It’s that point of 12 months when prestigious publications and esteemed go back and forth tastemakers from in all places the arena moderately curate lists of the most productive locations and hidden gemstones to suggest to their readers. After which there’s us. This weblog goes to do the similar factor, weighing whether or not you must seek advice from Walt Disney International, Disneyland, or enlarge your horizons as we crown a #1 Disney theme park to seek advice from in 2025.
The circumstances for and in opposition to Walt Disney International are somewhat easy. Pent-up call for has exhausted itself, leading to decrease attendance and crowds, plus extra reductions on hotel rooms as Walt Disney International makes an attempt to lure visitors. The Florida parks have additionally wrapped up their final giant construction cycle with the final touch of the EPCOT overhaul and opening of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, so you’ll be able to enjoy the entirety new if it’s been a couple of or extra years because you final visited.
As for what’s new in 2025 at Walt Disney International, now not an entire lot. Disney Starlight Evening Parade is the most important factor, and that’ll debut over the summer time. There also are smaller level presentations and leisure anticipated, however not anything main–making the loss of new points of interest the most important explanation why to take a 12 months (or 3) off from Walt Disney International.
Truthfully, essentially the most compelling explanation why to seek advice from Walt Disney International in 2025 is as an add-on to Common’s Epic Universe. Or to mention good-bye to DINOSAUR, Rivers of The united states/Tom Sawyer Island, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, MuppetVision, and different points of interest and spaces going extinct. None of this is sufficient to earn Walt Disney International the number one Disney vacation spot in 2025.
Then there’s Disneyland, which celebrates its seventieth Anniversary in 2025. It’s a lovely identical tale for the California parks as it’s the Florida ones. Pent-up call for finishing, that means higher reductions and decrease crowds (albeit now not even on the subject of the similar extent as Walt Disney International). Ditto the final construction cycle finishing with Tiana’s Bayou Journey opening.
Disneyland Lodge could also be getting an evening parade with the go back of Paint the Evening. Wondrous Trips and Higher In combination may even make comebacks. International of Colour Happiness debuts, in addition to the impending Walt Disney Audio Animatronics level display. Seasonal occasions and a extra powerful leisure slate can be highlights.
It feels like 2025 will probably be a cast 12 months for Disneyland, at least one time Might rolls round. However now not sufficient to earn Disneyland the highest spot. If the rest, it’s nonetheless overwhelmed through Walt Disney International because of the latter’s decrease crowds and proximity to Epic Universe.
The entire different applicants require a world flight, and essentially the most obtrusive of the ones is Tokyo Disney Lodge. Actually, the Japan parks must be thought to be the frontrunners because of the outlet of Myth Springs midway via this 12 months. That $2.3 billion enlargement that includes Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan used to be the one main addition that “Disney” opened anyplace this 12 months. It options a couple of blockbuster boat rides, two of which might be top-of-the-line Disney points of interest on this planet.
On most sensible of that, the yen is amazingly vulnerable presently–making Tokyo Disney Lodge extra inexpensive than ever. (See Is It Inexpensive to Discuss with Tokyo Disney Lodge Than Walt Disney International? Spoiler: the solution is sure!) Moreover, the parks in Japan are after all nearly again to customary, making it a great time to seek advice from for the overall enjoy.
If you happen to sensed a “however” coming, you’re proper. Up to we extremely suggest and love Tokyo Disney Lodge–and we truly find it irresistible–contemporary stories give us pause and slight reluctance to suggest it to a first-timer in 2025. It’s possible you’ll nonetheless be at an advantage ready every other 12 months. However that’s an entire ‘nother can of worms, and one we’ll smash down in an upcoming submit.
With the runners up out of the best way, it’s time to crown our #1 Disney Parks & Accommodations Vacation spot for 2025. For this record, we’re taking a look particularly on the professionals & cons of visiting in 2025–what’s new & subsequent, the worth proposition of visiting now vs. ready, in addition to fan comments and reader proceedings about what they’re and don’t seem to be searching for from Disney holidays…
Our #1 Disney Park for 2025: Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is the little park that would. It’s Disney’s least-visited citadel park on this planet, with attendance at about one-third the numbers of Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, or Tokyo Disneyland. It has decrease attendance than each unmarried Walt Disney International or Disneyland Lodge park, and ranked forward of most effective Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris final 12 months–now not truly a good comparability since that used to be a veritable development zone (and is admittedly atrocious).
We’ve steadily described Hong Kong Disneyland as fascinating or like Disneyland in California from a bygone technology. That has been reward, however in a little of a backhanded approach. For years, Hong Kong Disneyland used to be a little of a paradox: house to a few the most productive points of interest on this planet, however in a different way having a vulnerable experience roster through citadel park requirements. It used to be a park we loved, however by no means ranked within the most sensible part of our Record of the Perfect & Worst Disney Theme Parks within the International.
Our most up-to-date seek advice from adjustments that. Hong Kong Disneyland is now not the Casey Junior of Disney theme parks. It’s now not the scrappy little park that “thinks it could.” It’s the park that may–and does. Right here’s a rundown of one of the explanation why…
Low Crowds, Laid Again
This seek advice from to Hong Kong Disneyland got here right through a partial world excursion that incorporated stops at Walt Disney International, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Lodge all in a two-week span. The distinction between Hong Kong Disneyland and far and wide else on that record used to be sharp. Particularly Tokyo Disney Lodge.
While all of the leisure had a point of vacation crowds, Hong Kong Disneyland used to be blissfully uncrowded. There used to be one weekend day that used to be average, however weekdays have been an absolute pleasure–as has all the time been our enjoy at Hong Kong Disneyland. (Simply don’t seek advice from on Saturdays or any Chinese language vacations.)
There’s a explanation why our technique posts for Hong Kong Disneyland are threadbare: it’s now not important. Display up at park opening, prioritize in a fashion that’s semi-logical, and also you must be just right to head. On an ordinary day at HKDL, your longest watch for an enchantment by the use of the standby line will also be half-hour with even a modicum of strategizing.
Like far and wide else, Hong Kong Disneyland provides a bevy of upcharges. The entirety from a los angeles carte line-skipping to paid early access to a buffet providing reserved viewing for the middle of the night impressive (and extra). All of this is not sensible. Neatly, nearly it all. If you happen to’re into assembly Duffy and pals, we’d suggest paying additional to skip LinaBell’s line. We made the error of doing standby, or even at rope drop, that used to be a little excruciating.
Another way, shall we’ve left our telephones within the resort room and finished completely high quality at Hong Kong Disneyland. We listen from such a lot of readers who lament the lack of spontaneity, reliance of era, and extra display screen time at Walt Disney International, Disneyland, and many others. If you wish to step again in time–in one of the simplest ways conceivable–Hong Kong Disneyland is your highest (and truly most effective) choice!
International Magnificence Points of interest
Hong Kong Disneyland had languished for a couple of years following its large enlargement consisting of Toy Tale Land, Grizzly Gulch, and Mystic Level. That enlargement incorporated Mystic Manor and Large Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Automobiles, which might be two of the highest 10 or 15 points of interest on this planet. We steadily advised readers that that duo on my own justified the flight to Hong Kong.
Only a few of you listened, and almost certainly for just right explanation why. Our nonstop flight to Hong Kong used to be 16 hours, 5 mins. That’s lovely lengthy! And the flight time is almost certainly the article that’s going to stay HKDL as a non-starter for 95% of you. But it surely used to be truly a no-go when it supposed 8 hours for each and every of the ones wonderful points of interest.
Within the final a number of years, Hong Kong Disneyland has (additional) advanced its experience roster to a somewhat important level. The 2 new Wonder rides are a pleasing marvel, and we discovered the gameplay on Ant-Guy and The Wasp: Nano Combat to be downright addictive (it’s higher as a recreation than an enchantment).
Toy Tale Land doesn’t do as a lot for us, however we appear to be outliers in that regard. Different cloned points of interest also are moderately just right, together with “it’s a small global,” Hyperspace Mountain, and Jungle River Cruise. Then there are the 2 latest points of interest within the park’s newest land…
International of Frozen
We had somewhat top expectancies for International of Frozen. It exceeded them. A part of this used to be almost certainly because of doing Norway at EPCOT and Myth Springs at Tokyo DisneySea first. In accordance with the ones visits, we knew this land contained a clone of the Walt Disney International experience and now not the mega E-Price ticket or panorama in Japan.
Calling Frozen Ever After a clone of the EPCOT enchantment doesn’t do it justice. That’s what it’s, to make certain, however if truth be told, it makes use of that reimagined experience as the root, whilst giving it new bones and a facelift. Somewhat actually within the latter case–the Audio Animatronics are subsequent era as an alternative of getting projected faces.
Whilst nonetheless falling (some distance) wanting Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Adventure in Tokyo, we discovered Frozen Ever After to be approach higher than anticipated. The entirety concerning the enchantment has been enhanced and it makes the whole enchantment some distance higher within the procedure.
Then there’s Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, which is ok. It’s gorgeously-done with wonderful rockwork that exceeds Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach, in addition to a a laugh and well-designed queue. However the experience itself is simply too quick and has a “that’s it?” high quality to it.
Disney indisputably spent some huge cash Imagineering the design, so it’s unlucky that the experience itself isn’t meatier. If this have been Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach: Frozen Version, it could’ve been easiest. As a substitute, it’s even shorter and not more substantive than that already quick experience.
The place International of Frozen excels maximum is by the use of actually the entirety else. The department stores and storefronts are gorgeous. The panorama is surprising. Greater than anything, there’s a lived-in high quality to International of Frozen this is palpable, and makes you in an instant understand what’s lacking from all of Disney’s different recently-opened lands. Talking of which…
Nice Leisure
Hong Kong Disneyland is overflowing with are living leisure. There’s no higher instance of this than International of Frozen, which is house to a number of other acts, from bands to rock trolls. The preferred of those, unsurprisingly, is the loose roaming characters.
On every occasion Anna and Elsa gave the impression, the heaviest crowds we’ve ever encountered at HKDL unexpectedly materialized. I will perceive why, as seeing those princesses wander round Arendelle–and Elsa conjure up snow fall–used to be magical. It used to be additionally truly neat to peer those characters within the enchantment queue for Frozen Ever After.
Atmospheric leisure abounds within the different lands, too. This used to be in truth secret to meaking them really feel lived-in, particularly as crowds have been low. We spent such a lot time merely being attentive to are living Dickensian Christmas carolers on Major Side road or the Travelin’ Tunesmiths in Grizzly Gulch.
Hong Kong Disneyland could also be nice for personality lovers. We have been in a position to satisfy a variety of various random characters, in addition to the Fab 5 in distinctive costumes–each for Christmas and land-specific ones.
Talking of Christmas, I’m reluctant to enter an excessive amount of intensity there because it’s not likely you’re the use of this submit to devise for a seek advice from this 12 months. Suffice to mention, HKDL had the most productive Christmas tree lighting fixtures (whole with drones!) of any park, the most productive level display, and extra–all incorporated with common admission. That is standard of the seasonal leisure, albeit with other lineups all the way through the 12 months.
In spite of everything, every day ends with Momentous, which is the reasonably new middle of the night impressive at Hong Kong Disneyland. That is within the Fortuitously Ever After lineage, however with messaging extra consistent with Luminous at EPCOT. High quality and emotion-wise, I’d put it in the similar league as HEA and Wondrous Trips at Disneyland. All 3 are other, however kind of similarly very good. Sarah ranks it as #1 of the trio. Both approach, it’s some of the all-time highest middle of the night spectaculars at any Disney park.
Honorable Point out: Costs
Normally talking, Hong Kong Disneyland is some distance more economical than the home parks. (Excepting airfare, after all.)
That is in particular true for the most important line-items of Disney go back and forth budgets, admission and lodging. We stayed in Disney’s Hollywood Resort for the sake of reviewing the reimagining, however our favourite choice–Explorers Resort–used to be comparably (inexpensively) priced. Tickets have been additionally reasonable in comparison to the U.S. parks.
We however hesitate to incorporate this as a result of: 1) HKDL prices have crept up over time, and; 2) the trade fee isn’t favorable like Tokyo Disney Lodge. The Hong Kong buck is pegged to the U.S. buck, and costs at HKDL on products and meals have long gone up–so it’s not anything like TDR on this regard. There used to be so much we needed (HKDL has stepped up its products recreation in a large approach), however we held again as a result of we had restricted baggage area for goods from each HKDL and TDR–and goods on the latter have been a lot less expensive.
Even in gentle of all that effusive reward, it’s almost certainly an excessively tough promote to pitch Hong Kong Disneyland as a vacation spot hotel for the typical American who must fly 16+ hours to get there. Up to we like the fascinating little park, even we would now not do this. Because of this it ranks #5 in our Record of the International Disney Parks & Lodge Complexes Ratings.
The truth is that you simply’re going to pair Hong Kong Disneyland with in other places in Asia. Town itself is incredible and worthy of your time. The park is on the subject of the airport, and a reasonably quick flight clear of Shanghai Disneyland…or Singapore, if you happen to’re fascinated by environment sail at the Disney Journey Cruise Send.
Unsurprisingly, our most popular pairing is with Tokyo Disney Lodge. Even with the problems we skilled at TDR right through our contemporary shuttle, the truth stays that the ones are our two favourite theme parks on this planet. That remained the case this Christmas, and can indisputably be so once more in 2025. Issues or now not, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are the parks we’d seek advice from subsequent 12 months–and annually for the remainder of our lives, confidently. However we’re additionally now not first-timers.
Irrespective of who you might be, there’s one thing to be mentioned for the complementary nature of Tokyo Disney Lodge and Hong Kong Disneyland. The 2 locations are somewhat sharp contrasts, however they cross in combination properly (like ice cream and bacon…or maple and bacon…or doughnuts and bacon. I like bacon!!!). They’re a just right shot-chaser form of deal, similar to how Walt Disney International pairs with Disney Cruise Line. Simply as DCL is usually a ‘decompresser’ after a whirlwind WDW shuttle, so can also Hong Kong Disneyland fill that roll after going exhausting at TDR.
In the end, our #1 Disney vacation spot of 2025 isn’t truly simply Hong Kong Disneyland. As you’ve almost certainly collected, this used to be a sneaky strategy to suggest doing a multi-stop shuttle of the Disney Parks in Japan and Hong Kong. And in all probability, Tokyo Disney Lodge and Japan as an entire will devour extra of your time in the sort of state of affairs since that’s the most rational strategy to allocate days, which might apparently make the ones the number one advice.
We didn’t make TDR our #1 advice with HKDL as an add-on for a few causes, even though. First, the sensible facet of it. Had we finished that, maximum of you might’ve omitted the Hong Kong Disneyland advice and interested in Tokyo. 2d, as a result of HKDL truly is our #1 vacation spot, so after all we needed to Trojan Horse it…however a minimum of we used our powers of deceit for just right!
Positive, Hong Kong Disneyland isn’t sufficient to on my own justify that 16+ hour flight, however it is very good. This fascinating little park punches above its weight and truly merits a lot more consideration from Disney lovers. (We didn’t even quilt the trio of very good resorts!) It’s unattainable to articulate how particular and stress-free of a park it’s. From the brick pavers on Major Side road to that ridiculous (non-derogatory) new citadel to the mountainous backdrop…Hong Kong Disneyland in reality must be skilled to be understood and favored. In case you have the chance to take action and will abdomen that flight, take it in 2025!
For the remainder of your making plans wishes, seek the advice of our Hong Kong Disneyland Go back and forth Making plans Information. It covers the entirety you wish to have to understand for a seek advice from to HKDL, together with evaluations, technique, packing, and extra. If you happen to’re visiting the town as properly, please seek the advice of our Hong Kong Town Information on TravelCaffeine, our non-Disney making plans web page.
Your Ideas
What would you title as the number one Disney Parks & Accommodations Vacation spot of 2025? Would you set the Asia parks on the most sensible for all in their additions, the home ones upper out of comfort, or Disneyland Paris close to the highest because of its reliably very good leisure programming? Do you settle or disagree with our pick out of Hong Kong Disneyland as #1? Any questions? Listening to your comments—even whilst you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
