Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park are two of the most popular theme parks in Hong Kong, attracting millions of visitors each year.
Both parks offer a wide range of attractions, entertainment, and dining options, making them popular destinations for families, couples, and solo travelers alike.
If you have the time to visit both, I’d highly recommend you do both! The parks provide two completely unique experiences, so if you ended up doing both during your trip, your two theme park days will not feel repetitive at all.
However, if you’re straddled between the decision of which one to choose, this post is here to help. There are also some key differences between the two parks that may influence your decision on which one to visit.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, comparing and contrasting the two to help you decide which one is right for you.
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QUICK LINKS
Hong Kong Disneyland tickets – you can purchase discounted Disneyland tickets on Klook in advance here.
Ocean Park tickets – you can purchase discounted Ocean Park tickets on Klook in advance here.
Hong Kong Disneyland Vs. Ocean Park: Overview
First, let’s start with a brief overview of each park.
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is a themed entertainment resort located on Lantau Island, and it is the first Disneyland resort in China. The park consists of seven themed lands, each offering a unique array of attractions, dining options, and entertainment.
The different lands include:
- Adventureland
- Fantasyland
- Grizzly Gulch
- Main Street, U.S.A.
- Mystic Point
- Tomorrowland
- Toy Story Land
Some of the park’s most popular attractions include the Mystic Manor, a dark ride through an enchanted mansion, and the Iron Man Experience, a 3D motion simulator ride based on the Marvel superhero.
The Lion King live production show is pretty amazing too!
And personally speaking, the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars takes the cake in terms of the most exciting ride in the park. Keeping all the spoilers to myself!
A map of the park outlining all the rides and attractions can be found here.
Read More: Hong Kong Disneyland Review: Is It Worth The Money?
Ocean Park
Ocean Park, on the other hand, is a marine-themed amusement park located on the southern side of Hong Kong Island.
The park is home to over 80 attractions, including thrill rides, animal exhibits, and live shows.
Some of the park’s most popular areas include Thrill Mountain, featuring the Hair Raiser (a looping coaster that reaches speeds of up to 95 km/h) as well as Marine World and Amazing Asian Animals (pandas!).
Ocean Park is also home to a variety of animals, including pandas, seals, and sharks, which visitors can view in a number of exhibits and animal encounters.
There are some pretty unique areas of Ocean Park, including Amazing Asian Animals, Whiskers Harbor (for the kids), Thrill Mountain (for the thrill-seekers), Old Hong Kong Street, Aqua City, and much more!
A map of the park outlining all the rides and attractions can be found here.
Hong Kong Disneyland Vs. Ocean Park: How They Differ
Now that we have an idea of what each park has to offer, let’s compare and contrast the two. We’ll look at the type of park attendees, overall theme and atmosphere, types of rides and entertainment offered, dining options, theme park costs, as well as their proximity to Hong Kong Island.
Types of Park Attendees
One of the biggest differences between Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park is the target audience.
Hong Kong Disneyland is primarily geared toward families with children, and it features a number of child-friendly attractions and entertainment options. The park also has a number of themed lands, such as Fantasyland, that are designed to appeal to children’s imagination and sense of wonder.
Couples and groups of friends who like to dress up also are typically fans of Disneyland as well.
Ocean Park, on the other hand, is more geared towards a general audience, and it offers a wider range of attractions, including thrill rides and animal exhibits that may be more appealing to adults.
Theme and Atmosphere
Another key difference between the two parks is the overall theme and atmosphere.
Hong Kong Disneyland is designed to be a magical and immersive experience, with a focus on creating a sense of fantasy, wonder, and escapism. The park is filled with colorful and elaborate theming, and it is designed to transport visitors to a world of fantasy and adventure.
Ocean Park, on the other hand, has a more educational and conservation-focused theme, with a focus on showcasing and protecting marine life. The park also has a more traditional amusement park atmosphere, with a number of thrill rides and carnival-style games.
Types of Rides
Both Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park offer a wide range of rides and attractions.
Disneyland has a number of thrill rides that are great for the older kids, such as the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, Hyperspace Mountain, and the Iron Man Experience.
And if you’re counting roller coasters, there are technically a total of 3: Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, Hyperspace Mountain, and RC Racer.
Disneyland also has a number of family-friendly rides that cater to smaller children, such as the It’s a Small World ride, Mad Hatter’s Teacups, Slinky Dog Spin, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Ocean Park, similarly, also has a mix of thrill rides and family-friendly rides.
Some of the thrill rides at Ocean Park include the Hair Raiser, The Rapids, Wild Twister, and Storm Chaser. There are currently 4 roller coasters within the park, but this number is always changing depending on the latest revamping/construction efforts.
Family-friendly rides include the Merry-Go-Round, Artctic Blast, Up-Up-And-Away Balloons, and more.
And although there are kids’ rides at Ocean Park, we’d say there are a higher number of animal exhibits and shows, as well as educational exhibits and interactive experiences for young ones to enjoy.
Both Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park offer a wide range of rides and attractions to suit a variety of interests and preferences. But if you’re looking for a good mix of rides, educational exhibits, and animals, Ocean Park is a better option.
Types of Entertainment
One of the main attractions of Hong Kong Disneyland is the variety of entertainment options available, including live shows, chances to meet your favorite Disney characters, parades, and fireworks displays.
The park is home to a number of classic Disney characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, who make appearances throughout the day for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities.
Ocean Park also has a number of live shows and animal encounters, but these are generally more focused on education and conservation rather than pure entertainment.
In addition to its seasonal live shows, you’ll also have the chance to see animals, including pandas there!
Ocean Park also has a nighttime show worth watching, as well as other shows that take place throughout the day.
Here is a sample of the shows offered:
- Various marine animal feedings throughout the day
- SkyFair Celebrations – an acrobatics show
- Emperors of the Sky – Ocean Park’s bird show
- Sea Lion Fun Time Show – an inside look of the sea lions life at the park
- Symbio! – Ocean Park’s signature night show
Food and Dining Options
When it comes to dining, both parks offer a wide range of options, including sit-down restaurants, fast food outlets, and snack stands.
However, there are some differences between the two parks in terms of the types of dining options available.
Hong Kong Disneyland is home to a number of themed restaurants, such as the Royal Banquet Hall, which serves traditional Chinese cuisine, and the Main Street Corner Cafe, which offers a variety of American-style dishes.
The park also has a number of fast food outlets, such as the Plaza Inn and the Refreshment Corner, which offer quick bites like burgers, fries, and sandwiches. In addition, there are a number of snack stands scattered throughout the park, selling treats like ice cream, turkey legs, popcorn, and churros.
Ocean Park also has a variety of dining options.
The park has a number of restaurants that serve a variety of cuisines, including Chinese, Italian, and American. There’s Tuxedos Restaurant, Neptune’s Restaurant, Club Panda, Bayview Restaurant, and a bunch of other sit-down options.
There are also a number of fast food outlets, such as the Ocean Express Cafe, which serves burgers, sandwiches, and fries, and the Aqua City Bakery, which offers a range of baked goods and sandwiches.
In addition, there are a number of snack stands throughout the park, selling treats like ice cream, popcorn, and cotton candy.
Overall, both Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park offer a wide range of dining options to suit a variety of tastes and budgets.
While Hong Kong Disneyland may have a slightly larger variety of themed dining options and fast food outlets scattered throughout the park, Ocean Park has a slightly wider range of sit-down restaurants serving a variety of cuisines.
Looking to save money by bringing in your own snacks and picnic lunches? Both parks allow guests to bring in outside food, which is awesome!
Theme Park Costs
The price of admission to Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park can vary depending on the time of year and the type of ticket you purchase. Both parks offer a range of ticket options, including single-day tickets, multi-day tickets, and annual pass options.
As of 2023, the regular price for a single-day ticket to Hong Kong Disneyland is HKD 639 (approximately USD 82) for adults and HKD 475 (approximately USD 61) for children aged 3-11. This price includes access to all of the park’s attractions, entertainment, and dining options.
Hong Kong Disneyland also offers multi-day tickets, which allow visitors to visit the park for multiple days at a discounted price. Annual pass options are also available, which will ultimately save you a ton of money if you find yourself wanting to go back more times throughout the year.
Pro Tip: You can buy Disneyland tickets in advance on Klook to save a lot more money than buying directly from the Disney site. This is where I purchase all my Disneyland tickets for Asia!
The regular price for a single-day ticket to Ocean Park is HKD 498 (approximately USD 64) for adults and HKD 249 (approximately USD 32) for children aged 3-11. This price includes access to all of the park’s attractions, entertainment, and dining options.
Ocean Park also offers multi-day tickets, which allow visitors to visit the park for multiple days at a discounted price. Annual pass options are also available and prices vary depending on whether or not you want to deal with blackout dates.
Pro Tip: You can buy Ocean Park tickets in advance on Klook and save money compared to buying directly from the Ocean Park site. Sometimes they offer package specials that’ll bring the cost down too!
Overall, at face value, Hong Kong Disneyland tends to be slightly more expensive than Ocean Park in terms of admission prices. But that’s not always the case!
Why? Because it’s worth noting that both parks offer a range of ticket options and seasonal specials, so it’s possible to find discounts and deals depending on the time of year and the type of ticket you purchase.
For example, when Hong Kong first opened up after its COVID pandemic restrictions at the end of 2022, Hong Kong Disneyland had a few specials going on that we fully took advantage of:
- JoyYou Card Holders or Hong Kong Residents aged between 60 to 64 holding a valid Hong Kong Identity Card can enjoy a discounted price of 1-Day Ticket for just HK$100 ($13 USD per senior)
- A 1-day package that included adult admission plus a pair of Mickey ears cost $575 HKD ($74 USD), less than a regular 1-day admission ticket!
With these incredible specials going on, it was actually a better deal for me and my parents and aunts/uncles (all of who qualified for the senior special pricing) to go to Hong Kong Disneyland instead of Ocean Park.
Obviously, these deals were COVID specials, so your results (and current Disneyland pricing) may very well be different.
It’s also worth considering the additional costs of transportation, dining, and souvenirs, as these can add to the overall cost of your trip.
Location and Convenience
Both parks are quite straightforward and easy to get to, but Disneyland is a bit further away from popular tourist hubs like Central (as it’s on Lantau Island, as opposed to Hong Kong Island).
Ocean Park, on the other hand, is located on Hong Kong Island, making it a super quick and effortless trek to get to for most.
In both cases, the cheapest and easiest way to get to both Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland is by taking the MTR (subway).
- For Ocean Park: Take the MTR to Ocean Park station. From Central Station, the journey takes about 20 minutes and costs HKD 7.4 (about $1 USD) for a single trip.
- For Hong Kong Disneyland: Take the MTR to Sunny Bay station, then transfer to the Disneyland Resort Line. From Central Station, the journey takes about 55 minutes and will cost anywhere from $1 to 3 USD depending on where you’re coming from.
You can also easily get to Ocean Park by bus.
And in both cases, you can take a taxi from anywhere on Hong Kong Island to get to Hong Kong Disneyland or Ocean Park.
You can also use a private car or a ride-hailing service such as Uber to get to these theme parks.
As you can see, if convenience and proximity to Hong Kong Island are important to you, then you may want to consider Ocean Park over HK Disneyland.
Hong Kong Disneyland vs Ocean Park: Which Is Better?
Ultimately, the question of which is “better” between Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park is subjective and depends on a variety of factors, including your personal interests and preferences.
Both parks offer a wide range of attractions, entertainment, and dining options, and they are popular destinations for families, couples, and solo travelers alike.
If you’re a fan of Disney and looking for a magical, immersive experience, Hong Kong Disneyland may be the better choice for you.
On the other hand, if you’re more interested in marine life and conservation, zoo animals, and thrill rides, and carnival-style games, Ocean Park may be the better choice for you.
All in all, we’d say Disneyland is best suited for Disney lovers and families with young children, while Ocean Park is great for theme park lovers looking for a more traditional amusement park experience.
Ultimately, the decision of which park to visit will depend on your personal interests and what you’re looking for in a theme park experience!
Both Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park are popular day trip activities in Hong Kong, so if we could recommend both to you, we would!
Looking for more Hong Kong travel tips? You may also like:
Hong Kong Disneyland Review: Is It Worth The Money?
15 Best Rides and Attractions At Hong Kong Disneyland
3 Perfect Days In Hong Kong: What To See, Do, and Eat
Lamma Island Day Trip From Hong Kong: Things To Do
The Perfect Lantau Island Day Trip Itinerary: 6 Stops You Can’t Miss
