Two years ago, my husband Marc and I visited Hongkong Disneyland Resort for our honeymoon. It was a gift from one of our wedding sponsors, so all we had to do was enjoy and spend for our pasalubong and gadget shopping. As we welcome the year 2009, I cannot help but be reminded of the fireworks display held regularly in the evenings before closing time at Hongkong Disneyland.

There’s just something really uplifting about seeing an awesome lights and fireworks display accompanied by Disney music we’ve enjoyed since childhood.

Before Disneyland opened in Hongkong, it had always been my childhood dream to set foot on the place. I wanted to see my favorite Disney characters come to “life”—Donald Duck, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, and Pluto. My mom’s brother was a pilot, so my cousins got their airfare for free. I envied the photos they took home—how I wanted to visit the park myself!

When Disneyland Hongkong opened its doors to the public on September 12, 2005, I knew that I just had to go back to Hongkong (my first visit to Hongkong was with my late grandmother about 12 years before my second visit). I still dreamed of going to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, but a round-trip ticket to Hongkong is cheaper since it’s near the Philippines. For now, the trip to Disneyland California would have to wait until my husband and I are able to save up for it. So when my aunt asked me what I preferred for our honeymoon—Hongkong or Thailand—Marc and I jumped at the chance to see Mickey Mouse and his gang.

We went to Disneyland Hongkong almost just a year after it opened. There weren’t too many rides back then—about four new attractions were added ever since our visit—but it didn’t matter. The novelty of the place weren’t just the rides, it was the idea of seeing the cartoons we’ve loved as children come to life.

I particularly enjoyed just looking at Sleeping Beauty’s pink castle, as well as the parade of Disney characters and cartoon-themed floats. But best of all was the lights, sounds, and fireworks display just before closing time.

It was awesome—it definitely brought back childhood memories.

Happy 2009 to you all! :)

More Hongkong Disneyland Resort photos?