The gates finally opened to Shanghai Disneyland on June 16, 2016. The tickets for the opening weeks had sold out in hours, and the crowds poured in to what is the largest of the six Disney parks around the world. Although adapted for the domestic market, that whimsical Disney-ness stays firmly intact and most of the things that you know and love are there, bigger and better than ever before – the ‘Enchanted Storybook Castle’, for example, is the tallest and largest of all of the Disney parks.
Along with the character meet and greets and interactive shows (there’s a Jack Sparrow-based Pirates of the Caribbean show here!) there are six lands to explore. Some are the same, some are new and some have been adapted, each with its own distinctly Chinese twist. The Gardens of Imagination feature the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, as Disney characters, whilst Mickey Avenue is the grand boulevard entrance to the park, leading to the Enchanted Storybook Castle, which is part of Fantasyland. This is the place that you’ll find all the Disney classics – there is even a boat ride under the castle itself that features many movie character favourites. Head to Treasure Cove for a full on Caribbean Pirate experience, complete with stunt show. Adventure Isle is a land of hidden treasures, and Tomorrowland is focussed on the future. It is in Tomorrowland that you’ll find the TRON Lightcycle Power Run, a brand new rollercoaster, based on the film, that can only be found at Shanghai Disneyland.
Whilst we admit Disney isn’t the quintessential Chinese experience, if you are travelling as a family, or just fancy a bit of a magical experience whilst you are in Shanghai (or really fancy a fix of proper American style food!), you can’t really go to wrong with Disney. The park is located in the Pudong area of Shanghai and easily reachable by public transport – the metro is a particularly good choice as it will deliver you into the heart of the Shanghai Disney Resort.
If you’d like to add the brand-new Shanghai Disney to your trip, call one of our tailormade experts now! If you would like more information on Shanghai Disneyland, click to have a look at the official website.