Planning a date to the Happiest Place on Earth? Here’s our ranking of Disneylands around the world to help you decide which to visit on your next trip!
If you’re craving a day back to simpler times, or just want to satisfy your inner child, it’s time to get your Disney passport stamped! Honestly, the Disney empire is omnipresent and ever-widening — with over 12 theme parks, countless resorts and cruises, and adventures. This article would be saturated with neverending options so we’ll just narrow it down to one kind: Disneyland (and Magic Kingdom).
And by ‘Disneyland’, we mean a “Castle Park”. Yes, we’re talking about the iconic Disney castle that’s ensconced in the fantastical scenery of the park, while themed “lands” loaded with rides and attractions are sprinkled around this centrepiece.
There are six of these parks around the world — two in North America (the ones in California and Florida which go by ‘Magic Kingdom’), one nestled in Paris, two more in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and another gem in Tokyo, Japan. These theme parks are also often accompanied by Disney resorts, perfect for a longer, more immersive experience.
With so many Disneylands sprawling across the world and spoiling us for choice, here’s a guide where we rank Disneylands around the world to make things easier on you. Time to add the House of the Mouse to your bucket list!
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Factors We Considered While Rating
To rate these fine time capsules of nostalgia and innocence might seem unfair and rather subjective but believe it or not, Disneylands do have its share of pros and cons! Plus, company matters. Yup, we’ll be taking into consideration how much fun your little ones will have. Because, if you’re going with kids, some Disneylands are clearly more exciting than others — with a lesser chance of your child crying for being too short for a ride.
Here’s how we’re deciding our favourites:
- Rides and attractions
- Facilities and accessibility
- Crowds & overall vibes
But of course, there is no one way to enjoy Disneyland. Feel free to disagree, this is just our personal take!
Ranking Disneylands Around The World:
#6 Hong Kong Disneyland
Image Credits: Bloomberg
No shade to Hong Kong Disneyland! There’s absolutely no negative reason for which it’s rated lowest in the pack — except maybe for not trying to be more than yet another rendition of one of the bigger Disneylands (oops). We do admit that there are some paragon attractions like Mystic Manor and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars. But we feel like it’s more of a “Have a great time!” park than a “Looove that ride” park, if you know what we mean 👀.
If visiting Disneyland is amongst a list crowded with other things to do, Hong Kong would be a great pick. After all, it’s less crowded than most Disneylands, travel is cheaper if you’re headed from Singapore, and it’s small enough to satisfyingly cover the park’s best parts within a day’s trip! On Lantau Island, the park is easily accessible through its personalised metro line, so you can be there nice and early before the gates open.
Also, they’re opening up an Arendelle in late 2023, so time to Let it go in Hong Kong! ❄️
Tickets: General Admission 1-Day HKD 639 | From S$98 on Trip.com (Get an additional 6% off with YouTrip Perks)
Address: Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
Ranking Disneylands Around the World 2023: Find out more about Hong Kong Disneyland here.
#5 Shanghai Disneyland
Image credits: Shanghai Disney Resort
As the youngest of all Disneylands, opened only in 2016, Shanghai Disneyland offers a promising start. The park presents a enormous castle and a hypermodern Tomorrowland where the unmissable Tron Lightcycle Power Run is hosted. Unlike most Disneylands that recycle park designs, Shanghai Disneyland offers an entirely new Treasure Cove, where you can freely do your Jack Sparrow run. Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure and Challenge Trails, also make for some memorable adventures. Mainstreet USA, the classic boulevard lined with Disney’s glorious shops, is replaced here by Mickey Ave., which ventures to introduce our beloved Disney characters.
Admittedly, Disneyland Shanghai, sometimes, tries a bit too hard to be different. Many have thought their loud merchandising tacky, and the rides and attractions unremarkable. But none of these qualms taints the quintessential Disney experience, so carry on! Besides, they have a Zootopia Land coming up in 2023, so time to Hopp(s) your way to Shanghai!
Tickets Prices: Date-specific tickets start from approximately 475 yuan per admission per day | From S$122 on Klook. (Get an additional 5% off with YouTrip Perks)
Address: Chuansha New Town, Pudong, Shanghai, China
Ranking Disneylands Around the World 2023: Find out about Shanghai Disneyland here.
#4 Disneyland Paris
Image credits: Disneyland Paris
Of course, it’s a challenge to create a fairytale castle in regions that are generously littered with real castles. But Disneyland Paris (formerly Euro Disney) does a great job by employing an animatronic dragon in the lairs under the castle. Disneyland Paris also boasts its beauty by featuring the most picturesque sight-lines appreciated by photographers and visitors alike.
Established outside of Paris, in a town named Chessy, Paris Disneyland has sat tall since 1992. Check out the beloved Pirates of the Caribbean ride and Phantom Manor for some spooky fun discovering ghosts, mysteries, and secrets. A favourite amongst the kids is the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure for a 4D presentation of sounds, smells, and visuals that’ll keep you hungry for more!
News has it that another Arendelle is also in the works here — so maybe winter wouldn’t be too unlikely a time to visit. After all, it’s France and it’s Disneyland – the fairytale in real life couldn’t get any better!
Ticket Prices: 1 Park 1 Day Ticket – Starts from € 62, with transportation, from €119 | From S$108 on Klook. (Get an additional 5% off with YouTrip Perks)
Address: Chessy, France.
Ranking Disneylands Around the World 2023: Find out about Disneyland Paris here
#3 Disneyland (California)
Image credits: CBS News
Give it up for the OG Disneyland! More than its attractions, which have seen great years of improvement, the Californian Disneyland is the grandfather of all Disneylands — the original vision of Walt Disney and the only one he lived to see.
Yes, it’s truly the Happiest Place on Earth but it also tries to tell the story of how it came to be, and the vision and pride Walt Disney harboured for his country. Unmissable rides include Space Mountain — a highspeed journey through outer space, the classic Pirates of the Caribbean envisioned by Disney himself, and Haunted Mansion for a spookfest!
Also, nothing beats the original 1955 rides like Snow White’s Enchanted Wish if you have the time! And given its originality and nostalgia, the park automatically gets a position of honour on the ranking list.
Ticket Prices: General admission starts from $83/day | From S$140 on Klook. (Get an additional 5% off with YouTrip Perks)
Address: Anaheim, CA 92802, USA
Ranking Disneylands Around the World 2023: Find out about Disneyland Park here.
#2 Tokyo Disneyland
Image credits: Travel Japan
Nobody who’s been to Tokyo Disneyland has ever returned underserved. Ranking at number two on our list (and also the 1st for some), Tokyo Disneyland encapsulates all that Disneylands set out to achieve. The rides — especially the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, laden with lifelike animatronics and flawless transitions. Endure nearly 2-hour queue, and you’ll come to see that the attention to detail at the castle is magnificent. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and Monsters Inc. Ride and Go Seek are also unmissable rides that give Tokyo Disneyland its well-deserved spot.
But apart from the attractions, the overall sophistication of the park makes it one of the bests out there. The flow, maintenance, and ease of the establishment do not go unnoticed. And also, the dining options here are delightful, a perfect cherry on top!
❗️Do take note that peak prices for Tokyo Disneyland & Disneysea will be hiking up from 1 Oct 2023 onwards! Peak pricing tickets can go up to 10,400 yen (S$97.90) for one-day general admission, so don’t forget to use your YouTrip card to get the best rates when you buy your tickets!
Ticket Prices: A 1-Day Passport starts at 8400 yen for adults, 7,000 yen for juniors, and 5,000 yen for children | From S$78 on Trip.com (Get an additional 6% off with YouTrip Perks)
Address: Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Ranking Disneylands Around the World 2023: Find out about Tokyo Disneyland here.
#1 Magic Kingdom
Image credits: Mouse Hacking
Anndd… Coming in at number one, we’ve got the Magic Kingdom! Built in 1971, this theme park is part of Disney World Park in Florida. Competing closely with Tokyo Disneyland, Magic Kingdom wins for its best rehashing of the true Disney spirit!
Perfect for families, Magic Kingdom collects all of the classic rides of the old Disney charm, plus its exciting and more thrilling adventures! As if to create a new and improved second season of the original Disneyland, Magic Kingdom is perfected to its theme park goers’ needs and responses.
Rides and attractions such as Happily Ever After, Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents, and Peoplemover bring the park a touch of nostalgic Disney, which can at best, only be borrowed by their international counterparts.
There are also no height restrictions to the rides! So little ones can tag along uninhabited. Plus, fast food options are as abundant as they are delectable. The immersion of Magic Kingdom could, however, be a selling point more than ever. The very character of the park from Fantasyland to Adventureland is undisrupted and you can truly lose yourself in the environment and live in a magical world, even if just for a day.
Ticket Prices: Date-specific tickets usually start from USD 109-189. / From S$243 on Klook this season. (Get an additional 5% off with YouTrip Perks)
Address: Bay Lake, FL 32836, United States
Ranking Disneylands Around the World 2023: Find out about Magic Kingdom here.
Bonus: Tokyo DisneySea
Image credits: KKday
While not a “Castle Park”, Tokyo DisneySea is one which wears the golden crown of Disney theme parks. For slightly older visitors — tweens and above — DisneySea is a popular favourite! A little more intense and far more exciting, rides like Toy Story Mania! and Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Indiana Jones’ Adventure make the experience unforgettable for those who are looking for an adrenaline rush during their visit.
But even outside of the attractions, DisneySea is large and wondrous. ‘Ports’ replace the usual ‘lands’ and the sights become coastlines and volcanos instead of castles and cottages, as the magic of DisneySea takes over. Hence, DisneySea, arguably, becomes one of the best Disneylands as well!
Ticket Prices: As of July 2023, a 1-Day Passport starts at 8400 yen for adults, 7,000 yen for juniors and 5,000 yen for children / From S$78 on Trip.com (Get an additional 6% off with YouTrip Perks)
Just like Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea will be seeing a price hike starting October 2023! Head on here to know more about the new ticket prices.
Address: Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Ranking Disneylands Around the World 2023: Find out about Tokyo DisneySea here.
It’s A Small World After All!
Nothing beats a day at Disneyland, no matter which one it is! Rankings aside, these parks mean a great deal of nostalgia which will remain unrivalled and precious. So what are you waiting for? Be sure to use your YouTrip card while making purchases to make full use of favourable foreign exchange rates, and snag the best deals on air tickets, accommodation, and travel insurance!
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