I Messed Up Everything While Travelling to Shanghai

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Join me for my eventful travel day from Tokyo to Shanghai. I share my experience on Air China, how I paid for things, how I accessed the internet, and the mistakes I made along the way, including a taxi story that left me speechless.
USEFUL LINKS
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🏰 Shanghai Disneyland Guide: tdrexplorer.com/shanghai-disn...
📲 Airalo e-Sim (Use code CHRIS3178 to get $3 off your first purchase): www.airalo.com/
🏨 Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai: affiliate.klook.com/redirect?...
💰 AliPay: apps.apple.com/us/app/alipay-...
💬 WeChat: www.wechat.com/
📝 DeepL: www.deepl.com/translator
📱 Shanghai Metro: apps.apple.com/us/app/metroma...
📱 Metroman: www.metroman.cn/en/index.html...
TIMESTAMPS
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00:00 Travelling to Narita Airport by Train
05:38 Arriving at Narita Airport
08:36 Changing Flights with Air China is Painful
11:23 Flying on Air China
14:51 Missing the Hotel Shuttle
16:26 What apps I used in China
17:57 Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone
21:20 My Shanghai Taxi Story
Thank you to Explorers on Patreon
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ABOUT TDR EXPLORER
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Hi, 👋🏽 My name is Chris, aka TDRExplorer, and I started sharing my theme park adventures. Over the years, TDRExplorer has become a resource for passionate theme park fans looking to make the best of their trips to Asia. Including Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan!

Опубликовано:

19 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 107

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Despite the eventful travel day, I got to the hotel in the end. It's never a dull moment when travelling with me. Make sure to check out my Zootopia video (I have another one coming too): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TZjniKN4bvY.html

@norma8001 5 месяцев назад

Always appreciate knowing that experienced travelers go through this kind of day as well. It makes me feel less idiotic when I make mistakes along the way.

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

We all make mistakes, so try not to feel too bad! (easier said then done, I know by experience haha). Thank you for watching

@kitm141 5 месяцев назад

So true! It’s a great lesson for me - I would have had a breakdown, thrown my toys out of the pram and ruined my whole day. Then I would have felt really ashamed about spoiling my own day. This video shows to me that not only are mistakes normal, it’s how you react to them that matters.

@ibunolog 5 месяцев назад

as someone with travel anxiety, this made me relieved that even when things go completely wrong, we can always end up in the good! i’m glad you were able to make it to your destination even with the many twists and turns u_u

@alliekuma4234 5 месяцев назад

I'm proud of you for handling everything so well. The best thing you can do in a frustrating situation like you had with the driver is to just be calm, which it sounds you like did quite well. I'm just glad that you're safe! (Absolutely lost it on the farting part lol)

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Thank you, I tried my best and I got there in the end. Hahaha. Thank you for watching!

@PhoenixVic21 5 месяцев назад

Right off the bat, I love that you included the errors you made 😅 it just goes to show that even "the professional" make mistakes BUT WE KEEP GOING ❤ Love your positivity through the stress. I find it really interesting that Japan has a lot of accessibility, like the tactile floor for the blind. Also that some things are also in english for travelers. 6:34 GOODNESS that is a lot of floors 🤯😅 at least there is helpful signage on where it all goes... 7:56 CAT CHRISTMAS CARDS! ❤ OMG SO CUTE-tha! 8:48 What a cozy little Starbucks corner ☕️ 11:42 that waiting chair actually looks comfortable! Not at all what I'm used to seeing. 15:53 it's good that you could chat them and they could just rebook the shuttle for you ❤ 18:04 oh no, not once but twice 😭 19:13 so happy you made it to a nice warm room and bed ❤ Oh Chris, you had such a day 😅 Happy you found joy in the stress of it all 💨

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

I had thought this travel day would be rather mundane, it was anything but! I'm happy to share my experience so others can learn from my mistakes and/or know what to expect. Thank you for watching

@carlymckearnen 5 месяцев назад

So happy you’re sharing this story Chris. I can’t believe the taxi driver did that. LOL. And thank you so much for sharing your journey with us as I can’t wait to visit one day!

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching! It was a day that’s for sure. I hope you can visit one day, it’s worth it.

@NYPlasticDoc 5 месяцев назад

You are loved! You are awesome. Thank you for sharing so we can all learn from your “adventure”

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Thank you so much! Nothing went to plan so I wanted to share that things just simply don’t go the way you think hahah.

@latebloomerabroad 5 месяцев назад

I had the same experience with Air China when I booked my daughter and I to fly from Thailand to Beijing (where I had a tour guide pick us up at Beijing airport and take us to the Great Wall. We got the 72-hour transit visa.) We needed to change our Beijing-San Francisco flight once I decided to do the tour. Even at the American phone number, it was very, very difficult.

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one! I had a good experience with them despite the headache that was changing the flights. I’d fly them again but make sure I don’t need to change my flights because I do not wanna do that again 😑 Thank you for sharing your story!

@luciafp1142 5 месяцев назад

Traveling in China is another level of stress and struggle. I'm glad to have the information you provide Chris so I don't get stuck again when I return. It was good to see you enjoyed this trip.

@danim1738 5 месяцев назад

😅 I've lived in China for almost 5 years and I still have issues whenever I'm travelling domestically. Last year, I missed my flight from Beijing (my fault for underestimating Beijing traffic, tbh) and needed to change my flight. I had to pay about 700(?) RMB to change the ticket, but the process took longer when filling out the paperwork because I didn't include my middle name when booking the ticket. I was so frustrated, but hey, I made it back to Shenzhen just fine. Glad everything worked out and you could laugh about it later. Can't wait to see your Universal Studios Beijing video!

@Liz.R 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for showing that even a person who travels often has things occur to them. I'm a novice and it is good to see you just do the best, and carry on. Things happen. I just know it will happen to me 10x worse but I'm still hopeful. (Maybe april 2025)🤞🏻🤞🏻Thx for sharing your adventures.

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

I hope my mistakes and adventures help you when you’re travelling! I can’t wait for you to visit yourself! Thank you for watching

@pattilee9716 5 месяцев назад

Oh Chris! Yes, a great story and a memorable journey. Totally understand how stress but admire how you take it all with a smile and a giggle n handled everything so well. Yes, I would have been in tears, freaking out, esp not knowing what the heck are they going back and forth about. B careful with cab drivers in China. Ths is 2024 but strange things still happen. Gosh..............u are absolutely right about the things that happen during a trip...all the planning in the world doesn't prepare for the unexpected. You are a brave and happy soul!!!! May the rest of your trip be enjoyable and memorable! Tuddos!

@NZDLo 5 месяцев назад

First of all, this sounds like one of my travel stress dreams! LOL But...I'm also here to commiserate. On our trip to Japan in October last year, we thought we were clever by staying at the hotel next to our local airport so we wouldn't be stressed in the morning for our early flight. All went well! Until...our flight to Auckland (where most int'l flights leave from) was cancelled due to high winds. We did make it to Auckland that day, but missed our flight to Japan. To try to salvage the day, we went into Auckland to have some fun, and somewhere along the way, my husband lost his passport! It was a horrible couple of hours, but the passport was found in time for the flight. And fortunately - like you - the rest of the trip was fine!

@Nobody76World 5 месяцев назад

Thanks for another great video Chris, sounds like you had a chaotic journey, at least things sorted out in the end

@MissFanCulture 5 месяцев назад

I love how your personality and edit style has changed over the years! Always enjoy watching

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Aww thank you! I had fun with this edit. Thank you for being here watching and commenting!

@zyphilus 4 месяца назад

Thank you for your experience. I'm in planing step so your video is a good data for me.😊

@heathersandstrom5165 5 месяцев назад

Bless you!! 😅 SO glad you made it in the end and that your at a place where you can roll with the punches And laugh about it in the end. As always, thanks for sharing ❤

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Yes! Thank you!

@kellyj.azania4371 5 месяцев назад

Chris, your attitude is so positive! I probably would be in tears.

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

I try my best, if this was me five years ago I definitely would have been in tears. I try to just roll with it and just get done what’s needed Hahha. Thank you for watching my adventure 🥰

@digidesti 5 месяцев назад

Just happy to see you made it safely! The trip sounds like it was crazy, but I hope this trip is wonderful!

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Thank you! I have a few more videos of the trip coming so keep an eye out. Thank you for watching 💛

@erikagholston6610 5 месяцев назад

I’m glad everything worked out for you in the end.

@FunkD 5 месяцев назад

Happy new year! I always stay at Courtyard Marriot when visiting Shanghai Disneyland so nice to see! Memories🙏 And the story about the payment of your taxi brought back memories too😅

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

The payment issue made me learn real quick how it all works hahah. Trial by fire I suppose. I enjoy the courtyard for a cheaper alternative to the Disney hotels! Thank you for always watching and commenting 💛

@Rainmonster1101 5 месяцев назад

I lovee your travel vlogss if u are able pls make more !! And happy new year !!!

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Happy new year!! 🥳 Thank you for watching

@TravisHatfield 5 месяцев назад

So glad you made it! Makes me not feel like I'm the only one that runs into these issues from time to time.

@Cecipromise 5 месяцев назад

Thank God, you’re OK Chris😊

@paddiekou6556 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for sharing your hard traveling day!But I'm interested in backstories like this!

@liliesandroses 5 месяцев назад

Glad to know it’s not just us! Our first trip on the trains in Tokyo and we ended up at completely the wrong station, despite all our best planning. It happens! And so grateful that I thought to call our bank before our trip and get them to switch off the SMS feature just for the time we were away. I’ve had the same experience on a previous trip and the panic is real when you worry you can’t pay. Looking forward to all the Shanghai and Beijing info - latest podcast ep was so interesting! Thank you for all you do 😊

@beepycatgirl 5 месяцев назад

Pokémon concierge is everything! Sooo cute!

@stacyscooby8488 5 месяцев назад

amazing Video. thank you for taking us with you.

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for always watching and commenting, Stacy!

@stacyscooby8488 5 месяцев назад

you are welcome.@@tdrexplorer

@dlittle7983 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for sharing your traveling adventures. I have not traveled much. I was amazed how you did know the way with all those escalators. ❣️

@AttractionSource 5 месяцев назад

Sorry you had to deal with all that Chris! Glad you got there safely. I'm heading to China in May for the first time, so the tips are appreciated! -Chris

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

I’m laughing about it now, it’s all an experience. Have a good time in May!

@tomokakawaguchi9938 5 месяцев назад

Omg all the classic travel stress you’ve experienced in one day is something 😂 I’m glad you made it all safe in the end💪🏻

@supedewoop6362 5 месяцев назад

It’s my understanding that foreigners struggle to pay personal QR codes which the taxi might have been. One possible workaround is to “top-up”, and put an amount on your Alipay. Like you said though, definitely recommend getting it, and connecting to cards before going to China. It’s a newer feature as well, to work with international cards, so might be further refined in the future. There’s so many people that take didis to the park that they limit it after 8pm, I think, and they need to pay for parking and that’s expensive. That was probably the conversation with the parking attendant. Unfortunately, they can be pretty strict, no exceptions, but given the size of crowds, it’s understandable.The work around is a bus stop across the street from the Toy Story hotel. It’s a bit of a walk, but I think it’s comparable to the way over the bridge from the official drop off point. Also, a farting driver is a key expat experience in China. Congrats, you have advanced a level.

@B.coffin 5 месяцев назад

I for sure would have cried; really glad it worked out for you in the end!

@supertrooper6752 5 месяцев назад

The random fart moment was so funny 😆 also yes, we need more pokemon concierge!!!!

@wildspirit6785 5 месяцев назад

Awww so sorry all that happened to you, sending hugs.

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Thank you! It’s all good now, I’m laughing about it all hahah.

@majidebunny 5 месяцев назад

Thank you so much for sharing. I am going to Shanghai for the first time in April. I was considering the Marriot over the Toy Story hotel because it was half the price, but it is going to be my first time in Asia so I was worried about various language/cultural barriers. I am the kind of person that stresses out in advance about the possibility of stuff like missing a hotel shuttle and such, so actually seeing you miss it and being able to contact the hotel for another one with no issue made me feel a lot better!

@lornaduigan8920 5 месяцев назад

😂😂😂😂😂 That is hilarious! Although probably rather stressful at the time. Thanks for sharing!

@oxraindropletsxo 5 месяцев назад

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry you had to deal with all those hiccups! The taxi story would have just been the breaking point & I probably would have just bawled like a baby in the back seat of the taxi. Thanks for sharing your tips and experiences and I hope that the rest of your time in China went more smoothly!

@subzippo 5 месяцев назад

I remember those winding escalators at 7:00. I was following Google Maps on what it said was an express train. It was not an express train. We should have arrived at the airport with two hours to spare, but it was more like 40 minutes. Glad I knew enough Japanese for 'Sumimasen!' as we ran past people hauling our luggage. Thank God for Air Canada's incompetence and late departure, we got our bags checked late, breezed through customs, and got to the gate with some 10 minutes to spare.

@texasburbs4380 5 месяцев назад

Oddly enough I am going to Shanghai in a few weeks and we are staying at this same hotel the first couple of days, so THANK you for all of the info :)

@franbongard7710 5 месяцев назад

CHRIS! It’s so weird not seeing you in branded merch! I like the dress shirt!

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

I didn’t even think about that! When I fly I wear comfortable and plain clothes. I keep all the fun clothing for when I’m in the Parks. Thank you for watching!

@kaitlin2221 5 месяцев назад

Hope I can someday be as chill as you are in these types of situations 😅

@lcflngn 5 месяцев назад

Haven’t been to Shanghai since I was 20 in Jan 1984. 40 years ago! Yep, those were different times altogether. Love to see it again, sure I wouldn’t recognize a thing tho. (Maybe the Peace Hotel - absolutely run down when I was there, formerly the Cathay, now a Fairmount, & the Bund) Travelled by train from Beijing with my mom, she was teaching college English there. She spoke pretty good Mandarin back then, and wouldn’t take no for an answer when they didn’t want to let us on the train at all. I was petrified (don’t ask me about the toilets) but we made it to Nanjing to see where my grandma was born, and to Shanghai. Multiple stories everywhere of course. Love this particular trip Chris, looking forward to more!

@Indomita506 5 месяцев назад

Happy new year Chris.

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Happy new year!

@Indomita506 5 месяцев назад

@@tdrexplorer Thank you. Greetings from Costa Rica

@Naminenam22 5 месяцев назад

you could say ur adventure was shanghaid 😅 but glad u were able to make it to final location safely and thank you for sharing ur mistakes so we can learn from them my dream is still some day to explore the world and until then thank you for sharing ur experiences

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching! I’m glad to share my mistakes so people can learn from them.

@dienosong 5 месяцев назад

I wish I knew Airalo before I went! Thank you for sharing that with us!!! Did you choose a global eSim (instead of a local China one) to be able to access all the blocked sites? I also found that some stores in Shanghai Disneyland only accept Ali Pay, so that’s a good advise as well (if you don’t want to miss the cute souvenirs you want! Haha…)

@micheleadams7731 5 месяцев назад

The last time I was in Shanghai , pre pandemic, I booked a shuttle to Shanghai Disney Toystory hotel , some how they mixed up my reservation from Disney to JW Marriott, and I ended up in the wrong area of the city, with a driver who spoke zero english and my cell did not work. I had to turn on a VPN and I called the English line and ended up with someone who did not know how translate to Mandarin. Not what I wanted after 18 hours in air. It was crazy ! So glad it worked out in the end!

@jessicahawks3223 5 месяцев назад

Well at least you know after that kind of travel day that it is easy to just go to bed and start completely over in the morning..that's always helped me when I have a horrible beginning, it can only go up from there😂

@katesommerville7217 5 месяцев назад

I hate to say your bad day cheered me up 😂 lol it happens to the best of us so don’t worry too much ❤

@beepycatgirl 5 месяцев назад

I’d have laughed at the fart too 😅

@VIVIDvlog 5 месяцев назад

I can relate to those china travel struggles

@cristianguillen9959 5 месяцев назад

How is the park like with such cold weather? Does everything work normally? I see that a heavy snow is falling.. 😢

@CarlosRodriguez-ev4vl 5 месяцев назад

I love your videos you are amazing I’m your biggest fan I live in Anaheim California near Disneyland I hope I can meet you when are you coming to Disney

@krisby1899 4 месяца назад

Hello! I will stay at this hotel in March. Does the Disney shuttle work the same as the airport shuttle? To pay in China, do you recommend Alipay or WeChat? And at Disney is it better to pay with these apps or cash? Thank you! ^^

@LorettaCorona 5 месяцев назад

hi Chris poor you is very stressful when things don´t go as planned that have happened to me quite some times 🐕

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching and being here! It was stressful but I got through it hahah. Thank you!

@marilopez5872 4 месяца назад

Thank you for this . Do you know of a Japanese travel agent that will plan and book our Tokyo trip?

@catherineanderson5355 5 месяцев назад

I misses the shuttle to courttard mariortt and the taxi drivers didn't understand the english address. so it would be very useufl to take it IN CHINESE with you - of course i had that once checked in (back of hotel key card) but not on arrival. Loved that hotel, the shuttle and breakfast and HUGE rooms.

@catherineanderson5355 5 месяцев назад

Oh the hotel is NOT walkable to disney, even though website says its only 915m. You either get the hotel shuttle. or you can walk to the nearest metro (which the shuttle bus stops at on way to disney) and metro there (for £1/$1). Walk was 15 mins along a long but busy road. We often tended to get metro back from Shanghai city centre, all the way to disney, eat there, then shuttle back to hotel, to avoid walking from the nearer metro station at night.

@user-um1gh7jl5x 5 месяцев назад

The unsatisfactory implementation of the plan will be a story worth laughing in future memories.

@KawaiiNancy 5 месяцев назад

💜💜💜

@gawanlo4715 5 месяцев назад

which hotel will you usually stay when you go to shanghai disneyland?

@gawanlo4715 5 месяцев назад

moreover how can I get any discount offer for SHDL? Should I need to join annual pass?

@reannawhiteley350 5 месяцев назад

Omg! I'm only 5 minutes in and I'm stressed out for you

@Cuishi10 5 месяцев назад

Well, Geez!! Did he at least say "Dǎrǎo yīxià"?! Ol' stank self! All in all, I'm glad everything turned out well ❤

@sparkly1707 5 месяцев назад

😅😅😅😅even the best bloggers and vloggers make mistakes 😅😅😅😅

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

So true 😆 Thank you for watching!

@gawanlo4715 5 месяцев назад

Can I use cash to p[ay in Shangahi disneyland and get a taxi to the airport in shanghai?

@JenniferNg0529 5 месяцев назад

Bad decisions make good stories! 🤣

@LeahFriedman-gj9qo 5 месяцев назад

Hi cries

@thehapagirl92 5 месяцев назад

Mercury retrograde ended January 1st and we’re still in mercury retrograde post shadow so traveling is bound to get fucked up. Don’t let it get you down!!

@Cecipromise 5 месяцев назад

Because I heard about the earthquake in Japan

@kylekeller3398 5 месяцев назад

Oops! 🥴

@wrh41 5 месяцев назад

Yikes! I guess Shanghai is not a place you can just “wing it”!

@matadorprincess 5 месяцев назад

Moral of the story for everyone else, travel to Japan instead 😂

@alliehense 5 месяцев назад

Never grow up :)

@tdrexplorer 5 месяцев назад

Hahah I’ll do my best. Thank you for watching!

@ValhallaKnight2 5 месяцев назад

Good thing you have a wastern toliet in your room. Most of the time its a hole in China.

@jackyan8925 5 месяцев назад

Just hope you forget the unpleasant experience and have a pleasant trip to Shanghai. There are many cities in China that you need to explore, like Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu and Xi’an, there are too many cities anb more than 600 cities.

@CursedKeyblade1 5 месяцев назад

I'd like to visit shanghai but the whole visa thing is just so off putting. At least hong kong or Tokyo you have no issues traveling to. If I were to travel basically an entire day and have to put up with visas or whatever, it just doesn't feel worth it.