If you are living in Hong Kong or simply travelling there with your family, you must visit Hong Kong Disneyland at least once. Often voted one of the best theme parks in Asia, if not the world, here is our definitive guide of what to do, how to beat the lines, and how to ensure your visit is the best yet.Disney, whether you love it or loathe it, one thing is for certain- it is an adventure you will never forget!
How much time to spend here?
A full day may be enough, as Hong Kong Disneyland is the smallest of all the Disney theme parks. However, you may want to spread your time over a few days, to really make the most of all that is on offer. Some people choose to spend a half-day, staying in only one or two zones, and the tickets are of course cheaper. It is also worth taking the weather into account, the heat and humidity in summer can be unbearable, and flash storms can shorten your day. If you are visiting in summer, try a half-day early in the morning, perhaps going home until dinner time, and then return in the evening to pack more enjoyment into your day.
What to take.
In summer, bring plenty of sunscreen and insect repellent (especially useful if you decide to stay until night-time). You could also bring a parasol and a hand-held fan; these are particularly handy for babies in prams or pushchairs and look out for fans you can buy that mist water which may be extra helpful. You cannot bring in food and drinks from outside of the resort, not even a bottle of water, although baby milk and baby food is ok to take in. Adults over the age of 16 are not allowed to dress up in costume- and selfie sticks are prohibited. If you are taking a pushchair , you should have no problems leaving it in the designated area whilst you are on a ride but take care not to leave anything valuable inside or you can also rent a stroller/pushchair if you prefer. It is worth just checking the guidelines on the Hong Kong Disneyland website before travelling to the resort as rules can change, nothing spoils a family day out more than having restrictions placed on you unexpectedly.
Best time to arrive.
Simple- aim to arrive before the park opens.
If you are going in the morning, try to be there 15 minutes before the park opens. This will mean that you will be in the park before the main rush and should be able to get in line for your preferred ride first. Head to Toy Story Landfirst or Iron Man Experience, these get really busy later on as people move through the park- look online for a park map so you can plan the order you would like to do things and work out the simplest route to get to all the attractions you definitely want to see.
One good idea is to go on a weekday, not during holiday season. You are guaranteed to walk on and off the rides without queues. Unfortunately, August is peak season, it is extremely hot and crowded with both local and international tourists.
Book tickets online before you arrive.
Booking tickets online before you arrive at the park can save you ridiculously long queue times, this is a no-brainer when visiting- nothing ruins a family day out quicker than a long queue in the heat with over excited children! It is also worth looking for discount codes and vouchers to exchange from any customer loyalty schemes you belong to or look for any discounts available from the park if you book in advance.
The Disneyland Fastpass is also an option, and is available for Hyperspace Mountain, Iron Man Experience and The Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. You can submit your ticket and be given a time to come back to ride the attraction, in the Fastpass queue. If it is really crowded, you can still expect to wait though. You can only have one Fast Pass per person at a time but there is no limit on the amount you can have during your visit.
If you stay at one of the Disneyland Hotels, you will receive a Priority Admissions Pass. These are different to the 'Fastpass' and depend on the type of room you have booked. All rooms include a pass for Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, Hyperspace Mountain, Iron Man Experience, It's A Small World, and Mystic Manor. Sea View rooms or above will also receive a pass for Slinky Dog Spin, The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, and Toy Soldier Parachute Dropto choose from. You will be able to enter through the Fastpass lane so you should not have to wait too long.
The Disney Spectacular Tour
This personalised park tour takes around three hours and costs around HK$5688 for up to six people, park admission not included. This tour allows direct access to rides of your choice, reserved seating at shows, and reserved seating at day and night parades. Consider this option if you are visiting at peak times, want a special experience or are in a large group.
The best way to navigate the park.
Ride wait times usually average at around 25 minutes, but some max out at around an hour. Compare that with the recently opened Shanghai Disneyland, where wait times can be up to 3 hours. Hong Kong Disneyland have developed an app, which will keep you up to date with real time wait times which helps with planning your route round the park, as well as 'character' greeting information times, a map, reservations for restaurants and events as well as other essential information, this free app can be downloaded from your usual app store.
The park is divided into seven differently themed zones- here is a brief overview…
Adventure Land
This is the largest of all the zones and here you can enjoy a leisurely Jungle River Cruise, the Karibuni Marketplace, Liki Tikis, raft rides to Tarzan's Treehouse, Moana: A Homecoming Celebration, and Festival of the Lion King are just some of the attractions you will find here; top tip-try the chocolate banana dippers at the Safari Snacks stall, they are well worth it.
Main Street USA
Much like Main Street's all over Disneyland, this one is no different. Just like walking through an American town from a movie, this is where all the best souvenir shops are located such as The Emporium, as well as food outlets like Tsum Tsums and Gelatoni, as well as the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad. There are several animation attractions in this area and character greetings take place here on the grassy roundabout on the central street, but the lines are usually long; there are character greeting events at other places in the park that are less busy. The Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique is also located here where children can dress up as their favourite Disney princess or prince; make sure to book in advance as it can get extremely busy. The best food places in this area are the Corner Cafe and the Market House Bakery, there is also a snack cart, with turkey legs, waffles, and egg tarts to really feel you are in that American movie.
Fantasy Land
After walking through Main Street, you can easily find Fantasy Land; tailor made for young children. The castle has just undergone a major renovation and is now redesigned as a suitable homage to all Disney princesses. Little children will delight in experiencing Cinderella's Carousel, Dumbo The Flying Elephant, It's A Small World, the Mad Hatter Tea Cups, The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, Mickey's PhilHarMagic, and the Sword In The Stone (character greeting spot). There are plenty of pagodas here to sit on, and more importantly, plenty of shade. Here you can have photos taken with characters by a photographer, available for purchase- not cheap, but making a memory last a lifetime for the little ones. The Royal Banquet Hall is a great place to eat, with several cuisines available including sushi, BBQ, international foods, and more traditional Chinese fare; Clopin's Festival of Food has Chinese food, complete with plastic replicas in the shop window to help you choose.
Toy Story Land
Dedicated to the Toy Story movies, this has plenty of attractions such as Barrel of Fun, RC Racer, Slinky Dog Spin, and Toy Soldier Parachute Drop. Lines here move slowly, so be patient. You will also be asked to put your things in a locker before boarding but the view is great. Jessie's Snack Carthas drinks and snacks, including ice cream with churros- it is a great place for children new to the film and its characters, and charming for parents that remember the films first time around.
Mystic Point
This is the latest land to be introduced to the resort and is exclusive to Hong Kong Disneyland. The only ride here is 'Mystic Manor' which is like the famous Haunted House, but with a different story and better special effects. The land is set in the mystical land of Papua New Guinea, with a rainforest as well as the home of the Mystic explorer; the ride is great fun for all. There is also a Garden of Wonders and Mystic Point Freight Depot although the real draw here though is the Explorer's Club Restaurant which has different stations based on Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and south east Asian food, the dining halls are themed according to different areas of the world which creates an interesting and vibrant aesthetic.
Grizzly Gulch
This is the Hong Kong equivalent of Frontierland and replicates the turn of the century AmericanGold Rush town. It is quite small, and the only ride is Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars. This is a great mini roller coaster for younger kids and is just like Thunder Mountain at the larger Disneyland parks. There is also a snack outlet and a popcorn stall here, so it is not as high octane as some other areas but is charming and well executed.
Tomorrowland.
Tomorrowlandhas recently been renovated and has plenty of attractions for teenagers and adults. Try the Star Wars influenced Hyperspace Mountain, Iron Man Experience, Orbitron, Star Wars, and the Command Post. The latter is a performance where kids can learn Jedi training. Older kids might be a bit too old for this, but it is great fun anyway; The only possible problem is that the show is in Cantonese, so if you are not fluent you will have to just enjoy the visuals. The Iron Man Experience is really what people come to see as it is exclusive to Hong Kong Disneyland. Riders will experience Tony Stark's innovations on a high-speed Iron Wing flight vehicle and the ride encapsulates plenty of Hong Kong's most famous buildings. Taking over three years to construct, the ride uses flight simulation, 3D projectors and plenty of special effects. The Starlight Diner offers burgers and fries in a basket, as well as other American-style snacks, like chicken fingers- another example of East meets West.
Entrance into the Hong Kong Disneyland resort is not the cheapest trip you will ever take, and we very much doubt you will get to see all of the park during one trip, but you will certainly have the time of your life there. Even if you are not a Disney fan, and you really don't need to be, it is difficult not to be blown away by the sheer scale and vibrancy of the resort. To get the most out of your visit, we really do advise you to plan ahead, set off early- and just forget the stresses of the adult world to immerse yourself in a day or so of pure make-believe.
Have you taken the ultimate trip to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort? We'd love to hear how it went!