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The two hotels in Mickey's kingdom are quite different, but the mouse is everywhere to be found

Hong Kong Disneyland has two themed hotels, both quite different.

The Hollywood Hotel is reminiscent of the heyday of Hollywood film-making in the 1930s and 1940s. It is done up in art deco colours and checks, and there is a real air of Disney as soon as you step through the door. In fact, it feels more like a playground than a hotel.

The lobby is spacious enough for Disney characters to roam  and there's a TV area for the children to watch cartoons while they wait for the big people to go about the boring business of checking in.

Right next to the TV, there's a billboard listing the day's activities for kids, among them ball games, drawing Mickey and croquet.

There are glass doors opening onto a spacious garden and pool deck and, on the way over to the piano-shaped pool and Sunset Terrace, you'll find the famous Los Angeles street signs Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Highway 101 and Mulholland Drive.

The best part of the walk outdoors is the music, particularly for those who actually know how to sing along to The Angels' My Boyfriend's Back or Elton John's Bennie and the Jets.

Back indoors, the rooms  are just big enough for a family of three or four. They're obviously not designed to make you want to stay indoors. Most have two double beds and you can choose between views of the theme park, the garden or the South China Sea.

There are some cute surprises for the kids in the rooms. Don't tell them we told you, but they include a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy,  a Mickey Mouse shower curtain, Mickey Mouse-eared lotions  and some towels disguised as animals.

There's no room service at the Hollywood Hotel, but that's okay, because  the rooms aren't designed for in-room dining.

Best go out and try Chef Mickey, which has  buffets or an a la carte menu for 'mouseketeers'. Kids can walk up to their own little buffets served on miniature tables, just right for their height. Meanwhile, mum and dad can choose from an Asian mix of noodles, dim sum and curries, or a western selection of salads, hamburgers or pizza.

Or there's Hollywood and Dine, another child-friendly diner serving salads sprinkled with Mickey croutons or Mickey Mouse-shaped mango puddings and tiramisu. It's open late, so you can stop by there for a late snack as well.

On the way to eat, you'll walk right past  Celebrity Gifts and the Malibu Toy Shop. The   toys are sure to lure the kids, so watch out!

The park's second property, the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, is what the Disney Imagineering team calls the 'Micktorian' resort, and caters for an entirely different, more grown-up and upmarket crowd.

This grand hotel,  which looks like a fairy-tale castle,  is designed for newlyweds or groups collectively known as MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events). The only thing here for the kids are  the  Mickeys  buried in carpet designs, wallpaper, dinnerware and railings. Apparently, he's not the only one in hiding. Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Pluto are hidden everywhere. If boys and girls look hard, they might even spot Cinderella's slippers.

The rooms are cosy, with flat-screen TVs, complimentary internet access, and views of the garden, the theme park or the sea.

Business travellers are encouraged to stay in special Kingdom Club rooms on the ninth floor. The club lounge is said to be one of the best spots in the hotel to watch the fireworks over a few cocktails.

The big draw for women, in particular, is the Victorian Spa. It's a relaxing space with  10 individual treatment rooms, a whirlpool, a steam room and a sauna. There's also a quiet indoor pool.

Back outdoors, it's more fun for the kids at the pool and slide carved into a giant rock. The hotel lobby overlooks a Mickey Maze, with garden shrubs just tall enough for children to get lost in a sea of Mickeys.

Character breakfasts are likely to be a big hit with the kids at the Enchanted Garden Restaurant.  Children start out their day sharing a laugh with Mickey, Minnie or Donald Duck, so it's not just another tedious meal with mum and dad.

The Crystal Lotus Chinese restaurant offers a more business-like atmosphere. The entrance adds all the elements of fung shui with a virtual pond of fish and 2,238 crystal lotus flowers.

Roy Tan Hardy, the theme park's vice-president of marketing and sales,  explains what makes the Disney experience  stand out.

'Visually, the people have come to a very unique setting. Families are having fun. Kids are screaming, watching cartoons. There's a lot of pomp and ceremony all around, but at the end of the day, it's all about having a good time.

'This is a place that does not feel like Hong Kong. It's a different world, and that's exactly what Disney is about. It's about transporting people into a world of fantasy.'



Check into the grand or the playful