Update 8/2022: The HK Disneyland Castle was completely changed (and majorly upgraded) in the past few years. See pictures and read all about it in this CNN article.
2nd Update 10/2023: The new Frozen land of Arendelle looks incredible and is opening next month!!
We took a family trip to Hong Kong when my oldest son was 2, and I was pregnant with our second son. There were so many fun things to do as a family in Hong Kong! But as Disney fans we knew we must hit HK Disney while “in town”!
Now…HK Disney has a bit of a reputation for being the least-loved of the Disney Destinations (mega Disney fans– correct me if I’m wrong). Sad, right?
It’s not that people can’t stand it, but it’s hard to live up to the other Disney resorts in Asia, I think. It’s not as innovative & meticulous as Tokyo Disney (a 2-park resort), or shiny, new & massive like Shanghai Disneyland (read about that trip HERE!).
The park opened in 2005 and is most similar to the original Disneyland in California in size and scope, though perhaps lacking some of that “original Walt magic” that people love to reference. After hearing from multiple people how small & underwhelming it was, we figured we should check it out ASAP. 😉 I’m glad we did! We had a fantastic experience and are now Team HK Disney!
When to Go:
To state the obvious: not NOW, probably. We were grateful to visit in 2018 before the protests and political struggles ramped up. The political unrest would be enough of a deterrent, but then that global pandemic came to the party, too. So… keep this information tucked away for a rainy day.
Speaking of rain… it’s pretty unbearably hot, humid & wet in the summer months & cool(ish) and dry in the winter. The months from October-April are generally regarded as a decent time to visit. We went on this trip in February, and it was perfectly moderate- around 60 degrees Farenheit most days. That was warm enough to feel a bit tropical (guys palm trees!) but cool/ comfortable enough for long days of walking and being outside. Our trip coincided with Chinese New Year; more on that later.
Where to Stay:
We actually didn’t visit any Disney hotels (normally we walk through or view from afar) because you need to take an additional shuttle bus to get to the hotels. It didn’t seem worth the time and energy– but I’d imagine that they are fantastically themed. It’s hard to beat the service and quality at Disney. My Disney-loving expat friends have raved about them! The three on-property choices are:
- Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (Grand Floridian lookalike)
- Disney Explorer’s Lodge
- Disney’s Hollywood Hotel
Context: HK Disney is on Lantau island, which is located southwest of downtown HK and connected by subway.
To reach downtown HK, it’s about a 45 minute long subway commute from Disneyland on Lantau (plus that 15/20 minute shuttle to get you TO the city subway from a Disney hotel).
We knew we wanted to divide our time in more varied locations so we stayed in a high-rise apartment on Lantau island we found on Airbnb. The apartment was fully equipped with toys, children’s books, and more. The apartment was within walking distance to Tung Chung subway stop. We appreciated being close to the Big Buddha/cable car & Disney (both about 15 minutes away), and the commute into HK was doable too (closer to 45).
Getting Around
The most common way to get to the HK Disneyland Resort is either the hotel shuttle (if staying on property), or the subway.
Despite being fully decked with Mickeys throughout, this is actually a city-owned & operated subway. The decor was a really fun addition. Follow this link to the MTR subway official website.
Once you arrive at the subway stop (literally called the Disneyland Resort Station), it’s about a 10 minute walk to the main gate. Prepare for massive crowds getting off the subway (everyone is headed to the exact same place). There is an elevator for strollers, handicap, etc. FYI, but we were too impatient to wait in line for it (common theme in our lives). Anyone else a rebel without a cause taking strollers up & down escalators?
How many days?
We had a list of must-see Hong Kong (Non-Disney) attractions for the trip. We set aside one evening and another full day to explore Hong Kong Disneyland, and about 2.5 days for the rest of HK.
You could see all of HK Disneyland in one full day (start to close) if you move somewhat quickly. Being about 6 months pregnant & taking time to enjoy the details with our little guy, we were grateful for the extra couple of hours the previous day. What I’m saying is that were able to ride It’s a Small World (named “The Happy Boat Ride” by our 2 year old) the 5x he wanted to.
On the flip side, I had friends that spent even longer here (2+ days) and I’m sure no one would be sad about that, either.
Chinese New Year
Kung Hei Fat Choy!! We went to HK Disney during Chinese New Year (those were the days Paul had off for Korean Lunar New Year). There were decorations throughout the park & special outfits for the characters in honor of the celebration. The park staff handed out little red envelopes with gold chocolate coins & Disney stickers as guests entered the park, which made us all feel included in the celebration!
Other tourist attractions in Hong Kong were very crowded (probably the longest lines we’ve waited in for tourist attractions anywhere) with the big holiday weekend– but Disneyland was inexplicably not. The park wasn’t empty by any means, but lines and wait times were very reasonable.
Guests gathering in the morning for park opening– anxiously waiting to get in already!
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