It’s that point of 12 months when prestigious publications and esteemed journey tastemakers from everywhere in the world fastidiously curate lists of one of the best locations and hidden gems to advocate to their readers. After which there’s us. This weblog goes to do the identical factor, weighing whether or not you must go to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or broaden your horizons as we crown a #1 Disney theme park to go to in 2025.
The circumstances for and in opposition to Walt Disney World are pretty easy. Pent-up demand has exhausted itself, leading to decrease attendance and crowds, plus extra reductions on resort rooms as Walt Disney World makes an attempt to entice friends. The Florida parks have additionally wrapped up their final huge growth cycle with the completion of the EPCOT overhaul and opening of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, so you possibly can expertise every little thing new if it’s been just a few or extra years because you final visited.
As for what’s new in 2025 at Walt Disney World, not a complete lot. Disney Starlight Evening Parade is the most important factor, and that’ll debut over the summer season. There are additionally smaller stage exhibits and leisure anticipated, however nothing main–making the dearth of latest points of interest the most important purpose to take a 12 months (or 3) off from Walt Disney World.
Actually, essentially the most compelling purpose to go to Walt Disney World in 2025 is as an add-on to Common’s Epic Universe. Or to say goodbye to DINOSAUR, Rivers of America/Tom Sawyer Island, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, MuppetVision, and different points of interest and areas going extinct. None of this is sufficient to earn Walt Disney World the #1 Disney vacation spot in 2025.
Then there’s Disneyland, which celebrates its seventieth Anniversary in 2025. It’s a fairly comparable story for the California parks as it’s the Florida ones. Pent-up demand ending, that means higher reductions and decrease crowds (albeit not even near the identical extent as Walt Disney World). Ditto the final growth cycle ending with Tiana’s Bayou Journey opening.
Disneyland Resort can be getting an evening parade with the return of Paint the Evening. Wondrous Journeys and Higher Collectively can even make comebacks. World of Shade Happiness debuts, in addition to the upcoming Walt Disney Audio Animatronics stage present. Seasonal occasions and a extra sturdy leisure slate can even be highlights.
It feels like 2025 can be a stable 12 months for Disneyland, not less than as soon as Could rolls round. However not sufficient to earn Disneyland the highest spot. If something, it’s nonetheless overwhelmed by Walt Disney World because of the latter’s decrease crowds and proximity to Epic Universe.
The entire different candidates require a global flight, and essentially the most apparent of these is Tokyo Disney Resort. In actual fact, the Japan parks needs to be thought of the frontrunners as a result of opening of Fantasy Springs midway by this 12 months. That $2.3 billion growth that includes Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan was the one main addition that “Disney” opened wherever this 12 months. It options a number of blockbuster boat rides, two of that are among the many finest Disney points of interest on the earth.
On high of that, the yen is extremely weak proper now–making Tokyo Disney Resort extra reasonably priced than ever. (See Is It Cheaper to Go to Tokyo Disney Resort Than Walt Disney World? Spoiler: the reply is sure!) Moreover, the parks in Japan are lastly virtually again to regular, making it time to go to for the complete expertise.
If you happen to sensed a “however” coming, you’re right. As a lot as we extremely advocate and love Tokyo Disney Resort–and we actually find it irresistible–latest experiences give us pause and slight reluctance to advocate it to a first-timer in 2025. You may nonetheless be higher off ready one other 12 months. However that’s a complete ‘nother can of worms, and one we’ll break down in an upcoming put up.
With the runners up out of the best way, it’s time to crown our #1 Disney Parks & Resorts Vacation spot for 2025. For this listing, we’re wanting 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 suggestions and reader complaints about what they’re and will not be searching for from Disney holidays…
Our #1 Disney Park for 2025: Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is the little park that might. It’s Disney’s least-visited fort park on the earth, with attendance at about one-third of Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, or Tokyo Disneyland. It has decrease attendance than each single Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort park, and ranked forward of solely Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris final 12 months–probably not a good comparability since that was a veritable building zone (and is totally atrocious).
We’ve often described Hong Kong Disneyland as charming or like Disneyland in California from a bygone period. That has been reward, however in a little bit of a backhanded approach. For years, Hong Kong Disneyland was a little bit of a paradox: house to a few one of the best points of interest on the earth, however in any other case having a weak experience roster by fort park requirements. It was a park we cherished, however by no means ranked within the high half of our Listing of the Finest & Worst Disney Theme Parks within the World.
Our most up-to-date go to adjustments that. Hong Kong Disneyland is now not the Casey Junior of Disney theme parks. It’s not the scrappy little park that “thinks it might.” It’s the park that may–and does. Right here’s a rundown of among the explanation why…
Low Crowds, Laid Again
This go to to Hong Kong Disneyland got here throughout a partial world tour that included stops at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Resort all in a two-week span. The distinction between Hong Kong Disneyland and all over the place else on that listing was sharp. Particularly Tokyo Disney Resort.
Whereas all the remaining had a point of vacation crowds, Hong Kong Disneyland was blissfully uncrowded. There was one weekend day that was reasonable, however weekdays have been an absolute delight–as has at all times been our expertise at Hong Kong Disneyland. (Simply don’t go to on Saturdays or any Chinese language holidays.)
There’s a purpose our technique posts for Hong Kong Disneyland are threadbare: it’s not crucial. Present up at park opening, prioritize in a way that’s semi-logical, and you ought to be good to go. On a traditional day at HKDL, your longest anticipate an attraction by way of the standby line will be half-hour with even a modicum of strategizing.
Like all over the place else, Hong Kong Disneyland presents a bevy of upcharges. All the things from a la carte line-skipping to paid early entry to a buffet providing reserved viewing for the nighttime spectacular (and extra). All of that is pointless. Properly, virtually all of it. If you happen to’re into assembly Duffy and pals, we’d advocate paying additional to skip LinaBell’s line. We made the error of doing standby, and even at rope drop, that was a bit excruciating.
In any other case, we might’ve left our telephones within the lodge room and executed completely high quality at Hong Kong Disneyland. We hear from so many readers who lament the lack of spontaneity, reliance of expertise, and extra display time at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and many others. If you wish to step again in time–in the easiest way doable–Hong Kong Disneyland is your finest (and actually solely) choice!
World Class Sights
Hong Kong Disneyland had languished for just a few years following its big growth consisting of Toy Story Land, Grizzly Gulch, and Mystic Level. That growth included Mystic Manor and Huge Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Vehicles, that are two of the highest 10 or 15 points of interest on the earth. We often instructed readers that that duo alone justified the flight to Hong Kong.
Only a few of you listened, and doubtless for good purpose. Our nonstop flight to Hong Kong was 16 hours, 5 minutes. That’s fairly lengthy! And the flight time might be the factor that’s going to maintain HKDL as a non-starter for 95% of you. Nevertheless it was actually a no-go when it meant 8 hours for every of these wonderful points of interest.
Within the final a number of years, Hong Kong Disneyland has (additional) improved its experience roster to a reasonably important diploma. The 2 new Marvel rides are a nice shock, and we discovered the gameplay on Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle to be downright addictive (it’s higher as a recreation than an attraction).
Toy Story Land doesn’t do as a lot for us, however we appear to be outliers in that regard. Different cloned points of interest are additionally fairly good, together with “it’s a small world,” Hyperspace Mountain, and Jungle River Cruise. Then there are the 2 latest points of interest within the park’s newest land…
World of Frozen
We had pretty excessive expectations for World of Frozen. It exceeded them. A part of this was in all probability because of doing Norway at EPCOT and Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea first. Based mostly on these visits, we knew this land contained a clone of the Walt Disney World experience and never the mega E-Ticket or panorama in Japan.
Calling Frozen Ever After a clone of the EPCOT attraction doesn’t do it justice. That’s what it’s, to make certain, however in actuality, it makes use of that reimagined experience as the inspiration, whereas giving it new bones and a facelift. Fairly actually within the latter case–the Audio Animatronics are subsequent era as a substitute of getting projected faces.
Whereas nonetheless falling (far) wanting Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey in Tokyo, we discovered Frozen Ever After to be approach higher than anticipated. All the things in regards to the attraction has been enhanced and it makes the whole attraction much better within the course of.
Then there’s Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, which is okay. It’s gorgeously-done with wonderful rockwork that exceeds Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, in addition to a enjoyable and well-designed queue. However the experience itself is just too brief and has a “that’s it?” high quality to it.
Disney undoubtedly 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 Practice: Frozen Version, it might’ve been excellent. As a substitute, it’s even shorter and fewer substantive than that already brief experience.
The place World of Frozen excels most is by way of actually every little thing else. The outlets and storefronts are lovely. The panorama is gorgeous. Greater than anything, there’s a lived-in high quality to World of Frozen that’s palpable, and makes you immediately notice what’s lacking from all of Disney’s different recently-opened lands. Talking of which…
Nice Leisure
Hong Kong Disneyland is overflowing with dwell leisure. There’s no higher instance of this than World of Frozen, which is house to a number of completely different acts, from bands to rock trolls. The preferred of those, unsurprisingly, is the free roaming characters.
Every time Anna and Elsa appeared, the heaviest crowds we’ve ever encountered at HKDL all of a sudden materialized. I can perceive why, as seeing these princesses wander round Arendelle–and Elsa conjure up snowfall–was magical. It was additionally actually neat to see these characters within the attraction queue for Frozen Ever After.
Atmospheric leisure abounds within the different lands, too. This was really key to creating them really feel lived-in, particularly as crowds have been low. We spent a lot time merely listening to dwell Dickensian Christmas carolers on Principal Avenue or the Travelin’ Tunesmiths in Grizzly Gulch.
Hong Kong Disneyland can be nice for character followers. We have been in a position to meet a spread 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 depth there because it’s unlikely you’re utilizing this put up to plan for a go to this 12 months. Suffice to say, HKDL had one of the best Christmas tree lighting (full with drones!) of any park, one of the best stage present, and extra–all included with common admission. That is typical of the seasonal leisure, albeit with completely different lineups all year long.
Lastly, every day ends with Momentous, which is the comparatively new nighttime spectacular at Hong Kong Disneyland. That is within the Fortunately Ever After lineage, however with messaging extra according to Luminous at EPCOT. High quality and emotion-wise, I might put it in the identical league as HEA and Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland. All three are completely different, however roughly equally good. Sarah ranks it as #1 of the trio.
Honorable Point out: Costs
Usually talking, Hong Kong Disneyland is much inexpensive than the home parks. (Excepting airfare, in fact.)
That is significantly true for the most important line-items of Disney journey budgets, admission and lodging. We stayed in Disney’s Hollywood Resort for the sake of reviewing the reimagining, however our favourite choice–Explorers Lodge–was comparable (inexpensively) priced. Tickets have been additionally low cost in comparison with the U.S. parks.
We nonetheless hesitate to incorporate this as a result of: 1) HKDL prices have crept up over time, and; 2) the alternate charge is just not favorable like Tokyo Disney Resort. The Hong Kong greenback is pegged to the U.S. greenback, and costs at HKDL on merchandise and meals have gone up–so it’s nothing like TDR on this regard. There was rather a lot we needed (HKDL has stepped up its merchandise recreation in an enormous approach), however we held again as a result of we had restricted baggage house for objects from each HKDL and TDR–and objects on the latter have been less expensive.
Even in gentle of all that effusive reward, it’s in all probability a really troublesome promote to pitch Hong Kong Disneyland as a vacation spot resort for the typical American who must fly 16+ hours to get there. As a lot as we love the charming little park, even we wouldn’t try this. For this reason it ranks #5 in our Listing of the Worldwide Disney Parks & Resort Complexes Rankings.
The fact is that you just’re going to pair Hong Kong Disneyland with some other place in Asia. The town itself is unbelievable and worthy of your time. The park is near the airport, and a comparatively brief flight away from Shanghai Disneyland…or Singapore, should you’re occupied with setting sail on the Disney Journey Cruise Ship.
Unsurprisingly, our most popular pairing is with Tokyo Disney Resort. Even with the problems we skilled at TDR throughout our latest journey, the fact stays that these are our two favourite theme parks on the planet. That remained the case this Christmas, and can undoubtedly be so once more in 2025. Issues or not, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are the parks we’d go to subsequent 12 months–and yearly for the remainder of our lives, hopefully. However we’re additionally not first-timers.
No matter who you’re, there’s one thing to be mentioned for the complementary nature of Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland. The 2 locations are pretty sharp contrasts, however they go collectively effectively (like ice cream and bacon…or maple and bacon…or doughnuts and bacon. I really like bacon!!!). They’re shot-chaser kind of deal, similar to how Walt Disney World pairs with Disney Cruise Line. Simply as DCL generally is a ‘decompresser’ after a whirlwind WDW journey, so can also Hong Kong Disneyland fill that roll after going onerous at TDR.
Finally, our #1 Disney vacation spot of 2025 is just not actually simply Hong Kong Disneyland. As you’ve in all probability gathered, this was a sneaky strategy to advocate doing a multi-stop journey of the Disney Parks in Japan and Hong Kong. And in all probability, Tokyo Disney Resort and Japan as a complete will eat extra of your time in such a situation since that’s the most rational strategy to allocate days, which might seemingly make these the #1 advice.
We didn’t make TDR our #1 advice with HKDL as an add-on for a few causes, although. First, the sensible facet of it. Had we executed that, most of you’ll’ve ignored the Hong Kong Disneyland advice and targeted on Tokyo. Second, as a result of HKDL actually is our #1 vacation spot, so in fact we needed to Trojan Horse it…however not less than we used our powers of deceit for good!
Positive, Hong Kong Disneyland is just not sufficient to alone justify that 16+ hour flight, however it’s wonderful. This charming little park punches above its weight and actually deserves far more consideration from Disney followers. (We didn’t even cowl the trio of wonderful resorts!) It’s not possible to articulate how particular and pleasant of a park it’s. From the brick pavers on Principal Avenue to that ridiculous (non-derogatory) new fort to the mountainous backdrop…Hong Kong Disneyland really must be skilled to be understood and appreciated. You probably have the chance to take action and may abdomen that flight, take it in 2025!
For the remainder of your planning wants, seek the advice of our Hong Kong Disneyland Journey Planning Information. It covers every little thing it is advisable know for a go to to HKDL, together with opinions, technique, packing, and extra. If you happen to’re visiting town as effectively, please seek the advice of our Hong Kong Metropolis Information on TravelCaffeine, our non-Disney planning web site.
Your Ideas
What would you identify because the #1 Disney Parks & Resorts Vacation spot of 2025? Would you place the Asia parks on the high for all of their additions, the home ones increased out of comfort, or Disneyland Paris close to the highest because of its reliably wonderful leisure programming? Do you agree or disagree with our choose of Hong Kong Disneyland as #1? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
