That said, I ALSO know that travel abroad can be intimidating for many people so when it comes to the thought of visiting a Disney park abroad, I’m sure many of you are thinking, “why bother?” Why go to a Disney Theme Park abroad when you could just go to one here in the U.S.?  It’s hard to justify the cost and it probably seems like you’re going to experience the same things you can experience here at our domestic parks, only now you’ve traveled 12+ hours to do so.  Today I’m debunking the myths around traveling abroad for a Disney Vacation.  Hopefully after reading this article you’ll be one step closer to taking the Disney vacation of your dreams!

Q: Are All of the Parks the Same?

The first thing to know is that each Disney park is unique!  None of the parks are an exact replica of Disneyland or Walt Disney World.  That said, some of the international parks do have similarities to our beloved domestic parks (that is what gives them that magical Disney feel).  You can expect to find things like Main Street, a castle, Mickey & Minnie meet and greets, and some of the classic rides like Peter Pan or Pirates of the Caribbean.  That said, not all rides are created equal – so even in these cases you can experience slight variations. 

Q: Isn’t It Way Too Expensive to Travel Abroad?

Travel in general can be expensive but in my experience traveling abroad to an international park doesn’t have to be any more expensive than flying to California or Florida for Disney, you really just have to monitor flight costs.  The best way to visit an international park on a budget is to book a flight during the “off season” of travel for that country.  Flight costs are absolutely the biggest expense of any vacation but if you set alerts for cheap flights through Google Flights or another online service like Scott’s Cheap Flights, you’re sure to get the best deal. 

Once you book your flight, then you need to book your hotel accommodations. There are often very affordable off-property options for those on a budget.  But if you really want to experience the magic of staying on property at an international Disney theme park, these can often cost less than what we’re used to paying for per/night here in our own country.  The best thing to do is always check and see what promotions Disney is running for accommodations through a travel agent or the official Disney websites and plan accordingly.  The international promotions are often really great deals!

Lastly, you’ll need to purchase your park tickets.  You’ll be shocked to know that park tickets for pretty much every country (with the exception of Tokyo) are actually much cheaper than ours. And often times you’ll get “free” tickets as a part of your accommodations when you book your stay at a Disney Resort.

Of course, when you travel to another country to visit a Disney park you also have the amazing option of touring that country while you’re there! Many of these theme parks offer day trips to see popular sites in and around the surrounding area.  You can either choose this option or go out on your own!

Q: What if I Don’t Speak the Language?

Don’t let the fear of not being able to communicate, stop you from visiting an international park. You’ll be able to find English-speaking cast members at every single Disney park around the world.  Some parks like Shanghai and Tokyo may require a little extra work to seek out these cast members but I promise that they are there!  Also, many of the shows and attractions feature both English and the country’s native language.  For countries like Shanghai and Tokyo where almost no English is spoken during the entertainment, it’s still easy enough to follow along because they feature movies you are likely intimately familiar with!

In addition to spoken communication, every park has English language signage, menus, and maps, making it super easy to find your way around the park.

Q: Is it Safe to Travel to These Countries?

Yes!  Traveling to any Disney theme park abroad is probably one of the safest vacations you could take (once you get to your Disney resort).  Each park has strong security in place, eliminating the need to ever feel unsafe while on Disney property.  You’ll want to make sure you are prepared to get to-and-from the airport safely and you’ll definitely want to do your research if you plan on traveling around the city outside of your Disney Resort, but for Disney travel itself, it couldn’t be safer.

Q: What About the Cultural Differences?

There are definitely cultural differences for all of the parks.  Some of these cultural behaviors have been described as “shocking” by Americans who weren’t prepared for them but they don’t necessarily have to be.  I definitely recommend doing a bit of research before heading out so that you know what you’re getting into.  It’s easy enough to follow along once you get there. Some differences are amazing (for example, in Tokyo everyone brings mats that they set out as their own personal designated seating area for the parades and everyone respects that space) and some can be perceived as jarring (for example, in Shanghai cutting in a queue is a common place occurrence and people generally stand very very close to you). If you’re prepared for these differences you won’t feel as uncomfortable as you would if you did not know about them.

In addition to everything I’ve already mentioned, the food and merchandise is all unique to each park.  This in itself is worth checking out!  If you love cute characters and fun styles then you’ll LOVE the merchandise in Tokyo.  If you can’t get enough of Asian cuisine then you will absolutely ADORE the food in Shanghai and Hong Kong. 

Sure you could go on the same vacation to Walt Disney World year after year (which there is nothing wrong with, because I love that too) but why not switch it up and check out an international park if you have the option?  Could be a lifelong memory and a fun new adventure!

If you found this helpful, please feel free to share it.  Have you traveled abroad?  What were your experiences?  If you haven’t, is there anything else holding you back?