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On or Out?: The Eternal Question | Price | Getting Around | Disney Hotel Comparison | Booking | Summary

 

We get a lot of comments, especially in light of Disney's announcement of plans for a third Hong Kong hotel, as to where people should stay when they visit Hong Kong. It's not as simple as choice as you might think. As Disney fans, it is very easy to tell people to stay "on site", but not everybody can afford Disney luxury. Alternatively, the focus of your stay may not be Hong Kong Disneyland, so you'll be wanting something a bit more convenient to everywhere else. The purpose of this article is to provide a quick guide as to what hotel options are best for you.

 

On or Out: The Eternal Question

 

No matter which Disney resort you visit in the world, there is going to be the decision as to whether to stay on property or not. This decision is going to depend on a number of factors. Unlike the Anaheim resort, for example, where a cottage industry of third-party hotels has developed around the Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland was built into a city that already has a vibrant tourist culture. For this reason, the choice to stay outside the Disney resort is a great deal more varied than some other parks.

 

Staying on Disney property has a number of distinct advantages:

 

• Hotel guests are guaranteed park ticket availability for the duration of their stay
• Close to the Theme Park and the facilities Around the Resort
• Gives you a place to rest in the middle of the Disneyland visit
• Complimentary Transport to and from the Theme Park
• Character greetings within the hotel grounds
• Complimentary activities for children all day long
• Completes your "Disney experience"
• Proximity to Ngong Ping 360 and Hong Kong Airport

 

On the flip-side, when the park closes, there is really very little to do around the Hotels and Resort once the lights go down. So you may want to consider staying off-site for that reason alone.

 

Likewise, staying outside the resort - perhaps in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Island or in the New Territories - offers its own set of plusses:

• Can often find better deals and prices on accommodation
• In the shopping heart of the city
• Have full access to all the city's transportation networks - including MTR; ferries and buses - virtually on your doorstep
• See more than simply an American-style park during your stay
• Far more places to eat and shop
• Experience the culture of Hong Kong and China
• Still have access to Resort via MTR

 

A range of off-site hotels can be found by browsing sites such as AsiaRooms,  Wotif or consulting your travel agent.

 

However, we should point out that no matter where you stay, Hong Kong is so geographically compact that getting to and from Hong Kong Disneyland and other locations is not that much of a chore. Island hopping is a breeze, regardless of what transportation method you choose. This decision is ultimately going to be one of what is more important to you: having a "full Disney experience" on you Disney trip, or experiencing Hong Kong and visiting Hong Kong Disneyland because it is a fun diversion. Of course, the other big factor is price.

 

Price

 

Unless you are one of the lucky people that can proclaim "Money is no obstacle!", then how much you budget on accommodation is going to be a very important factor in your travel plans. Anybody who has ever travelled to a Disney Resort will know that they are significantly more expensive than other hotels. Now, you are paying for the name brand and the convenience of being on-site, but let us assure you that Disney hotels are a first-class experience. 

 

 

 Presently, a room at the Resort will start at HK$1100 (US $140) for Disney's Hollywood Hotel to HK$1600 (US $205) for the Disneyland Hotel. Prices can go as high as HK$1900 (US $240) for the former and HK$6000 (US $770)* for the latter. This will also be dependant on season, days of the week and the type of room you book. A full summary of the current rates and system can be found on Disney's Official site.

 

On the flip side, a 3-star hotel outside the Resort can start as low as HK$530 (US $68).** Of course, depending on your travel requirements, this can go even lower. If you are really on a bottom-end budget, there are the infamous Chungking Mansions on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui that go for as little as HK$150 to HK$280 (US$20 to $35) a night, and single beds (in a shared room) have been said to go for as little as US$5 to US$8! Be warned, however, that this is about as no-frills as it gets, and safety concerns have always hung over this building since the 1988 fire in which a Danish tourist was killed. 

 

 

 Don't forget to look out for special deals that Disney frequent runs. For example, Annual Passholders will receive a regular discount. Further, the current Stay and Play for 2 Days deal allows you to book a hotel stay and enjoy an extra day at Hong Kong Disneyland when you purchase a one-day ticket! The offer has been extended until September 2008! (See the Official Site for details)

 

*Rates valid until March 2008.

**Based on AsiaRooms results

 

Getting Around

 

We've dedicated a whole section to Getting There. Those same forms of transport can get you around Hong Kong just as easily. To summarise, they include:

• MTR Train Line
• Bus
• Ferry
• Car or Coach
• Taxis

The other thing we can't emphasise enough, especially if you choose to stay off-site, is to get yourself an Octopus Card. Before you do anything in Hong Kong, you are going to want to get yourself one of these little guys, the most valuable purchase you can make. Essentially a rechargable 'smart card', after an initial outlay and some cash top ups (HK$150 with an initial value of HK$100 for a standard adult card), you will have a contactless card that allows you to easily hop on and off almost every piece of transport in the city, as well as making purchases for smaller goods in most convenience stores.

 

If you do choose to stay on-site, and you want to explore the rest of Hong Kong, remember that each one-way trip to the city or back to the Resort (from Disneyland Station to Central) will take you on average 35-45 minutes, each way. Then another 10-20 minutes or so, depending on wait times, to get from the MTR station to your Hong Kong Disneyland hotel via the resort shuttle bus.

 

So what else is there to see in Hong Kong? See our Around the Resort - Hong Kong page for more details.

 

Disney Hotel Comparison

 

So you've chosen to stay at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, but that still leaves you with another choice: which hotel? As mentioned, there are two hotels at Hong Kong Disneyland - the eponymous Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Hollywood Hotel. Full details on the two hotels can be found, strangely enough, in our Hotels section.

 

 

Disney's Hollywood Hotel

 

If price is the main concern, at least to the point of wanting to stay on property and not spend too much, then the choice is easy: Disney's Hollywood Hotel is the cheaper of the two options. Disney's Hollywood Hotel is quite simply one of Disney's best kept secrets. It offers all the charm of a Disney hotel, but at a fraction of the cost of an average Disney Hotel. As visitors to other parks will know, Disney hotels are not always the cheapest option, but they are certainly the best when it comes to service and style and getting the most out of your 'Disney Experience'. The Art Deco atmosphere is impeccable here, right down to the fire hose reels. Wandering around the hotel grounds with mountains in the background, you'll really feel as though you've stepped out of the present and into 1930s Hollywood. There are certainly cheaper hotels in the other areas of Hong Kong - especially Kowloon and Hong Kong Island - and budget-conscious travelers may choose to stay elsewhere and travel to the Resort. Getting to Hong Kong Disneyland is certainly easy from the rest of Hong Kong. However, if you really want the magical experience of staying in a Disney hotel, and the Disneyland Hotel is out of your price range, Disney's Hollywood Hotel provides an affordable, yet luxurious, option for those on a mid-range budget.

 

Some unique highlights of Disney's Hollywood Hotel include:

• The Art Deco surroundings
• Character buffet breakfast at Chef Mickey's restaurant
• A beautiful garden with faux Hollywood charm and a view of the city and the mountains
• An excellent 'period style' cocktail bar (Studio Lounge) that is also family friendly
• Unique 'piano' shaped pool 

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

 

Of course, the more upscale traveller - and one that wants that flagship five-star Disney treatment - would consider nothing else than the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. The range of Victorian-themed rooms at this hotel is far more extensive, with 'standard' park, garden or sea view rooms making their way up with balcony additions; honeymoon-oriented Fantasia corner rooms; concierge-serviced Kingdom Club Rooms and the ultimate indulgence, the Kingdom Suites. With the range of rooms, health and relaxation facilities, and six bars and restaurants, you may not even want to leave the hotel. If you are determined to have the best possible Disney experience you can have while it Hong Kong, you'll spend the extra cash and stay here.

 

• Some of the unique highlights of the hotel include:
• The Victorian opulence
• Mickey's Maze in the gardens on the grounds
• The opulent Victorian Spa and swimming pools
• Six bars and restaurants

 

Of course, regardless of which hotel you choose to stay at, the other hotel is just a brief stroll or bus trip away. You can always go and enjoy some of the dining options at each of the hotels, but it is wise to make a booking first. Some of the unique facilities will only be available to guests of that particular hotel.

 

Booking

 

Up to date rates can be found at the official site. To book a Disney Vacation in Hong Kong; either visit your travel agent, or purchase directly through the Hong Kong Disneyland Reservation Center:

• Online
• Telephone +852 1-830-830
• E-mail

 

The Hong Kong Disneyland Reservation Center call centre opens daily from 9am to 6pm (Hong Kong time).

 

A range of off-site hotels can be found by browsing sites such as AsiaRooms,  Wotif or consulting your travel agent.

  

 

Summary

 

As you can see, choosing where to stay is going to depend on a number of factors. Do you want to see Hong Kong, or just Disneyland? Do you mind switching hotels in the middle of a stay? If you are staying for more than 3 or 4 days, you may want to split your stay. My personal experience finding was for a week-long stay. We found something centrally located (such as in Tsim Sha Tsui - I went with the Kowloon Hotel for example, and that was a good location as it sat right on top of the MTR Train Station and gave us instant access to that network, and was a short stroll from the ferries) for four nights, and then we moved to the Resort for 3 nights at Disney's Hollywood Hotel. This should give you plenty of time to see the highlights of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island before heading over to the Resort and perhaps even the Po Lin Monastery. Other suggestions that have been made to me by experienced locals and travellers alike include Park Lane (Causeway Bay); Excelsior (Causeway Bay) and the City Garden Hotel (North Point) on the Hong Kong side; and the Sheraton (Tsim Sha Tsui); Eaton Hotel (on Nathan Road) and newer Harbour Plaza Metropolis, the latter being quite close to transport as well. There are also the old stalwarts like the Peninsula for pure opulence, which is probably worth a visit even if it is just for their famous High Tea. There are also some great deals at the YMCA if that is more of your speed. Just try to keep some of the above questions in mind when considering where to stay.

 

If you have visited and stayed in HK a few times before, and also prefer to not waste time packing up, moving hotels and waiting for 2pm to check in to a new room somewhere else, you may consider staying at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort for the duration of your stay next time you're in town. Sure, it'll take a bit longer to get to the centre of town but it's a lot closer to the airport and Ngong Ping 360, which are both also on Lantau Island. This is also offset by the fun atmosphere of staying at the Disney Hotels, not to mention the great character breakfast! It is always a great start to the day to have that yummy buffet and then walk to the park or train station. Just puts you in a good mood. If you're in a particular rush you may want to take the shuttle bus but there's no real need to use them except when the weather is bad or if you're not too mobile. Also the space, surrounds and views at the Hollywood Hotel are quite more relaxed than downtown Hong Kong, so if you want to stay in that kind of atmosphere it's the place to be.

 

All that said, if you are a first time visitor to Hong Kong, we would recommend staying in downtown Hong Kong for a few nights to get a better feel for the place and immerse yourself in the culture. Hong Kong is a big bustling Chinese city, you just won't get that if you stay at Hong Kong Disneyland the entire time. At the very least, we recommend a few nights in Hong Kong Disneyland for the park, the surrounding resort and a visit to Ngong Ping 360.

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