It’s probably no surprise that the Hong Kong resort shows up in last place on the list. Opened in 2005, it’s the smallest by far, with only one theme park and 3 hotels. There is no shopping district here – the only Disney resort in the world without one – and it’s hard to understand how vital a good shopping and dining district is to the bones of a Disney Resort until there isn’t one. And it’s not for lack of space. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is built with the infrastructure of a massive resort in mind – with reclaimed land forming the resort boundaries and empty plots of land set aside specifically for more hotels, shopping, and a second theme park. The massive promenade that leads from the train stations and parking lots to the theme park is the single most impressive entryway of all six resorts. And the location of the resort itself – with the backdrop of the Lantau mountains – is the most beautiful natural setting of all the Disney resorts. Unfortunately, the theme park was so under-built to begin with, that it’s been spending the better part of its existence just trying to fix its shortcomings. And attendance has struggled constantly, with normal wait times for headliner attractions never hovering much above 10 minutes except during the busiest holidays. Some visitors may find this a perk of the Hong Kong resort – as it feels like the last Disney resort on earth where crowds are manageable and the pace can be more leisurely. But there needs to be more to do here. The addition of Mystic Point, Grizzly Gulch, and Toy Story Land brought some fantastic additions, and the revamp of half of Tomorrowland into an Avengers Campus is helping as well. The Frozen inspired mini-land that is going into Fantasyland will also be a huge shot in the arm. And the new Castle of Magical Dreams means that this park finally has its own unique centerpiece instead of a hollow copy of the Disneyland original. We’re still fascinated that the most humid, hottest Disney resort in the world has no outdoor water rides – this seems like a massive missed opportunity. And being the only Disney resort without a Pirates of the Caribbean is perhaps the biggest void in the ride roster. Food at the Hong Kong resort is decent enough, but certainly far from the best. Shopping is about what one would expect from a Disney-run resort. Cast members are helpful and friendly, but far from the best in the world. There are three beautiful Disney hotels here, and that does count for something. Ride upkeep and maintenance is on par with the US parks – which unfortunately means there are often props and effects that aren’t working. Still, there are some diamonds in the rough – Mystic Manor and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars are two of the best Disney attractions in the world and make a visit to this resort worthwhile for avid Disney fans. But it’s still a shell of what it should and could be. And with the Shanghai resort pulling in much bigger numbers with a much stronger reputation, it’s also probably the most uncertain of any Disney resort when it comes to the future. We still love the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, and we recommend it to any serious Disney fans, but it is unquestionably the weakest resort in the world.

It’s tough to be the new kid on the block, but that’s what the Shanghai Disneyland Resort is. Opened in 2016, the resort came out of the gate strong with a slew of impressive offerings on opening day. The largest Disney Castle Park, with the largest Disney castle in the world, set the expectation that Shanghai Disney Resort was going to go big. The theme park was desigend for massive crowds, with huge, wide walkways, and lots of open space. And those crowds have shown up from Day 1, and they have kept coming back for a reason. This is the most unique of all the Disney resorts in terms of attraction offerings, and Disney worked hard to bring in a strong lineup. This includes a trio of unique headliners including the absolutely jaw-dropping Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure, as well as the fantastic Tron Lightcycle Power Run, and thrilling Roaring Rapids. Now include the world's best versions of Peter Pan’s Flight and Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue, and round it out with a handful of other solid offerings, and you’ve got a theme park that can hold its own. There are two solid hotels here, and a very strong shopping and dining district, even if on the smaller end of the spectrum. Food at the Shanghai resort seems to be a hit with locals, even if we aren’t the biggest fans of authentic Chinese cuisine. Retail is solid, but nothing to write home about – just typical Disney merchandising. Ride maintenance and upkeep are again on par with Disney-run parks…unfortunately far from anything special. Yet, the Shanghai resort does have that Disney magic, but in a way that really stands out from the others. Something about the unique park layout, all-original lands, and breaking the mold to create new and unique attractions really works here, and it is obvious Disney didn’t cut many corners with the budget. Cast Members are energetic and extremely helpful – in our experience second only to the Tokyo resort. The resort, like Hong Kong, has an empty pad of land set aside for a second theme park, which seems much more likely to happen here. And it all surrounds Wishing Star Lake, an oasis amidst the massive sprawl of the Shanghai metro area. The real question at the Shanghai Disney Resort is how things will feel once the “newness” wears off. Of course a brand new resort is going to feel fresh and exciting, but 20, 30 years down the road…will it still shine? This is a resort with an extremely positive trajectory, and with the huge Zootopia land expansion on the way, things should get even better. We also expect to see more hotels built, as well as ground broken on the second park at some point in the not-too-distant future. In its first five years, the Shanghai Disney Resort has proven itself more than worthy of the Disney name, and while still in its infancy, it’s good enough for fifth place on our list.

Edging out the Shanghai resort is Disneyland Paris. Debuting in 1992, Europe’s lone Disney resort is a thing of sheer beauty…except where it isn’t. Here is the most gorgeous Castle in the world, surrounded by a park equally as beautiful. It’s truly a feat of Imagineering, where it seems every single sight-line was taken into consideration to ensure that visitors have a postcard around every corner. There are fantastic versions of the classics here – the world’s best Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the incredible Phantom Manor, a strong and very unique version of Pirates of the Caribbean, and an equally unique albeit thematically-compromised version of Space Mountain. Outside of the Castle Park, the rest if the resort was built with a ton of ambition as well – some say too ambitious. There is more offered here than at any other Disney resort on the planet including six hotels, a full-blown shopping district, a golf course, and a second park. Disneyland Paris is located right on one of Paris’ main train lines, so getting in and out of the resort from the city itself is a breeze. It’s a massive resort second only in scope to Florida, it could be argued that it was overbuilt for its offerings. Unfortunately, this resort stumbles in many places, and some have stated that there is a lack of true Disney magic here. The primary complaint is the second gate – Walt Disney Studios Park – unquestionably the worst Disney theme park in the world. This place literally feels like an asphalt parking lot that Disney happened to plop a few rides down in random fashion. Theming and landscaping are a bare minimum, and the park lacks any water features. The noteworthy Ratatouille and Crush’s Coaster rides are both fine, but they can’t rescue a Disney park that plays Harry Potter music at the entry gates. This park has a massive re-envisioning coming its way, but that’s not going to fix all of its problems. Another weak link at the Paris resort is Disney Village. This shopping and dining district is the epitome of the 1990s, and unfortunately that hasn’t aged well. It’s big enough, but it needs a complete overhaul, as today it feels stale and gaudy. Ironically, and in the same vein, another pinch point at the Paris resort is the food. It seems unfathomable that the City of Lights – with its world-renowned food scene – has by far the most horrendous offerings at its Disney resort. But when McDonalds and Planet Hollywood are your best choices, something is very wrong. Finally, there are the Cast Members. By theme park standards, they are great. But by Disney standards, there is room for improvement. Ride maintenance here is about on par with all other Disney resorts, though the refurbishments take an unbelievable amount of time – even longer than at the US parks (see their multi-year “rehab” of the railroad). Still, this is Disney, and overall, this is a resort with plenty to offer, and a jewel of a Castle Park as its centerpiece. It desperately needs new attractions, and an update in many of its operations, but Disneyland Paris is still the fourth best overall Disney resort on the planet.

It’s been said many times, but there is something truly magical about the California resort – which contains the only Disney theme park that Walt Disney himself not only designed, but also walked through, oversaw, and even lived in. Opening in 1955, Disneyland Park remains of the highest standard among Disney theme parks, not only because of its inspiring design, but because it packs so much into such a small footprint. While parks like Shanghai took the complete opposite approach, there is something amazing about the attraction count at Disneyland – and it just keeps growing. In some places, it’s almost hard to believe how many attractions have been packed in to such tight spaces, and that creates a sense of magic and wonder as there is just so much to see and do. Some of the best attractions in the world are located here, with fantastic versions of Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion. Beyond that are unique headliners that are worth every minute of waiting, including the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Storybookland attractions, and the Indiana Jones Adventure. Beyond the original gate, however, the resort continues to shine. Disney California Adventure park may be a mish-mash of conflicting themes and ideas, but those themes do run strong within their respective lands, and the attraction roster is solid when compared to most other parks. The Downtown Disney shopping district is far too small, but in recent years has been updated and refreshed and is a solid (if small) offering of legitimate restaurants and shopping. Three hotels compliment the resort, with the Grand Californian being among the best in the Disney portfolio anywhere. Going deeper, the food scene at the California resort is stellar, with fantastic offerings both inside and outside the two parks. Cast members at the California resort are among the best that Disney has, constantly going above and beyond and making for a truly special experience. Retail is fairly typical for Disney, but seems to constantly be changing, with plenty of unique-to-this-resort offerings. And one cannot overlook the weather – as this is the only Disney resort where summer humidity is not a factor – and that goes a long way in making for a much more pleasant experience during that time of year. Where the California resort stumbles is with ride maintenance, which is among the weakest in the world. Attractions typically get a fair amount of TLC during refurbishments, and come back shining, but that fades quickly, and unfortunately broken props are all too common. It’s a shame to see at “Walt’s Park”, and a higher standard should be expected. Crowds are also a problem at this relatively small resort, and can be at levels where some of the magic fades as there are very few quiet spaces left where one can to go relax. And that really speaks to the biggest issue with the Disneyland Resort – its size. While those intimate spaces and heavy attraction count do create a true sense of place, they also result in maddening overcrowding. This resort has been underbuilt since at least its 50th anniversary, and desperately needs expansion on all fronts. However, even with all those people, it is truly a special place that is simply overflowing with Disney magic. Third place is a fitting spot for the original California resort.

If any Disney resort is worthy of the word “resort”, it is Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Since its opening in 1971, this one has become massive on a scale that the others can only dream of, covering nearly 25,000 acres, and operating inside a “bubble” that feels completely separate from the rest of the world. Inside the resort boundaries are four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses, a gigantic shopping and dining district, 30 resort hotels, and plenty of other activities and exhibits to consume months of a guest’s time. The crown jewel here is Magic Kingdom park – the most visited theme park in the world – and fitting of that title. While it doesn’t have the attraction count of Disneyland Park in California, this one is gigantic and contains some fantastic versions of the classics while also tossing in new thrills with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the upcoming Tron Lightcycle Run, all while retaining a few old-school classics like the Peoplemover and Carousel of Progress. The other three parks are no slouch either, and while it can be argued that the attraction count is light at some of them, the quality of the experience is still top notch. Epcot is an immersive world’s fair, with fantastic shopping and dining experiences waiting in each country’s pavilion. Disney’s Hollywood Studios park is an e-ticket packed park with fantastic immersive areas, and plenty of entertainment. And Animal Kingdom may be the best zoo/theme park hybrid on earth – amped up to the Disney experience level with incredible interactive rides and exhibits. The dining scene at the Florida resort is the best in the world, with an endless offering of everything from walk up carts serving cheeseburger spring rolls, to immersive themed character dining like Be Our Guest restaurant, and beyond to five star dining at Victoria & Alberts. Beyond the food, the retail is a mind-boggle of shopping from typical Disney souvenir shops to high end outlets at the Disney Springs shopping area. The two Disney water parks are perfect compliments with heavy theming and intriguing backstories, as well as fast-paced slides, pools, and lazy rivers. Walt Disney World is a golfer’s dream, with master planned courses, as well as heavily themed mini-golf offerings. Transportation around the resort is also a big part of the experience – with monorails, Skyliner gondolas, and even busses all moving around the resort constantly. And the Cast Members here fire on all cylinders – providing that magical touch that elevates the experience to the next level. We’d love to see the Florida resort take more advantage of its size – there’s plenty of room (and demand) here for more of everything. When attractions are replaced, it boggles the mind, as the “blessing of size” was supposed to allow for constant growth. We also struggle with the ride maintenance – it has improved in recent years, but it’s still not what one would expect from the Disney name at its flagship resort. Still, these are minor quibbles within the greater picture, and the Florida resort is just too darn big to lose many points with all that it offers. Walt Disney World is a fantastic resort that takes a lifetime of visits to experience in full, and as a result, it’s in second place on our list.

Candidly speaking, the gap between #2 and #1 on this list is a colossal canyon. Walt Disney World Resort is fantastic – and so are the other Disney resorts – but Tokyo Disney Resort is a whole different ballgame. Opened in 1983, it is next level Disney on every level, and no pictures, videos, or internet blogging (us included) can do it proper justice. Tokyo Disney Resort must be experienced in person to be fully understood and appreciated. It’s a bit of an oxymoron that the one resort on this list not owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company is in first place. But the truth in today’s world is that the Oriental Land Company does Disney better than, well, Disney. They’ve stayed truer to Walt’s principles of quality, upkeep, and show, and even in today’s world, you won’t find corners being cut here. From the overall resort layout – which is encircled by a gorgeous themed monorail that stops appropriately at every park and hotel – right down to the ridiculous details like mickey-shaped soap coming out of the dispensers in the restrooms, or even real eggs with mickey shaped yolks – this resort is a Disney fan’s dream come true. The two theme parks themselves are marvels to behold: Tokyo Disneyland park is like a Magic Kingdom and Disneyland mash-up, with a few original mind-blowing headliners like Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Monsters Inc Ride & Go Seek, and Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast thrown in just for show. It’s got a huge attraction roster, with several of the best versions of attractions in the world. Then, there is Tokyo DisneySea. This is, simply put, the world’s greatest theme park. Oozing in details, a wonder to behold, with an incredible lineup of attractions, and using Tokyo Harbor as a literal backdrop in areas of the park, this is a park that does everything right. It’s a Disney park that is as much (or more) impressive to take in visually than it is to experience via its attractions. And that’s saying a lot. Here are the world’s best versions of Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones Adventure, Soarin, and Toy Story Mania, along with incredible original attractions like Journey to the Center of the Earth, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Sinbad’s Storybook Adventure. But beyond the rides are vistas and places that could only be envisioned in dreams. Areas to explore – like Fortress Explorations – are an adventure all on their own. It’s been said that a Disney fan could spend the day at Tokyo DisneySea and not ride a single attraction, and still have the best theme park experience of their lives. We would agree. It would probably be enough to stop at the two parks, but Tokyo Disney Resort succeeds because it does so many more things right. The food here is among the best of any Disney Resort in the world. And while not the breadth of offerings found in Florida, the food is high (or perhaps higher) quality, with more immersive themed spaces. Retail in the parks oozes Japanese kawaii details, and while not for everyone, is true to fashion and form. Ride maintenance is on a true preventative plan: meaning that for example, light bulbs are replaced when scheduled, and not after they burn out. As a result, it seems as if everything works properly at the Tokyo resort – it’s rare to find a broken prop or effect, or a burnt-out bulb. And those little details really add up, as the experience is enhanced when everything functions properly. Finally, there are the Cast Members. Bursting with an impossible amount of purely infectious enthusiasm, it’s almost hard to believe these people are for real. Interacting and watching them go about their day is almost an attraction all unto itself. If all this wasn’t enough, the parks are in a continuous mode of refresh, improvement, and expansion. The recently opened Beauty and the Beast area in Tokyo Disneyland, and the forthcoming Fantasy Springs in Tokyo Disney Sea, are the most expensive projects in the history of Disney Imagineering. Truly, it is hard to find a flaw here. If there was anything to gripe about at the Tokyo Resort, it’s that the parks are often ridiculously crowded – to the point where other Disney resorts – even California – can feel like a relative picnic. But that can be managed if the timing of a visit is planned for a “slower” time of year. Overall, this resort is every fanboy’s dream come true – it’s an idealized, perfected version of Disney – one that Walt himself would undoubtedly be proud of. Truly, the Tokyo resort is worth whatever it takes to experience at least once in a lifetime. The catch is that after visiting once, returning will be inevitable. Tokyo Disney Resort really is that good, and it is unquestionably the greatest Disney Resort on the planet.