Disney is Disney, but Shanghai Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland are different.

Buying tickets and three-in-one meal vouchers online in advance is very convenient. There's no need to make a reservation—you can buy and use them instantly by scanning the QR code. Download the Hong Kong Disneyland app in advance to see the map, show times, and wait times for each attraction. It's very convenient and essential, although I felt the wait times weren't updated frequently enough. Do your research beforehand and follow a guide to experience all the attractions in one day. We checked in at the Disney hotel in the morning, stored our luggage for free, and got our room key cards. We took the shuttle bus from the Disney hotel to Disneyland and headed towards the central queue. Like Shanghai Disney, there are two gates: the first is for security checks, and the second is for ticket checks. Staff at both gates will check if you're a hotel guest. The line for hotel guests is very short; it felt like there was no queue at all. Guests of the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel can't enter the park early, but they have access to a special lane, which feels very VIP! Itinerary: Frozen Ever After → Toy Story Land → Mystic Point → Grizzly Gulch → Adventureland → Tomorrowland → Fantasyland We experienced three attractions in Frozen Ever After: Frozen Ever After is a boat ride, similar to Pirates of the Caribbean at Shanghai Disney, but Pirates of the Caribbean feels more spectacular. When Elsa sang "Let It Go," I was unexpectedly moved. There's also a small thrill at the end. Sleigh Ride is a roller coaster similar to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but much shorter. It felt like the shortest roller coaster I've ever been on—was it even a minute long?! "it's a small world" is a long, slow-moving boat ride where dolls dressed in traditional costumes from around the world are displayed. I thought it was just okay. Then we went to Toy Story Land and experienced three attractions: RC Racer is like Rex's Racer at Shanghai Disney. Toy Soldier Parachute Drop looks gentle, and even babies in diapers were on it, so our whole family went on. This attraction seemed to have the longest wait time, probably because they need to check everyone's seatbelts individually. Although the ascent and descent are slow, and there are almost no screams, there is a feeling of weightlessness! It's like the turbulence you experience on a plane, but not too severe. The view of the entire park from high up is fantastic! Slinky Dog Spin is also at Shanghai Disney. It's a casual ride, and the wait time at Hong Kong Disneyland is almost negligible. Mystic Point has only one attraction: Mystic Manor. The trackless ride vehicle has front and back rows, and the three of us sat in the back. The atmosphere is set from the moment you start queuing, with an introduction to the manor's owner. The whole experience of exploring the manor is quite interesting and worth the wait. We were supposed to experience Grizzly Gulch before lunch, but we were a bit short on time, and the Lion King show was about to start. Also, my child was a little scared, so after Mystic Manor, we went straight through Grizzly Gulch to Tahitian Terrace in Adventureland for lunch. After lunch, we went next door to watch The Lion King. We queued half an hour early but didn't get seats in the first few rows. The first row is reserved for wheelchair users. We also didn't know which area was directly facing the stage since it's round. I think any seat is fine. Even if you arrive just before the show starts, you can still get in. You might sit a bit further back, but not necessarily too far, as there are always some less desirable seats left. The show isn't entirely in English; it also includes Cantonese. It's easy to understand what's happening even without subtitles, just by watching the performance. I just didn't like Simba much; he seemed a bit cowardly. After The Lion King, we went to Adventureland to take the Jungle River Cruise. I thought it would be like Voyage to the Crystal Grotto at Shanghai Disney, but it was a big surprise—so much fun! The skipper is definitely a great performer; without her engaging narration, the journey would have been much less enjoyable. I just wonder if she gets tired from being so energetic every time. After that, it was almost time for the parade. Hong Kong Disneyland has a special summer parade with water features, and it's recommended to buy a water gun to interact with the performers. We were busy experiencing attractions and didn't have time to visit the shops, so we weren't prepared. However, I did bring a disposable raincoat and a seat cushion, which came in handy when traveling with a child. We didn't wait long for the parade. The parade route is short, and my husband, who was hiding in the crowd, got wetter than us in the front row, haha... After the parade, we went to Tomorrowland. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! is a shooting game, similar to an attraction at Shanghai Disney. The one at Shanghai Disney had no queue, so my child and I went on it twice. We waited a while for the one at Hong Kong Disneyland. While queuing, they kept showing a pre-show story featuring Charlene Choi, and my child was completely engrossed. Each vehicle seats two people. I have to rave about Iron Man Experience. It's similar to Soaring Over the Horizon at Shanghai Disney (which always has a long queue; I don't think I'd have a chance to experience it if it weren't for the lack of crowds during the pandemic), but I think the Iron Man Experience is more immersive, with amazing 4D effects. Even though you're sitting still, it feels very exciting because it's so realistic. It reminded me of the 5-minute VR experience my child had at a mall recently for 68 yuan... Compared to that, Disneyland tickets are not expensive at all! Hyperspace Mountain is also great, a super-fast roller coaster with a space theme, similar in speed to TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disney. However, the seats on this roller coaster are really hard, and combined with the high speed, my body ached a bit after the ride. Finally, we spent half an hour experiencing Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars. After a day of thrills, this roller coaster was a piece of cake. It has three sections: the first is gentle, the last is the fastest, and the middle section goes backward. It's a long roller coaster ride. If this were the first attraction we experienced upon entering the park, it would have been amazing. Like Shanghai Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland's fireworks show combines lights and fireworks. So, no matter how many people are in front of the castle, you have to squeeze to the front to see it. We found a spot on the side, close to the castle, where the firework ash could even reach our faces. Since it wasn't too crowded, my child comfortably lay on the ground to watch the show. This one-day attraction-packed trip to Hong Kong Disneyland was perfect. We had fun, ate well, and had a great experience! The longest wait time was only about 40 minutes, even though it seemed crowded, and we were able to experience all the must-do attractions in one day.