Visiting Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland. Photo courtesy of xiquinhosilva via Flickr.

Whether you’re a first-time Disney visitor or a seasoned park-goer checking off another of Disney’s five global resort areas from your bucket list, Hong Kong Disneyland brings an Asian twist (the park follows principles of feng shui) to the ‘happiest place on earth’ that lives up in quality to the other parks under the Disney umbrella.

The Hong Kong installment of the theme park is divided into six distinct sections: Main Street USA, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Toy Story Land and Grizzly Gulch. A new Jungle-themed area called Mystic Point is set to open in 2013. Unlike the sister resorts in Orlando and Anaheim, Hong Kong Disney is small enough to ride every ride and see all the attractions in a single day, so unless you really want to take your time, staying at the park’s two hotels is more of a hassle than a convenience.

Visiting on a weekday during the school year will mean minimal crowds, but even on the busiest days, Disney’s Fastpass system means you won’t have to wait long for the most popular attractions, like Space Mountain or Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. When you arrive at the park, head to the area with the ride you most want to get on, grab a Fastpass and hit all the other attractions in the area while you wait for your designated ride time. After you ride, grab a Fastpass for another attraction and repeat the process.

If you really want to minimize time waiting in lines:

• Get there before the gates open and head straight for Grizzly Gulch or Toy Story Land near the back of the park. Most tourists will head for the first attraction they see when they enter.
• Visit the busier attractions during the parades and fireworks show when most park-goers are busy watching.
• Bring a rain parka. The park tends to clear out significantly when it rains, so if you don’t mind getting wet, you’ll have thinner crowds to deal with.

Hong Kong has a dedicated MTR line, the Disney Resort Line, making it convenient to get to the park by subway. Opening hours vary month to month, so check before you go and don’t forget to bring an umbrella to block the sun or rain. English is widely spoken by most of the staff, and all the signage and attractions are in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

- Lydia Schrandt

 Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Hong Kong tours and things to do, Hong Kong attractions, and Hong Kong travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Hong Kong for a customized tour!