5 Things to Love About Hong Kong Disneyland 

Hong Kong Disneyland’s Castle of Magical Dreams certainly looks the part, especially after dark.

After visiting every Disney Park on earth, I can safely say that Hong Kong Disneyland holds a special place in my heart. The smallest of Disney’s global theme parks, Hong Kong has a unique charm that needs to be experienced to be understood. On paper, it doesn’t seem like much: The park is missing several of Disney’s most beloved rides, like Big Thunder Mountain and The Haunted Mansion, but it also boasts some truly unique experiences, quality foods, and memorable moments that make any Disney trip magical. 

Still on the fence? These five things to love about Hong Kong Disneyland might just seal the deal. 

Things to Know About Hong Kong Disneyland 

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort sits on Lantau Island, about a 30-minute drive from Hong Kong Island or a 20-minute drive from the Kowloon waterfront. Uber is widely used in Hong Kong, making transportation a breeze if you’re not staying on Disney property, though there are three hotels on site should you choose to stay closer to the park. Local buses and taxi services are also available. 

Another thing to note is that Hong Kong Disneyland doesn’t open until 10 or 10:30 a.m. (depending on the time of year), so there’s no need to stress about rushing to the park first thing in the morning. In fact, the park’s footprint is so small (see below), that most local visitors don’t even stay for the entire day. We arrived just before noon and were able to do and see everything we wanted to by the time the park closed at 8:30 p.m. (Note: Hours of operation change based on the time of year. Check Hong Kong Disneyland’s website for today’s hours).

Top Reasons to Visit Hong Kong Disneyland

1. Small Footprint

Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Disneyland

At just over 60 acres (68, to be exact), Hong Kong Disneyland is the world’s smallest Disney Park, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. To put that into perspective, Disneyland in Anaheim covers around 107 acres and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando sprawls across 142 acres. This significantly smaller footprint makes visiting the entire park a much more manageable experience, especially in Hong Kong’s notorious summer heat. Less square footage also makes navigation easier (retracing your steps isn’t a daunting endeavor) and means that you won’t leave Hong Kong Disneyland with aching feet at the end of the day.

2. First Frozen-Themed Land

Small but mighty Hong Kong Disneyland enjoys the proud distinction of being the first Disney park to open a Frozen-themed land. World of Frozen debuted in November 2023 with two rides (Frozen Ever After and Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Slighs rollercoaster), an Alpine-inspired eatery, a whimsical bakery, plenty of shops, and all the delightful details you can expect from a Disney park experience. The land is centered around a small lake (complete with docked Viking-style boats) and surrounded by a backdrop of snow-covered peaks. A snowflake-shaped fountain makes for a fantastic photo op, especially after dark when it glows in ice-cold hues of purple and blue. 

3. One-of-a-Kind Rides

While other Disney parks around the world are developing their own Frozen-themed experiences, Hong Kong Disneyland stays ahead of the curve with unique, non-IP-based attractions that continue to draw crowds. Rather than the classic Fronteirland with its signature Big Thunder Mountain attraction, Hong Kong Disneyland is home to Grizzly Gulch, a similar Wild West-inspired land that’s home to some mischievous bears. Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars draws inspiration from Big Thunder Mountain, with its own unique spin — you may end up flying backward down the track. 

What really sets Hong Kong Disneyland apart from its international siblings is its one-of-a-kind take on the Haunted Mansion. Mystic Manor is a totally unique concept, developed to better align with the Chinese notion of an afterlife (Grim Grinning Ghosts don’t exactly fit in with the culture here). This trackless ride introduces you to world explorer Lord Henry Mystic and his cheeky primate companion Albert. While taking a tour of Lord Mystic’s collection, Albert unwittingly releases magic dust that brings the artifacts to life, causing mayhem and mischief throughout the exhibits. The blend of practical effects and technology on this ride results in true Disney magic — we rode Mystic Manor at least four times throughout our one-day visit.

4. Enchanting Food

Food can (and should) be a highlight of any Disney trip and Hong Kong Disneyland was no exception. The park offers everything from classic churros executed to perfection to more locally focused foods like fish balls, laksa, and dried squid. Themed treats are exceptionally photo-worthy here — think egg waffles with Mickey-shaped ridges and pastries artfully decorated with Frozen characters. On the flavor front, we were pleasantly surprised with most of the bites we tried, from a South African-inspired hot dog with an excellent snap to rich and creamy butter chicken. While we weren’t able to try everything in our single-day adventure, we certainly wouldn’t complain about going back for another food-finding mission. 

5. Lower Crowd Levels

My single biggest complaint about any Disney park around the world is the crowds. Nothing ruins your magical mood quite like having to wade through a sea of people. Luckily, that wasn’t our experience at Hong Kong Disneyland. Due to the park’s small size and diminished capacity, the park rarely gets crowded which makes for an all-around more magical experience. During our October visit, we were able to more or less walk on to any ride we wanted, whenever we wanted. We didn’t need to spend time and energy messing with the mobile app or trying to snag a coveted skip-the-line spot. We simply walked up to a ride, waited at most 20 minutes (even this only happened twice), rode the ride, and went on to the next. 

Another perk of lower crowd levels? We didn’t have to worry about waiting in line for food. While we did have to wait in a short line at Starbucks (which is the case no matter where you are in the world), we were able to walk up to any cart, stall, or restaurant and order right then and there. Not having to mess with mobile ordering was another huge boon. Overall, we were able to avoid being on our phones except to take pictures — exactly how a Disney vacation should be.