we had during our stay at Hong Kong Disneyland. Admittedly, after 2 long and exciting days at Disneyland, the first thing I want to do come night time is to face-plant into the soft comfy pillow. But this set dinner just made up for all the energy-sapping queuing done with my monkies.

Walt's Cafe serves a fine dining menu with Western and Asian choices and its expertise clearly showed. The wifey and I had the Sirloin Steak - which was succulent and cooked to perfection - while the monkies each had the Cod Fish. I would have loved to tell you how it tasted, except that all three of them polished off every single bit of the fish before I had a chance to do so.

We then rounded up the night with Rosemary Almond Apple Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream. One word - Happiness.

With that, it signaled the perfect end to our Hong Kong Disneyland magical experience. Predictably, all three monies were reluctant to leave when it came to checking out of our room. Ale bade for me to carry her and she gently whispered into my ear, "Papa, I love Disneyland a lot you know. Can we come back here again?"

How can I say no?

P.S. We did something entirely different after our 2 days of magic at Hong Kong Disneyland - read all about it HERE!