Maria G.
Yelp
Review #1000. The BEST property out of Anaheim, Orlando, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. (May/not change my mind after Tokyo/Paris).
#1000 needs to be ultra special. So, you will get a 2-in-1 deal. Will review Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) and then the Shanghai Disney Resort (SHDR).
HKDL:
1. Many say this park is too small. I disagree. It is smaller when compare it with Disney World, but you spend less walking in the sun and more time for the rides. Since June 2016, due to the opening of the SHDR, HKDL receives far fewer visitors. This may be bad for Disney since they are practically losing profit at 13 of 14 theme parks (SHDR is the only making a profit). But, it is great for me since there is practically no line for the majority of the rides.
2. If the park opens at 10 AM, totally safe to arrive at 9 AM (for a Monday morning in July). I took the metro over and first passed the security check with no wait. I arrived by 9:10 AM and was the third in line. At 9:20 AM, a special family was invited inside to take pictures with cast members. At 9:25 AM, Mickey and Minnie would come around to the gate area and wave hello. At 9:30 AM, the ticket line would officially open. Between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM, you are only allowed in the shopping section as the rides are not open yet. Use this 30 min. slot to take photos with Mickey/Minnie, Chip/Dale, and Daisy/Donald. DO THE PHOTOS BEFORE 10 AM! The line for photos get significantly longer later during the day, so take advantage of these 30 min window early in the morning. Then at around 9:55 AM, another family would be invited to the front of the castle for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Then the park and the rides would officially open.
I prefer the HKDL over SHDR because the ceremony gives you a more authentic Disney feeling. At SHDR, no ribbon cutting ceremony, as everyone would just run towards Tron or Soaring, as soon as allowed inside (do not ask if I have followed the locals and done the same).
3. No food allowed. You could bring bottled water inside and just refill at the fountain. The bathrooms are fairly clean.
4. Every cast member is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Impressive. They are friendly, smile a lot and seem to enjoy their jobs. Do they also get paid minimum wage? I hope/guess not because they sure look less miserable than the cast in the US or Shanghai.
5. Didn't eat here (aside from the free popcorn that came with Admissions Ticket), but it seems like their food would cost hella money. At least they accept credit cards here, not cash only.
6. Tips:
-Cinderella Carousel (try this during the last 30 mins before closing)
-Dumbo the Flying Elephant (try it right before closing for no wait)
- Disneyland Railroad (15 minutes for a round trip, do the entire ride and don't get off at any stops in between)
- Mad Hatter Tea Cups (come during the first 10 minutes of opening and you can ride this three times in a row. And yes, I did just that.)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (FP! Or wait in line for 30 mins or so)
- Mystic Manor (scary and dark ride, worth it)
- Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars (omg so much fun!)
- Royal Princess Garden (check the App for princess rotation schedule. Elsa and Anna usually are here on the weekends, not on weekdays)
- Hyperspace Mountain (FP!)
- Iron Man Experience (hold on to the handrail tight! The line is generally short anyway. Try to score a front seat row, if possible.)
- Flight of Fantasy Parade (stand close to the entrance side.)
Now, bonus SHDR:
1. No food allowed inside. The security check is tight and almost feel like a violation of privacy. But deal with it. Some people do sneak in food if the food it is stacked at the bottom of your bag.
2. My record is to have spent 15 hours here (arrived at 5:30 AM and stayed until 10:30 PM). Take a cab over during the peak months and arrive early. To avoid confusion on the highway close to the park, tell the cab driver to take you to the Toy Story Hotel. For crowd control, the security gate opens between 6:50 and 7:20 AM (for 8 AM official open). I have also waited in line until 7:45 AM for an 8 AM open time.
3. If you can afford a "royal" meal inside the castle, take advantage of the VIP at either firework show or a live entertainment show. I recommend the fireworks. You don't have to wait for an hour to find a perfect spot. If you don't mind sitting on the pavement, simply walk in 15 min prior and maximize your time elsewhere.
4. Visit on the rainy days, if you are a local. Way shorter lines (eg the line for Tron is 20 min, as opposed to 120 min).
5. Seasonal ticket holders must go through dedicated lanes, not regular lines. The general ticket holder can go through either lane.
6. Now sell half day tickets!
7. There are always taxis waiting after park closing. I would not recommend Didi (the local Uber). Sometimes the drivers don't know where to park/wait for you.
8. If purchase balloons, you cannot bring to the subway. So take a taxi home.