Travels in HK: Disney

I have such fond memories of visiting Disneyworld as a kid that I can't believe it's taken 5 years of living in HK to get there.
I had a friend in town with her 2 daughters (4 mth & 2.5 yrs) and we were looking for something special to do.  I consulted with the gurus on a HK Mum Facebook forum to see if I was mad to take our young daughters but most replied that Disney truly had that WOW factor.  And indeed it did.

ADVANCE PLANNING

http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage

• Disney is extremely stroller friendly unlike most of HK.  'Stroller Parking' is plentiful where you can safely leave your stroller to take your kids on the rides.
• There is some shade but pack hats, suntan lotion and lots of water
• I was surprised by the quality of food at the park, in addition to the usual junk (btw chips are amazing), they had lots of healthier options and delicious frozen pineapple at the icecream stands. I would still pack loads of kids snacks.
• Check out the Daily Calendar for Parade and Show times.
• I arrived at the Park at 11.30am and it was already very crowded.  Apparently the best time to go is first thing in the morning (normally 10am opening)

GETTING THERE
You can buy tickets at MTR Hong Kong station (below IFC mall) in the Tung Chung Line Concourse.  If you are travelling with strollers don't do the obvious and take the lift down to the platform. The Disney Express Ticket Office is situated at the other end so you need to take the escalator by the Watsons on the Airport Check in level.

If you live in HK it's well worth buying an annual pass.

Once you have bought your Park tickets you then need to purchase MTR tickets to Disney at the ticket machines.

It takes approx. 25 minutes from HK Station to Sunny Bay.  At Sunny Bay you alight and then cross the platform to the Disney train.  From here it is only a 10 minute train ride to the Park.

TOP TIP  - When you exit to the Disney train station, buy your return train tickets as it will be a bun fight later in the day.  Also make sure you have lots of notes and change for the ticket machines.

AT THE PARK (with one 3.5yo, one 2.5 yo, one 4 mth old and 3 adults)

• We arrived and immediately went for an early lunch at a Cafe on Main Street that had an excellent choice of kids meals
• The 1pm Flights of Fantasy Parade was incredible.  Our kids were captivated by the singing, dancing and beautiful floats
• We spent the rest of the day in Fantasyland, the most appropriate for young children.  We queued 20 minutes for It's a Small World (brilliant), 45 minutes for Winnie the Pooh (I didn't think as good as Small World) and 10 minutes for the Cinderella Carousel.
• By 4pm we were exhausted and headed back to HK Island.  Apart from a queue to buy return MTR tickets it was a straightforward journey home
• You will end up buying Disney paraphernalia for your kids - who can resist the Minnie ears!