While Disney parks are often associated with long wait times and bustling crowds, not every location sees the same level of foot traffic. One international park, long known for its quieter atmosphere, is drawing renewed attention for just how empty it’s become—sparking fresh questions among fans.
Since its founding in 1955, Disneyland has grown into a global empire with 12 theme parks across six resorts. Over the decades, The Walt Disney Company has weathered economic downturns, geopolitical shifts, and a global pandemic—emerging each time with its theme park division largely intact.
Lately, much of the speculation has focused on how a possible U.S. recession might affect Disney’s domestic parks (with some even controversially hoping that a recession will kill off Walt Disney World Resort’s plans to replace the Rivers of America). But a new viral post has shifted the spotlight overseas, where one guest’s visit to Hong Kong Disneyland has reignited debate over the park’s long-standing attendance challenges.
Viral Disney Park Post Sparks Online Alarm
The conversation began when X, formerly known as Twitter, user @MeganNyvold shared photos from a recent trip to Hong Kong Disneyland. Her images featured nearly empty lands and a deserted roller coaster train.
“WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE IN DISNEYLAND IS THERE A RECESSION???” she wrote.
WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE IN DISNEYLAND IS THERE A RECESSION??? pic.twitter.com/1Wb55JvOky
— Megan Nyvold (@MeganNyvold) April 19, 2025
After some users suggested the images may have been taken early in the day, she followed up with photos from later that night—still showing very few guests. She noted the park did get slightly busier at times, but wait times remained under 10 minutes for most rides. Character meet-and-greets, however, were noticeably more crowded.
Frequent visitors to the park have confirmed this pattern, noting that character encounters often draw far more consistent lines than attractions.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s Bumpy Road to Success
Hong Kong Disneyland has long operated on a smaller scale than many of its international counterparts. With only one theme park and three hotels, it ranked as the second-least visited Disney park in 2023, according to Statista—beating out only Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris.
The park has also faced financial hurdles. After nearly a decade of losses, Hong Kong Disneyland fortunately posted a profit earlier this year—a significant sign of recovery after years of COVID-related closures and political instability in the region since 2019.
Despite these setbacks, the resort has steadily evolved. In recent years, it replaced its original Sleeping Beauty Castle with the distinctive Castle of Magical Dreams and launched World of Frozen, the first of several planned lands themed to Frozen (2013). It also began transforming Tomorrowland into a Marvel-themed Stark Expo.
That momentum is set to continue. In June, the park will kick off its 20th anniversary celebration, titled The Most Magical Party of All. The event will introduce a refreshed nighttime spectacular, Momentous: Party in the Night Sky, a new Friendtastic! Parade, and a castle stage show called Disney Friends Live: Party at the Castle.
Looking further ahead, the Stark Expo area is expected to add a new Spider-Man-themed drop tower attraction in the coming years.
For now, however, the quiet park experience—while not entirely new—is turning heads. Whether it signals ongoing challenges or simply reflects the park’s unique pace, one thing is certain: guests are taking notice.
