No, not Dreamfinder and Figment. However you would possibly argue that this dynamic Disney duo is a non secular successor to old-fashioned EPCOT Heart favorites, with some describing their attraction as a cross between the unique Journey into Creativeness and Haunted Mansion.
It’s me, I’m the one who argued that and described the experience that manner. The attraction in query is Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland and the dynamic Disney duo is Lord Henry Mystic and Albert, his mischievous pet monkey. The 2 finest authentic Disney theme park characters of the final decade-plus (Mystic Manor opened in 2013, however we nonetheless take into account it “new” for some motive).
This isn’t to be confused with one other dynamic Disney duo who we’ve additionally described as non secular successors to Dreamfinder and Figment: Sindbad and Chandu from Sindbad’s Storybook Voyages. That attraction is extra like a cross between “it’s a small world” and Pirates of the Caribbean, though it additionally has shades of the unique Journey into Creativeness.
It’s most likely no coincidence that Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage and Mystic Manor are the “consensus” #1 and #2 ranked rides, respectively, on our checklist of Sarah & Tom Bricker’s Prime 15 Disney Sights within the World. If ever you’ve puzzled how Imagineering would possibly “remake” Journey into Creativeness 4.0 with fashionable know-how, these two rides are the closest approximations. However I digress.
At present’s thrilling area of interest information is that Hong Kong Disneyland has introduced its slate of late 2025 and 2026 seasonal occasions, and there’s one which followers like us is likely to be tempted to fly midway world wide to expertise. Right here’s a rundown:
Disney Villains Crush the Wickedest Halloween Social gathering (Now by way of November 2, 2025)
The Disney Villains weren’t invited to the Most Magical Social gathering of All, so that they’re crashing it in spectacular type. Maleficent leads a depraved alliance of 10 infamous villains and their henchmen to storm Foremost Road, U.S.A. in “Uninvited! A Villains Takeover Social gathering,” a brand-new expertise filled with mischievous vitality and theatrical aptitude.
All through the season, iconic hero-and-villain pairings will infuse to the resort with depraved vibes, drawing friends into unforgettable encounters. Come rejoice with Maleficent and Aurora, the Queen of Hearts and Alice, and Captain Hook and Wendy. Plus, new this yr, The Scarlet Witch shall be making an look!
Even Duffy and Associates are becoming a member of the enjoyable. Wearing brand-new Halloween appears to be like, becoming a member of Mickey and Associates to welcome friends with spooky allure and playful spirit. Halloween is at all times an excellent time at HKDL, though it’s unlucky the park not leans into scariness and unhinged makes use of of characters. That “period” might be gone for good.
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde Throw the Wildest Zootopia Celebration (November 2025)
This November, with the discharge of Zootopia 2, the dynamic duo Judy and Nick are internet hosting the season’s most thrilling celebration at HKDL, and everyone seems to be invited. Kick off the get together with them on the “Friendtastic!” parade. Meet them at Adventureland, and uncover all-new unique Zootopia-themed merchandise, scrumptious treats, and surprising experiences that can have you ever howling with delight.
Anna, Elsa and Kristoff Sparkle at A Disney Christmas Celebration (November 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026)
Hong Kong Disneyland shall be a stunning winter dream this Christmas. Glowing Christmas decorations, snow-capped Christmas timber, and cute snowgies will fill each nook of World of Frozen, creating a very immersive vacation expertise.
“A Vacation Want-Come-True” Tree Lighting Ceremony will make its return with a heartwarming Frozen shock beneath whimsical snowfall and drones. In Fantasyland, Cinderella Carousel will twinkle with an all-new seasonal spin, whereas Ye Olde Christmas Market will remodel right into a glowing vacation wonderland crammed with gingerbread, Christmas cookies and extra!
We did Christmas at Hong Kong Disneyland final yr and it was improbable. We’d extremely advocate it. Among the leisure is totally different and pre-empted by the anniversary celebration this yr, however the park ought to nonetheless get extremely festive.
Bullseye Saddles Up for the Yr of the Horse Social gathering (January 30 to March 1, 2026)
HKDL will welcome the Yr of the Horse with a spirited Chinese language New Yr celebration – led by Bullseye from Pixar’s Toy Story, who will make a shock look at Hong Kong Disneyland! Company can stay up for a rootin’ tootin’ get together crammed with laughter, pleasure, and playful surprises, as Bullseye shares festive needs in true Pixar type.
Duffy and Associates Host the Sweetest Followers Social gathering (March 20 to June 7, 2026)
Spring brings with it the annual Duffy and Associates Play Days, a heartwarming fan gathering hosted by Duffy and his mates. This yr’s occasion contains unique plush collectibles, irresistible seasonal treats, and joyful moments from morning to nighttime – making it essentially the most whimsical celebration of the season.
The Most Mischievous Social gathering with Chip, Dale & Clarice (April 2026)
Chip ‘n’ Dale can’t resist crashing the get together in Grizzly Gulch, the place the joy is about to erupt. Together with famend explorer Ms. Clarice, they’re internet hosting a town-wide competitors to rejoice the invention of the most important golden nugget ever!
The expertise is filled with brand-new reside music, interplay, and the chance to carry out alongside the city band! Be a part of this vibrant present that brings Grizzly Gulch to life!
All through the day, Chip, Dale, and Clarice will roam the land searching for new adventures in all-new interactive moments that make each encounter right into a fun-filled expertise.
Lord Henry and Albert Throw a Mysterious Social gathering (Might 2026)
Lord Henry, the eccentric adventurer and curator of Mystic Manor, is venturing past the manor to hitch the celebration! Company can journey into Mystic Level, the fan-favorite themed land unique to Hong Kong Disneyland, for a particular alternative to fulfill Lord Henry in particular person. Including to the marvel, his playful companion Albert shall be greeting friends in an all-new interactive expertise.
That is fairly mild on particulars, so planning a visit round this Mysterious Social gathering might be fairly the gamble at this level. However hear us out…
2026 Asia Disney Journey Planning
With the desk set for the primary half of 2026 at Hong Kong Disneyland, it’s time for somewhat “considering out loud” touring planning that you could be discover useful. These are mainly the promoting factors, professionals & cons, and so on., that we’re weighing when determining our personal journey dates subsequent yr.
Touring to Hong Kong Disneyland for the Mysterious Social gathering can be so much. Identical goes for the Most Mischievous Social gathering in Grizzly Gulch. These are two of my favourite themed lands on this planet, and I’m very curious to see what they entail. Not curious sufficient to endure a 15 hour flight only for these occasions, however very curious.
The factor is, the enchantment isn’t simply these occasions. Tokyo DisneySea’s twenty fifth Anniversary begins on April 15, 2026. Other than the COVID closure and when Sarah was pregnant, we’ve attended the kickoff of each milestone anniversary at Tokyo Disney Resort for the reason that Tokyo Disneyland thirtieth Anniversary “Happiness Yr.” We don’t essentially have to be there for the beginning of that this time, however wouldn’t thoughts.
As we’re beginning to slim our journey plans for 2026, one factor we hold coming again to is the crowds at Tokyo Disney Resort. Final vacation season was very dangerous, and we’re doing it once more this yr. Our worry is that this yr goes to be extra of the identical. We are able to deal with that as there are a number of much less common points of interest we love (to not point out simply being there), but it surely’d be good to expertise decrease crowds once more and really get an affordable quantity carried out. Particularly as our daughter is having fun with rides an increasing number of.
To that time, final yr from late April by way of mid-June have been improbable. In watching wait occasions, it seems the identical was true this yr. Each the lead-up to Golden Week and the month-plus thereafter have been pretty calm and had manageable wait occasions. July was the slowest month final yr, and slowest up to now in 2025, however the climate makes {that a} non-starter for us. The warmth and humidity are just like Orlando, generally worse.
On the plus aspect, seasons are extra pronounced, so normally Might by way of early to mid-June are okay. In reality, as mentioned in When to Go to Tokyo Disneyland, our 3 favourite occasions within the parks are early April, mid-Might, and early to mid-November. Nevertheless, this solely tells half of the story, as we normally spend a minority of our time in Japan at Tokyo Disney Resort.
Our second favourite total time in Japan is late March into mid-April 2026, which is the peak of sakura season.
If doing this date vary, you can begin in Kyoto in late March or early April for the height of cherry blossoms. Following that, head to Tokyo for the kickoff of the twenty fifth Anniversary, hitting the parks earlier than and firstly of that celebration. This offers you the potential of decrease crowds for a few days and experiencing the parks celebration-free.
Alternatively, you may wait till mid-Might 2026 for an additional candy spot after the preliminary rush of the “Glowing Jubilee” celebration–simply you’ll want to go after Golden Week. We’ve at all times had success with visiting in Might after the vacations. Crowds are normally extra manageable, as each home and worldwide tourism has subsided for the season.
Both of these approaches units the desk for doing the Mysterious Social gathering in Mystic Level or the Most Mischievous Social gathering in Grizzly Gulch at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Truthfully, I’m unsure which we’ll select. There are tradeoffs in both course. Going to Japan for sakura season is extremely really useful, because it’s completely beautiful. There are a whole lot of nighttime illuminations and different particular occasions. Together with fall colours season (my private favourite), that’s a bucket checklist time to go to Japan. But it surely’s additionally way more crowded than Might in Japan as an entire (not speaking TDR).
Greater crowds and (most likely) larger costs is the draw back. Higher climate is the upside. Might is usually fairly good all through Japan, however I’d nonetheless take early to mid-April over it. The likelihood for decent days will increase nearer to summer time, and actually, we’re extra delicate to excessive warmth than we’re heavy crowds in Japan. We’ve additionally spent a ton of time in Kyoto, the place congestion tends to be worst, and know the way to work round it. (For recommendation, see our put up: Kyoto Is Crowded. Right here’s How You Can Keep away from Japan’s Notorious Overtourism!)
There’s additionally the truth that top warmth is a a lot greater challenge in Hong Kong than it’s Japan these months, and we’d reasonably go to in April earlier than heading to Japan than we might in Might after leaving Japan. Despite the fact that assembly Lord Henry Mystic and Albert and partaking of their Mysterious Social gathering sounds improbable, the Most Mischievous Social gathering is a reasonably good comfort prize–and one that’s “meatier” at this level.
As might be apparent from the forgoing, our 2026 Asia journey plans are usually not but set in stone. Ultimate dates will doubtless be influenced by different externalities, however with nothing new opening at Walt Disney World or Disneyland in 2026, it appears doubtless that we’ll have flexibility in selecting the dates we’d choose. At this level, we’re leaning in the direction of HKDL in the beginning of April for the Grizzly Gulch occasion, then flying to Osaka for sakura season in Kyoto, then taking the Shinkansen to Tokyo for the fifteenth Anniversary.
The overwhelming majority of our journeys to Hong Kong Disneyland have been for Halloween or Christmas. There’s a motive for that, as mentioned within the Greatest & Worst Occasions to Go to HKDL. Nonetheless, it’d be good to lastly expertise Duffy Days and one in all these new springtime occasions. Actually, any excuse to return to our favourite little fortress park is an efficient one!
For the remainder of your planning wants, seek the advice of our Hong Kong Disneyland Journey Planning Information. It covers every little thing you might want to know for a go to to HKDL, together with critiques, technique, packing, and extra. In the event you’re visiting the town as effectively, please seek the advice of our Hong Kong Metropolis Information on TravelCaffeine, our non-Disney planning website.
Your Ideas
Will you be visiting Hong Kong Disneyland in 2026? What’s the ‘candy spot’ so that you can go to the Disney parks in Asia? Planning to go for the Mysterious Social gathering in Mystic Level or the Most Mischievous Social gathering in Grizzly Gulch? Assume Lord Henry Mystic and Albert are non secular successors, of kinds, to Dreamfinder and Figment? In the event you’ve been to any of the Disney Parks in Asia, how do you suppose HKDL stacks up? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation of journey dates in Spring/Summer season 2026? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!