5 tips for a magical Christmas experience with Hello Kitty

If you haven’t already heard, Christmas is coming Changi’s way – complete with light, snow and glittering drone shows, as well as exciting carnival games and visits by life-sized Hello Kitty & Friends. 

To save you time on planning your trip down during the festive holidays, here are five tips on how to maximise your experience when you visit.

1. Time your visits to catch the daily light & snow show at T3’s Mystical Garden

Experience the magic of snowfall twice daily (3pm and 5pm from 19 November) at Changi’s Mystical Garden

Right at the very heart of Terminal 3’s Departure Check-in Hall, the Changi Mystical Garden is the perfect backdrop for a fantastic photo – with life-sized Hello Kitty & Friends, a giant treehouse (you can climb on it!) and a huge Christmas tree decked in fairy lights.

To add some spice to that picture, be sure to hang around during the twice-daily light & snow show, where the set-up comes to life to bring on the Christmas magic.

Tip: For a bird’s eye view of the garden, climb up to the gazebo (topped with Hello Kitty’s signature ribbon). Access to the gazebo is on a first-come-first-serve basis and is limited to four people at any one time.

Light & snow show timings: Daily (3pm and 5pm) from 19 November
Location: T3 Departure Check-In Hall, Level 2

2. Save your lunch/dinner or shopping receipts to redeem free plays at the activity park

For every receipt with a minimum spending of $30, you can redeem a free play at the activity park

Located near T3’s Check-in Row 11, the Sanrio Activity Park features various kawaii (cute) carnival games. Any receipt with a minimum spending of $30 gets you one game play. The best part – you get a chance to win exclusive merchandise, including 1-metre tall Sanrio plush toys and exclusive stickers. 

Option 1: The Tree House Catcher

Practice your teamwork and “pick-up” skills with our Tree House Catcher

Put your “pick-up” skills to the test at the Tree House Catcher, where you can work with a partner to quite literally “pick up” attractive prizes! With one of you controlling the claw and the other positioned to scoop up a prize, this station will be a true test of your teamwork.

Option 2: The Yoyo Tsuri Fountain

Test your fishing skills to hook some exclusive merchandise

Get a chance to win 1-metre tall Sanrio plush toys at the Gachapon machine

With this game, you get three hooks – and your mission is to fish water balloons from the fountain. Successful players will be issued with a token to spin the giant gachapon machine to redeem gifts.

Tip: As a limited number of people can try the games at any one time, come early to reserve your slot. Digital queue numbers will be issued for the Tree House Catcher with an SMS alert once it’s your turn. 

Location: Terminal 3 Departure Hall, Check-in Row 11

3. You can still use that same receipt for…

Customise your items with the Sanrio stamps available at the airport

Don’t forget to customise your items with Sanrio stamps, and have some sparkly Sanrio designs done up on your face or body by professionals (weekends only). You get to choose either activity. You just need that same receipt (with a minimum spending of $30).

Tip: The early bird catches the worm. Tote bags will be given to the first 60 people daily (on weekdays) and first 100 people daily (on weekends) who validate their receipts, and these bags can then be used at the stamping station. 

Location: Terminal 3 Departure Hall, Check-in Row 11

4. A weekend special: Snap a picture with your favourite Sanrio characters

One Sanrio character will meet visitors for 30mins at 4.00pm and 6.00pm on weekends

Calling all fans of Hello Kitty & Friends, this one’s for you! Here’s your chance to dress up and meet these adorable characters in person. As there will be a Meet & Greet session with different Sanrio characters every weekend, take note of the dates and time your visits to match the schedule.

Take a picture in front of this Hello Kitty Topiary at Terminal 2

Tip: For Hello Kitty fans, there’s an additional surprise for you! Standing at 4-metres tall, a larger than life Kitty topiary awaits at Terminal 2’s Departure Check-in Hall. 

5. Catch the daily drone shows and stand a chance to win one for yourself

Watch a specially curated drone show come to life with festive patterns and formations against the terminal “sky”

40 drones (which might remind you of fireflies) will light up the “night sky” in Terminal 3, forming festive icons such as a heart, a snowflake and a Christmas tree. Looking much like the sky full of lanterns in the well-loved scene of Disney Movie Tangled, this will be a beautiful sight to behold. Go on and have some fun by tracing the “constellations” with your finger, or have a little competition among yourselves to see who can predict the patterns first!

Tip: Post an IG story of the drone show with the hashtag #ChangiFireflies and you could walk away with a drone. Keep an eye out on Changi’s Instagram page (@changiairport) for more details.

Drone show timings: Daily (7.30pm & 9pm) from 18 November
Location: T3 Departure Check-In Hall, Level 2

BONUS: Bring home exclusive Sanrio plush toys! (Giveaways ahead)

There are nine designs in total, which is your favourite?

If you want to bring home a piece of the Sanrio cuteness, eight limited edition plush toys are available for purchase at $8.90 each, with a minimum spend of $60 in public areas ($120 in transit and supermarkets). 

With these handy tips at hand, be sure to make Changi a must-visit destination this year end. Discover the full line-up of events here!