Hey Disney fans, if you're planning a magical trip to Hong Kong Disneyland, you've probably stumbled upon the concept of Disney Premier Access. It promises to whisk you past the queues and straight onto your favorite rides, saving you precious time.
But the big question remains: Is Hong Kong Disneyland Premier Access truly worth the extra money? I've got the scoop for you, drawing on my recent experiences, to help you decide if it's the right choice for your unforgettable day!
What is Hong Kong Disneyland Premier Access?
Think of Hong Kong Disneyland Premier Access as your golden ticket to bypassing the regular standby lines. It's an add-on to your park ticket that grants you access to a separate, usually much shorter, lane for 8 select attractions. This means less waiting and more riding, especially crucial if you're looking to cram all the rides in or make the absolute most out of your day at the park.
Type of Premier Access | What is included | Price |
One-time priority access to 3 out of 5 selected attractions: - Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars - Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! - Mystic Manor - Iron Man Experience - “it’s a small world” | HK$187 on Klook (Usual price HK$199) | |
One-time priority access to all 8 selected attractions: - Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars - Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! - Mystic Manor - Iron Man Experience - “it’s a small world” - Frozen Ever After - Hyperspace Mountain - Mickey’s PhilharMagic | HK$406 on Klook (Usual price HK$429) | |
Disney Premier Access – 1 Attractions | One-time priority access to 1 of various designated attractions: - Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! - Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars - Cinderella Carousel - Dumbo the Flying Elephant - Frozen Ever AfterHyperspace Mountain - Iron Man Experience - “it’s a small world” - Jungle River Cruise - Mad Hatter Tea Cups - Mickey’s PhilharMagic - Mystic Manor - Orbitron - RC Racer - Slinky Dog Spin - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - Toy Soldier Parachute Drop - Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs | From HK$89 each on the Hong Kong Disneyland App |
It's important to distinguish Premier Access from the Early Entry Pass.
While Premier Access lets you get ahead of the queue by going to a separate lane throughout the day, the Early Entry Pass is specifically designed for early birds who want to get an empty view of Disneyland where they can take photos and get ahead of the crowd before official opening hours. This pass typically allows entry about an hour early, with specific rides available during that initial hour.
How Do You Use Premier Access in the Park?
Using Premier Access is surprisingly straightforward! Once you have booked it in advance on Klook, when you arrive at an attraction or ride that offers Premier Access, you simply scan the QR code when you enter the queue. Instead of joining the long main line, you'll be directed to a separate, much quicker lane.
From my experience, having Premier Access truly meant a direct VIP experience for many rides. We literally just walked onto Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, which had a posted wait time of 30-35 minutes. For Mystic Manor, which was posting a 30-minute wait, we had Premier Access and hoped to get straight on.
We also used it for Frozen Ever After that had the longest queue of around 60 minutes. Even for Ant-Man and the Wasp and Slinky Dog Spin, we had Premier Access. This meant we often got to experience the rides without any significant wait at all.
Should you be interested in the single-ride Disney Premier Access though, you’ll have to download the Hong Kong Disneyland app and purchase them individually directly from it.
Is Hong Kong Disneyland Premier Access Worth It?
This is the million-dollar question, and the answer, in true Disney fashion, is a bit nuanced. So here are some of my honest opinions if the Premier Access is worth the while for Hong Kong Disneyland.
When Premier Access is Absolutely Worth It:
If you're visiting Hong Kong Disneyland for just one day, especially if it's your first time, Premier Access is highly recommended. It allows you to fit in a lot more rides and shows, truly making the most of your limited time, as we were able to cram all the rides in and maximize our last day with it. It’s made even more valuable during the weekends and holiday periods that typically see a surge in visitors as well.
For instance, we observed that rides like Big Grizzly Mountain, which had a posted wait time of 30-35 minutes, became a walk-in experience with Premier Access, which can be a game-changer when long lines start to form.
It was even more worth the while at the new World of Frozen where we typically see the longest queues. We easily skipped the 90-minute wait by simply whipping out our Premier Access passes.
It's also worth noting that purchasing single Premier Access passes for individual rides can be quite costly, sometimes up to HK$129 a piece. If you plan on riding multiple attractions, a bundled 5 or 8-attractions Premier Access option would definitely offer better value.
When Premier Access Might Not Be Worth It:
If you happen to visit on a less crowded day, you might find that the usual queues are short enough that Premier Access doesn't provide significant additional value. One way to check that ahead of time is to download the Hong Kong Disneyland app and check the queue times on the days leading up to your day of visit.
Use the Hong Kong Disneyland App to check queue times and buy single Premier Access
However, the biggest consideration here is the Early Entry Pass. For HK$199, the Early Entry Pass allowed us to get onto as many as five rides (both Frozen rides, Dumbo, the Carousel, and Winnie the Pooh) before the park even officially opened. For comparison, the Frozen Ever After ride had wait times of up to 180 minutes later in the day, and Sliding Sleighs up to 90 minutes.
With Early Entry, we walked right into these popular rides. Alternatively, we also used the Early Entry to take some photos in front of the castle without any crowds at all. Talk about exclusivity!
So in conclusion, if you're visiting Hong Kong Disneyland for the first time and want to make sure you hit all the major attractions without excessive waiting, Premier Access can be a worthwhile investment. However, if you're looking for the best bang for your buck in terms of avoiding queues for the most popular rides, especially the Frozen ones, the Early Entry Pass seems to be the superior choice. It's crucial to consider the park's operating hours and typical crowd levels for your visit when making your decision.
It's possible to do the park in a day, but it would be tight, especially if it's busy, and it's often cheaper and better value to purchase two-day tickets and take your time rather than buying one day plus Premier Access.
FAQs About Hong Kong Disneyland Premier Access
What is Disney Premier Access at Hong Kong Disneyland?
It's a paid add-on ‘express pass’ that allows you to skip the regular queues for selected attractions, letting you get on rides faster.
How is Premier Access different from the Early Entry Pass?
Premier Access helps you skip lines throughout the day for specific rides, while the Early Entry Pass grants you access to the park an hour before official opening to ride certain attractions and explore with fewer crowds. The Early Entry Pass is often considered better value for hitting popular rides early, allowing access to typically 5 rides for US$25.
Are the lines long at Hong Kong Disneyland compared to other Disney parks?
Generally, lines at Hong Kong Disneyland are shorter compared to other Disneylands in the region, like Shanghai Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. However, popular rides can still have significant waits, sometimes up to 90 minutes.
How many days should I spend at Hong Kong Disneyland?
While it's possible to do most things in one day, it would be very rushed if the park is busy. Many recommend a two-day ticket for a more relaxed and comprehensive experience, finding it a better value than a single day ticket plus Premier Access.
What are some unique or must-do rides at Hong Kong Disneyland?
Don't miss the World of Frozen, which is the first ever in the world. Other unique attractions include Mystic Manor (a trackless ride replacing Haunted Mansion) and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars (a coaster with backward sections). The Jungle Cruise also offers unique language-specific queues.
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