Hi Melody!
Welcome to planDisney, and thank you for visiting us with your question about your upcoming trip to
Walt Disney World. I’ve been lucky enough to visit
Hong Kong Disneyland a couple of times and absolutely love it. I can’t wait to head back with my family soon to celebrate
The Most Magical Party of All. Having visited all the Disney Parks around the world, I always say to try not to compare them, as each one is magical in its own way.
When I visited Hong Kong Disneyland for the first time, I really enjoyed exploring the
Disneyland Hotel. It’s very similar in style to
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World. The biggest difference is size. The Grand Floridian has more than double the number of rooms, which naturally means more guests and, in turn, more dining and shopping options. Dining is where you’ll notice a big contrast. Crystal Lotus at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel offers beautiful premium Chinese cuisine (the dim sum really is a highlight), but over at the Grand Floridian, you’ve got
Victoria & Albert’s, a Michelin-starred fine dining experience that’s in a league of its own. Another key difference is the inclusion of a large-scale quick service location at Grand Floridian called Gasparilla Island Grill. It serves up high-quality food throughout the day and doesn’t require a reservation.
Both hotels are a short walk from their closest Disney Park. At Walt Disney World, the Grand Floridian also offers Watercraft and Monorail access to Magic Kingdom, Monorail to
EPCOT, and bus transportation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Disney Water Parks.
Whether this is your first visit to Walt Disney World or your 101st, I always suggest taking some time to explore other Resorts too. Each one has something different to offer. My personal favourites include
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. If you make your way to
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you’ll notice some design similarities with
Disney Explorers Lodge. The big difference is that the Florida version is set on a real savannah, with giraffes and zebras just outside your window.
One more point while you're here, I saw you’ve asked about Chinese food in another question. I really recommend
Nine Dragons in EPCOT, over in the China Pavilion. I spent a few months travelling around China, and Nine Dragons is the only place outside of China where I’ve had something that genuinely tasted authentic. The Sichuan Shui Zhu Beef, in particular, took me straight back to Chengdu - packed with flavour and proper heat.
I hope this helps answer your question, Melody! I wish you the BEST visit to Walt Disney World! If you have any further Disney Destination vacation planning questions, please
reach out to me. I'd love to help!
Dō ze, zoi gin!
Matt