Hong Kong with a Baby and Toddler: Our Itinerary, Disneyland & Travel Tips

Hong Kong With a Baby and Toddler: Our Itinerary, Disneyland Experience & Travel Tips

We took our two kids, ages 2 years and 9 months, to Hong Kong, and it ended up being one of our favorite family trips!

We were already traveling around Asia and wanted to add somewhere new to our itinerary. I'd been to mainland China before, but never Hong Kong, and neither my husband nor our kids had been to either.

We also really wanted to visit Hong Kong Disneyland! Our son was turning three in just a few months, so we figured we'd take advantage of visiting while he was still young enough to enter for free.

We spent a couple of days exploring Hong Kong before heading to Disneyland, and I loved how much we were able to experience with two little kids.

Where We Stayed in Hong Kong: Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour

For our first two nights, we stayed at the Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour, which we booked for 12,000 Hyatt points per night.

We loved the location!

There were plenty of cafés nearby, a mall across the street where we ate a few times, and even a popular dim sum restaurant close to the hotel that we tried for breakfast.

Breakfast wasn't included in our stay, although the hotel does offer breakfast options.

One of my favorite things about the location was how easy it was to get around. We were close to metro stations and bus stops, which made exploring Hong Kong with the kids much more convenient.

For us, this was a great use of Hyatt points.

Where We Stayed at Disneyland: Disney Explorers Lodge

We spent two nights at Disney Explorers Lodge, and I absolutely loved this hotel!

We had a $300 Capital One travel credit that we applied toward our stay, so we ended up paying just $140 out of pocket for both nights.

The hotel itself was beautiful. The lobby was huge and decorated with maps from around the world, giving it the feeling of being on an expedition.

There were also different themed gardens around the property that the kids and I loved exploring, along with a fun outdoor pool.

Breakfast at Disney Explorers Lodge

We splurged on the breakfast buffet one morning, which cost around $90 total for the four of us.

Definitely not cheap, but it was a huge buffet, and Goofy was there that morning, which made it extra fun for the kids!

There were so many food options, including:

• Chinese dishes: Fried rice, dumplings, and dim sum.

• American breakfast foods: French toast, waffles, and pancakes.

• European options: Breads, meats, cheeses, and pastries.

• Fruit and drinks: Fresh fruit, juices, milk, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, coffee, and tea.

There was something for everyone, and the character interaction made breakfast feel like part of the Disney experience.

Activities for Kids at the Hotel

One of the best things about Explorers Lodge was how much there was for the kids to do outside the park.

They had an indoor playroom with slides, a jungle gym, toys, and movies. During our visit, it opened for 50 minutes each hour and then closed for 10 minutes for cleaning.

Our kids loved it, and we spent quite a bit of time there!

The hotel also had restaurants and smaller food shops where we could grab things like pizza, sandwiches, and fruit. We didn't eat lunch or dinner at the sit-down restaurants.

Getting to Hong Kong Disneyland

Transportation from the hotel to Disneyland was incredibly easy.

During our stay, the hotel shuttle ran approximately every 10–20 minutes, from around 7 a.m. until midnight. It picked us up right outside the hotel lobby, and the ride took about 5–7 minutes.

You could also walk to the park in approximately 15–20 minutes.

With two little kids, having the shuttle available was so convenient, especially at the end of a long park day.

Our Experience at Hong Kong Disneyland

I loved Hong Kong Disneyland! Honestly, I enjoyed it more than Disneyland in California.

The park was smaller, the atmosphere was beautiful, and everything felt so much more manageable with young kids.

The castle was one of my favorite parts. It's huge and features design elements inspired by different Disney princesses and heroines, including Belle, Ariel, Mulan, Jasmine, Elsa and Anna, Tiana, Cinderella, Moana, Rapunzel, and more.

Arriving at the Park

The park opened at 10 a.m. on the day we visited, which was later than we were used to at other Disney parks.

But with kids, that was actually perfect!

We were able to wake up at a normal time, enjoy breakfast without rushing, and still arrive before opening.

We started in the World of Frozen, where my husband and our two-year-old went straight onto Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs.

They were literally the only people on the ride!

Afterward, I took our son on it again, and this time there were maybe four other people riding with us.

We also rode Frozen Ever After with hardly any wait.

It was such a great start to the day.

Our Favorite Rides With Young Kids

We explored Toy Story Land and enjoyed several other attractions throughout the park.

Some of the rides we enjoyed included:

• Frozen Ever After

• Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs

• Mystic Manor

• Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!

• Jungle River Cruise

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

• It's a Small World

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant

• Cinderella Carousel

Our kids especially loved the carousel, Dumbo, and Winnie the Pooh.

We also enjoyed some of the bigger attractions, including Hyperspace Mountain and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars.

How We Managed Naps at Disneyland

By the time we'd done most of the rides, the kids were getting tired.

We debated going back to the hotel for naps, but they both ended up falling asleep in our double stroller!

It was raining that day, so we used ponchos to create a little sheltered space around the stroller.

They slept for over an hour.

And honestly, it worked out perfectly.

While the kids napped, my husband and I took turns riding some of the bigger attractions.

My biggest tip: Check the single-rider lines!

When we visited, the single-rider lines had practically zero wait.

One of us would stay with the stroller while the other hopped on a ride, and then we'd switch.

It was amazing! We both got to enjoy the bigger rides without having to wait in long lines or wake the kids.

The Rest of Our Disney Day

Once the kids woke up, we ate lunch and revisited some of their favorite attractions, including the carousel and Winnie the Pooh.

We also rode It's a Small World, met some characters, watched a Moana show, and went on the Jungle River Cruise.

We'd actually accomplished most of what we wanted to do fairly early in the day.

But I wanted to stay until it got darker so we could see the castle and park lights come on.

So instead of rushing around, we just took our time.

That's what I loved most about this park. We managed to do so much without feeling like we were sprinting from attraction to attraction.

Seeing the castle light up at night was beautiful!

We didn't stay for the parade or fireworks, although those were happening during our visit.

At the end of the day, we simply walked to the shuttle stop and were back in our hotel room in about 10 minutes.

Was Hong Kong Disneyland Crowded?

Not at all when we visited!

We experienced incredibly short wait times throughout the day.

I do think the rain contributed to the smaller crowds, but Hong Kong Disneyland is also generally known for being less crowded than some of the larger Disney parks.

Of course, crowd levels will vary depending on the season, weather, and day you visit. We visited in May.

For us, though, it was one of the most relaxed Disney experiences we've had.

Everything Else We Did in Hong Kong

Disneyland was a highlight, but I also loved exploring Hong Kong itself.

It's such a unique city. You have these huge buildings, busy streets, and incredible urban scenery, but you're also surrounded by beautiful greenery and nature.

Here's what we fit into our time there.

Victoria Peak Tram

We rode the famous Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak, where we enjoyed incredible views overlooking Hong Kong.

This is definitely one of the iconic experiences I'd recommend.

Avenue of Stars

We walked along the Avenue of Stars and enjoyed the beautiful views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline.

Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden

These were beautiful places to visit and offered a completely different atmosphere from the busy city streets.

Choi Hung Estate

We visited the colorful basketball courts at Choi Hung Estate, one of Hong Kong's recognizable photo spots.

Monster Building

We also stopped by the famous Monster Building, known for its incredibly dense apartment architecture.

It was fascinating to see in person.

Riding a Double-Decker Bus

We rode a double-decker bus around the city, which was such a fun way to explore.

Sometimes the transportation itself becomes part of the adventure, especially with kids!

Hong Kong Park Children's Playground

One of our favorite stops with the kids was Hong Kong Park, near the lower Peak Tram station.

We spent an afternoon exploring the park and letting the kids play at the playground.

It was such a nice break from sightseeing, and our son got to interact with other children.

We actually got a little lost trying to find the playground, but we ran into a very kind man who walked with us down the street and showed us where to go.

It's little moments like that that make traveling so memorable.

If you're visiting Hong Kong with young kids, I'd definitely recommend making time for a playground!

Our Failed Attempt to Visit Tian Tan Buddha

One of the places I really wanted to visit was Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha.

We planned to visit the day before Disneyland because it's located on Lantau Island, closer to the Disney resort.

After switching hotels, we dropped our bags off at Explorers Lodge and headed toward the cable car station.

Unfortunately, we discovered that the cable car was closed for maintenance and renovations during the week we were visiting.

There was another way to reach the Buddha, but it would have involved a long car journey.

With a two-year-old and a nine-month-old, we decided it wasn't worth making the day that much longer.

Instead, we visited a nearby mall, walked around, enjoyed an early dinner, and headed back to the hotel.

Luckily, Explorers Lodge had so many activities for kids that we still had a great afternoon.

Sometimes travel plans don't work out, and that's okay!

Tips for Traveling Around Hong Kong With Babies and Toddlers

Overall, I found Hong Kong to be pretty stroller-friendly, but there are a few things I'd recommend knowing beforehand.

1. Budget Extra Time for Metro Elevators

When using the metro with a stroller, you'll need to find the elevators rather than following the crowds up the stairs or escalators.

Sometimes this means going to a different level or finding another elevator to reach the correct platform or exit.

We were able to navigate the stations we used with our stroller, but it definitely took longer than it would have without one.

My advice is to allow extra time and avoid rushing.

2. Consider a Baby Carrier for Buses and Trams

If you're planning to ride a double-decker bus or tram, a baby carrier can make things much easier.

We found that folding our stroller to get on and off would have been inconvenient, so on those outings, we left the stroller at the hotel.

I carried our baby, while our two-year-old either walked or rode on Dad's shoulders.

That worked really well for us.

3. Don't Overschedule Your Days

This is probably my biggest tip for traveling with little kids anywhere.

Leave room for naps, snacks, tired kids, unexpected delays, and things taking longer than planned.

Before kids, we used to pack as much sightseeing as possible into every day.

Now we choose a couple of things we'd really like to do and give ourselves time to enjoy them.

Traveling this way has made our trips so much more relaxed.

4. Be Flexible When Plans Change

Our failed Big Buddha excursion is a perfect example.

We could have pushed through with a long car journey, but it probably wouldn't have been enjoyable for anyone.

Instead, we changed our plans and had a relaxing afternoon.

And honestly, that's part of traveling with kids!

Would We Visit Hong Kong Again?

Absolutely!

I loved both Hong Kong and Hong Kong Disneyland.