• You do not have to stay long in Disneyland to get the most out of it. A couple of days can be enough to enjoy every ride and attraction there. The longer you stay, the greater will be your expense, so if you are going on a budget, keep your stay short.
• Get yourself a map of Disneyland, preferably before you leave home. It is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with a place before you reach it. This will enable you to manage your time well.
• Don't be surprised if you see tons of people lining up before every attraction. Remember that you are going to a famous tourist spot, so it is quite natural to expect so many other people having their vacation there. You can maximize your time by getting a Fast Pass ticket. This is a free service that will keep you from having to stand in line for a long time.
• You do not have to book in any of the Disneyland Hotels there. However, I personally feel that staying in either the Disneyland Hotel or the Hollywood Hotel is worth the experience. The accommodation is great, and the buffet breakfast at the hotel is definitely something to look forward to! The Disneyland Hotels are definitely world-class.
• There are so many souvenir shops in Hong Kong Disneyland, but you do not have to buy everything you see. Pictures make better souvenirs, and they're not as expensive.

Going to a tourist destination like Hong Kong Disneyland may seem costly, but if you consider the exciting experiences you can have in the Happiest Place on Earth, it's all worth it.

This is about the dolphin versus mouse or HKOP x HKDY. Nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, no, this is not a review of a kung fu movie of two martial artists with two different fighting styles. Nor is this about a Japanese kaiju (giant monster) movie of two mutated beasts primed for a showdown in the middle of Tokyo. This is about which theme park in Hong Kong is the best, Hong Kong Ocean Park or Hong Kong Disneyland.

Hong Kong in My Heart

I love Hong Kong. Its streets have a slight scent of tea, and it has a very efficient mass transportation system. When I was single, it was about the shopping and the culinary delights. I was also able to walk the nature trails and play basketball with the locals there, both non-conventional activities for most visitors. When I became a dad, it was about time for me to visit Hong Kong's two most popular theme parks.

The Tale of the Tape

Let's compare the two like boxers. First off in the tale of the tape are the entrance fees. Hong Kong Ocean Park is cheaper than Hong Kong Disneyland at HKD208 per adult and HKD103 per child compared to HKD295 per adult and HKD210 per child. Second, being older and bigger, Hong Kong Ocean Park has more attractions than Hong Kong Disneyland. Both are continuously expanding though with more features. Third, Hong Kong Ocean Park is nearer than Hong Kong Disneyland to the main urban districts. This does not really matter though because the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) can get you to Hong Kong Disneyland in a jiffy.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Now, let's compare the two as a dad and a tourist. First off is the mouse. The mouse and its posse are world-famous. You are star-struck meeting them as well as seeing, in the middle of the park, that enchanting castle branded into every kid's brain aged one to 100. Some of the mouse's best features are the tea cup, jungle ferry and space mountain rides and that 3D movie theatre. The climax in the evening is undoubtedly the glorious fireworks, light-show and animation from the castle accompanied by well-loved Disney hits.

Hong Kong Ocean Park

Then, there is the dolphin. In the lowlands, one is treated to the pandas, balloon ride, kids' playground, dolphins and sea-lion and bird shows. Through cable car, in the scenic highlands are the aquariums for shark and various marine animals and the various theme park rides. The climax of one's visit is definitely the heart-warming and amazing dolphin and sea-lion show playing at two to three times a day.

The Preferences

Personally, I like Hong Kong Ocean Park because the animals are live and real, and there is a cause planted in one's head to take care of the environment and the animals in the planet. That really is a strong impact. Meanwhile, I cannot count out Hong Kong Disneyland. That castle alone in the grandeur of fireworks symbolize dreams coming true, and that goes along with the thought of how a spark like imagination can create an empire that is Disney. They are two powerful themes that can influence and surprise families going out just to have a good time in Hong Kong.

The Verdict

So as a dad with a three year-old princess, in dolphin versus mouse, which is the best? Actually, it does not really matter because I'm pretty sure, like my daughter; your kids are going to drag you to go to both of them! Really, they will even plead their eyes out if you skip one of them in your trip to Hong Kong. It's just like in a martial arts movie, after the final showdown between two fighters, it is the townspeople that are really the winners. Also similar in a kaiju movie after the city is levelled and the final confrontation between two giant beasts is over, it is man who is actually the winner. In dolphin versus mouse, it's the families, more especially the kids, who are the winners as they are treated to two different themes of wonder and imagination. This is not a play-it-safe-ending. Just look into your kids' eyes when you're out in Hong Kong Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland, and you'll know what I mean.