Disneyland - Paris or Hong Kong? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Disneyland - Paris or Hong Kong?

1403
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 November 2013 - 13:23

Hi all,

Want to take our DD to Disneyland next year, she will be about 3.5yrs old. Looking at anytime between March - May and staying for about 3/4 nights.

Which Disneyland would you choose and why? Are they basically the same? This is just a Disney trip so not interested in sightseeing around Paris or HKG.

Thanks!

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 May 2022 - 13:30
HK by a mile! Setting is much nicer and there are no Parisians!
paris for sure !
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 April 2021 - 21:03
HK Disneyland is kinda small but it's okay. Especially if your daughter is really young then I dont think size of the park is a problem.
it is really small though...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 April 2021 - 21:03
paris for sure !
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 May 2017 - 07:15
HK Disneyland is kinda small but it's okay. Especially if your daughter is really young then I dont think size of the park is a problem.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 06 September 2014 - 13:25
It looks like everyone here agrees that the one in HK is better...
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 21 November 2013 - 15:45
Great! Thanks everyone :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 November 2013 - 13:35
Another vote for HK!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 November 2013 - 10:47
I went last year to paris and we spent one day in disney My DD was 5 years old , she loved to meet all the caracters , mikey , donald and princess are the biggest dream...etc And play , get photos ,, pass to toilette , eat and get some rest The place is very very very big , you cant do all of that in the same day The saddest thing that she didnt saw the princesses at all :( they have time to go at 6 o'clock So we didnt reached before 6... And it was the miss of the day and we come back to dubai next day I told her never mind i will take you again and we will meet the princesses the fisrt thing In general we didnt do a lot of things and we became very tired from this long long long day with a kid After this thread i would love to go to Hong Kong
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 November 2013 - 08:17
Hong Kong gets my vote too....some of those rides (for adults) in Paris are outright dangerously rough. Just watch the heat in HK, we managed to give missy moo heat stroke.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 November 2013 - 23:31
We did a recent repeat visit to HK Disneyland mid October. Yes all staff speak English. At the park and in Disneyland hotel. Agree re the scary part on the Jungle Cruise Ride. My 5 yr old, 110 cm, had more options for rides than his 100cm brother. Autopia (as a passenger), Small World, and Winnie the Pooh were the only options for the 100cm tall kids. The new restaurant in Mystic Point has a Halal certified menu. Also a decent fish n chips kiosk. Disney is very flat and stroller friendly. We also did a day at Ocean Park, which is 1 hr away by taxi (longer but cheaper via public transit). The highlights there were: the sea lion pier, the dolphin show, the giant pandas and red pandas, the cable ride across the park. Much of this park is steep hills, so not v stroller friendly. Also HK's only aquarium is located inside. lots more for pre-teens and teens like thrilling rides and fun fair style games. There's a McDonalds and a small halal satay chicken/lamb kiosk inside. Ocean Park is much cheaper than Disney, even with the taxi fare.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 November 2013 - 15:31
Do staff and characters all speak English? I heard that was an issue in the past?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 November 2013 - 13:32
I agree with the others - the HK Disney is really good. You can buy a booklet with fast passes so you can jump the queue at some of the most popular rides. Take the train to the park - the windows, handles, etc are all "Disney shaped" all adding to the excitement and anticipation :-)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 November 2013 - 11:40
Fabulous! Thanks so much for all your replies! Sounds like HKG Disney is the perfect fit for us :)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 November 2013 - 11:36
definitely HK if you have younger children... they can pretty much go on ANY ride there... and plus you dont have to bother with huge queues... get to meet and take photos with all the characters... and the disney hotels themselves are so much cheaper that you can actually stay in one and enjoy all those attractions as well (the breakfast with the characters was such a wonderful treat!)... we stayed at the HongKong Disneyland Hotel and LOVED IT!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 November 2013 - 10:45
Never been to the Paris one but I can say that we had a fantastic time in HK. We went on the whim. We had about a 9 hour layover in HK and just wanted to get out. DH said, "Let's go to Disneyland. Let's just drive by and then go somewhere else." Well the drive by ended up being a 5 hour Disney stay. And even though it was short, we and especially our kids enjoyed every minute of it. And yes, it was still as magical as the other Disneylands we've been to.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 November 2013 - 09:44
HK as well. No doubts.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 November 2013 - 17:07
Try HK.. they have a new rides... ;)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 November 2013 - 14:26
Just returned from Paris and it was a dissapointment. Spent more time trying to find functioning rides. One day 8 were down and one malfunctioned while we were on it. Even the hotel was not up to par. Phone was never fixed and toilet had to be worked on each day. Yet children being children they were still thrilled and loved it. One was a bit cranky about Small World being down though.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 November 2013 - 14:22
It's very Disney. They are great about creating the magic. Lots of opportunities to see Mickey & crew, princesses etc. The parades are nice, as as the fireworks in the evening. Food, snacks, and restaurants are fine. Some are Chinese/Asian themed. The Disney hotel is only about a 10-15 min walk away which is nice if you need to get a rest in or just sit in the lounge before heading back to the park. There is one ride I would avoid, and that is the jungle river boat ride. There is one part that is really scary for little kids. What else... we found that the lines were fairly short, and even shorter if you're willing to go on the rides during meal times. If it is a slow park day they may let you re-join the same ride without having to fully exit and walk through the (empty) line again. Just ask, sometimes they'll allow it.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 November 2013 - 13:49
Wow, I thought everyone would choose Paris for some reason. This is good to know, thanks! We're not after the 'biggest' Disneyland, just a nice sized one where my DD can see and get up close to Mickey and his crew, and all the Princesses etc. Probably a silly question, but does the Hong Kong one still have that nice Disney look and feel about it?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 November 2013 - 13:42
HK also by a mile. No dealing with others....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 November 2013 - 13:42
Another vote for Hong Kong. The park is smaller and manageable with a 3.5 year old. The airport is on the same island as the park, so it's quick and convenient to get to. The Disney hotels are nice too.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 November 2013 - 13:37
I would also say HKG.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 November 2013 - 13:31
HK by a mile! Setting is much nicer and there are no Parisians!