No, not Dreamfinder and Figment. But you might argue that this dynamic Disney duo is a spiritual successor to old school EPCOT Center favorites, with some describing their attraction as a cross between the original Journey into Imagination and Haunted Mansion.
It’s me, I’m the one who argued that and described the ride that way. The attraction in question is Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland and the dynamic Disney duo is Lord Henry Mystic and Albert, his mischievous pet monkey. The two best original Disney theme park characters of the last decade-plus (Mystic Manor opened in 2013, but we still consider it “new” for some reason).
This is not to be confused with another dynamic Disney duo who we’ve also described as spiritual successors to Dreamfinder and Figment: Sindbad and Chandu from Sindbad’s Storybook Voyages. That attraction is more like a cross between “it’s a small world” and Pirates of the Caribbean, although it also has shades of the original Journey into Imagination.
It’s probably no coincidence that Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage and Mystic Manor are the “consensus” #1 and #2 ranked rides, respectively, on our list of Sarah & Tom Bricker’s Top 15 Disney Attractions in the World. If ever you’ve wondered how Imagineering might “remake” Journey into Imagination 4.0 with modern technology, those two rides are the closest approximations. But I digress.
Today’s exciting niche news is that Hong Kong Disneyland has announced its slate of late 2025 and 2026 seasonal events, and there’s one that fans like us might be tempted to fly halfway around the world to experience. Here’s a rundown:
Disney Villains Crush the Wickedest Halloween Party (Now through November 2, 2025)
The Disney Villains were not invited to the Most Magical Party of All, so they’re crashing it in spectacular style. Maleficent leads a wicked alliance of 10 notorious villains and their henchmen to storm Main Street, U.S.A. in “Uninvited! A Villains Takeover Party,” a brand-new experience packed with mischievous energy and theatrical flair.
Throughout the season, iconic hero-and-villain pairings will infuse to the resort with wicked vibes, drawing guests into unforgettable encounters. Come celebrate with Maleficent and Aurora, the Queen of Hearts and Alice, and Captain Hook and Wendy. Plus, new this year, The Scarlet Witch will be making an appearance!
Even Duffy and Friends are joining the fun. Dressed in brand-new Halloween looks, joining Mickey and Friends to welcome guests with spooky charm and playful spirit. Halloween is always a good time at HKDL, although it’s unfortunate the park no longer leans into scariness and unhinged uses of characters. That “era” is probably gone for good.
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde Throw the Wildest Zootopia Celebration (November 2025)
This November, with the release of Zootopia 2, the dynamic duo Judy and Nick are hosting the season’s most thrilling celebration at HKDL, and everyone is invited. Kick off the party with them at the “Friendtastic!” parade. Meet them at Adventureland, and discover all-new exclusive Zootopia-themed merchandise, delicious treats, and unexpected experiences that will have you howling with delight.
Anna, Elsa and Kristoff Sparkle at A Disney Christmas Celebration (November 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026)
Hong Kong Disneyland will be a dazzling winter dream this Christmas. Sparkling Christmas decorations, snow-capped Christmas trees, and adorable snowgies will fill every corner of World of Frozen, creating a truly immersive holiday experience.
“A Holiday Wish-Come-True” Tree Lighting Ceremony will make its return with a heartwarming Frozen surprise beneath whimsical snowfall and drones. In Fantasyland, Cinderella Carousel will twinkle with an all-new seasonal spin, while Ye Olde Christmas Market will transform into a glowing holiday wonderland filled with gingerbread, Christmas cookies and more!
We did Christmas at Hong Kong Disneyland last year and it was fantastic. We’d highly recommend it. Some of the entertainment is different and pre-empted by the anniversary celebration this year, but the park should still get incredibly festive.
Bullseye Saddles Up for the Year of the Horse Party (January 30 to March 1, 2026)
HKDL will welcome the Year of the Horse with a spirited Chinese New Year celebration – led by Bullseye from Pixar’s Toy Story, who will make a surprise appearance at Hong Kong Disneyland! Guests can look forward to a rootin’ tootin’ party filled with laughter, joy, and playful surprises, as Bullseye shares festive wishes in true Pixar style.
Duffy and Friends Host the Sweetest Fans Party (March 20 to June 7, 2026)
Spring brings with it the annual Duffy and Friends Play Days, a heartwarming fan gathering hosted by Duffy and his friends. This year’s event includes exclusive plush collectibles, irresistible seasonal treats, and joyful moments from morning to night – making it the most whimsical celebration of the season.
The Most Mischievous Party with Chip, Dale & Clarice (April 2026)
Chip ‘n’ Dale cannot resist crashing the party in Grizzly Gulch, where the excitement is about to erupt. Along with renowned explorer Ms. Clarice, they are hosting a town-wide competition to celebrate the discovery of the largest golden nugget ever!
The experience is packed with brand-new live music, interaction, and the opportunity to perform alongside the town band! Join this vibrant show that brings Grizzly Gulch to life!
Throughout the day, Chip, Dale, and Clarice will roam the land in search of new adventures in all-new interactive moments that make every encounter into a fun-filled experience.
Lord Henry and Albert Throw a Mysterious Party (May 2026)
Lord Henry, the eccentric adventurer and curator of Mystic Manor, is venturing beyond the manor to join the celebration! Guests can journey into Mystic Point, the fan-favorite themed land exclusive to Hong Kong Disneyland, for a special opportunity to meet Lord Henry in person. Adding to the wonder, his playful companion Albert will be greeting guests in an all-new interactive experience.
This is pretty light on details, so planning a trip around this Mysterious Party is probably quite the gamble at this point. But hear us out…
2026 Asia Disney Trip Planning
With the table set for the first half of 2026 at Hong Kong Disneyland, it’s time for a little “thinking out loud” traveling planning that you may find helpful. These are basically the selling points, pros & cons, etc., that we’re weighing when figuring out our own travel dates next year.
Traveling to Hong Kong Disneyland for the Mysterious Party would be a lot. Same goes for the Most Mischievous Party in Grizzly Gulch. Those are two of my favorite themed lands in the world, and I’m very curious to see what they entail. Not curious enough to endure a 15 hour flight just for these events, but very curious.
The thing is, the appeal isn’t just these events. Tokyo DisneySea’s 25th Anniversary starts on April 15, 2026. Aside from the COVID closure and when Sarah was pregnant, we’ve attended the kickoff of every milestone anniversary at Tokyo Disney Resort since the Tokyo Disneyland 30th Anniversary “Happiness Year.” We don’t necessarily need to be there for the start of that this time, but wouldn’t mind.
As we’re starting to narrow our travel plans for 2026, one thing we keep coming back to is the crowds at Tokyo Disney Resort. Last holiday season was very bad, and we’re doing it again this year. Our fear is that this year is going to be more of the same. We can handle that as there are several less popular attractions we love (not to mention just being there), but it’d be nice to experience lower crowds again and actually get a reasonable amount done. Especially as our daughter is enjoying rides more and more.
To that point, last year from late April through mid-June were fantastic. In watching wait times, it appears the same was true this year. Both the lead-up to Golden Week and the month-plus thereafter were fairly calm and had manageable wait times. July was the slowest month last year, and slowest to date in 2025, but the weather makes that a non-starter for us. The heat and humidity are similar to Orlando, sometimes worse.
On the plus side, seasons are more pronounced, so usually May through early to mid-June are okay. In fact, as discussed in When to Visit Tokyo Disneyland, our 3 favorite times in the parks are early April, mid-May, and early to mid-November. However, this only tells part of the story, as we usually spend a minority of our time in Japan at Tokyo Disney Resort.
Our second favorite overall time in Japan is late March into mid-April 2026, which is the height of sakura season.
If doing this date range, you can start in Kyoto in late March or early April for the peak of cherry blossoms. Following that, head to Tokyo for the kickoff of the 25th Anniversary, hitting the parks before and at the start of that celebration. This gives you the possibility of lower crowds for a couple of days and experiencing the parks celebration-free.
Alternatively, you could wait until mid-May 2026 for another sweet spot after the initial rush of the “Sparkling Jubilee” celebration–just be sure to go after Golden Week. We have always had success with visiting in May after the holidays. Crowds are usually more manageable, as both domestic and international tourism has subsided for the season.
Either one of these approaches sets the table for doing the Mysterious Party in Mystic Point or the Most Mischievous Party in Grizzly Gulch at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Honestly, I’m not sure which we’ll choose. There are tradeoffs in either direction. Going to Japan for sakura season is highly recommended, as it’s absolutely gorgeous. There are a lot of nighttime illuminations and other special events. Along with fall colors season (my personal favorite), that’s a bucket list time to visit Japan. But it’s also much more crowded than May in Japan as a whole (not talking TDR).
Higher crowds and (probably) higher prices is the downside. Better weather is the upside. May is generally pretty nice throughout Japan, but I’d still take early to mid-April over it. The possibility for hot days increases closer to summer, and honestly, we’re more sensitive to high heat than we are heavy crowds in Japan. We’ve also spent a ton of time in Kyoto, where congestion tends to be worst, and know how to work around it. (For advice, see our post: Kyoto Is Crowded. Here’s How You Can Avoid Japan’s Infamous Overtourism!)
There’s also the reality that high heat is a much bigger issue in Hong Kong than it is Japan these months, and we’d rather visit in April before heading to Japan than we would in May after leaving Japan. Even though meeting Lord Henry Mystic and Albert and partaking in their Mysterious Party sounds fantastic, the Most Mischievous Party is a pretty good consolation prize–and one that is “meatier” at this point.
As is probably obvious from the forgoing, our 2026 Asia travel plans are not yet set in stone. Final dates will likely be influenced by other externalities, but with nothing new opening at Walt Disney World or Disneyland in 2026, it seems likely that we’ll have flexibility in choosing the dates we’d prefer. At this point, we’re leaning towards HKDL at the beginning of April for the Grizzly Gulch event, then flying to Osaka for sakura season in Kyoto, then taking the Shinkansen to Tokyo for the 15th Anniversary.
The vast majority of our trips to Hong Kong Disneyland have been for Halloween or Christmas. There’s a reason for that, as discussed in the Best & Worst Times to Visit HKDL. Nevertheless, it’d be nice to finally experience Duffy Days and one of these new springtime events. Really, any excuse to return to our favorite little castle park is a good one!
For the rest of your planning needs, consult our Hong Kong Disneyland Trip Planning Guide. It covers everything you need to know for a visit to HKDL, including reviews, strategy, packing, and more. If you’re visiting the city as well, please consult our Hong Kong City Guide on TravelCaffeine, our non-Disney planning site.
Your Thoughts
Will you be visiting Hong Kong Disneyland in 2026? What’s the ‘sweet spot’ for you to visit the Disney parks in Asia? Planning to go for the Mysterious Party in Mystic Point or the Most Mischievous Party in Grizzly Gulch? Think Lord Henry Mystic and Albert are spiritual successors, of sorts, to Dreamfinder and Figment? If you’ve been to any of the Disney Parks in Asia, how do you think HKDL stacks up? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment of travel dates in Spring/Summer 2026? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
