How to visit Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland

How to visit Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland
Last Updated: 22-08-2024
Prices quotes are for guide purpose only. For an accurate price, request a quote today

How can I visit both Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland ?

The distance between Shanghai and Hong Kong is about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles), and yes the most popular and way to travel between the two is via direct flights, needing about 3 hours onboard the plane, a least 2 hours for airport security etc on departure and an extra hour for border checks on arrival. So as an alternative, and a great way to see a bit of the China countryside on your travels, we have opted to include the high speed train from Shanghai to Hong Kong, crossing the borders between the two countries in just under 8 hours. What is more, these trains provide fantastic onboard amenities, offering everything you need for a stress-free trip including cushy seats, plenty of legroom, and more than generous luggage space.

Our guide itinerary below is based on a real booking we recently made for a customer and serves as an example of a generally good time of the year to visit Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland, however the following extra information may inspire you to travel at a different time of year, depending on your preferences and budget.

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Shanghai Disney Resort is the newest of all Disney destinations, having only opened just a few years ago in June of 2016. It is located in the Pudong region of Shanghai in China and is the 6th Disney resort to open worldwide. While it may only have a single park, it is in fact three times larger than Hong Kong Disneyland, with more land expansion on the horizon and even two more gates planned for the near future. Most recently the resort welcomed the open of the world’s first Zootopia themed land, with unique ride technologies and character meets unlike any found around the globe.

Depending on your love of different type of holiday weather, summer months can be very hot and humid while the winter a bitterly cold alternative. Spring is a mild time of year to visit making it a more comfortable season, with Autumn generally a time for international guests to avoid since you’ll find yourself among the very popular cultural festivals and golden week which can make visiting parks a very stressful activity due to the sheer numbers of visitors.

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Hong Kong Disneyland can be found on Lantau Island, just a short ride away from the International airport and was the third Disney destination and the first to open outside of the US. While it originally minicked Walt Disneyland, over the years the park has developed its own identify, creating a reimagined Castle of Magical Dreams representing beloved Disney Princesses and Queens.

Hong Kong Disneyland also boasts being the first destination worldwide to feature a World of Frozen; a land where you can immerse yourself fully in the epic landscapes of the beloved Frozen film franchise. This park also features a unique & culturally acceptable version of the Haunted Mansion named Mystic Manor, where you can explore a mysterious museum and discover enchanted artifacts.

If you want to avoid the crowds, we’d recommend visiting anytime from January to March or from September to November. However if you wish to experience the special events and celebration then the high season from April to August may tick your box or the festive months of December to January.

First things first, this is just an idea of itinerary to visit Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland. Every aspect can be changed, amended, added to and explored in a million different ways to fit with your desired dream holiday and budget.

This holiday package includes flights from the UK (London Heathrow), however we can always package with flights from anywhere in the world in your own currency. All you have to do is request a quote.

The price quoted is based on live pricing, so is subject to change at any time. It’s simply designed to give you an idea of what the costs could be. Your package may cost more or less depending on what you want included.

We would also mention that booking an adventure to visit both Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland can only done 11-months out from your preferred departure date since most of the flights, hotels, tickets etc that you will require will not be on sale before then.

We never quote for holiday elements that are not physically bookable or offer quotes based on a best guesses. No company should be booking you a holiday they can not guarantee would take place.

It’s also worth noting that both Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland hotels are currently only available to book 6-4 months out from an arrival date, and generally for a maximum of 5 nights only, but there are a lot of excellent off site hotels around both Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland which are of a really good value in comparison and only steps away from the parks. These off site alternatives are what we have based the itinerary below on and can offer a way to discover the magic of visiting both Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland while keeping the overall costs down.

There are other extra items we haven’t included costs for as these are subject to the individual such as possible visa costs, depending on the country you hold a passport for. Food & Drinks costs are also not included, and other general expenses such as buying merchandise and add on sightseeing options are also not included.

Departure Day
London Heathrow – Pu Dong International 
British Airways – Economy – Flight Time 12 hr(s) and 35 min(s)

While economy can be the cheaper travel option, you may want to upgrade to premium economy for your outbound and return journeys. These are very long flights and that little extra leg room and more comfortable seating is a blessing (trust me, it’s worth the extra expense). Plus with premium economy you generally get access to an airport lounge for a little pre-flight champagne (or soft drink if you prefer)

With this flight you will be taking off one day and landing the following day due to crossing international date lines.

Transfers: Private Car Airport To Hotel Included

Day 1

3 Nights | Melia Shanghai Parkside | 4 Star
Room: Standard King Room with Breakfast

Located alongside Xingyuan Lake, this is an oasis of calm between the hustle and bustle of Shanghai and the fun of Disney Park. A glamorous boutique hotel with comfortable facilities, the perfect starting point for discovering all the charm of this unique destination. Comfortable accommodation in the traditional Shanghai Shikumen architectural style, with magnificent facilities, activities for kids and fusion cuisine in the Mosaico Restaurant.

Disney Hotel Upgrade: You may want to consider upgrading to either the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel or the Toy Story Hotel when they go on sale. Generally this is from around 6 month out from arrival.

Day 2 – Day 3

Shanghai Disney Resort
Inc. 2 day park entry tickets per person

Day 4

Transfers: Private Car Hotel to Train Station Included

Shanghai Hongqiao – Hong Kong West Kowloon
G99 High Speed Train – 1st Class – Journey Time 7 hr(s) and 47 min(s)

Transfers: Private Car Train Station To Hotel Included

3 Nights | Auberge Discovery Bay | 4 Star
Room: Double Ocean View with Breakfast

The resort hotel Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong is located on Lantau Island, just a short distance from Hong Kong Disneyland. Guest rooms enjoy views of either the mountains or the ocean and can come with or without a breakfast option. The hotel offers a FREE shuttle bus service to and from the park.

Disney Hotel Upgrade: You may want to consider upgrading to either The Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney Explorers Lodge or Disney’s Hollywood Hotel when they go on sale. Generally this is from around 6 month out from arrival.

Day 5 – Day 6

Hong Kong Disneyland
Inc. 2 day park entry tickets per person

Day 7

Transfers: Private Car Hotel to Airport Included

Travel back to United Kingdom
Hong Kong International – London Heathrow
British Airways – World Traveller – Flight Time 15 hr(s) and 00min(s)

Like with the outbound flight, you may want to upgrade to premium economy for that extra leg room and nicer onboard food. These flight taking off one day and landing the following early hours.

Making dining reservations for each resort: 

It is worth getting to know the various dining locations when you visit Tokyo Disney Resort, from the table service options to quick service dining, via the official park app. Then make a plan of where you would like to eat each day. Some places may need advanced reservations and others will be quick service locations where you queue up and wait.

– Tokyo Disney Resort – Opens 30 days prior to your desired dining date via the Official App

Official Park App

Available to download from both the Apple App Store & Google Play Stores.

Link your park tickets ahead of arrival to save time on site. Most of the app features will not work until you are in resort and scanned through the gates. Scan tickets at the gates via your mobile device to gain entry then we highly recommend staying on the app once through and, before doing anything else, reserve your free standby passes & priority passes, request show access (lottery) and purchase any paid premier access attractions that maybe available. While you may begrudge paying to access rides, you will thank us for this advice when you see just how long some of the most popular attraction queues can be. Worth every penny!

The app will give you times to which you can return and secure further passes so make sure to take note and be ready to reserve your next batches. These options go fast and once gone, they are gone. The show request lotter system you can only do once a day and is incredibly difficult to secure, however our understanding is the app will allow you at least one during your stay to access one of these shows via the lottery, assuming you have linked all your tickets ahead of time.

Local Extra Information 

Tokyo

• We recommend having about JPY¥20,500 (£100) in cash.
• Use your credit card inside Tokyo Disney Resort for many purchases (including food). Small food carts and monorail tickets are cash only. Monorail day pass JPY¥700 (£3.45)
• Once you go into each city, it’s hit or miss if shops accept credit cards.

Extra Tip: Always choose local currency when paying by credit card to potentially avoid foreign transaction fees.(check with your credit card provider first). Always good to save a little extra off those merchandise purchase costs when you visit Tokyo Disney Resort on your next big adventure.

Let’s start planning your visit to Shanghai Disney Resort & Hong Kong Disneyland today