[Hong Kong Disneyland Guide]Ticket, FastPass, Must-Do Attractions, Shopping & Limited-Time Events Cheat Sheet

A theme park is a dream destination where you’ll smile from ear to ear no matter your age, and many choose Hong Kong Disneyland as their first step into a magical castle; the worst thing about visiting an amusement park is missing out on must-do rides and wasting time. Travel experts have compiled the top 10 Hong Kong Disneyland tips for you—ticket info, FastPass guide, must-ride attractions, must-buy merchandise, and even limited-time events in 2018—to ensure you have so much fun you won’t want to leave!

(Image captured from Hong Kong Disneyland’s official IG account)

Tip #1 Buy your tickets in advance to skip the queue
Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Types
Tip #2 Plan your transport and arrive early
Tip #3 Download the essential app to master the park

(Image captured from Hong Kong Disneyland’s official website)

Tip #4 Don’t know what FP is? You could be missing out big time

FastPass 101
How to draw a ticket | Insert your ticket into the machine to get a FastPass
You can hand your ticket to someone else to draw the FastPass while the rest of your group queues for other rides
Tip #5 When you see Main Street, U.S.A., hold back for now

Tip #6 Play from the bottom up—from jungle adventures to space exploration
Step 1: In Adventureland, Grizzly Gulch and Toy Story Land tend to get crowded with concert-goers in the afternoon, so make sure to hit them in the morning.
Step 2: After Toy Story Land, head to Fantasyland for lunch—the rides there are more relaxed and perfect for post-meal vibes.
Step 3: Finally, go to Tomorrowland to experience the park’s two most thrilling rides: Iron Man Experience and Hyperspace Mountain.
Step 4: After checking off the popular rides, stroll through Main Street, U.S.A. and catch the 7 PM We Love Mickey projection show.
Tip #7 Time is money—what are the must-do rides?
For families traveling with kids
(Toy Story Land is one of the most kid-friendly areas / Image captured from Hong Kong Disneyland’s Facebook fan page)
For thrill-seekers
(Iron Man Experience is a popular ride in Tomorrowland / Image captured from Hong Kong Disneyland’s official website)
Tip #8 Beyond rides, here are the live shows you shouldn’t miss
(Photo from a scene in Disney’s Mickey and the Wondrous Book / Image captured from Hong Kong Disneyland’s official IG account)
Show schedule reference:
Monday to Thursday: 13:00, 14:30, 17:15, 18:30
Fri-Sat: 11:15, 12:30, 13:45, 16:30, 18:00, 19:15
Sun: 11:45, 13:00, 15:45, 17:15, 18:30
Guide #9 Go Crazy for Shopping – Must-Buy Hong Kong Disneyland Souvenirs
(Photo shows a Duffy Bear-shaped donut / Image captured from Hong Kong Disneyland’s official IG account)
Guide #10 More Fun Than Ever – 2018 Limited-Time Events
Disney Halloween Time Halloween Celebration
(Image captured from Hong Kong Disneyland’s official website)
A Disney Christmas Disney’s Sparkling Christmas
(Image captured from Hong Kong Disneyland’s official website)

Hong Kong Disneyland does not offer pre-purchased FastPass tickets, but buying your tickets online or through a travel agency can save you the time of queuing up at the park. And if you book online, you can simply scan the QR code on your phone when entering the park — super convenient!

Here’s a great way to get from the airport to Hong Kong Disneyland

The park usually opens around 10:30 AM, but it’s best to arrive outside the park around 9:00 AM so you can be among the first to enter when it opens.

Pro tip: No matter how long you’re staying in Hong Kong, I highly recommend getting an Octopus card. It’s truly a one-card solution for convenience — buses, trains, the MTR, even ferries!

Hong Kong Disneyland has an official mobile app that not only shows you the locations of rides, restrooms, drinking fountains, and restaurants in the park, but also estimates the wait times for each attraction. Most importantly, it tells you the schedules and locations for Disney character appearances and parades!

If you’ve been to Hong Kong Disneyland, you might have heard people talk about FP. It stands for FastPass, which are express tickets for popular rides. You can draw a ticket and then return at the designated time to skip the regular line.

Time limit | After using one FP, you must wait a certain period before you can get another FP for the same ride

FP rides | Iron Man Experience, Hyperspace Mountain, Winnie the Pooh Adventure

Once you enter the park, the first area you’ll come to is Main Street, U.S.A., which is the prime spot for Disney merchandise and souvenirs — a place where many go a little crazy. But try to hold back a bit, because if you splurge here, not only will your bags be heavy, you might also miss your chance to ride the most popular attractions. I suggest taking a left turn as soon as you enter the park.

Travel experts recommend starting with Adventureland, then exploring the other lands in a clockwise direction:

△Quick reminder: The nightly parade at 8 PM in front of the castle has been temporarily suspended. Check the official site for updates on when it will return.

# Jungle River Cruise | Adventureland

It’s like going on a real jungle adventure — super refreshing. You cruise along the river while enjoying jungle scenery, spotting elephants bathing by the water, ancient stone temples submerged in water, and crocodile groups eyeing their prey.

# Spinny Squid | Toy Story Land

If you have a fear of heights or are traveling with kids, this spinning ride is a good option. Chase the tail of Andy’s spinning dog with the rest. The speed isn’t too fast, so no worries about getting dizzy~

# The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Fantasyland

Fantasyland is arguably the favorite land for kids, and this ride lets you literally follow Winnie the Pooh on an adventure. You’ll sit in a car and pass through various intricately designed scenes and characters — needless to say, it’s very photo-friendly, so Pooh fans, clear some memory on your camera!

# Mickey’s PhilharMagic | Fantasyland

This is a 10-minute 3D musical show that gives your legs a break from waiting in lines. It starts with a performance by Donald Duck’s orchestra and then brings in various Disney characters like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. See if you can name all the characters in the film~

# Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars | Grizzly Gulch

For thrill-seekers who think Disneyland is just for kids, this roller coaster is one of the most popular rides in the park. It may not seem special at first, but the speed builds up, the track twists and turns, and there’s even a backward section, plus sound and light effects — many people ride it over and over again.

# Sky Rocket Coaster | Anti-Gravity Garrison

This ride looks like a half-chopped Hot Wheel from the outside, but riding it feels like being on a pirate ship. Many people back off at the mention of a pirate ship ride—after all, that centrifugal force can be truly terrifying. But if you’re an adrenaline junkie, you just have to give it a go!

# Hyperspace Mountain | Tomorrowland

You can dive into the Star Wars universe right from the queue—the surroundings are super immersive. Once aboard, you’ll enjoy the Star Wars theme music and the thrill of completing missions. May the Force be with you.

# Iron Man Experience | Tomorrowland

Iron Man is, of course, the superhero we all know. With special glasses, you’ll get a first-person view flying over Hong Kong as Iron Man himself, battling alongside him against the evil Hydra organization. This ride operates until 8 PM, so there’s no need to rush first thing in the morning!

# The Lion King Celebration | Adventureland

If you visit Hong Kong Disneyland and miss this show, you’ve missed out big time. This massive musical, featuring Simba and his buddies Timon and Pumbaa, runs for half an hour and includes over 20 vibrant dancers and all your favorite Lion King songs. Don’t miss it.

Showtimes (approximate): 12:00, 14:00, 16:30, 18:00

# Mickey’s PhilharMagic | Fantasyland

It’s like flipping through a collection of Disney fairy tales—endless “happily ever afters” and characters. The show kicks off with Mickey Mouse and takes you through page after page of Disney stories in musical form. They’ve got everything you can think of, giving you a magical journey through their enchanted world in just under 30 minutes.

Wondering what souvenirs are a must-buy at Hong Kong Disneyland? Come on, let Fuxin Xiu tell you~

# Most Classic Character | Mickey Ears Popcorn Bucket

The lid is shaped like Mickey’s iconic black ears, and the bucket itself resembles red Mickey shorts. Best of all, the popcorn inside is delicious. It’s a great way to fill your belly and take home a souvenir—two birds, one stone!

# So Cute It Hurts | Duffy Family Mug

This mug is a Hong Kong-exclusive item—you can only get it at Hong Kong Disneyland. A must-have Duffy collectible for all the girls.

# Too Pretty to Eat | Disney Character Doughnuts

The bakery on Main Street, U.S.A. often whips up amazing pastries, and this series of Disney character icing doughnuts is almost too pretty to eat. Many girls simply can’t resist them.

△ Tip: Bakery menus change frequently, so availability isn’t guaranteed.

# Superheroes | Iron Man Merchandise

Marvel being acquired by Disney isn’t exactly breaking news. While it might be a little sad for Marvel fans, it’s great news for us. In the Tomorrowland area of Hong Kong Disneyland, there’s the Stark Expo store that sells mainly Iron Man merchandise. Aside from Hong Kong-exclusive keychains, you’ll also find Spider-Man and Captain America items.

And of course, the grand finale has to be the most special. Disneyland often sets different themes for various holidays, so you can pick your favorite time to visit and enjoy a more unique park experience. Here are some upcoming park themes:

Dates: September 13 – October 31, 2018

The most important holiday in October is, of course, Halloween. For Halloween, Disneyland centers the event around Jack Skellington from the animated movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, inviting everyone to turn the park upside down with him. Unlike the usual daytime parade, characters will dress up in their Halloween best, and when night falls, all the Disney villains come out for a nighttime parade accompanied by light and shadow shows—a spooky spectacular known as the Villains Parade 3.0.

Dates: November 15, 2018 – January 1, 2019

Christmas is a major Western holiday, and Disneyland goes all out to celebrate. During this period, the morning on Main Street, U.S.A. features live band performances, while the evening brings a Christmas snowfall parade that lets you experience a wintery atmosphere right here in Asia.

That’s the complete list of the top 10 Hong Kong Disneyland travel tips compiled by HowToTrip. With this guide, you’re guaranteed to snag all the must-buys and have the best possible fun on your next trip—no more wandering around aimlessly like a headless chicken.