One Disney park has confirmed plans to let 200,000 guests enjoy its attractions for free this year.
While there’s nothing like a castle view or the first bite of a Mickey bar, experiencing the Disney magic doesn’t come cheap. Prices have steadily climbed across the board, from park tickets to hotel stays to the add-ons that used to be free (RIP Magical Express). Even planning a “budget” Disney trip now takes serious strategic skills.
Credit: Disney
That’s what makes one Disney park’s latest move all the more magical.
Hong Kong Disneyland Invites 200,000 People To Visit Park For Free
As Hong Kong Disneyland – Disney’s smallest theme park resort, with just the one park and three hotels – gears up to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the park has announced plans to give away 200,000 tickets to charities and NGOs.
The theme park announced yesterday that its latest promotion—twice the size of its usual annual giveaway of 100,000 tickets—will let recipients visit once between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
NGOs and registered charities can apply through the park’s official website now through April 30.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland has a track record of inviting select guests into the park for free. In January, for example, it teamed up with the Li Ka Shing Foundation to hand out 4,200 tickets to domestic helpers, who were also gifted a transport allowance of HK$80 (USD $10) on their Octopus cards – used for local payments in Hong Kong – and meals valued at HK$365 (USD $47).
Disney Park Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Hong Kong Disneyland has plenty in store for its 20th anniversary.
Its “Most Magical Party of All” celebration will be headlined by “Friendtastic!,” the park’s biggest daytime parade ever, featuring 11 floats and a wide mix of characters—its first full daytime parade since Flights of Fantasy wrapped in 2020.
Credit: Disney
The fan-favorite “Momentous” Nighttime Spectacular is also getting a serious upgrade, with new scenes, drone elements, and Main Street projections reminiscent of Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After and Disneyland Paris’ Disney Tales of Magic. A new stage show starring Mickey, Duffy, LinaBell, StellaLou, and CookieAnn will additionally debut in front of the Castle of Magical Dreams.
Expect a full park glow-up: 20th anniversary merch, limited-time snacks, and themed decor across all three hotels. One thing not returning? Paint the Night. Though it’s making a comeback in California for Disneyland’s 70th, there’s no sign of it returning to Hong Kong any time soon.
Credit: Disney
Hong Kong Disneyland will kick off these celebrations with a pre-party event on April 17, welcoming over 550 guests. As per the South China Morning Post, this invite list includes Disney fans, media, and content creators from major markets like mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore.
Hong Kong Disneyland Overcomes Years of Struggles
Hong Kong Disneyland has faced a rocky financial road since opening in 2005. Attendance lagged in its early years, and the park operated at a loss for over a decade, weighed down by limited attractions and fierce regional competition.
Political unrest in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic only added pressure, forcing closures and steep declines in tourism. At one point, the park reported losses for nine consecutive years, raising questions about its long-term viability.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
Recent years, however, have marked a slow but steady rebound for the Disney park. Major expansions like World of Frozen – Disney’s first (but no longer only) land inspired by the animated smash-hit Frozen (2013) – and the reimagining of its castle have helped boost attendance and reshape the park’s identity. Local tourism has been key, as has the park’s growing appeal to visitors from Southeast Asia and mainland China.
With the 20th anniversary on the horizon and new entertainment on the way, Hong Kong Disneyland is finally looking more like a success story than a cautionary tale.
Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.
