If you’re a fan of theme parks, you’ll be happy to know that there are two main theme parks in Hong Kong – Ocean Park and Disneyland. Visiting both of these parks will take at least two days, so if you only have one day to spare and you’re wondering which park to choose, this post can help you decide.
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Hong Kong Disneyland
Let’s start with Hong Kong Disneyland. This theme park has been around since September 2005 and is located on Lantau Island, about an hour away from the city center.
Getting Here
You can take the MTR Tung Chung line to Sunny Bay and then change to the Disney Resort line to get there. Once you board the Disney train, you’ll find yourself a step closer to Disneyland. The train is beautifully designed and filled with Disney characters. You’ll start taking pictures as soon as you board the train.
Themed Lands
Hong Kong Disneyland has eight themed lands, including Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point, Toy Story Land, Adventureland, and the newly opened World of Frozen.
Ticket Price
The ticket price* varies according to the date and season, with four pricing tiers.
- Tier 1 – HKD 639 (General) / HKD 475 (Child)
- Tier 2 – HKD 719 (General) / HKD 539 (Child)
- Tier 3 – HKD 799 (General) / HKD 599 (Child)
- Tier 4 – HKD 879 (General) / HKD 659 (Child)
* Ticket prices are for reference and are accurate when writing this post. Please check the latest price on the official website before purchasing.
Priority Access
Fastpass access has been replaced by Disney Premier Access, which is available as an add-on purchase. The Disney Premier pass is a one-time priority access to certain attractions. You can choose from 3 or 8 attractions, but note that the pass does not include admission to Disneyland.
- Disney Premier Access (3 attractions) – HKD 229
- Disney Premier Access (8 Attractions) – HKD 529
Here is the list of attractions that you can use Disney Premier Access:
- Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!
- Mystic Manor
- Iron Man Experience
- “it’s a small world”
For Disney Premier Access with 8 attractions, you have three additional attractions to choose from:
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Hyperspace Mountain
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
As you can imagine, visiting Disneyland is pretty expensive.
To make your trip more affordable, bring snacks and a refillable water bottle. You can refill your water for free at water stations inside the park. You can also purchase discounted admission tickets, meal vouchers, and Disney Premier Access from trusted platforms such as Klook. Check out these tips before going to Hong Kong Disneyland.
Must-ride attractions
Hong Kong Disneyland has many family-friendly rides, but there are minimum height limits for each ride. Here are some of the must-ride attractions:
- Mystic Manor (Mystic Point)
- Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars (Grizzly Gulch)
- Iron Man Experience (Tomorrowland)
- Hyperspace Mountain (Tomorrowland)
- Antman & the Wasp Nano Battle (Tomorrowland)
- Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs (World of Frozen)
Must-see shows
Besides rides, Disneyland also has a few staged shows and parades. Here are some of my favorite shows:
- Mickey and the Wondrous Book (Fantasyland)
- Festival of the Lion King (Adventureland)
- Mickey & Friends Street Celebration (Main Street USA)
- Momentous (Main Street USA)
Disney Character Meet & Greet
Last but not least, you’ll get to meet and greet various Disney characters walking around the park. There are designated photo opportunities with Disney characters around the park.
Nearby Hotels
To end your Disneyland adventure on a high note, you can choose to stay at one of the three hotels located at Hong Kong Disneyland. Each hotel has a unique theme, adding to the magical experience of your stay. However, please note that these hotels are situated an hour away from the city center. It is advisable to book another hotel for your stay in Hong Kong if you plan to explore the city for sightseeing purposes.
Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel
Among the three Disneyland hotels, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is the most expensive. When staying here, make sure to book the breakfast buffet where you have an opportunity to meet Mickey and Friends.
Disney Explorer Lodge
The theme of the Disney Explorer Lodge is adventure. When I entered the hotel, I felt like an explorer ready for adventure. The decorations somewhat remind me of the Adventureland of Hong Kong Disneyland.
Disney’s Hollywood Hotel
Disney’s Hollywood Hotel is all about the art of storytelling and movie-making. Guests can participate in an artistry tour and a movie premiere.
Ocean Park
Now, let’s talk about Ocean Park. This theme park has been around since 1977 and is located in the southern part of Hong Kong. It has been the go-to theme park for many locals long before Hong Kong Disneyland opened.
Getting Here
To get there, take the MTR Island Line to Admiralty Station, change to the South Island Line, and get off at Ocean Park Station.
Themed Lands
Ocean Park is divided into two main areas known as The Summit and The Waterfront. These two lands are separated by a mountain, and you can travel between them using either the cable car or the Ocean Express train. I recommend you take the cable car to The Summit first, immediately upon entering the park, so that you can enjoy all of the rides and attractions there. After exploring The Summit, I recommend you take the train back to The Waterfront instead of the cable car. The queue for the cable car in the afternoon can get very long, and you may have to wait for an hour or two before you can return to The Waterfront.
Ticket Price
Admission tickets to the park cost HKD 498 for adults and HKD 249 for children.
Priority Access
If you want to skip the lines and gain priority access to some of the rides, you can purchase an Ocean Park FasTrack pass. Please note that the FasTrack pass does not include admission to the park; it only gives you priority access to the rides. The FasTrack pass comes in two types: standard and pro. The standard FasTrack pass allows you to have priority access to a maximum of 7 attractions, while the pro FasTrack pass gives you priority access to all rides and attractions. You can check the details of the FasTrack pass here.
The price* of the FasTrack pass are as follows:
- Ocean Park FasTrack (Standard) – HKD 320
- Ocean Park FasTrack (Pro) – HKD 580
* Ticket prices are for reference and are accurate when writing this post. Please check the latest price on the official website before purchasing.
Must-ride attractions
Ocean Park boasts some of the most thrilling rides. If you are a fan of thrilling rides, here are some must-try attractions:
- Hair Riser (Thrill Mountain)
- The Flash (Thrill Mountain)
- Wild Twister (Marine World)
- Crazy Galleon (Marine World)
Ocean Park also has family-friendly rides. You can check the full list of rides and attractions here.
Must-visit animals
Besides thrilling rides, Ocean Park is home to animals from all over the world. Here are some of the must-visit animals.:
- Giant Panda Adventure (Panda)
- North Pole Encounter (Walruses)
- South Pole Spectacular (Penguins)
- Pacific Pier (Seals and Sea Lions)
- Shark Mystique (Sharks)
- The Grand Aquarium
- Arctic Fox Den (Arctic Fox)
Must-see shows
When you visit Ocean Park, be sure to experience Dolphin Explorations, an interactive show that raises awareness of ocean conservation. You will meet adorable marine creatures and learn how to reduce your carbon footprint to help save the polar regions.
Nearby Hotels
Located in the southern part of Hong Kong, the area is a relatively quiet neighborhood. Apart from visiting Ocean Park, you can also explore nearby areas such as Wong Chuk Hang and Aberdeen. In addition, there are several good hiking trails nearby such as Brick Hill, Aberdeen Reservoir, and Mount Johnston.
Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel
The hotel is situated right at the entrance of Ocean Park. The rooms of the hotel are beautifully decorated with cute animal themes. There are three themed rooms available: Whiskers Submarine, Redd Forest, and Bao Bao Paradise. Be sure to check out the lobby aquarium that spans three floors.
The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong
The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel in Hong Kong is the first of its kind, located adjacent to Ocean Park. The hotel rooms offer breathtaking views of the ocean. If you are staying here, be sure to check out the Ocean Park and Water Park offers included in the booking.
Tips
When planning a trip to a theme park in Hong Kong, it’s best to avoid visiting during weekends and public holidays in Hong Kong or China. If you visiting Hong Kong for the first time, check out these posts:
Which park to visit?
Both theme parks have their own charm and unique attractions. I recommend you visit both if you have enough time. But if you’re trying to decide between Disneyland and Ocean Park, here’s a summary to help you choose:
If you enjoy live shows and musical performances, love all things Disney, and want rides suitable for the whole family, then Disneyland is the place for you. On the other hand, if you’re into thrilling and scary rides and have a love for animals, Ocean Park is the better choice. Ocean Park is more affordable if you are on a budget.
I hope this information helps you decide and gives you an idea of what to expect from both parks. Let me know in the comments which park you visited, and feel free to ask questions too.