Help with Disneyland plans

Question

My flight arrives at 4PM in Hong Kong on May 21. I know that won’t give me time to enjoy Disneyland that day, so my thoughts are:

Spend 2 nights at a hotel, May 21-23.

Spend 2 days at Disneyland, May 22-23.

Fly to Bangkok/Hanoi in the evening on May 23.

*****

If I stay on Disney property, does that automatically include Early Entry to the park on both days?

Would it be better for me to stay off property and just pay for early entry? What is the price difference between tickets?

If I stay off property, it would have to be somewhere convenient so I can easily go back to retrieve my luggage before heading back to the airport.

Other thoughts on my plan???

Answer

Your plan of spending two nights near Disneyland and two full days at the park is a practical approach given your late arrival at 4 PM on May 21. This allows you to rest on arrival day and enjoy two full days at Disneyland without rushing.

Staying on Disney Property:

Guests at Hong Kong Disneyland hotels usually get Early Entry privileges on both days of their park tickets. Early Entry allows you to enter the park 30–60 minutes before the official opening time, which is great for popular rides with shorter queues.
Staying on property also provides convenience: you can easily return to your hotel during the day for breaks or to drop off purchased items. Transport to Disneyland is also seamless, often via shuttle or walking paths depending on the hotel.
Hotel packages sometimes include park tickets, which may be slightly higher in price compared to buying tickets separately, but the Early Entry perk adds significant value.

Staying Off Property:

If you stay off property, you can still purchase Early Entry tickets separately, though availability may be limited and prices vary depending on the date. This could be slightly cheaper, but it requires you to plan transportation to arrive early each day.
Convenient locations for off-property hotels include those near Sunny Bay MTR station or within easy reach of Disneyland Resort Line stations. This also allows you to return to the hotel to retrieve luggage before heading to the airport on May 23.
Public transport is reliable, but staying off property requires factoring in extra travel time and coordination for Early Entry.

Other Considerations for Your Plan:

Arrival day: With a 4 PM arrival, airport transfer and hotel check-in might take 1–2 hours. Consider a light evening activity nearby or simply rest to prepare for full park days.
Departure day: If your flight is in the evening, plan to finish your Disneyland visit in the early afternoon, return to your hotel to collect luggage, and leave ample time to get to the airport (~1–1.5 hours).
Tickets: Compare hotel package tickets vs. standalone tickets with Early Entry to see which is better for your budget.
Dining: Book any special character dining in advance, as weekends and holidays can be busy.

Overall, staying on Disney property is more convenient and ensures Early Entry on both days, which can be especially valuable with two full park days and a family itinerary. Off-property options are feasible if you prefer cost savings and are comfortable coordinating transportation.

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