February 2024
Day 3 marks our first proper day at Hong Kong Disneyland began with Character Dining. The kids were still settling in when the characters appeared, full of energy and giant smiles. YB, still groggy and caught off guard, burst into tears the moment Goofy came too close. But J was absolutely enchanted, beaming at every wave and pose.
Wished they introduced more characters though. No Mickey Mouse, from what I remember. As the kids couldn’t stomach much, I felt that this was rather overpriced and would skip it the next time.
We bought a two-day pass to Hong Kong Disneyland, because we wanted to cover everything at a family-friendly pace.
After breakfast, we headed to the shuttle bus pick-up point right outside the lobby. We joined a short line, sat in a big bus and reached Disneyland in no time. For YB, the bus ride itself was already super fun.
Once we stepped through the gates of Hong Kong Disneyland, we made our way straight down Main Street, U.S.A. — all pastel shopfronts, cheerful music and that familiar view of the castle rising in the distance. But we didn’t linger long, because J had a very important royal appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. This deserved an entire post on its own, so please click Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo! to read.
A brush with bronchitis
Unfortunately, our first day at Disneyland didn’t quite go as planned. YB and I were both coughing non-stop, and what started as mild discomfort quickly turned into something more worrying. After J’s magical princess transformation, and a chaotic, expensive lunch, we made the difficult decision to leave the park early in search of a clinic while Daddy and J stayed behind to enjoy themselves.
There is a First Aid station within Disneyland, but it seemed more suited for minor injuries or quick on-site care — not for full consultations or proper medication. I had read that there was an in-house doctor available at the resort, but when I called from our hotel, that didn’t seem to be the case. The staff were polite but unable to assist directly — instead, they gave us a list of nearby clinics and advised us to make our own way there.
Because Disneyland is located on Lantau Island, it feels fairly self-contained and isolated. Thankfully, there are clinics about 15–20 minutes away by car. We chose one in a nearby residential area, and the hotel concierge kindly helped us give directions to the taxi driver. It was all a little stressful — navigating illness in a foreign country always is — but we were grateful to get the help we needed.
We did eventually reach the clinic! People always say Hongkongers are rude and mean, but most of them do have a good heart! The taxi driver was really kind and helped me with the pram, the clinic assistant looked out for us too because we didn’t know Cantonese and were unsure if it was going to be our turn next. The doctor was also really quick and detailed and we got the antibiotics we needed.
They needed our passports to register us before the doctor could review us, so luckily I brought them along! Sharing this here in case it helps another parent in the same situation — because it’s the kind of detail I wish I had known before our trip!
A daddy-and-daughter date
I was so devastated to have to leave J, but I was also so happy that they got to spend quality time together. Daddy brought her all around Disneyland, and could focus solely on whatever she wanted.
Because Hong Kong Disneyland was quite small, and because Daddy was the super chill kind of guy, they basically went around without strategy. Not how I would have done it, but they still managed to take a lot of rides, try a lot of snacks, witness street parades and watch shows.
Her absolute favourite ride turned out to be the Frozen Ever After ride — surprisingly, since she’s not even a huge Frozen fan. But the ride itself was thrilling, with just the right mix of magic and excitement. The sudden backwards plunge as Elsa belted out “Let It Go” caught them by utter surprise — and she loved every second of it.
They stayed till the very end to watch the fireworks — the grand finale that lit up the skies above the castle. J was perched on Daddy’s shoulders, singing along to every Disney song. Despite the long hours and sore feet, they stood together, eyes lifted, hearts full.
For them, this was the magic — ending the night beneath a sky full of wonder.
Little Notes
Google clinics in advance: This is especially true if you’re heading to a destination that is less that’s more remote or self-contained — like Lantau Island, where Hong Kong Disneyland is located. Knowing where the nearest clinics are (and saving their names or addresses in your phone) can save you time and stress if anyone falls ill unexpectedly.
Download the official Disneyland app: It’s genuinely helpful — you can check ride wait times, see the map, mobile order food, and even locate toilets and nursing rooms. We referred to it constantly and it saved us a lot of back-and-forth walking.
Don’t try to do everything in one go: The park is walkable, but kids tire quickly — plan for breaks, snacks and slower pockets. There are shady areas and indoor shows (like Mickey’s Philharmagic) that give everyone a moment to rest and reset.
This Little Season 